Happy 6th Birthday Sweetheart!

It was about this time six years ago (7:03 a.m.) that I was just meeting my little princess. Here we are six years later and I can't help but wonder where the time is going and I marvel at how beautiful the princess has become. Happy Birthday Sweet Angel!

Samantha is an amazing little girl. She loves school and has been learning so much during the first month of school. She is making friends and has had several play dates with new BFF Taylor. She loves going to dance class an continues to make every moment of our lives precious.

Happy Birthday Sammi.

Starting a New Chapter

Tomorrow morning our little girl starts Kindergarten. She is a little nervous and really excited. I'm full of mixed emotions. Excited, nervous, and a little sad to know she is growing up so quickly. But mostly I can't wait to hear about her first day.

Summer School

Today the boys' teacher Ms. Sandi wrote the following on their daily report card:

"Bradley is really into the art projects these days and he is the best eater in the class, he loves his food :-) "

"Dylan is doing so well in his class he has the best sense of humor he makes me smile all day :-)"

The boys still aren't talking too much but we've noticed a huge improvement in their sounds over the past few weeks and they are getting a small repertoire of words. We'll keep working at it with therapy sessions every Wednesday morning.

Samantha has been loving the summer program at her school. She's been to the Frederick News Post, Fractured Prune, Hanover Pretzel Factory, Giant Eagle, Chuck E. Cheese, Firehouse, splash park, animal control, animal hospital, rose hill manor, cabin john park, fountain rock nature park, the pool every week, the movies every week, and of course several parks. They have splash days, a petting zoo, gem truck and more at school too. She's been in a class with older kids and is certainly learning things we aren't even ready for (she's scared to use the bathroom at a school because the older kids have been telling scary stories and today she started telling us how there were zombies in the woods at the park and something about Michael Jackson's thriller video.)

This week was pretty exciting since Samantha got to go to her Elementary school for her Kindergarten assessment. Just a few more weeks and she'll be in Kindergarten. I'm amazed.


I've also dared something new this summer. I took a class in organizational theory (yes, as boring as it sounds). I'm not sure if I'll be able to take more classes but it sure kept me busy.

God Bless GGS

Today our family experienced a great loss with the passing of our beloved GGS.

While today is very difficult for us we know that GG loved us and she knows we love her. She is in a better place free of pain and full of peace. We are fortunate to have the wonderful memories she left with us.

God Bless you GG.

WLUGGS

Daddy and his Daughter

We have been enjoying the spring and May has brought lots of outside time. Samantha has been loving her soccer practices. They have a certified american soccer academy teacher who does such a great job with the kids. And Samantha has improved so much since she first started soccer in the fall. The great thing about the practices is that she usually has a ball the whole time or she is playing a game with the other kids. But, she really doesn't love the soccer games on Saturday mornings. She doesn't want to get in the thick of things to try to get the ball. So she ends up just running up and down the soccer field. Which she doesn't really love.

We also went to Hershey Park a few weeks ago. Don't tell anyone but hershey park is the best on the weekends in May. It isn't too hot--or too cold--and the out of towners aren't clogging up the park. We went with our cousins Kevin and Max and we all had such a good time. The shock of all shocks was that both Dylan and Bradley fell sound asleep in their stroller. The kids have never been ones to sleep in strollers so we were so happy because it meant we got to stay a bit longer than planned.

The most exciting part of the month was when Ken took Samantha to a daddy-daughter dance. It was orginally supposed to be in February which explains all the valentine's day decorations. But as you may recall we got a wee bit of snow in February and the dance was cancelled. Samantha had a good time doing crafts, listening to music and spending time with daddy. She certainly came home exhausted!

The April Update

Spring is here and in full bloom. We are really enjoying the warmer weather and what a big month for us. The kids had their last day at their daycare on April 1st. It was a really sad day but we threw a party at Ms. Gladys' and said our goodbyes. It is really sad to think that chances are we will never see Ms. Gladys again. She helped raise our kids and loved them nearly as much as Ken and I, and she spent nearly as much time with them. Sammi started there when she was 9 weeks old. Ms. Gladys did so much for our family and helped us out beyond words when we had twins that weren't planned for financially (I'm still a little shocked about my miracle baby!)

But, Samantha had outgrown the daycare and we were able to get her into a preschool with her own peers. And she just is a completly different little girl now. She loves going to school, making new friends, and working on projects. Every day she is super excited to tell us all about it, something I am trying to treasure because I know it won't be long before she outgrows that too.

The boys are also loving the new daycare. Drop-off is still a bit difficult but once we leave it doesn't take them long to settle down. And already their speech has improved so much. Between the daycare and the speech therapy they seem to be making a lot of progress.

Ken and I took off on Good Friday and went to Aunt Kelli, Uncle Matt, Max, and Kevin's house for dinner and and easter egg dye-ing. We had a really good time and it was so nice to see all the kids playing together. That Saturday we went to Hershey Park for the first time this year and had a blast.

On Sunday we spent the morning with Grandma and Pappy and then drove down to have Easter dinner at Granny and Grandpa's with the family. And the Easter bunny had visited their house and left a lot of easter eggs! Luckily Dylan, Samantha, and Bradley were there to find them all!


Samantha has also been playing soccer in addition to her dance classes. Our favorite part of soccer has been the practices on Tuesday nights. The league has a coach come in from the American Soccer Academy to coach the kids at practices. The kids do a lot of good drills but play all sorts of games like the fox and the hunter and cowboys and Indians. The best part is that each kid gets involved and has a ball. The games are a little less fun since Samantha's philosophy continues to be "I don't want to take the ball from the other kids." I guess I should be blamed for instilling the "sharing" value in her.... She has actually improved so much since the fall.

Wait till you see Samantha's dance costume! Her recital is in June and the girls have been practicing so hard.

Ken and I... well, we are still doing it. It is still challenging at times. And the new daycare routine hasn't quite settled in yet. The boys are still very cranky but it is getting a little better with the signs they have learned helping them communicate with us. They are also still really clingy. And the trip to the park yesterday chasing two 2-year olds was super exhausting. But they are so worth it. The our our little guys and when Bradley flashes his charming little smile or Mr. Dylan gives us that big giant loving grin. Oh, it just melts my heart.

Riding in Cars

Earlier this month we spent a weekend at Granny and Grandpa's. The weather was beautiful and we spent a lot of time outside. Here are some videos of the boys riding in their cars and Sammi playing in the backyard. Thanks for having us Grandpa and Granny, what a fun time.