Another busy week(s)

Samantha officially started kindergarten on August 20th. She was so exited she bounded out of bed the first morning. She wanted to pick out her own clothes, which could have been dangerous as she has a unique sense of style - lots of color and prints. I was pleasantly surprised by the outfit she put together. Here she is looking very much like a school girl.



We nearly missed the bus on the first day! It came 15 minutes earlier than last year. We had just walked outside to take some pictures when the bus pulled in. She had to run down the hill to get on.



Yesterday we went to the Marietta Aquatic Center. I believe it was the last weekend it is open. It is a huge kiddie pool that is heated, it has slides, sprinklers, a lazy river and a big pirate ship. She had blast.

I hadn't noticed how long her hair has gotten until I saw this profile picture.

Today we went to our friend Angie's wedding shower. It was very nice. Her friends obviously put a lot of time/effort into this event. Sam is going to be the flower girl. It has taken a bit of work to keep her out of the pretty dress!

We're home now & hopefully in for a quiet (an early) evening.

Until next time....

Lori

Busy Weekend

I can't believe it, but school starts on Wednesday! So this being the last weekend of summer, we decided to make the most of it.

Yesterday, we spent the day at the zoo. Sam had never been there before and she loved it.

Of course the monkeys and gorillas were a big hit:


I think this was her favorite:

We stopped off for some face painting before leaving for the day:

Today was spent school clothes shopping. Found some great deals at Kohl's and Old Navy. Sam is a natural born shopper - must be the Grandma Ermal in her. She was so excited (& cooperative). She tried on so many pants - she is not an easy fit. Of course, I bought too much. Except I forgot to get any socks. Good thing she'll be wearing sandals to start off. I hope I can remember to pick some up this week. Her hot pink Kangaroo shoes should be here by Wednesday or Thursday & I know she'll be wanting to wear them right away.

Will update again after he first day.

Lori

LLS Light the Night

My friend Jennifer is organizing a team for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night. Her team is dedicated to Cameron. Please visit her site for more information:

http://pages.lightthenight.org/tn/MidTN09/TeamCameron

Thanks Jennifer!

Lori

Happy Birthday Mom

Tomorrow, August 11th, would have been my mom's 64th birthday, marking the first one since she's been gone.

I miss her.

Final vacation pictures

I realize that this is as bad as watching your neighbor's slideshow from a vacation, but I'm not able to help myself. I took hundreds of pictures during the trip so you are really just viewing a sample :)

From our dinner on the pier. I wonder what inappropriate thing Christian is saying to Sam?




After dinner we rode the lift around the pier. The girls thought it was great. Christian, Paul & I thought it was a little scary. We were very high. The ride was a bit rusty and we stopped at the peak for almost 30 seconds. Doesn't seem like much, but when you are swinging in the breeze it felt like an eternity. I have no pictures from the ride. Too busy holding on...

Felt much better after we got back to the pool.


The girls were hot and tiring of the sun so they built a fort from the ride-ons.

About a minute later the boys knocked down the fort.

Sam started feeling more confident in the water. She took a couple of running jumps before I could catch it on film.

Our last morning - a final dig in the sand.

1st Annual Cameron Brown Memorial Hog Roast

Tonight was the 1st Annual Cameron Brown Memorial Hog Roast hosted by our local high school footall team. One of the players organized the event as part of his senior project. They raised several thousand dollars and it will become an on-going scholarship program. They had a very nice presentation ceremony where all of the information was announced. At the end, "2" stickers were passed out. The players for all age groups in the district will where Cameron's number on their helmets. Also, Cam's #2 jersey was retired by the youth program. It was an emotional evening and touching to see how Cameron affected the lives of these young men and has influenced them in positive ways.

Vacation: Day 3

Day 3 started off a bit bizarrely. We were all down on the beach and the kids were all running around. Suddenly Samantha came running to me shouting "Grandma's here! Grandma's here! Grandma's here!" I looked back where she was pointing and there was a woman who looked exactly like my mom. My brother and I could not believe it. She could have easily been a twin. The kids were convinced that Grandma had come along. Sam also said "I wonder if bubby is here too?"

I saw her once more when we were in a restaurant and she was walking down the sidewalk. I wish I would have been brave enough to snap a photo of that lady. Here are some of the pics I did take on day 3:

Sam & her boogie board:

The ocean won this battle:

Poptarts - the snack of champions!

We cut our vacation a few days short because tonight (Friday) our local high school football team is doing a fundraiser and they are making a dedication to Cameron.

More to come....

Lori

Good to be home

We made it home a little while ago. I would have posted more during the trip but I was unable to maintain an internet connection.

We did have a great time. Sam loved the ocean. She was not afraid of it all. She also loved the pool and the lazy river. We spent all of our time in the water. No sight-seeing, lots of ordering in, just relaxing.

I loved the hotel. Our room was great. Everyone was very nice. My only complaint was that they require guests to wear plastic wristbands. Samantha said "this is just like the Ronald McDonald House."

On the first day there was a hula hoop contest. Sam was the best in her age-group, while she did not win the overall competition Christian did win. It was hysterical. Too bad my camera was in the room. Here are some other pics I took on day 1:

Sam & Ashton:



Sam & Emily:

Sam & Ash:

Need to work on unpacking, will post more tomorrow.

Lori

Welcome to Florida!

We decided to take a vacation this year. It has been over 3 years since our last trip. Our summers since then have been spent at Children's Hospital. Samantha doesn't even remember being at the ocean before (though this is her 3rd trip and she is only 5). She was so excited to see all of the water.

After arriving at our hotel (which is great!) we quickly changed and rushed down to the ocean. The water feels great.



Next, we hit the lazy river. She flew around the loop.



We're settling in for the night soon. Paul, Amy & crew should be here in the morning so Sam can spend the rest of the time with her cousins.

Will post more pics tomorrow.

Lori