Picture Time

We have been busy and happy with work, school, and church but we've snagged a few photos along the way! Hope everyone is doing well. Enjoy!

First Day of School!

Can you tell she's excited?!
Cutest picture in the world I do believe.

"Let's go to school Mom!"
This is Elise right after we picked her UP from Preschool =)
Elise had a slight nervous meltdown in the car about wanting to buckle her own car seat- I think her nerves got to her and it all came out for about 3 minutes until she calmed down and got excited for school again.

Elise started Preschool last week and she could not love it more! I was secretly hoping she would hate it in a way and I would get to reclaim my baby but she enjoys every moment. I credit a lot of her success with a book we got her at Barnes and Noble called D.W.'s Guide to Preschool (Arthur's little sister). We read it for about 2 or 3 weeks in advance about 4 times a day. It had all kind of inside info for Elise such as "moms don't stay at preschool- but don't worry they pick you up at the end" and "don't worry they let you have lots of potty breaks" and Elise's favorite, "sometimes there are cupcakes on kids' birthdays!" So on her first day of school we dressed our little 2 and a half year old up, packed her lunchbox (with a cupcake of course!), and strapped her little mermaid backpack on and off she went! She hugged us and gave us 3 kisses each and never looked back. I almost cried, so Mom I can never make fun of you again by the way, but I held it in and waited anxiously until we picked her up a bit after noon. I love that little girl so much! She wishes she could go to preschool everyday, like she thinks D.W. does, but life isn't fair I tell her=) Carson and I have enjoyed some much needed quality time and the bathrooms and carpets are exceptionally clean having one less rugrat to keep up with for a few short hours 3 times a week! Life is moving by so quickly- I guess I'll just hang on and enjoy this ride.

Oh kiddos!

Just chillin=)
Elise being ever so helpful in the bath. Carson looks excited huh?!
WOah!
Daddy's workin so we take pictures...lots of pictures!
The rose to accompany my sweet ride =)
Jolly little fellow huh?!
We were a bit excited...
Getting ready for the first rice cereal....
That about sums it up=) Not a huge hit yet!
The laughter gets intense at the Sammis house! Notice Elise's ponytail!!
Cute new shoes huh?! Cute kid too =)
Her interpretive dance
Mother forcing a pose=)

I really have had a great summer with these kids. They are (for the most part) so very jolly=) They make each other laugh multiple times a day which helps me take things not so seriously when I want to pull my hair out. I overheard Elise saying to Carson "You're making me crazy bud!!" Which made me feel like a number one mom so I am working on holding my tongue even when I think no one is listening. Elise loves to tell stories to everyone just like I do. She will repeat bits and pieces of stories I tell Bry from throughout the day and I just hear her in her carseat telling them to Carson. For example "Hey Carse carse (her nickname for Carson), Brody was cryin and cryin because I did not share. I ran around and around and hit my head..bonk..ouch! Then miss lawen (lauren) said "Naattallleeee" (in a grunted voice for some reason haha) and mom came and got me..theee end." I am sure I am the only human that enjoys this story so thank you for bearing with me on my "mom box" =) Kids are beautiful things I just have to say!

In other news.... Bryan got his DEMO! This has been his dream since middle school in which he gets to have any company car off the lot and switch it out at least monthly. So I was so excited for him to get a Corvette or GTO for himself the first day but instead he surprised me with a hybrid Lexus SUV that has sun-roof, leather seats, dual temperature control, GPS, back-up camera and the most important..room for my jogging stroller. He drove it into the driveway, put a red rose on the hood and called my cell phone to have me come outside to "open the garage" =) This may not seem like a huge deal to most, however if you know Bry this is HUGE. Hugely sweet, nice, and selfless and I can't thank him enough=) Don't worry he will be switching it out at the end of the month and we will have some sort of fun date in a fast Corvette, but for now I am reveling in my leather and sweet sound system!

