Halloween

We returned to a halloween festival held by a local church this year.  Last year the event was held outside, but due to cold, winter-like weather, this year's event was moved inside.  So, Samantha did not get to "ride the ponies" again.  Despite that disappointment Samantha had a great time hanging out with her friend, Maggie, and celebrating with her schoolmates at preschool.  Samantha dressed up as a "kitty"cat or leopard type-thing and Seth squeezed into Samantha's old duck-costume.  His head was really too big for the duck hat so people had a difficult time figuring out what he was.   Seth's head circumference is now at the 85%ile, down from the 95%ile at previous doctor visits....

The highlight of a difficult day

Despite Joseph taking the kids for a few hours I had a rough day.  Seth did not take a nap and Samantha seemed extremely defiant today.  I think Samantha was tired from the two previous nights' activities.  Friday night Samantha got to spend the night with Patti (old next door neighbor) and went to a carnival, the children's museum, and watched, Tangled, in 3-D.  Upon my arrival at Patti's Samantha broke down in tears and would not talk to me.  She did NOT want to leave and thought that I was whisking her away from Patti that moment.  Little did she know I was making a stop at a friend's house for their October Fest celebration before returning home.  So, Samantha got a little bit more time with Patti, Tom, Jamie, and Christine, who was home from college.  We left Greenville and returned home without my wallet.  Oops.  Fortunately, I drove close to the speed limit and did not get pulled over!

Today, Samantha and Seth accompanied Joseph while he purchased a used lawn mower for our "investment" property.  Joseph said the kids were great on their journey so by the time they got to me a "storm" was brewing.  We made it through the day, fortunately, and I managed to get some great photos while playing with the kids and dogs outside.

Seth checking out the "new" used mower

I guess he liked the mower

Bailey, Ella, & their 2-legged brother

Getting as much use out of the 

Birthday Boy shirt as possible

Mini- Joseph

Practicing for his first sprint.  Do they make 

starting blocks for one-year-olds?

....and the sprint.....

Seth, Samantha, Molly, and Baby Nariah

(our next door neighbors' kids)

Molly & Sam are 2 weeks 

apart in age & so are Seth & Nariah

Seth

Seth is practically running these days, that is, running just to run, running into things, bouncing off things, jumping off things.  Ugh, he gets a new bruise almost every day, even with us diligently watching over him.  Samantha was sooooo calm at this age.  Here are a few recent pics of his adventures.

Swimming

Nighty-night!

County Fair

The total rip off face painting job.

The ride home

Several weeks ago we took Samantha & Seth to the county fair where I ate the most disgusting hot dog ever and Joseph got ripped off by the face painting lady.  Actually, we all had a lot of fun despite the previously mentioned aspects of our outing.  Samantha road the Gondola with Joseph TWICE.    

A'ville to N'ville

Sorry for the "cyber dust" collecting on my blog.  Computer problems and lack of free time have kept me from posting major or exciting events.   Most recently, we took a trip to Nashville, TN.  We originally planned on a trip to San Francisco, then switched plans to go to the beach, then switched plans again, so Joseph could take a trip down Memory Lane.  We visited his old (first) house and re-lived his driving route to and from Vanderbilt University.  I got to see my friend, Jess', alma mater, Belmont, and also saw many other sites in Nashville, including Centennial Park, the Rhyman Auditorium, The Opryland Hotel, and the Grand Ole Opry House.  We spent 1/ 2 a day at the Nashville Zoo, shopped at a few outlet stores for clothes for Seth, and visited my dock-jumping friends, Rick and Scotti, and their dogs, Abby & Baxter.  Rick competed with Baxter at the dock-jumping competition during the Bele Chere festival, in Asheville, and also competes in frisbee competitions with Baxter.  The pair performed  for us during out visit.  Samantha's probable highlights were sleeping in the hotel and playing with glitter and Scotti & Rick's house. She admitted really loving the Gibbons at the Zoo, too.  Seth spent many hours in our cheap umbrella stroller; he was easy-going as long as he had food.  Joseph and I continue to be amazed at the quantity of food Seth can devour.

