Samantha's first blog

pamelamyers | September 24, 2015

For Sam’s 6th birthday we got lucky again with the weather. It’s a good thing, because we planned an outside party again and we, to Sam’s surprise and delight, rented her a moon bounce. When it showed up and Mark and I started inflating it she couldn’t wait to get inside. I think she was shocked that she had her very own bouncy castle, right in her driveway! The minute it was fully inflated, she jumped right in.

This year, her friend, Julia came to her party. The two of them had such a good time bouncing around like maniacs. I knew she wanted Julia and her friend, Ava to come this year (Ava couldn’t make it) but this is the first year that Sam asked me if next year she could have a party and invite her whole class. I guess 6 years of only family parties is a pretty good deal!

It was the perfect way to keep the kids occupied. With only Sam, Julia and Maddox old enough to play, a whole moon bounce for three kids was more excitement than they could take. Of course, Mark and I had to get in on the action as well. It is pretty fun, but WOW, is it a workout! Forget the gym, just go bouncing.

As you can see, the kids had a blast. One of their favorite games quickly became Throw the Grown-Ups to the Ground and Tackle Them.

Krista brought Ryder in but he was a little scared.

Playing lawn toys was more his speed.

And visiting our new kitties! He loved trying to spy Penelope.

We did eventually let him pet Penelope, but Zach wasn’t having it. He kept hiding from all the chaos.

Finally, after a long time of bouncing and eating (not such a good combo maybe but everyone was ok), it was cake time! Sam wanted a Batman party this year, so of course, she had a Batman cake!

We all had a great time enjoying the weather and just letting the kids amuse themselves while we sat and talked.

Finally, it was present time! Sam was anxiously awaiting her presents since she knew someone was getting her the Superhero Barbie she has been clamoring for. Grandmom and Poppy obliged.

Sam never has much interest in her cards (most likely since she can’t read) so she asked her Poppy to read them all to her.

Among other things, Mark and I had to get her some Batman toys. We all liked those as much as Sam did. It’s cool having a little girl who isn’t only into princesses and unicorns, I have to say.

One of her other gifts was this cake set she has been asking for. It is basically a plastic cake that comes in slices that you decorate yourself. I see lots of cake and tea parties in our future.

Super Baby to the rescue! The girls posed with one of Sam’s new toys in front of the Batman scene.

It was a fun night. Sam just couldn’t stand the thought of taking down her castle so we let her bounce into the night.

On Sam’s actual birthday she had school, but we had presents at home that night. She did have cupcakes in school that day, and they all sang to her. It was weird not being there. It’s not preschool anymore and the differences are hard to stand, mostly for me, not her. She is so grown up now. She told me the other day that she goes to her classroom (which is down a long hallway and around a corner) all by herself now, with no teacher to lead her.

Zach and Penelope got her Rex, a stuffed T-Rex she wanted and some of her beloved Shopkins.

Mark and I had saved a few small Lego sets for her to open.

After dinner, she wanted to change so she could climb our dogwood tree. She loves climbing the tree and she wanted to show me how high she can go now that she is six.

It’s pretty high, at least, much higher than she used to go.

Penelope wanted to come out with us, so Sam happily sat with her in the grass.

And then Penelope decided to climb the tree….Penelope!!

I can’t believe how big my girl is. Six still seems so small, but yet, she is so grown up now. The way she talks, the way she thinks, the things she can do. It was only yesterday that she couldn’t do much of anything on her own, now, I am lucky if I get to help. She wants to pick her own clothes, brush her own hair, go off on her own without me following her. I am so proud of the way she is growing, but yet, there is part of me that wishes I could stop time. Sometimes, I lie in bed with her and just stare at her face. I find her so unbelievably beautiful, and funny, and smart, and amazing, that I can’t keep my eyes off of her.

We love you so much, Samantha Myers. Happy Birthday from your biggest fans, your Mom and Dad.

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pamelamyers | September 16, 2015

My birthday was on a Tuesday this year, so I had to go to work, but Samantha and Mark made sure that our night was special. I got some really nice presents, including some new charms for my Pandora bracelet that Sam picked out. She got me, among others, a charm with two cats on it, which Zach and Penelope certainly appreciated.

Zach and Penelope got me some photos of the cutest cats ever, with some assistance from Mark. 🙂

Birthday love from all my kids, both furry and non-furry!

Mark bought me a cake and Sam insisted on decorating it herself. She decided I needed a Frozen theme. That works for me.

We had a really nice night – good dinner, yummy cake, lots of presents, and my wonderful family to spend time with. Can’t ask for much more than that.

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pamelamyers | September 10, 2015

Sam came home from her first full day of school today full of smiles. I wasn’t sure how it would go. It is so different than preschool. Whereas last year at St. Matt’s I used to walk her inside and wait with all the other parents for the teacher to take them up to class, this year, we simply get in the car line and an aide comes and opens the car doors and off each kid goes.  I thought it was possible she’d be upset, but she gave me a million hugs and kisses, we did kissing and hugging hands, and she zoomed off to the door.

Mark and I asked her how her day was and she laughed and laughed telling us about “Mrs. W” who came into her class yelling, “What are all you kids doing in here? How did you get in here?” Then when she left she ran right into the glass walls of the classroom. I am so glad that they have teachers who are silly and try to make the kids feel at ease. Sam must have told us that story a million times, and she laughed just as loud every time.

