Cole's Birthday

Cole is one!!! Can't believe it. This last year has been a blur. The best blur ever, but still a blur! We had 2 parties this weekend. One at our house Saturday afternoon and one Sunday afternoon at Grandpa's house. It was a fun, busy and exhausting weekend and apparently we partied too hard because now both kids are sick.
We had so much fun visiting with all of our friends and family, thanks to everyone who made it out to celebrate with us. We love you all.
Here are some of the fun memories...sorry it took so long all you blogaholics.

We started the party weekend off with a visit from
the Olimbs. They came early (ok-5 hours early). Long story.
I am glad you came when you did-otherwise Asher and Sammer
may not have had the precious time that they did!

Sammie and Asher were holding hands and

walking around the house like they were on

their first date. They love each other-it is awesome!

Our family.

Sammie is always wanting to hold Cole...

he is not a fan of holding still!

My big birthday boy!

Enjoying some cake...mmm...

Nana, Cole and Grammie.

Sammie had SUCH a good time with her girls,

Karis and Ana. They spent the evening in Sammie's
room playing, dressing up and having a good time.

They couldn't look away from the mirror-ha!

Of course we playing "stick the tail on the donkey"--

a staple at our house...I don't know why?!

Pretty good Sammie!

Go Cole Go!

Day 2-party at Gpa's. Started off a

little rough. Scowly Cole was on the loose.

This is his new stinky face:)

Who me-MY birthday-wow!

A train cake for our little Cole Train.

Cole met his Great Grandpa-Papa John. Gpa's

always have the best accessories.

And he met his Great Gma Mary too. Nice jewelry!

Willow and Vivian (cousins) having a blast.

Diego-what a face!

Happy birthday to me!

Fruits of labor

Peter has been tending to his garden every day like a good gardener and here is the proof. Samantha was SO excited to bring this in and show me tonight. Tomorrow we're grilling you up buddy...mmm!

Wakey wakey

So every day after Cole's nap I let him play for a while and then I go in when he's still happy. Here is what I usually see...


Cole and friends, playing together is so much fun.

Standing and laughing-always!

A paci to chew, play with , throw, etc.

And a paci in each hand...armed and dangerous.

Pool and pops

It was a million degrees again today so after naps the kids enjoyed some splashing around in the pool with daddy and popsicles to cool off.
Sammie loves popsicles. What kids doesn't? They are the perfect summer snack.
Cole prefered to chew on the stick (those of you who know me well know that this doesn't sit well with me).
It was a great afternoon. Then dinner, baths and bed. Ah-to be a kid again, they have the life I tell ya.

Friday night fun

Tonight Zachary, our neighbor's son, came over for a few hours. He played so well and was such a good boy. He played with the kids, ate pasta and even took a bath. I only got one picture of him and learned that he HATES my camera. Something about a big black camera flashing bright lights bothered him?! Guess his mommy isn't invading his privacy as much as we do over here!

So here is the one pic I got of he and Sammie sitting together waiting patiently for me to cook dinner.

Cole has a new found love with pasta so tonight he got to have his first serving (well more like 3) of speghetti! He loved it. Guess what I will be making big batches of every Monday?!

Again, he is a mess! But still, really cute.

Here are pics of Cole's and Sammie's first speghetti dinners...you till notice we were a little wiser with Sammer and fed her naked!!!!!!! Ooops.

Cole's first speghetti dinner. July 09

Sammie's first speghetti dinner. March 07

Happy go messy

I had to get on film how messy my son is when he eats. He is always this messy. It doesn't matter what he's eating. It is amazing.
Here he is enjoying some potato perogies for lunch. Mmmm...anything wrapped in noodles are a hit for Cole!
Check out the teeth too--he's been busy-6 new teeth in 2 months!

Just another night...

So it's Sunday night and we're livin it up.
Sammie is dressed up (in a dress passed on from our good friend Karis). She said she is a princess who lives in "The Land of Oragami" Ha! I dont' know where that came from?
She also got some tatoos from a vending machine at Toys R Us and actually wanted to put one on. Those of you who know her well know that she's not into tatoos but things have changed.
Just another night in the South house...how can you not love your life when you have all of this going on around you!:)
Thanks for always keeping a smile on my face Sammer.

Princess Sammie

Watch out ANTM!

If you're in a dress-you have to twirl!

The tattoo that changed everything:)

A pain in the grass...

This is grass. It is in my house. It is in my ROOM!!!

Yesterday I was walking through my bedroom and something caught my eye. I thought I saw a piece of grass on the carpet so I went to pick it up and it was in the wall!!!!! Coming through the baseboards. Not good. Peter checked it out when he got home. He dug up all the grass on the sideyard and was pulling LONG pieces of grass out of the wall. This may be the strangest thing that I have ever seen. Hopefully no bugs have heard about this secret way into my bedroom.

Here's Jeremy's suggestion...thanks J.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greendaily.com%2F2009%2F01%2F20%2Fthe-living-moss-bath-mat%2F&h=2bc6183cc7f6f03afe1f61c6fee2620f

Florida

A week in Florida with the whole family was such a great time. So many great memories. Great people, great house, great beach, great town, great laughs, it was all so special. We will always treasre the memories made...

The whole family on the beach.

The Souths

The girls on the beach

Beach angels

The crew

The House

The beach house that we stayed in was unbelievable. All 15 of us stayed in it and were perfectly comfortable. We of course had our own private walkway to the beach...I know!

The Beach

We all had so much fun on the beach. The last time we went to the beach Sammie wasn't really about it but this time was a whole new story. She couldn't wait to run in and play in the waves. We could hardly get her out of the water to build sandcastles. Cole on the other hand could not make up his mind. One minute he would love it, the next..."get me out of here". He did, however, enjoy eating the sand! I think I will forever remember the kids sitting in the sand playing together.

Cole, Karlee, Sammie and Emma.

Wait for me...

Beach boy.

I get knocked down.

Model shot.

Drawing in the sand.

Cousins

Sammie and Cole had so much fun playing with their cousins Karlee and Emma. The girls were so much fun and SO helpful. From playing to carting the kids up and down the stairs to feedings and even cleaning Cole's huge messes! Thanks Karlee and Emma for being such great cousins. We love you!

Karlee and Cole

Emma and Sammie

Emma, Sammie and Karlee at the Gator farm.

Karlee, Cole, Emma and Sammer hangin at the beach.

Entertainment

When we weren't at the beach, out to eat, sightseeing (Gator farm, Crab shack, St. Sugustine trolly tour) or sleeping, we were doing crafts (thanks Auntie Helen), watching movies, playing Wii (thanks Hawkins) or getting into some other form of Tomfoolery!

Catching up on some reading.

There was a duck decorating contest.

Mine was zebra duck-it should have won.

Flamingo coloring craft.

And of course, swimming. Sammie thought the

hot tub (which was not hot) was her own private pool!

The View
I wish I could take credit for all of these beautiful pictures but Bruce took most of them. He is such a talented photographer. These were just a few of the amazing views we had. Hard to leave such a gorgeous place.

The view from our private walkway onto the beach.

Florida sunsets are almost as amazing as Arizona ones!

Sunset over water-wow.

This is what you'd see if you were sitting on the beach and turned around!