Note the firebird tee
Gotta love the masses of people at the Conklin reunion
Uncle Kevie!
What fun looking at smelly horses can be!
My cousin holding naked baby Carson (he got a bit too hot so we stripped him down!)
Perfect seat for Carson while I water the garden
Elise loved to look at the horses in the hills of PA
Pool=Love
Kevin and Sarah being so patriotic on our 4th of July Conklin reunion
Post Whiskey Rebellion Race! (my aunts, cousin, dad and sister-in-law)
Annabelle was not too excited but I love this one!
Cute little cousins huh!?
Annabelle Ruth!
Elise was very proud of the train she made in our kitchen
Carson just being cute!

Well we have been to California, Richmond Va, Pennsylvania and back! It has been such a fun summer and we still have another beach trip with the Sammis side of the family to look forward to. No real big news...Carson can roll over both ways now. Elise is fully potty trained and I can't thank the heavens more!! I ran my fastest 5k of my life on the third of July which I was pretty proud of! Bry has been on business trips galore and is excited for the beach I am sure. We are happy and well and life by the pool, in the garden, and running in the mornings is quite splendid!

Lazy Summer

Well our summer hasn't been too lazy thus far but I sure have been at blogging! Let's see since last post I have driven to Richmond, VA to visit my dear friends Jen, Lance and Alivia. We had an awesome time spending the week together while Bry had a business trip in Houston. Elise went to King's Dominion and surprised us all with her love of roller coasters and the like! Jen took some awesome pictures of the event that I need to put on here at some future date. Let's see I have gone to Edisto Beach with my dear Mother-in-law, Chris and friend Gail which was a great little get away. I flew to California with Carson to see Rachel Hamilton's wedding and meet up with all my girlie girls from college- Monica, Jenny, Ashley, Anne, and their kiddos. SO SO fun to see all of them. Elise meanwhile spent the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Conklin and had a very fun time- except for some poop issues, but nothing a little Raisin Bran wouldn't fix! Let's see oh yes, we went to the lake last weekend to celebrate Rachel's (my sister-in-law) birthday- and had so much fun with the whole family and her bf Michael- Elise surprised us again by jumping off the back of the boat (while stationary!) with Bry. I love that she is becoming more like me... a daredevil that is. She is pretty girlie with her insane love of lip gloss, high heels, and dress up clothes but I see the tom boy emerging bit by bit! Carson is such a sweet boy=) I love that kid to pieces. He has discovered his not so manly voice... the high pitched squeal of giddiness is his choice of communication these days and it makes me laugh almost every time- It will deepen in a matter of what 14, 15 years right?! He seems to be a bit more muscular and stronger than Elise was as a baby and I don't just say that because he isn't AS obese as Elise was in her day, but because he loves to stand stand stand. The boy would walk if he had the balance- he loves his exersaucer and crazy jumper/swing thing that hangs from the door jam. He is a fun little guy and Elise loves him to death- literally almost to death ..I found Carson mysteriously tucked into his blankets after I got out of the shower when I was 99% sure I had laid him on top of all of them when I laid him down... but didn't think much of it until later that night I = caught Elise flinging herself into his crib like Tarzan and then back out again at will. YIKES- sorry poor Cars man I hope your sister didn't smash you that day! I now leave him on the ground within eyesight for showers needless to say.

Well today being fathers day I would like to thank my wonderful dad for being a great inspiration to me throughout my life. I admire his sense of dedication to the gospel and to helping those in need- no matter who it is. I also have to thank him for the spirit of competition that I inherited from him which has helped me to be a better runner and worker as I try to keep up with him. I am thankful for the love he shows my children and for the child still in him- even if it does mean he still eats freeze pops like its his job and adorns his "custom made" water slippers in public=) I love having such a happy father!

I also want to do a little shout-out to my main man-- Bryan, that is=) He is a wonderful father. He loves these little kids with all of his heart. He even has a hard time finding other children cute and fun to be around because he is so biased toward our little ones=) He is patient so many times when I am not. He is adventurous with them when I feel like being lazy. He wants to be the perfect dad and I tell ya what- although Carson may cry almost any time he is held by anyone but his mother dear- Bry is the perfect father for our children- even when he doesn't see it that way. He loves them with all of his heart and would do anything for their happiness and well-being. I am so blessed to have him as a husband and a father to Elise and Carson. Happy Father's Day!!!