Copy Cat

Some days while we wait for Dad to get home, Sam will watch a Mickey Mouse episode and I will read my book. Sometimes I fall asleep. Sam has this reenactment down perfect!Blake has his big FFL Draft at the end of the month. He has been hard at work studying and building spreadsheets. Sam decided to give an extra look at his FFL magazines.Any good insights to making Daddy the champion?I usually pay the bills and organize the budget while Sam is napping...she must have seen me doing it once before.Notice the pen behind her ear?
She worked really hard getting it there.I clean the kitchen every night. She's never interested in helping...unless it's with Grandma and Pappa!

This girl LOVES celebrating birthdays! The day after Ray's birthday, she discovered these candles. She would "light" them (with a real, working lighter), sing and blow them out. Over and over and over!

The Crazy Things She Says & Does

Today Sam and I made a flannel board for Samantha's Joy School (that we are starting in just a couple weeks!) We also worked on Sam's bulletin board that hangs in her room. A couple of days ago it fell down...so today we fixed it. Sam wanted to "rearrange" her art. She pulled everything off...threw most of it away and made piles in different rooms. While I was working, I realized I hadn't heard her in awhile. I went off looking for her. I found her in the bathroom, with the door shut...cutting her crafts. "I'm clipping! It's OK mama. It's OK! We can make more crafts at the library."Seriously, word for word, what she said. There were piles of clippings all over the house.This is a picture of her yesterday "during" her nap...which she never took...wonder why? Perhaps a few too many books? We visited Blake at work last Friday for lunch. We ate at the ConocoPhillips Cafeteria. As we are meeting all of Blake's co-workers...this is how Sam decided to greet everyone.With undies on her head. Classy gal!

Sleeping Beauty

This is Samantha sleeping.Ahh...I know. She's a sweetheart. Now, let's take a closer look.

Notice what she is holding...Four toys! Yep. Four.
2 bouncing balls (1 firmly gripped in her hand) 1 car, and a Transformers laser light beam (courtesy of Rice Krispies box). And yes, they ALL need to be touching her somehow. This is all night, every night. If she drops one, she wakes up. And yes, I come in and help her find them.

Notice who else is in bed...Two babies!
Certainly, she can't leave anyone out.

Now, notice where she is...Not her big girl bed.
So, where do you think I have room to lay? Certainly not where the babies are (Blake's side). I am on the far, far, top corner of the bed. On an angle, with an iddy, piddy, bit of pillow.

This is my morning, every morning. Samantha wakes up about 7am when Blake is leaving for work. She comes in our room with pillow, blankie, babies and toys and makes herself at home. She likes to lay cheek to cheek, which is how I eventually get pushed out of bed. Luckily, most days, she sleeps until about 8:30.

The Only Thing Growin'

One Lonely CucumberAnd a bunch of Serrano PeppersI basically have an herb garden...not a vegetable garden. So, I must admit I was pretty excited to see this cucumber growing! I have high hopes for a strong late summer growth of the zucchini and squash. The watermelon plant is also showing some promise...no fruit, but lots of growing.

Baking and Arts & Crafts Day

Aunt Melissa has been visiting us before her job starts up again. She is the leader of baking day. She picks the recipes and goes shopping with us. These two have become quite a pair! Giggling and yelping everywhere they go! Samantha is really starting to enjoy helping. Her attention span is getting longer and she acts really serious with some tasks. Today we added arts & crafts to our baking day. Melissa researched some fun things for Sammie to make. At the store, we bought a craft bin and a bunch of stuff to fill it with. We should be prepared for future weeks now! Samantha made a monkey puppet. She named it Mickey the Monkey. Melissa made a Ladybug hand puppet. This one was a bit more complicated. Sam put on the eyes and dots.

Too Hot To Do Anything But Swim!

Have I ever mentioned how much Samantha LOVES to swim?Luckily, her friends do too!

We had plans to put Sam in swim lessons this summer. But, somehow she managed to learn all by herself! Seriously! The girl is self-taught!

Sammie is fearless! She jumps off the diving board and goes down all the slides the lifeguards will allow her on.

Baking with Sammie

Once a week, during the day, Sam and I are going to start baking something together. This week since peaches were on sale, we made a peach pie. She usually loses interest in helping me in the kitchen...today was no exception.

First she poked holes in the pie shell (obviously not homemade).Then, she mashed the peaches for the filling.She was supposed to be helping me cook the peaches...but she didn't want to help anymore. Filling the shell with freshly cut peaches.Done!
Now, on to more important things...tennis! She is getting really good at keeping her eye on the ball! Great form!