The past three weeks...

...were as usual...BUSY!!! Memorial Day weekend we visited my mom and sister. We spent Friday and Saturday doing necessary work around the farm. Then Saturday night we met some friends for dinner and then off to a local carnival. Sammie was so excited to go on all the rides, except the dragon/dinosaur ride, which she was absolutely terrified of. Sunday was spent as Sammie's celebration for her birthday. We went to the circus in Hershey! It was really fun! Loud, but fun. Daniel got upset when fireworks went off but they both did really well.

Two days after we returned home Grandma Brown came to visit. Her first week-long visit with us. She taught Sammie about colors and did fingerpaintings with her. She took the kids for walks around the neighborhood, which, sadly, I fail to do on a regular basis. Also, We went to Ikea, a must whenever Grandma's in town! We had a great time with her here. It was great to have her here for Sammie's birthday.

The first weekend in June was Sammie's birthday party....a Princess party. We held it at the local park. We were blessed with beautiful weather! We invited a few boys to the event so I twisted the theme abit and involved dinosaurs through the favors. She had a great time. I hope all the kids did too. Sammie received a lot of wonderful, generous gifts. We are so blessed to have such giving family members and friends.

Last week we had a friend of Sammie's over for the week. It was a great experience for Sammie. She had someone her age to play with and to help her learn how to share. She isn't the greatest sharer, like most three year olds, but she needs all the experience with it she can get!!

This past Saturday was a birthday for two of Sammie's friends...twins. It was a great Elmo party. Their mom is so creative. I love getting ideas from her. Sammie and I ventured to it alone so Matt could get some work around the house done and Daniel could get a good nap. It was great yet a little weird at the same time to only have Sammie with me. I was able to catch up with some old friends while Sammie played and met some new girls her age.

Since this past Sunday the kids have been house-bound for the past three or four days. Why? Because Sammie has been potty training! It's been going really well! She has been in big girl panties for the past four days with very few accidents! She has really impressed me. We took our first venture out today for lunch and she even was willing to go while we're out....which isn't suprising, but we were at my old work place and they are have a kid size potty (and sink). She loved it! She would try to sneak in there just to "potty" or wash her hands for a fourth or fifth time. I never realized how liberating it would be for me to have her independently using the potty.

Now this coming weekend we are hosting most of Matt's family and my mom and sister. Daniel is getting Dedicated on Sunday at church. This is exciting to have the family here because we weren't able to have anyone here for Sammie's Dedication. Also it's Father's Day so it'll special to have Daniel's only Papa here for this special day.

I should be helping Matt finish up all the cleaning but like any other time, I'll do a little tonight and then rush around and stress about it tomorrow! I seem to work best under that kind of pressure!


Here's some pics from the past few months. Hope you enjoy them!


Daniel finding all kinds of toys in his basket


Sammie helping Grandma Starr with dishes


Sammie on the Day of her birthday party


Our first Spring Day in the Sandbox