Seth & Sam watching the underground world.

Note the giraffes in the background.

Sam riding a tiger.

Bailey practicing dock jumping

Bailey has made such great progress in her dock jumping.  Thanks to the help of Kathy Case, of Whiskey Creek Chesapeakes (breeder) Bailey now runs and jumps into the water without stopping for 5 minutes at the end of the dock.  Hopefully her new skill transfers over to our next competition, in Bristol, TN.  RACE WEEK here we come!

Sam's first day of preschool

Joseph and I have been soooo excited about Samantha's first day of  preschool.  We were REALLY lucky to get into this program; Only 12 kids in the program and only 6 are girls.  So, her first day finally arrived and was a total success.  Sam LOVED it!!!!!!!! As we got out of the car at drop off she asked me if I would stay with her, so I had to explain that school was a place where she played with friends and teachers, not mommies and daddies.  I reminded her she could play dress up and wear a beautiful princess or fairy costume.  Once she heard that, she eagerly walked her way up the corridor holding her  butterfly lunch box with matching icepack, water bottle, and sandwich holder, and her Ariel (Little Mermaid) bag containing an extra set of clothes.

Once in the classroom she slowly found her hook and cubby, took off her shoes, sanitized her hands, and went to the dress-up corner with one of the teachers.  The teacher cued me to exit and I did not look back.  I left filled with excitement for Samantha and absolutely no tears were shed.

Pick-Up: I gathered in the external corridor and watched through the window while the teacher finished her activity.  I saw Samantha standing in line behind one child and in front of another.  She looked out the window and saw me, waved, and had the BIGGEST smile on her face!!! She was the smallest but by far the cutest child of the bunch (no child is cuter than Samantha!).  She waved and then followed the teacher's instruction to walk in a line toward her cubby.

Teacher Report: Samantha talked and talked and talked throughout the day and one of the teachers said Samantha was SOOO enthusiastic!!  Sam was the only kid in the class to sing along with the teacher when learning the "name song"!!!

Sam is exhausted but refused to take a nap once we got home.  So, I guess this means she is really DONE with naps....

  

My little, now big friends

We spent the last 3 1/2 days with my friend, Angela, from Charleston (and her twin girls).  Their dad had to stay home to work:(    I first met Angela and her family ten years ago while living in charleston.  It is hard to believe TEN years have gone by.  The girls were almost three when I met them and they are now 13.  Angela and her husband, Ron, are doing something right because their daughters are the sweetest teenagers ever.  Seriously, I cannot say enough positive things about these girls.  I can only hope that Sam and Seth grow up to be sweet and considerate.  The girls attend a small private school, and despite my advocacy for public education I think their small classes have contributed to their wonderful nature.  Angela informed me that all of their classmates' parents know each other, and for the most part, have the same values and morals, and informed me that the teachers are very interested in nurturing and instilling good values in their students.  The teachers are hands-on with the students and all communicate with the parents regularly.   I am still an advocate for public education but now see the benefits of private schooling when provided by invested, passionate teachers.

We all had a blast playing with the girls and were very sad to see them go.  We will also miss Angela's pancakes!!

Dock Jumping with Bailey

I entered Bailey into a dock jumping competition this weekend, in Asheville, NC.  The event was an Ultimate Airdogs Event.  There are two different dock jumping/diving groups.  Ultimate Airdogs is family friendly and open to anyone, as long as their dog can swim and jump.  The owner of Ultimate Airdogs is Milt Wilcox, the pitcher for the Detroit Tigers during Game 3 of the World Series, against the Padres in 1984.  He is super supportive of all breeds and has a soft heart for rescue dogs.

Step 1: Teach Bailey how to get in and out of the pool via a very steep ramp
Step 2: Teach Bailey to jump off the end of the dock
Step 3: Teach Bailey to run and jump off the dock.

