Summer picture wrap up and updates (from newest to oldest)

Sam, Alex, and I went to a park/trail close to our house on the first day of fall! The weather was amazing! Alex got to try out her new bike on the trail. She did great with it! You should have seen some of the poses she struck with her bike! She's so funny!

This pose was awesome. Looks so natural, right?!

Sammy in the wagon that he is addicted to.

Al loved taking Sam down the slide. I swear I did not make her keep her helmet on.

Awwwww....

We went to this small town fair last weekend. It was a lot of fun and Alex has no fear when it comes to rides. She takes after her dad in that area. I'm a chicken. I rode the ferris wheel with her and thought I was going to get sick! Ha! Going to Kings Island this weekend so that will really put her bravery to the test!

Me and my little man :) I love him so much I can't stand it!

Al striking a pose on the ferris wheel. Where does she come up with these poses!?

Some of the girls and me out for my birthday! It was an interesting, yet very fun night. Tara and I made an entire night out of it and closed the bar down! Ha! I can always count on Tara!

Sammy and Al in Alex's barbie jeep.

I wish I could get a video of this uploaded! Sam loves to push Al around on his corn popper! He even manages to push her up hills! And all around the house. This was taken before he could even walk alone. He's walking now but still enjoys pushing her.

Me and the babes at the zoo. This was the only pic I got of all three of us. At least one of us is looking at the camera.

Lake fun!

First time in the sand

Uh...not so sure why the serious face.

Cooper looking so regal.

Sam loves to have me chase him around the house and play peek-a-boo. This is a common look I get before he takes off with serious speed to hide from me.

Alex and her new friend she met this summer.

Alex with Chuckie Cheese (or Chuckie Jesus, if you will remember this is what she use to call him AND Jesus). Man, did she have fun there!

This picture does not do this slip and slide justice. It was very long, on a big hill at the lake house, and had carpeting underneath it to make for a very smooth ride, then you land in the pool at the end. Often times you would be going so fast you would flip out of the pool. Tim is awesome with this kind of stuff. What lucky kiddos! I about killed myself going down it...but it was so fun!

Sammy with bink....I didn't get many pics of him at the lake without it in his mouth. Luckily we are over this addiction now.

Al snoozing with her most favorite snow globe. It was my Grandma Mary's. It is her "special treasure" she says

My parents came to visit for my big garage sale weekend (which they helped tremendously!!!) and we couldn't find Al and my dad. We finally did. They were in the basement for forever playing all kinds of REALLY exciting games. (game in this picture is princess and the pea...and yes that's a beer in the background. For my dad, not Alex. Sometimes it's necessary to drink when playing these kids games over and over!)

Tim trying to teach Ally to play guitar hero. Didn't go so well.

This summer seemed to go by so fast and I can't believe it is over already! And I can't believe I am now also 30 years old! Holy Hell! Life goes so fast.

I've been really bad about blogging this summer and I will probably stay bad at it! Ha! But I will try to keep up on it as I want this to be something the kids can look back through when they get older. I wish my parents would have had the opportunity to make something like this for my sisters and I.

Funny things Ally has said recently:

1. While coloring at the dinner table, she looked up at me and very seriously asked me, "What's another word I can say instead of damnit?" Hmmmm....we settled on darn it.
2. While watching Ellen the other day she explained to me that she really didn't enjoy watching Ellen and would rather watch one of her shows. I explained to her that I love Ellen and want her to be my friend. She told me I should ask God to make her come to life and make her a real human. When I explained to her that she already is real and so are the people on the shows she watches (like I Carly) she about fell out of her chair. She couldn't believe it. So funny! I just assumed she knew they were real people!
3. Yesterday I kept forgetting to get her popsicle after she ate dinner. I started laughing and said, "I'm sorry, I keep forgetting!" She said, "geez mom! You always forget! Why did Jesus make you so forgetful!?" I don't know Alex. I wonder that sometimes too.
   

I'm sure there are tons more, but now I'm drawing a blank...sigh...I guess it's that forgetful thing again! Darn!

Sam is walking now, not ALL the time but most the time. He is such a fun little guy. So happy and so funny and full of life. He keeps me busy. I'm going back to work in November to my old position in home health. While I'm not looking forward to my time ending at home with Sam, I know it will be good for all of us. Sam has already visited his class and seems to really have fun in there. It will be a big adjustment for him AND me but I know we will get use to it. Luckily my job is so flexible that even as full time status I am usually done working by two or earlier. So I'll still have my afternoons with him. Alex on the other hand is very excited to go back to school full time. She goes just three days a week now.
Last but not least, I think I'm going to quit Facebook. Yup. I know. Big decision. It's just so addicting and a waste of time for me when I should be concentrating on my babes and my life in the "here and now". So, I've narrowed down the people on my "friend" list to people I talk to regularly (for the most part). But I think I'm just going to go for it and get rid of my account all together. But You can still visit me here! ;)

Stay tuned for Kings Island pics and Halloween pics! Lots of Halloween festivities planned and a huge 5th birthday party planned for Al on Sam's bday. We will be celebrating both but mostly Als. She's never had a REAL friend party so she is SOOOOO excited. She measures everything by how many 'night times' away it is. 24 more night times!
Happy Fall!!!!