Cheese and Sprite fixes everything...

Lauren called me as she was leaving work to tell me Sara (our babysitter) called to inform her Samantha was sick and throwing up.
When Lauren arrived to pick her up, Samantha was just laying on the couch looking miserable. Lauren picked her up to leave and she violently threw up again, TWICE!

(Here is Samantha on the ride home, with her "puke bowl" in case the urge hit again)

(Here is Samantha just laying on our couch looking pitiful).

As I was leaving work, Lauren called and asked me to get Samantha some Sprite to help settle her stomach. At some point during my drive home, Samantha amazingly recovered. I arrived to her eating watermelon and acting somewhat normal. She was in shock that she had a whole bottle of "pop" for herself and really enjoyed drinking it.

She wanted Cheese for dinner and below is her just being as happy as can be under the circumstances. After bath and a book she went to bed pretty easy and I am hoping she is definitely back to normal tomorrow.

(Recovering w/ Cheese & Sprite)

Lynds Fruit Farm

This morning Jeff and I got up and took Samantha to Lynd's Fruit Farm. They have a really great "fruit stand" with all kinds of great stuff. We bought; Apple Cider, Orange Watermelon, Amish cookies, Amish cheese and some Apple Chips. The most amazing thing about this place is they take credit cards!!!

This is the biggest red chair I have ever sat in!

Oh, Did I mention the Hague's came to join us? These three monkey's had a great time, chasing each other and hugging each other.

After shopping we went over to the "Courtland" apple orchard and bought a $10 bag. The kids loved picking all the apples. Well let me take that back. Samantha loved eating all the apples; Grady loved picking good apples and putting them in the bag and Chase loved picking up the rotting apples on the ground and putting those in the bag. HAHA

The tree's were low enough to the ground that Samantha was able to climb a little ways up. She thought she was pretty cool for being able to do that.

Awww, my cute brother and I.

Grady & Samantha posing. Chases' back :)

The cutest Lion of them all...aka Chase.

Grady climbing his apple tree.

Samantha and I picking apples.

Chase loved holding Samantha's hand. It really was one of the sweetest thing I have ever seen. It was so much fun getting to see the kids all interact together today. It made me realize how great it is going to be for these 3 being so close in age and getting to be basically be raised together.

New Car

On Saturday, Jeff and I got Jeff a new car! He went there with the intention to look at a used Honda Element, but he ended up with a brand new one. (It only had 38 miles on it when we drove it off the lot.) I am so excited for my husband as this is the very first BRAND new car he has ever owned. Hopefully it will last a lot longer than the last one did :) Good riddens old TrailBlazer...

Big Girl Car Seat

Jeff and I both got Samantha "big girl car seat's" for both of our cars. Samantha loved being able to unbuckle herself and hop out of the car all by herself. The only problem is she is constantly asking if we are there so she can unbuckle. So I am constantly telling her she has to stay buckled in so she can stay safe! Overall it was a good change and she is really enjoying her big girl chair.

Samantha's "Day Of Fun"...

Lauren and I took the day off work today and promised Samantha a "Day Of Fun". We woke up this morning and headed southeast to Logan OH to Hocking Hills State Park and Old's Man Cave. We knew Samantha wouldn't have a full day in her but we wanted to cram all the fun in that we could. And while we spent more time in the car heading to and fro than actually "hiking" as Samantha would say; it was a great day. I enjoy more and more witnessing my child discover new things and see the excitement she has for new things . It might seem simple but it was one of my best days.
(The pictures are not very clear, it was rainy and pictures ended up cloudy but you can get the drift):

(Here is Samantha holding up the sign)

(Samantha and Mommy getting ready to hit the trail)

(Samantha taking a break, in fairness we were 15 mins in...)

