Luau Pics

Feeling kind of cruddy, so not much to say.

And last but not least, one of my new haircut!

Summer♥

I just love summer ♥ I love the warmth ♥ The bbq's with neighbors ♥ Daylight until well past dinnertime ♥




The kids outside laughing, playing, running, blowing bubbles, riding bikes ♥ I love the swimming, fishing,  
nights spent eating  dinner outside, melting popsicles, and the sound of the ice cream truck ♥




I love the smell of sunscreen, the taste of fresh summer fruit, bare feet, and drinking sweet tea ♥  
I love everything about summer, all except the mosquitoes that is! ♥ Oh yeah, and I love my birthday!
 

The boys of Summer. I can hardly keep Caleb inside!

Here he is with all of his buddies! How blessed are we that he has so many little friends his age in our neighborhood?!

 

There is nothing more perfect than Summer!

Beach 2011

Here is our beach picture from last year:

Sum, Sum, Summer Time!

This summer has been flying by so fast. I cannot believe it is already July! That means only a few more months until Matt comes home, a few more months until my mom is hopefully finished with chemo, a few weeks until I become an aunt for the first time (congrats Michelle and Jon!), and one month until my birthday! I have already told my husband that I so badly want a hot tub for my birthday- to soak my 90 year old joints! But, with finances being a huge issue, it looks like I may have to do some major persuading! I am usually good at that, so we shall see!

In two weeks from now is my mom's benefit Luau. It has been a very fun, yet time consuming event to plan....and I am only helping! My aunt, and her friends, have taken on the role of organzing the most of it. It is going to be amazing! The donations we have recieved to auction off are just phenomenal! Duma's meats have donated a few pigs to roast, Giant Eagle, Beilers, and Hartville Marketplace haved donated tons of food. It will be a blast! If anyone in town is interested in attending, tickets are only $10 for adults and $5 for kids. I have them in hand and they are ready to sell! All proceeds are going to benefit my mom, Judi Sammons, to help offset her medical costs.

Other news this summer: Ross and I just celebrated 7 wonderful years of marriage! I sometimes take a look at my life and wonder how I have been blessed with such an amazing husband who works so hard to give me such a wonderful life, and two beautiful babies who make me smile and give me a reason to get out of bed every morning. I just love my family! They are my whole world!

I have been healthy most of the summer. I have gained the 20lbs, doctor ordered, that has been a work in progress since last February. I am officially at my goal weight! My joints are still my main issue. Some days I can hardly walk, and others are doable. I did come down with a new lung infection last week that I have been fighting off, but so far, it has not got me down much. Fingers crossed that I can stay away from the hospital a little longer!

I hope this post finds all of my family and friends having a great summer as well! I know I have been horrible at keeping this updated, it is just so hard to maintain my normal routines with so much going on in my life right now. I am hoping that change soon.

Summer is here! And we have been busy, busy, busy. Not too much time for a written update, but I am going to share a few pics...and hopefully give a real one soon.

The short version:
Held an awesome, successful garage sale to raise money for my mom.
Met up with my new friend, Tiffany, AKA "Matt's girlfriend", and had a blast watching the Indians win again!
Caleb finished pre-k and is now an official Kindergartener in the fall!
I went summer clothes shopping!
Have swam in the baby pool more times than I can count, okay maybe I could ccount, but still a lot! Both clothed and in suits!
Have had some crazy, crazy storms!
Have still been painting like crazy, and just finished painting my kitchen table a fun green!
I planned a fun, family birthday party for my "big" 3 year old girl...almost, this Sunday is her official birthday.
My days are jammed packed with things to do, people to see....and things to clean! I hope all of you are enjoying your June!

Rambling.

I am in need of some good BBQ. Craving it. Does Parker's ship? That is something I need to look into. ASAP. I am also craving brownies.

That reminds me, my new stove was delivered today. I have an oven again! It has been almost 2 weeks without one!

I am ready for the weekend. My week has been so jam packed with "stuff" that I haven't had time to just relax and love on my kids. I am thinking a trip to the zoo, or something fun, should be on the agenda soon.

Last night Caleb went to his first Cancer support group for kids ( at The Stewarts Caring Place, amazing AMAZING place by the way!). They gave him a giving doll. It is adorable! A little boy doll that he named "Dillan". He said that he has always wanted a baby brother. He brought one home to Addy too. A little girl one named "Ava". People sew these adorable, handmade dolls and donate them to kids going through tough times. Caleb told me last night that he was supposed to hug Dillan anytime that he feels sad about Cancer. He paused, smiled, and then said: "I don't know why I would ever be sad about Cancer! Maybe Dillan will be the one that is sad. He can just hug me when Cancer makes HIM sad." Bless his sweet little heart.

I think it is good for him to hear a little bit of info geared towards his age group and in terms that he understands. It makes things a little less scary, and helps him to be ok with some of the changes that he is around. A five year old should have no worries!

He loved being there too! This morning he was asking when he could go back and telling Addy about how much fun she missed.

On a side note, I just realized that in exactly one month from tomorrow, I will have a three-year-old little girl? Where did time go? Is she really turning 3???? My little Adalyn.

Time for me to get planning. I guess I have a Strawberry Shortcake party to throw, yes that is what she really wants!

Is that you sun?

I can't help but walk around with a huge smile on my face lately. The sun shining, flowers blooming, warm breeze, kids playing outside, bbq going...all signs that summer is coming! I spent an amazing mother's day weekend. My husband and kids spoiled me with love, hugs, good food, and a few special gifts. I got to celebrate and appreciate my own wonderful mother and mother-in-law. Life is good.

I have been slowly re-decorating a few drab rooms in my house, to life my spirits and keep my mind off of the craziness of my unpredictable life. My bathroom is now a beach themed, relaxing get-away (which reminds me that I need to post some pictures! I will take some tomorrow!) and my kitchen has been painted and has a bright, fresh look that I love. My new attitude towards life has been reflected in the decorations I choose. No special colors or theme...I am just surrounding my self with the things that I love. If I love it, I use it. I am breaking all of the rules! I want a place that makes me smile. I want to feel comfort. I want my home to be inviting. I don't care about things being matchy, or something not being perfect...I just want my house to be a home. My place to get away from the stress of the world.

Up next is my bedroom. I found a bedspread that I fell in love with while in North Carolina last month.

Harbor House Pyrenees Bedding Collection

I am waiting for it to become available online again.  My new obsession. I cannot take my mind off of it. The  textures, colors, print, pillows...there is nothing about this bedset that I don't love. Unfortunately, both my fridge and stove went out last week, within days of each other. Those new purchases were a financial set-back...so I might have to wait a bit longer to start on my room. I have also been busy making my deck and backyard my own little out-door, Ohio paradise. I do not have a green-thumb, but I have come a long way and am getting better with each passing year.

Caleb only has a few more weeks left of school, and I cannot wait to spend my summer spending time with the kids. One goal I have this year is to start a little garden with them. I think we are going to do tomatoes, raddishes, and strawberries.

I am going to leave you with some photos from Caleb's recent Spring Concert. It was the huge music program at school that he has been working on all year. He did amazing!!