SAMUEL FAMILY

Riley's Preschool Party...

Today was Riley's Halloween party at Countryside, hands down the best preschool ever!  I swear the teachers love on her more than I do at home.  She is in a teacher's lap or being hugged almost constantly.  The first thing they did when they got there was have the kids guess what their costume was, and then they got to parade around in front of everybody.  Here is Riley before school and while she paraded in front of everyone:

 
 
 Isn't this funny, Riley is sitting next to her friend Leah who is a mouse.  Next are all of the girls in costume.

Riley with her most favorite teacher who she calls Miss Hen-e-ley.  Here are the silly girls in my group who were supposed to be pinning the mouths on the pumpkin.  They decided to pin the mouths on themselves instead.
 
 
 
  

Carving Our Jack-o-lanterns...

We ended up carving our jack-o-lanterns this weekend.  Blake really got into it this year and designed his own face and carved it out (triangle eyes, nose, etc.).  In the end, he was really proud of himself.  Keith got off lucky only having to carve one.  Mr. Gavin was none too interested to help in taking the "guts" out this year.  All he wanted to do was to cut things!  Gavin is funny because he often dreams about whatever he did that day and then talks about it in his sleep.  This particular night after carving the pumpkins, he obviously was having a nightmare.  He was yelling and swinging his arms and telling the "pumpkin to get away from him."  He also kept yelling about "keeping something out of his face."  We had to end up waking him up to get him to stop.  He will talk about anything from the dog or one night he was sweeping his arms in front of his face trying to get rid of a "spiderweb".  You just never know what he will come up with!

 
Gavin pretending to eat the pumpkin.  I think Gavin looks like a vampire in this picture.
 
  Blake is really into his work!!!

The finished products!

 
 
 
 
 

Spot The Fake...

Can any of you guess who is not holding a real pumpkin?

 
Okay, you got it right!  It's me!!!  The kids have been begging me to do this since I showed them a picture of someone else online that had done it.  I kept forgetting and finally I got some paint on Saturday while we were at Walgreens.  I have always wanted to do this, but was afraid that my stretchmarks would be too embarassing!  It was mighty cold at first, but ended up being really fun!

Speaking of stretchmarks, Riley came in the bathroom the other day right after I had gotten out of the shower.  She said "Mommy, that baby sure is scratching your belly all up!"  I just laughed, what else can you do?  Here is my cutie patootie the other day before school, before sickness, on show and tell "orange" day:

The Faces of H1N1...

Here are my sickly children this morning.  Gavin is about over this nasty stuff, but his fever has been coming back while he is sleeping at night.  Blake started with the cough yesterday morning but came down with the high fever this morning.  Blake is also throwing up which he does about any time he gets sick.  The scariest thing with him is that he keeps throwing up his medicine so we are not able to get his fever down.  We also have to keep a close eye on his breathing.  And poor Riley girl's cheeks were bright red when she woke up this morning and when we took her temp. she was at 102.7.  I was lucky enough to get Tamiflu on Monday when we took Gavin into Urgent Care for all three kids.  Most doctor's offices will not give out prescriptions for it unless you fall into the high-risk category, which I do since I am pregnant.  I also have been put on Tamiflu to try to "prevent" me from getting it.  I also was lucky enough to get the H1N1 vaccine yesterday at Dr. Grant's office.  They got in 100 shots yesterday morning and were giving them to all of the pregnant women they saw.  I am praying to God that I do not get this.  All of the horror stories out there regarding pregnant women are really scary.  Pray that we get rid of this soon!!! 

Peachtree Farms...

Today we went to Peachtree Farms in Boonville.  We did all of the usual fun stuff like feed the animals, the straw maze, and rode on the hayride.  I tell you, the hills liked to do me in!!!  We have to fit in all of our "normal" October activities, pregnant momma or not!

 
 
 

Some nice people offered to take our picture in exchange for me taking one of theirs.  They had a gorgeous baby girl about 8 months old.  They also had a really nice camera!!!

My  favorite picture of the day, by far.  I think I have mentioned before that my Gavey- bear, God love him, has a certain "style" all his own.  This particular day he was wearing his baseball cleats and a pair of his dad's old Oakley sunglasses.  Thank goodness he did agree to a Halloween shirt.

