Happy Mother's Day

Here's to a wonderful & relaxing celebration of many moms - thanks Gma & Nana for all we've become because of you & the influence you've had on our lives - and to my wonderful husband & sweet girls for making me realize how incredibly blessed we are!  Thank you!!!  I love you all!

Art & Soul

Chris took the girls to "buy" my mother's day gifts the Friday before Mother's Day....he also took the camera...hmmm!  It's Monday night now (after Mother's Day) and this is the first I've seen these pictures - I was good & didn't look at them on our camera at all this weekend.  What a treat to open beautiful painted pottery from the girls on Mother's Day morning.  Thank you Chris for being so creative with the idea and thanks to the girls for creating beautiful art work that we will enjoy for years to come (I still have to take it to be fired though....Chris 1. didn't want to do it early b/c the girls would give the surprise away (they did anyways - as soon as they got home on Friday afternoon the first thing Abby said to me was "I shouldn't tell you but we painted a surprise for you".  Later Hannah chimed in about painting pottery...and finally - the next day Lexy couldn't contain herself anymore and said - since Abby & Hannah already told you that we painted pottery for you - I can't wait to show you.  Too funny!!) and 2.  he isn't the planner his wife is - although very impressive, his idea of planning is usually a day out - smiley face.  None the less - I loved it all!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Fun in the sprinklers....while Lexy was at school

Mother's Day Teas

On Thursday I scooted to Lexy's school for the book fair, then off to Abby's class before tennis for a wonderful tea.  Her class put on a show of songs they've learned this year (it was adorable) and her teachers made the most delicious food!  On Friday I enjoyed another tea with monkey bread made by Hannah & her classmates.  Hannah was so cute - she picked out not only her clothes, but mine & Abby's too (and yes - note that Abby has gum in her mouth again...I think it's becoming a photo must - sadly, huh?!).  Both girls made wonderful crafts for me - Hannah a handprint tile and Abby a potted painted plant (which she found the perfect spot for at home - she moved our tissue box out of it's container & put her plant in it - too funny).  Hannah shared her thoughts about mom....I like to go to costco, watch tennis, tickle her & take her to dunkin donuts (wishful thinking on that last one - that's all daddy!). 

Down by the creek bank

Thanks Nana, Papa & Gma for coming to see/hear the girls sing in their choir performance.  They had so much fun (and to think a year ago Aunt Meredith had to take Hannah kicking & screaming out of the sanctuary b/c she didn't want to sing - how far we've come).  Abby went on first with her 'Lil Lambs choir - she was adorable & just loved singing.  Hannah & Lexy were up with all the choirs in their Cherub choir - Hannah is adorable b/c she annunciates (sp?) her words so much.  They both love to sing and it just brings a smile to my face remembering how cute they were on stage....smiley face!

Ice Cream Social

Lexy & I were only there for 15 minutes (we had to get to Lexy's Daisy meeting) - Daddy, Hannah & Abby stayed for the full time & made us proud (Chris came home with an impressive number of silent auction items - go Daddy - support the preschool & spend our money wisely - smiley face).  They all had a blast (Chris said they watched the clown show 2x they thought it was so funny)...I was able to snap a picture of the girls with the Dunkerley's....sweet friends!

Ani's princess party

Abby was invited to Ani's princess party...and Maggie & Josie asked Hannah & Lexy to come as their guests too (thank you Aunt Missy & Uncle Jason for letting Lexy borrow the snow white costume).  Fun times!

I've renamed it May Madness

May is by far the fullest month of our year....and as much as I want to complain about all we have to do - I can't b/c I'm a big reason it is so busy.....we encourage our children to do so much it all comes down to this....

The end of school...which means birthday celebrations (b/c we have summer bdays) & field days , end of year parties (and of course I'm the room mom for all three girls - smiley face)
Transitions to new roles and transitioning people to my old role
Concerts/Performances for choir, preschool & kindergarten awards ceremonies
Mother's Day - teas at the preschool & family celebrations too
Ballet Recitals
The end of soccer - so lots of games (makeup & regularly scheduled) and end of season parties
The start of swimming - so afternoon practices
end of Daisys, year end board meetings
And loads of birthday parties for our many, many friends
Tennis....always tennis - smiley face!

Life is good - smiley face!  I have to remind myself of that when I want to complain - there is no need - we should all be thankful for these incredible opportunities & relationships (friendships) we've made

Daisys go to Dunwoody Nature Center

Fun with the Crosbys, Dunns & Kings....what a treat!

It felt like old times (once we got the kids settled and ignored the fact that we were all piled into a suburban with a DUMC preschool and Woodland Charter Elem School magnet on the side heading into town in "unhip" clothes - haha).  Thank you Lisa for organizing a fun, fun weekend with everyone....throw the Schaffers and the Kirspels into the mix...along with a few other PBCC (post brookhaven country club) tennis members & who would have known we have 11 kids between us - smiley face!  What a fun, fun weekend!

Picture Day!

Picture Day....as I filled out our form I was planning on buying only one picture (b/c Chris gets the team pictures free as a coach) of the girls together....I suddenly realized this was Abby's first season playing soccer - I need to get an individual picture of her (it looks just like Lexy and Hannah's did - no smile - smiley face) b/c I had to capture this memory too.  And of course...she played today so my mom took a few cute photos of her - so sweet!!!!  We have the most fun on our Soccer Saturdays - we get up there early & stay until the end with a picnic lunch & lots of snacks...it's daddy's dream - his girls love soccer & he gets to share every moment with them.  Good times!

Thank You Chris - smiley face!

As if he read my mind (I think he does - either that or I just go off all the time & it can't help but know exactly what I want b/c I vented for 2 hours to him about it...ha ha - smiley face).   Meredith had just had sweet Julia, so I was helping with Charlie at the same time our kitchen floor was being redone (thank you for that bday present too) which meant I had NO WHERE to go w/in our house with a 13 month old and three antsy girls for three full days.  Chris had a business trip to Puerto Rico and less than a week before he had to leave, he said to me as we were driving to the lake...."Do you have plans next week?"  Well OF COURSE - I'm Samantha - smiley face!  Do I have plans?!  Seriously?!  "Well I booked you a flight to join me in Puerto Rico next week, called my mom & she can stay with the girls, can you make it work so you can join me?"  INCREDIBLE, AMAZING, PERMAGRIN on my face - thank you, thank you, thank you honey (and thank you Nana for taking care of the girls & juggling our busy schedules with them - we appreciate it so much)!  You are the best, most amazing, thoughtful person EVER!  I love you more than you know - three days sitting by the pool/beach with an incredible breeze, drinking whatever I wanted & reading books without anyone tugging or whinning near me.  It was PERFECT!!!  Thanks to his co-workers Natalie & Julia for allowing me to tag along for some delicious dinners and lots of laughter - I had a great, great time!  (And ps - Old San Juan reminds us a lot of St Augustine with the spanish influence & the fort - hope you enjoyed a glimpse of my morning walks....sadly I didn't get one photo of Chris & me together!)