Sam's Saturday Soup

Due to the huge quantity of rain that we've been getting - not only is the grass super soggy, but occasionally it becomes a pond and we find little "friends" in the back yard. (Notice Sam squishing the life out this poor guy!)

We took Sam to the Iowa Cubs game and had a great time. Sam was most excited about the mascot and the little games they play after each inning, but we had fun. Go Cubbies!

I had to post this pic of Sam b/c he has been coming up with the most hilarious outfits/dress ups lately! Don't you love my little Pirate Mousekateer?


After my lament about Memorial Weekend we had a GREAT!!! BBQ with our wonderful friends here in Iowa. THe kids had a blast playing in the water, and as you can see the adults we so excited about the food, friends, and fun they were jumping for joy. We also got play a fun game of croquet - and I have to admit publically that I got killed no thanks to some heartless men that shall remain nameless.

Memorial Day

I'm writing this feeling a little sad - oh, wo is me!! We should be having an entire weekend of yummy dutch oven food, golf, camping, horseshoes, races, and did I mention awesome dutch oven food?? Every Memorial Weekend the Hill Family gathers in Island Park, ID for an annual family reunion, and it is something I look forward to each year. Unfortunately we've been absent for the past two years since moving to Iowa, and I'm really feeling it this morning. So here are some of my favorite memories:

1. Eating in the snowmachine trailer, wearing snow clothes, b/c there is a foot of snow still on the ground - we really are "serious" campers.
2. Having a waterfight every year usually started by my brother Chad and my Aunt Lori.
3. Fried chicken, potatoes, scones, fruit cobblers, chicken enchiladas, brownie pudding, salmon, pork roast, lasagna, pizza, apple torte, you name we cook it in a dutch oven!!!! AHHHH - it brings tears to my eyes.

4. Playing a golf scramble and actually "making" par b/c I can rely on others drives, perfecting my horseshoe toss and getting ringers, running and nearly dying on a 5K, I'll blame it on the altitude change!
5. Finally being with my family, cousins, aunts, and uncles, who I don't get to see very often - and having a heated argument with my brothers and sisters because we all think that we are the smartest and most correct.

How do you celebrate Memorial Day???

Sam's Saturday Soup

We had a great time at Disneyworld - here are some highlights of our trip!

Sam Singing the Mickey Mouse Song

Sam & Shawn Sword Fighting


Animal Kingdom

SeaWorld

Sam Feeding the Dolphins - Sea World


Shamu Show

Baby's Quilt

Sam's Saturday Soup is posted below this, so make sure to check it out but I wanted to post this for my family who is far away, and also to admit that I'm a little over zealous when it comes to being prepared for things. The baby isn't coming until September, but his room is almost ready for him. We've painted, washed Sam's old clothes, and now completed the quilt, bumpers and Crib skirt! Can you tell we're excited???

Sam's Saturday Soup

This was Sam's last week of preschool for the year, and we celebrated at family picnic. He really had a great experience this year. I was kind of hesistant to put him because he is so little, but I feel like it was good for him to have that structured social interaction and also time away from me. Yea for preschool and for Sam's great teachers Miss Linda and Miss Sarah! It was also Shawn's last week of "school" - he'll start clinicals in a week, so we are going to have a week of celebration! We started it off by pulling out the pool, filling it with ice cold water and freezing our toes!

*WARNING* Very Hot, Hairy Guys, Partially Nude! Do you notice Shawn's pose? I was laughing so hard! Then we decided to camp in our family room and set up the tent and had a slumber party. Sam loved this! It was really fun, though I have to admit I ditched out on the camping adventure since #1: I'm pregnant and the floor is sooo comfortable & #2: I had to work the next day. I loved this pic of Shawn since he seems so "excited" to be sleeping on the floor! Our final exciting bit of news is that we are heading on out to DISNEYWORLD!!!! Yea!!! We debated whether or not to go, but finally decided that this will be our last chance with Shawn since he basically won't be recieving any time off from here on out! So get your mouse ears ready . . .

Sam's Saturday Soup

This week Sam has decided to name our baby "Baby Carrot" - with a little prompting from Shawn. We've been tossing names around and finally Sam said Baby Jack's name is Baby Carrot, so if the baby is really jaundice, it might actually stick. Here's a picture of Baby Boy Summers at 23 weeks! We're really feeling him move and its been so much fun for Sam. He'll drive his cars on my belly and say "Baby Jack really likes that."
We've been able to really enjoy the outdoors this week! Seriously every day we've been outside playing in the yard or park, and loving every second. We also were able to finish our landscaping and plant our flowers. Now you need to have a little imagination and see the blooms on the geraniums in the pots, and the petunias in full colorful splendor, but soon enough! BEFORE

AFTER
Finally on this Saturday Soup I want to take a minute to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom, my mother-in-law, and our grandmas!!! We love you all so much and are so grateful to have you in our lives. You are the greatest women and we are better because of your influence. Mother's are really the greatest.
Megan's Mom
Shawn's Mom

Sam's Saturday Soup - A Heaping Helping!

This Saturday we have a lot of new things to report, so away we go:


1st - May Day: A holiday that I never celebrated ever, is a big deal in our little neighborhood, and I've forgotten it two years in a row! The kids walk around and drop off little baskets and cups filled with candy and popcorn and wish you a happy May Day. It is such a cute tradition, and I felt bad so we made a day-late May Day treat for our neighbors. Oops.

2nd - Prayer: When we said our blessing on dinner Sam volunteered, (which he never does) and said the cutest things. First he prayed that the ants in the kitchen would go away because they're nasty, second he prayed that we would be able to watch a show and play outside. I love how children just talk about what is going on, a lesson I need to remember when I pray.

3rd - Pella Tulip Festival: Saturday we hit the road and filled our tummies with yummy Dutch food - bolgna sandwich, spiral potatoes, dutch pastries, and dutch mini pancakes that have strawberries and whipped cream. It was fun to see all of the beautiful tulips and the quaint historic town of Pella. Sam's favorite part of the day was riding the yellow cheese wagon - thats right the school bus, it was pretty much the only time he cracked a smile!


4th- Date Night: It was our turn to watch kids and we had a blast eating our crafts that night! The kids made pb balls into snowmen, fruitloop necklaces, and chinese noodle birds nests. Shawn and I also "helped" with that, eat them that is!