When I was putting her to bed, she told me, “Mom, I love kindergarten.” She told me about the friends she made on the playground, about the girl she shares her locker with (name unknown at this point) and everything they do. She quickly made a friend, Adeline. She always seems to make fast friends with someone, first Julia, then Ava. I am so happy she always finds a friend right away and that she loves her teacher and everything about her school. I have no doubt she is going to have a great year!

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pamelamyers | September 9, 2015

Today was Sam’s first day of Kindergarten! How is this day here? I look at her and just think, where did this so very grown up girl come from? As I mentioned before, she got afternoon kindergarten, which is not ideal, but we will figure out our routine. She is an early riser, but I have a feeling she is going to be hard to get moving once she spends so many hours at home.

Anyway, the big day has finally arrived! Kindergarten in our school district is half day, which means two and one half hours. But for the first day of school, she only goes for one and one half hours, it’s only half her class, and a parent stays the whole time. I suppose it’s a good thing. It will help the kids not be so scared, and it is nice to be able to see her classroom for more than five minutes. Sam’s teacher is Ms. Cipolloni. She is young, and smiley, and seems like a kindergarten teacher, if you know what I mean. I think Sam is going to love her. I hope.

Here is Sam in her first day of school outfit that she picked out herself.

She has a Frozen backpack, also selected by her. It looks so big on her, but the school specifically requested a backpack big enough to fit a folder so full size it is.

Mark and I both dressed nicely as well, to show her that we know how important the day is to her. Sam definitely attributes nice clothes with important things.

Here were are! Sam is officially a Springfield Cougar!

We all waited in the library until it was time to move on to her classroom. Sam loves all the books!

As time passed, you could see the excitement give way to nervousness. She kept clinging to me more and more.

All in all, it went well. I think she would have actually been freaked if I had left, but since I stayed, she had a great time. The teacher had them all sit in a circle with us behind them while we introduced our kids to each other. Then we all had a scavenger hunt around the classroom looking for different stations and doing different activities. We found her locker (#12), the drinking fountain, the bathroom, her mailbox, and all kinds of different things in her room. The last activities after various art and writing projects were snack and playground. Sam was thrilled that cheddar Goldfish were the snack, and she was super excited to finally use a drinking fountain for the first time.

After the playground, I took Sam to see the alphabet walk. I knew she would love it and she did. Thankfully, Sam seems to love her school. Other than the obvious fact of her getting a good education, it’s the only other thing I can really ask. That she is happy.

On the way home, we stopped at Vera’s for a first day of school treat – ice cream!

Sam seemed to have a wonderful first day of school. I didn’t see her whole class, only half, and none of the kids I saw were in her preschool. Hopefully, she will find someone she knows, but if not, I am sure she will make friends quickly. She is so different than she was a year ago. She finds it so much easier to talk to people she doesn’t know and opens up much more readily.

First order of business when we got home is giving her kitties some hugs!

We tried to take them outside, but Zach is not having it! Penelope loves it though and I know Sam will love walking her kitty!

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pamelamyers | September 6, 2015

Today is the day! After months of waiting, we finally welcomed home the newest members of our family, Penelope (the tortoiseshell) and Zach (the tabby)! We had all been missing having little furry paws around the house since Zephyr died, but decided it made sense to wait until the summer, and thus, vacations requiring us to be away from home, to be over before welcoming in new kitties. Well, it didn’t take long. We got home from the beach yesterday, and this morning Mark said, “Let’s go get a cat today.” Don’t have to tell me twice! We wanted to go to the shelter without Sam just in case there were no cats we would consider adopting because, let’s face it, if we walk in there with Sam there is NO WAY we were going to leave without a cat. So, I dropped her at my mom’s telling Sam that Grandmom and Poppy wanted to see her because they missed her since we had been down the shore.

We went to the Delaware County SPCA (the same place we got Zephyr) and when we got there, Mark and I almost immediately found Penelope (whose name was Maddie) and decided she would be perfect. She was friendly, affectionate, playful, sweet. All things a kitten should be. So, I left to get Sam leaving Mark behind to make sure no one else took our kitten. I called my mom on the way and let her know. She told me that Sam told her that she asked Daddy if we could get our kitten and Daddy said, “We’ll see” and Sam very dejectedly told my mom, “I don’t think we are getting a kitten today…” Boy, she was going to be surprised!

When I got to my mom’s and told Sam where we were going, I think she couldn’t believe it. Off we went to GET OUR KITTEN! The ride to the SPCA seemed to take forever! But we finally made it. Once that kitten was in Sam’s arms, it was love at first sight. Mark then showed me Zach (whose name was Zidane) and he told me that Zach needed to come home with us too. So, we are getting two cats. Ok!

As to the naming, you may wonder. Well, Mark really wanted another “Z” cat, in honor of Zephyr. But Sam really, really  wanted to name “her” kitten. So we let her pick the name and she picked Penelope. I have no idea where that came from but it fits. I let Mark name Zach (his name being Zidane was a bit of a sign he was meant to be ours).

Here are our beautiful babies! We are in love!

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