Swimming & Peyton's First Birthday

Saturday was an eventful day.
Sam and I went to morning "swim lessons" - basically mommy & me swimming. Sam LOVES it. This past Saturday Katharine came with us and took Sam in the pool and I got a photo op. Here are a few highlights with Sam sporting his suit from his grandpa & grandma Mac. Thanks Katharine for swimming w/Sam and letting me take a bunch of pics :)

in the pool with Katharine

reaching for the ducky

showing the teacher i can grab the ducky

excited to jump off the edge

Saturday afternoon Sam and I loaded up the car (well, I did, Sam watched) and drove out to the middle of Massachusetts and then some to visit my friend Megan and celebrate her daughter Peyton's first birthday party. It was such a good time and Sam LOVED hanging out with all the kids.

addi checking out sam and sam checking out the balloon above her head

birthday girl!

sam's favorite toy

patiently waiting for cupcakes

happy birthday peyty!

lovin me some cupcake!

mom & dad with the birthday girl - excuse the poor lighting...

big sister addi

dr. drew

party hats

lovin me some paper, #iowntkerrrifitspink

sun hat

ready to hula hoop :)

Sam was so good. he played with the toys, hung out with the kiddos and even got crawled over... which we caught on camera and yes i was the mean mom who let it happen so we could get the great film clip.

tribute to this guy...

happy birthday!

the younger days


learning how to play the piano...


boating on cape cod


gordon - may 2002

valentine's day 2005

my birthday dinner 2006 - being goofy


summer 2006 on the bike path

my birthday dinner 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!

I love you. You are the best dad a girl could every ask for... Thanks for all you've done and continue to do for me... I don't have any "old" pictures to post... maybe I can scrounge up a few at a later date...

Thanks for the memories...

• Playing with us kids: biking, soccer, kick the can, croquet, baseball, basketball... you always made time for us
• Going to Dairy Queen in the summer and walking along Falmouth Harbor - Introducing me to my love of ice-cream
• Building us a sandbox and kick butt swing-set (hope you'll put up some swings for Baby Alpine, hint hint)
• Turning our basement into an awesome playroom at Brigantine
  
• Sending us kids to Sweden many many many summers to spend time with family and enjoy the land of the midnight sun
• Taking us on numerous trips to Florida
• Driving to Florida b/c we begged you to drive
• Buying us quality snorkeling gear inspiring my love for the ocean
• Taking on snorkeling trips in Boca and the Keys
• Taking us skiing... oh how I love to hit the slopes
• Teaching me that life is short and I need to enjoy it... take in the views
  
• Not accepting that your daughter is a better, faster skier than you and continue to race her every chance you get...
  
• Building a bigger house for us kids so we could all have our own bedroom
• Letting me get first pick of the bedrooms
• Sending me to Ecuador to visit my aunt, uncle and cousins, FIRST CLASS
• Sending me to Sweden for a year in High School
• Supporting me at my sporting events
• Putting me through college
• Hiking up and skiing down Tuckerman's Ravine
• Introducing me to hiking... which I LOVE!!
  
• Taking the family to Maine many summers - spending time boating, wake-boarding, tubing, swimming, eating ice-cream and relaxing on the porch
• Family bike trips to the Vineyard in the summer
• Teaching me how to grill meat the right way ;) medium rare
• Introducing me to sushi in Homeport... :)
• Introducing me to "fine dining" at the Regatta
• Introducing me to golfing & making me take golfing lessons b/c you never had the chance, you wanted your kids to have a chance
  
• Providing a summer job for me - it was a constant learning experience
• Teaching me about good customer service: answer the phone w/a smile - among others
  
• NOT letting me work for you once I graduated college
• Giving me the opportunity to work for you once I had JOB EXPERIENCE in the working world
• Marrying Caleb and me - that was super special :)
  
• Allowing me to work from a home office once I got married
• Providing a company car to drive to and from work (I work 3 days from home and 2 days in the office)
• Going to swimming with me at Chappy
• Inspiring me to run the Falmouth Road Race... I've ran it 3 or 4 times and I would gladly run it this year, but the belly hinders me :)
• Encouraging me to be wise with my money - live responsibly
• Encouraging me to think outside the box
• Making me write goals :)
• Telling me it's VITAL to NEVER stop learning - which I witnessed as you were determined to learn how to play the piano at age 42 - you bought a piano and took lessons... 10 years later you are playing on the worship team at church and doing a great job :)
  
• Teaching me about Jesus
• Your love and respect for your faith
  

Dad, there are oh so many memories I have and the list above does not begin to express them. Thanks for all the memories. Thanks for the educational moments. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for you.

maine 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!


norway/sweden 2006

twenty-seven

i graduated high school almost 9 years ago; my ten year reunion is coming up... yikes
i graduated college almost 5 years ago; my five year reunion...
i'm married; does this mean i'm supposed to be more responsible?
i work a full-time job; i miss out on the summer, fall, christmas and spring breaks and look forward to taking a vacation and getting paid for it
i'm fully past 25 - is that considered over the 20s hill or will that happen when i hit 30?
however
january 7
i did have a birthday party in sweden and it was a darn good time
here's the set-up...

fläder tårta
kladd kaka
pepparkakor
lussekatt
saft
kaffe
tulpaner

translation: cake, more cake, gingerbread cookies and saffron buns. juice and coffee. tulips to brighten a winter day