Sam's Band Concert

Sammie had her Band Concert the following week. She did a lovely solo and we were very proud of her! Good job Sam! :D (Jen, Sam & Drew)

Alex's first Jr High Band Concert

Alex played in her first Jr High band concert earlier this month. She played beautifully! We were very proud of her. Good job Alex! :D

Sam & Drew on the night of their First Formal Dance Together

Sam and Andrew have been going steady for a few months now. Last night was their first formal dance of the year. Samantha said she had the very best time. We are so glad!

Sam on Era Day at School

The 1950's ~ Sam and I created a poodle skirt for the occasion. She was so cute!

A Fall Day Off

A Fall Day Off

I awake with expectation

of time alone, sun thats shown,

warmth on my face, a walk to embrace

yet

as day turns south, and sun blanks out

to house and home, responsibility hones

love, embrace, smiling warm face

life

We can for all our days search to find that which breathes happiness to our souls, or rather simply live.

To that end I age. :) Simply. The greying hair comes, wrinkles with my smile.

The pursuing to the end of life, the meaning thereof, is not my pleasurable pass time. I find it boring and exhausting the older I get. The "meaning" of life is just that, live. :D

We get such a short turn on this road, make yours count!

I'm on my first vacation of this year and I find I'm the happiest I've ever been. Ever. Life is such a blessed event, to be shared and loved. Full of rich memories, colorful textures and wonderfully sinful treats! :D

(((HUGS)))

September came and went...

I can't believe how fast the weeks pass by now. We are already into fall. (My favorite season of the year!) :)

Our children are growing up by leaps and bounds.

Sam made jazz band. :D She is just wrapping up her Football Season of cheerleading by the end of this month and will move on to Basketball cheerleading. She has been dating her new boyfriend, Andy, for a whole month. And still working her first job on the weekends, while fitting in an evening of Tae Kwon-Doe. Her grades are great and she is getting over her first cold of this season. (If not for the cough, Sam is healthy and happy!)

Alex has embraced JR High with such a passion. She jumped right in to being a morning announcer and trying for Vice President. After getting her petition signed with enough names, she was added to a list for the first round of voting. When they narrow it to only two, the se-vies (seventh graders) can begin campaigning. ;) She is doing so well in band that the teacher asked her to be part of his jazz band, she declined for fear she was taking on too much. She wants to keep up her grades. She stays after in art and will be in several art shows this year. (Big Surprise there! :D) Alex has taken up running this year and is getting so good! She keeps beating her own record by getting faster and faster. She loves running! And she also fits in Tae Kwon-Doe once a week. (Alex is healthy, happy and growing!)

They are amazing young women who daily surprise me with their love of life and abilities. What a joy to be a parent. :)

Adam and I are so grateful for all that we have, life is good...we feel so blessed. Here is hoping that your world is equally so! (((HUGS)))

Sam's First Date

Sam had her first date with Andrew Harvey Jr! She had such a great time. He's a really nice young man and we are so happy for them.

Catching Up

Sorry it has taken me so long to put anything new on our blogs. I'm simply busy with work and with life, but it is all good. I just finished updating until the end of July. I still have family reunion pics to add from Joe and Elaine Cardinal's house (which they are many :D), but haven't had a chance to pull them off my phone yet. When I do there will be photos galore as well as a few videos. ;)

We just spent the best week ever with Adam's whole family. Jeremy, Andrea and the boys came in for a whole week. My gosh what a blessing it was to see them all and watch the boys...be boys! I loved each of their sweet ways. Ian is intense with eye to eye contact, Sawyer is a bit more shy and loves to climb any and everything in his path (always in Batman attire if he has his way) and little Gavin is a lover bug. They are all smart handsome and fun. We had the very best time and miss them already.

Thank you for making that LONG trip out to see us all. We loved getting to see you all. (((HUGS)))

The Christian School Reunion

All the children in Adam's family grew up in Christian School and this year, their cousin Jennifer decided it was time all of them get back together and catch up. It was a lively evening of good food, funny stories and great music! :D Adam, Jeremy, Chris and Joe got together to bring back a few songs from the True Believer and Refuge Albums. What fun! Good times.

Alex gets to shave!

She waited patiently until she hit Jr High, and over the last weekend Alex and I sat side by side while she shaved her legs for the first time. She has had an electric razor for this job for years now. I didn't want either of them to not be able to shave, but razors with blades can nick the skin and hurt, so...I made them both wait until 7th grade to use them. Alex's time has finally come and she is thrilled to have smooth legs. :D Weren't we all the first time we did this! Our baby has 5 months and she will officially be a teenager.

Sammie's First Job!

We all knew it was bound to happen, but wow, our daughter is of working age! Amazing how fast time flies. She has put in her first week and is running the register now. She loves the people she works with and feels blessed to have found something before going back to school. We feel blessed that she is such a go getter! Congratulations Samantha.

Vacation Away

Adam and I set out for adventure the weekend of my birthday in July. It was such a lovely night and we felt like newlyweds. It was an amazing night. Full of beautiful sights on the way down. We made excellent time. We got to the hotel and relaxed. Waking early for breakfast at IHOP, yummmmmm. Then we were of for shopping. It was so good to get away. We haven't done this since, we can't remember when. It gave us happy thoughts and dreams about our future together when our girls are all grown. Thank you Adam for our special weekend and to Mom and Dad Conn for spending some one on one time with our girls!

A Great Family Day Out at Potsdam

This was a beautiful day full of great family moments. We started at the Antique stores and moved on to the yarn and craft store. We were of to the public library next and then on to our favorite used book store. We left there for Chinese food and a trip through the country on the way home. We finished the night with several hands of Poker. Alex won. :D These are the special days of summer and we are savoring each and everyone.

Alexandra Graduating From Elementary School!

Alex looked beautiful as she accepted award after award for her achievements. We are so proud of her. She is really looking forward to Junior High! :D

Alex's Latest Art on Show in an Exhibit at the Community Center

My Latest Creation

I am in the process of re-decorating the living room.

It is a simple ocean theme. My latest creation is utilizing all the

colors that will be in the room. Grey, cream, pale yellow and dark grey blue. I just love this new throw and it is by far the largest crocheting project I have ever undertaken. Just amazing to work on. :) I'm so glad that my Nanny took the time to teach me this art form.

Gaming Old School

We introduced our girls to what video games were like when we were their age. Yes, yes, they were horrified by the graphics and then the laughter set in. Kaboom, Breakout, and Frogger just to name a few. We had such fun playing the old Atari 2600...then back into storage it went. Not quite what the Wii is, but...agh...ok...not even close. :D Good memories, good times.

New Shed Prep

We are having a shed put up this year! They dropped off the gravel for the foundation. Within a week the shed should be delivered. Yeah! :D