Bailey's last official jump didn't go so well.

GO GO GO GO GET IT GET!!!

YES!!!!!!

Today's practice runs became a family affair. These 

were my favorite.  

We were able to get lots of practice runs in before the actual competition started.  Bailey competed in 3 official jumps.  Her first jump was her best, at 10 feet, 10 inches.  This put Bailey in the "Junior" category, since she jumped over 10 feet.  "Novice" includes jumps anything less than 10 feet.   Bailey stopped at the end of the dock, waited, and then jumped every single time.  I couldn't get her to run and jump without hesitating.  Some runs she hesitated more than others, requiring the crowd to cheer her on.  I'm proud to say she jumped every time and not once did I have to jump in to get her out of the pool!  I think Bailey's highlight was snatching and eating a part of someone's sandwich.  I have no idea whose sandwich she ate, but she really liked it.  The only other person around was my new dock jumping friend from Nashville, so we shoved the sandwich back in the person's bag and left the scene.  Bailey also got a few bites of someone else's Chex Mix down before I caught her.  If I could throw food in the pool Bailey would beat the current jump record.

The best email ever

Samantha received an email from a friend of mine, wishing her Happy Birthday.  The email contained this video.  It's 20 seconds and is one of the best things I've ever watched.

Friday the 13th! Happy birthday S & S

Sam and Seth's birthday celebration was lots of fun.  A few of Sam's and Seth's friends came over for lasagna and birthday cake.  We ate, opened presents, and played outside after the rain cleared.  Patti and one of her daughters, Jamie, drove north for the party and surprised Sam with lots of princess themed birthday gifts, including, a Princess Belle dress, which Patti bought and enhanced with gold trim & sequin. Not only did Patti bring gifts for Sam and Seth, Joseph was treated to a homemade carrot cake, which Patti baked for him as a belated birthday gift.  She forgot the 40 candles that should have accompanied Joseph's cake.....  Prior to the party Sam and Seth received a visit from my friend, Sara, who brought her son, Drew.  We had a great pre-party get-together with them and wished they had stayed for the party!!

Belle's high heels

Sam

Maggie, Sam, Molly

Patti  & Seth

Sam chasing a bubble

The loot minus a princess chair

He's one!!

Jess with baby Henry, almost 1.  He looks so much like his mommy, but I actually

see his daddy's smile in this photo.

Seth doing his favorite activity, eating!

Samantha & Henry

Anybody own stock in BOB Jogger?

Henry on the Left in his stroller, Seth on the Right, in mine.

Taylor, Jess, & Samantha

Matt, Ry-Guy, and Taylor

Seth turned 1-yr-old on the 12th and we had a birthday celebration for him (and Samantha) on Friday the 13th.  Samantha, Seth, and I then went to Winston-Salem to visit our friend, Jess, and watch my nephew Ryan play in the National Boys 12's Clay Court Championship.  Seth continues to hover at the bottom of the growth chart despite his rather large appetite and passion for food.  We have not had his one-yr-checkup yet, but i anticipate him barely making the actual growth chart for weight.  Seth's personality is quite different from Samantha's.  He is absolutely "wide-open" and climbs on anything and everything.  This fact makes simple activities, like grocery shopping, changing Seth's diaper, and going out to eat challenging.

Jess' son, Henry, also hovers at the bottom of the growth chart so she and I had a good time getting our "small fries" together.  Samantha thoroughly enjoyed playing with Henry and reading his books.  Jess and I tried to take a snapshot of Henry and Seth sitting together next to the word, ONE, as Henry will turn 1 on August 8th.

It was great to see my brother, Taylor and Ryan again.  I could get used to seeing them every few weeks.  Taylor was in "baby heaven" while playing with Seth, Henry, and her 3-yr-old cousin, Samantha!  Ryan won both matches I saw and made it into the round of 16 (singles).  He and his doubles partner also won their matches.  I sooooo wish I could have stayed a bit longer.