Life Lately With Sam Continued...

I realized today that I didn't remember posting some of the pictures from Sam's visit so I looked back through and found a couple that I couldn't not post...

You know...just our little "cowboy" at church.  You never know about him...the Sunday before he wanted to be a police officer. 

Sam, Anna Lauren, and I went to Wal-Mart on Sunday afternoon...there was a little boy in Wal-Mart who was really acting like a crazy kid running all over the store.  At this point, we were waiting for it to stop raining so we could leave, and Anna Lauren is making fun of the said crazy kid who was waiting to leave as well. Her face was cracking us up...

So I really cannot believe I left this out when posting last night because it may have been my "highlight" of Sam's visit.  I should make it very clear that Sam HATES to run, but she decided while she was here that she would run with me.  We actually ran a pretty good bit.  This particular day, she had a great idea to run across the causeway at sunset...I typically don't run at night because of the kids, but Matt agreed to take them swimming while we went for a run.  

I love a good run and especially with a good running partner!

When our kids are older and can stay alone, Matt and I may just have to do this regularly...the view was just BEAUTIFUL.

I am so guilty of taking God's artwork for granted...

So thankful Sam asked me to take some time out of my "busy-ness" to have a good run and just enjoy God's artwork that is so often taken for granted.  And...I'll be looking forward to running with her next time she visits since maybe she likes it a little more after running with me for several weeks.  Well, maybe she will never like it, but she will at least tolerate it and run a few miles with me.

Life Lately with Sam...

Sam finished her first semester of PT school on Friday, July 31st and jumped on a plane to spend her break with us.  We were more than thrilled to have her with us for almost three weeks and soaked up every single minute we had with her.  Before she left, I made her download all the pictures she had on her phone...and boy, we made a lot of memories in three weeks!

Anna Lauren had choreography camp the first Friday/Saturday Sam was here, and Sam was sweet enough to go watch the parent performance at the end of camp Saturday.  

We took Sam to Brookhaven to experience the exchange club fair, one of my kids favorite events of the summer.

One afternoon when Anna Lauren was at cheer, Sam took Cooper to the park in our subdivision.  She sent me this picture and said, "oh my gosh...this just happened".  I laughed really hard!

Sam agreed to babysit Anna Lauren Monday through Wednesday because she didn't start school until Thursday...they found all kinds of fun stuff to do while the rest of us were at work/school.

Even though it was really hot, they decided to play putt putt golf one day...

Loved getting pictures like this while I was at work...this is the closest Anna Lauren will have to having a big sister, and I love the relationship these two have.  And yes, it's not always all smiles...they can fight just like real sisters.

After golf, they needed a "cool" activity so they headed to the mosaic shop...

Just being themselves...pretty sure they were having a break from the mosaic shop grabbing a bite to eat at McDonald's.

Anna Lauren was at cheer and Sam thought GiGi's was giving away free cupcakes for their 5th anniversary so we took Cooper. Well, the cupcakes were not free, but we still enjoyed a cupcake with the little man.

They didn't finish their mosaic the first day so they went back to finish another day...

We could get use to having an extra set of hands...Sam took Anna Lauren to get an id that is required for cheer this year.  

Sam kept Cooper while we went to Meet the Teacher at Anna Lauren's school...thankfully Anna Lauren got home just in time to jump in the car for the sno cone run!

This boy and his muscles...

Sam got Anna Lauren off the bus her first two days of school...this is Anna Lauren coming in from her first day of 3rd grade!

You know...just Sunday lunch after church.  And yes, he had to put his police costume on as soon as we left church because we told him he couldn't wear it to church but could put it on afterwards.

I mean who doesn't want to color in Sam's bed?

Or play basketball in Sam's room?

One of Anna Lauren's many crazy ideas...

Anna Lauren and Sam had some type of craft project going on at all times the entire time Sam was here...Anna Lauren was in heaven having someone spend one on one time with her doing stuff she loves.  For her sake, I wish I was more crafty...

This was probably one of the coolest projects...

There are lots of times when Anna Lauren is at cheer...this particular day Matt was reffing football so we grabbed an early dinner and fed the ducks at McAlister's while we waited for it to be time to pick up Anna Lauren.

He was all smiles...until...a duck grabbed a piece of bread from his head and "bit" his finger.  Poor little man...it scared him!

Anna Lauren's finished project from the mosaic shop...Sam's wasn't ready so she had to go back another day.

Cooper was so excited about this day...Sam picked him up right after his nap for a "date with Sam"!

For days, he told everyone at school he was going on a date with Sam...

He even wore his "Miami" outfit for his date...

They had been planning their date for several days...first stop was a new nerf gun from Target.

Pretty obvious he was EXCITED!!!

Their next stop was to test out the new gun at the park...

When I say these kids love Sam, I mean they really really love their Sam!  And even though they aggravate her to no end, she is still so good to them.

Sam's finished mosaic...

Sam got to go to Cooper's first soccer practice...

Matt was reffing so after dinner we went to the pool, and we laughed so hard because the kids wanted to take this GIGANTIC horse (thanks MeMe)...

Matt and Sam like to have a "friendly" bowling challenge so on this particular Saturday night, we went bowling.

This boy...he is something else and so funny!

Like I said, he is something else...

Think in the end, Matt won one game and Sam won one game.  It's some tough competition...

Love, love, love having her a part of our family...and...so thankful, she chose to spend her break with us! 

Doesn't get much better than having all three of these kiddos together...

And maybe he learns a little of his "crazy" from Sam...

I looked down and saw this while we were bowling...so precious!

Cooper is obsessed with nerf guns, like really, OBSESSED.  And he will ask you over and over and over to have nerf gun wars with him...7 times out of 10, Sam will agree to play, and he gets so excited.

Sam's last night with us...she picked Outback for dinner and then Matt picked yogurt for dessert, which meant splash pad for the kids.

Love these sweet smiles...

They just couldn't resist giving her hugs after they got soaking wet in the splash pad...

Fun times as we celebrated a wonderful 3 weeks with our Sam!

And then there was this day...Wednesday we had to put her on an airplane back to Miami.  Nanna came and got the kids from school so Matt and I could both take her to the airport in New Orleans.

Yes, there were a few tears, but I know that even though she is 14 hours away she is exactly where she needs to be.  She chose the "perfect" PT program for her.  She walked away from her first semester with all As, and we couldn't be more proud.  God has big plans for this kid, and we are so thankful to be a part of them and watch her as she goes through this phase of her life.  Now we are on another countdown until she can visit again...hopefully October!