In other news, the baby FINALLY has a name:  Payton Savannah Samuel.  Hopefully only 6 more weeks to go!  YIPPEE!
  
 
 
 
 
  

Miss Avery's Lucky #7...

Friday was my niece's 7th birthday.  We went over to their house on Saturday for cake and present opening.  Poor Andrew didn't feel very well.  Avery wanted a puppy party.  She got 4 birthday cards that were they exact same with a dog and a 7.  Miss Avery should be very stylish this season with all of the new clothes she got, the cute boots, and even a scarf.  She also got a Barnes and Noble gift card from us, considering for Andrew's birthday she tried to get him to use his on "girly" books!!!  Happy 7th Birthday Avery, we love you.

 
 
 The birthday girl, Avery       The sassy girls

Nintendo DS buddies      Feeling under the weather

 
 
  One of the gifts we got her, she got two more vests from other people.  Melissa said she wanted everything at Old Navy.  I think she got close!
  

 
  

Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival...

Today we made our annual trip to Hartsburg for the Pumpkin Festival.  We weren't sure we were going to get to go this year because Baby #4 was giving me grief yesterday.  This morning, one of Keith's workers called us to tell us where we get a much closer parking spot.  That helped quite a bit not having to walk a mile to even get there.  We did the same things we always do every year, like riding the horses, face painting, bouncy houses, and the kids like to buy almost every kind of snack they see.  This year I found the best little booth with baby headbands and bows, embroidered burp cloths, and the cutest little dresses in both Riley's and the baby's size.  Blake decided he was too big this year to ride the ponies and get his face painted.  My big boy is growing up.  Vickie and I realized is almost up to our shoulders now.  Last year the kids were sweating. This year we had about five layers on, but walking helped warm us up.  Here are the pictures:

This picture cracks me up, it looks like I am trying to steal a pumpkin underneath my shirt!

Here are the kids beside Carl Edward's racecar.  Blake was in heaven!!! 
   
  
  

Granny and Riley...

On Friday Riley and I went to visit my 93 year old grandma who is in poor health.  My grandma Mattie has always been the whole family's rock.  It is so hard to see her sick and in pain but she and Riley ended up having the best time.  Up above Riley is "reading" Granny a book.  Riley later got out her etch-a-sketch and drew a picture of my grandma.  My grandma said "well Riley, if I look that ugly, then I better just go on."  I thought it might hurt Riley's feelings, but she just cracked up laughing.  Riley went back and forth drawing new pictures of granny like one with granny with one eye and her and Riley just laughed and giggled.  It almost makes me cry just thinking about it.  Next time I go I will have to videotape them so I have it.  She has always told my mom that she thinks Riley is the most beautiful little girl she has ever seen.  I just hope we have many more years together so she can watch her grow into a beautiful young lady.
 

Introducing...

The newest member of our family:

Copper Dozer Samuel

The boys came home during nap today and placed THIS on my head.  The boys said here is our new dog, Copper Dozer Samuel.  I told Keith PREVIOUSLY that we couldn't have a dog until an underground fence was put in.  I guess he decided not to listen.  It's a good thing Copper is so cute or he would be going to my mother-in-laws right now.  She was in on this "little" secret.  He seems particularly attached to Gavin.  He lays in his lap and sleeps nonstop.  Gavin said he picked this one because he was the laziest.  Let's hope he stays that way.

One More...

Okay here is one more funny thing Riley has done.  I just dropped her off at school and her teacher said that Riley said the funniest thing on Tuesday.  I'm thinking, Oh my Lord, I hope she didn't say something really embarassing.  The teacher said Riley said, "Miss Hen-e-ley (which the teacher thinks is cute all by itself she said), can I have your cell phone number so I can text you?"  Miss Henley said they all laughed hysterically at the time and still laugh when they think about it.  Even Mrs. Scott came up to tell me how funny it was.  In my defense, Aunt Mandy is the one who taught the kids to text.  Riley did ask me out of the blue yesterday to use my cell phone so she could text her teacher.  I told her we didn't have her number.  Atleast she didn't humiliate me.  It could have been worse!