Samantha Dancing

The title says it all..

Christmas 2009

Wow - i didn't even realize it's been since JULY since i've posted anything. We have been on vacation, School has started, Thanksgiving come and gone. Madelne's 7th birthday, Jordan's 9th birthday and Sarah and Samantha's 3rd birthday. Too much to catch anyone up.....oh... madeline lost 2 teeth in a matter of 24 hours. Sarah thinks she is a princess... seriously, every day she reminds me that she is a pretty princess and wears her pretty princess nightgown. i have to bribe her to get it off so that i can wash it. We have tried and tried to find one like it, with no luck. Samantha could care less about being a princess, she just wants to talk and talk and talk and tell everyone what to do. Jordan, well, Jordan thinks she's a teenager...well, acts like one anyway.
Here are a few pictures of, well, the past 6 months! Enjoy!

Vacation

We haven't been on a family vacation since 2006, when i was pregnant with Sarah and Samantha. We thought this would be a good summer to go and we chose the Outer Banks. We rented a house, just a sand dune away from the beach and with a much required private pool. No, we aren't filthy rich, like my oldest daughter seems to think, however, when you have two 2 1/2 year old children, who nap for at least 2 to 2 1/2 hours each day, the private pool was essential in giving us something to do while they napped. When you spend 9 full days with your family, you learn some things about them that you don't seem to see in the hustle and bustle of life. My 8 year old is a great organizer and was very helpful in setting the tables, cleaning up after dinner, helping with Sarah and Samantha AND she even took showers WITHOUT me telling her repeatedly it was time for one! My 6 year old truly is the middle child. Trying so hard to be like her big sister, but then turning around a second later and on the floor playing with her 2 1/2 year old sisters. She goes from being so grown up, to being her age of 6. Her hardest time was night - for the 1st few nights, she wanted to go home because she wanted her own bed. Then there are Sarah and Samantha. Sarah, the girl who just wants to be independent..i can't even count the number of times that she said, "i do it myself!" She loved the ocean and just could sit in the sand and let the water come up on her legs for as long as i would let her sit there. Samantha, my youngest by a whole minute, was definitely more reserved about the ocean... "hold me, momma" "hold me, daddy". She wanted to be in the water, but didn't quite like how it kept coming and going - "it scares me" She was content to just play in the sand. What a great vacation...can't wait for next year!

July 4th and some random pictures

Old Friends

I feel so lucky. So lucky to have re-connected with so many friends from my high school days, my church camp days and just the friends that have come and gone through the past years. I feel so lucky to have such a great family. I am blessed. Blessed beyond words. I do believe in fate, I do believe in karma and I do believe in God.

So much to say, not enough words.

I can't believe that life goes by so fast. I can't believe that i have a daughter who is 8 1/2. Just seems like yesterday she was just born - i wonder if you always remember the day each of your children were born as if it just happened that day. My Madeline is going to 1st grade! Are you KIDDING me? The twins just turned 2 1/2 last weekend, June 13th. Didn't we just bring them home from the hospital, Sarah 7 days later than Samantha? They are talking, potty trained, becoming very independent. How sad, but how exciting to see them all grow up and learn the ways of the world. And finally my husband... together for 11 years, married for 7, next month. What a great family and how lucky we all are. Yes, we have our rough patches, but at the end of the day, we know what is important and we hold on to that and get through the days. I wouldn't change any of it - the good or the bad. It shapes us into who we are and makes us stronger.
Today, an old friend and her family are coming over for a picnic! My kids(and me) are so excited! Let's pray that the rain holds out so we can swim and have a great time!

Cancer Sucks!

Some of you know this, more don't, as i cry each time i think about it, let alone speak of it. Please read the blog - You will have to go back to much older posts to get the magnitude of what this family has been through, and the absolute strength that it takes for them to not only have to endure the pain of losing a child, but to blog about their ordeal with what started out as close friends to what has become a nation of people who just want to help.

Please keep this family in your prayers.

www.half12.blogspot.com