(Samantha walking "by myself")

Even though we weren't out very long, by the time we arrived back home at noon, Samantha got her money's worth and was ready for bed. She took a solid 3 hour nap and woke up in a great mood. Continuing with our "Day Of Fun" theme, she had lunch and then off to the park we went. We forgot our camera so there is no evidence of this but trust me, Samantha loves the park and had a blast. From there, to Kroger to pickup supplies for dinner. I cooked a nice juicy steak but Samantha preferred to eat fruit loops. Normally Lauren and I have Samantha eat what we eat but Samantha has been a great kid the last 4 days we have been with her so I gave in...I know, I am a pushover.

Samantha played in the living room and then a bath. Her "Day Of Fun" really wore her out as she was out for the count by 7:05.

We have been with our beautiful daughter all day everyday for the last 4 days. I love Samantha more and more everyday. I am so thankful that my lovely wife has given me this child and also thankful that she is my partner in this life. As most of you know, we are expecting our second child in March 2012...keep us in your prayers.

I'm 30

For my 30th birthday the whole family (minus my Dad) went to Genji for dinner. It has been my favorite place to go ever since I discovered the place. Samantha was a little leery of the fire the cook makes but she loved it when the drummer would go and sing Happy Birthday to someone! Grady was VERY leery of the fire but he did not cry so we are a step ahead from last year. After dinner, everyone came back to our house for Dairy Queen ice cream cake. It might not sound like an overly exciting birthday to other people but for me it was PERFECT...other than the fact that I turned 30!

In all reality, I am looking forward to my thirties. Ever see the movie "13 Going on 30"? Well if my thirties are anything like Jennifer Garner-Affleck then I am really excited! Not to mention, I am going to have a BABY in my 30th year! Plus, I am still the youngest in my family, so no mater how old I get, everyone else is still older:)

Thanks to all of you who helped me ring in my birthday! I had a wonderful time!

My 4th Anniversary

On September 1st, Jeff and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary! It is so crazy how fast time has gone by. We are more in love today than we were 4 years ago and life just seems to be getting better and better! We didn't do anything fancy to celebrate but we are taking a little family trip in October. Here's to many more Happy Anniversaries :)

Potty Time

One Sunday a few weeks ago Samantha got up from her after church nap and went pee pee in the potty! I was beyond excited. Ever since she started going to the new babysitter she has been much more interested in going pee pee in the potty. I just couldn't believe it actually happened.

Since then she has done pretty good with the whole potty training thing. She still goes in her diaper some but when we are home she does a great job of going in the potty.

In fact, she has been doing so well that we even took her to the store to go buy big girl panties...which are really just princess pull-ups. But she loves them! My goal is to have her totally potty trained by Christmas! Wish us luck!

Blacktop Driveway

A couple of weeks ago Samantha and I got home and the driveway was "caution tapped" off. So I took this picture and sent it to Jeff and asked him if there was something he forgot to tell me. In the mean time, I parked my car on the street and Samantha and I went ahead and went inside. After about 15 minutes my neighbor Sue stopped over and asked me how I liked my new driveway. I told her it looked great! She said, well the sealing company messed up and did our driveway instead of doing theirs. Just as we were standing outside talking the people who sealed our driveway pulled up and Sue told them that they were supposed to do her driveway and not mine! Score one for the Hauser's!!!!!

Lot's of Good Morning Mommy Pictures from the last month.

This one is actually not a "Good Morning Mommy" picture, but it was so cute, I just couldn't leave it out.

Her crazy "AC/DC" hair!

Her smile is as bright as her shirt :)

Still not awake...

Combination of "pig nose" and a smile.

Daddy must have given her a sticker first thing in the morning. (She LOVES her stickers.)

Not all the way awake in this one!

Posing for the camera.

Outside already.

Looking super cute. (Have you noticed a trend here?)

Hiding her upper lip.

Jimbo's Retirement Luncheon

After working for The Wasserstrom Company for 47 years, Jimbo retired on May 31st. The Wasserstrom family threw him a little retirement luncheon to celebrate.
(L - R: Brad Wasserstrom, Rodney Wasserstrom, Jimbo Hauser and Jeff Hauser.)