As he always does, Jordan went a little nuts on by birthday! It was a lot of fun and the best part was sharing it with our good (and equally crazy) friends John and Michelle Culley. We LOVE them! Michelle's birthday is pretty close to mine, so we celebrated together. On Monday the boys tricked us into shopping (gasp!!) while they filmed this wonderfully unique video. I hope you enjoy as much as we did!!!
I decided to try making a Halloween costume this year, and this is what we ended up with. Michaela's nickname around our house is ladybug, so I thought it was fitting to make her a ladybug! I saw something like this on the internet, but didn't have a pattern, so it was a shot in the dark! My parents sent her the boots when they heard what she was going to be, but do you think I could get her to wear them at the same time as the costume?! My friend, Julee, made her the bows - aren't they PRICELESS?!!! Anyway, here are some cute pictures I took of her, more to come after the ward halloween party. Enjoy!
Hmmm... I am supposed to list six quirks about me that most people wouldn't know. If you learned something new, let me know, or I guess if you already knew it about me, I want to know that too! I don't like posting without pictures, so I TRIED to find pictures that related to the "quirk."
1: My teeth itch. That's right, sometimes my actual teeth have an actual itch, and it is impossible to satisfy. The dentist has only heard of like three people his entire career that have itchy teeth, my dad and I being two of them. (well, this pictures shows my teeth.......)
2: Monster Trucks. I LOVE them. Seriously, if I could, I would be to every show each year. I don't really have a favorite truck or team, I am just a sucker for the roar of the engine.
3: I am very shy. You may not think so, but that is just because I hide it so well. And for further evidence, there is no picture for this particular trait due to the fact I was TO SHY to pose for one!
4: I go nuts for Birthdays. Like all out. One year, I did the 12 days of Jordan's birthday, and counted down with adorable little poems and presents for each of the 12 days. Another year, I pulled weeds secretly for two months to earn money to send him to a Franklin Covey workshop he was dying to go to.
5: I am DEATHLY AFRAID of bees. I have never been stung, but I am paralyzingly afraid to be. I seriously run around like a chicken when a bee is close by. It's going to be bad when I have to explain to Michaela that mommy isn't crazy for real, there is just a bee close by! (to give you an idea, this picture is on our wedding day, and the photographer had to pause for like 20 min just so the darn bee would leave me alone!)
6. I LOVE rollercoasters! I can't get enough of them. Our group gave up on us at Lagoon this summer and my brother and I kept going again and again, right up until close. We could have gone back the next day just for the roller coasters. This picture isn't of a coaster, but another adrenaline rush!
So FUN! Samantha and Richie
And now, I have to tag people. Lets, see, Savannah, Jacqueline (aha! a FORCED update!), Tristan, Shawnie, Jon(another forced update) Kristin Fife, Justine, Deana well, lets just say, if you read this post, I want to tag you! So go do it!
On the way home from the pumpkin patch this weekend, a song came on that Jordan loved. Now you may or may not know this, but we are OPPOSITE when it comes to music choice. I am a country girl all the way and Jordan likes hard rock. (like deftones.....) Anyway, my only argument was that this kind of music can't be good for our little child so helpless in the backseat FORCED to listen to this CRAP - and this is what Michaela had to say......
I am alone in my distaste for his music!!! Looks like the two rock junkies will rule the roadtrips from now on!
On Saturday, Jordan had a GREAT idea to take me on a surprise date! I had to close my eyes and wait for him to drive up and tell me it was ok to open them. Boy was I surprised! And confused apparently! Who knew that Iowa was such a historical site!
My brother came to visit us this week - and it was so much fun! (Well, at least for Michaela, she had a blast with him.) I think (know) he was a little bored with our daily routine revolving around naps and bath time, but we enjoyed him anyway. (Another side note - this visit wouldn't have been possible if his fiance hadn't decided to cheat on the coolest dude ever - so thanks Tia!) Here are some pictures of the two of them together on the five day visit!
So our trip last weekend was actually a surprise trip to Seattle! It was so much fun to knock on our families doors' and say hello! We got to see both sides of the family, and enjoyed doing so many different things. It was my neices first birthday, and that was the highlight for us, she is getting so big! Other highlights would be the science museum, pumpkin patch, grandparents and great grandparents - playing with grandpa on the floor and lots and lots more! Below are a million pictures, some with captions........... Enjoy!
Michaela LOVED hugging Reagan, and she wasn't always interested! And Michaela and Grandpa Kresge snuggling after bathtime!
Pumpkin patch and the cho cho train...... this picture looks like my parents about 24 years ago!
Having a snack on the plane, and Papa and Michaela reading the Friend.
Grandma Raylene holding both girls off in the car with LIPSTICK!
Jammy babies! And Michaela's first brownie beater.
Michaela's new passion, trains with Grandpa Sam and Papa with her and Halloween hats.
Reagan and Michaela at the Science center, in big foot's footprint and at the water table!
Trampoline Fun and Sticker buddies!
Great Grandpa's cane and playing peek-a-boo with Grandma Fife!
This was too cute, Michaela was afraid of Ganda the dog, but she eventually got close enough to give her a bummy love! And wrestling with grandpa!
So we will be out of town later this week, with Jordan at a Networking event. I have been told that before I board the plane, there should be enough pictures to hold off the grandparents for an entire week! So here they go, four or five entire posts complete with pictures! Hope you all have a great week.-Samantha
This weekend was homecoming for the Hawkeyes. I do not know who they played, nor do I know if they won (sorry Devin Winn....) but I DO know that we had a blast before the game! The MBA's hosted a tailgate at 7 am and we went with all the school spirit we could find around the house. It was a blast and OF COURSE, Michaela stole the show......
Just a little view of the stadium - 3 HOURS before game time!
This is the street we live on. People park here and walk the one mile to the field.
Michaela showing off her face tattoo. Happily it didn't come off, so she got to wear it to church today! (did anyone get the sarcasm???)
Michaela and daddy, happy at the tailgate.
Here is Michaela's hat the clown made her. Yes, the yellow balloon is part of it!
This kid made my day when she knew how to hold a football. 
About a week ago, Jordan and I heard Michaela laughing in the living room. Curious to see what was so amusing we headed that way. She met us in the hallway, like this...........
I kid you not, we did not set this up! She had a cup nipple on her, well, nipple! We laughed so hard and then posed for a million other pictures, some of which we set up. But I SWEAR, the first time was all her!
Latley, Michaela has been into rubbing feet! I kid you not, she has always been obsessed with lotion, and rubbing it all over herself, but a few weeks ago she wanted to rub it on my legs. For some reason, I wasn't too keen on the idea, but she threw a big enough fit that I finially gave in. Who would have guessed that sugh a little girl could give such a wonderful leg and foot rub?! So now, when she comes to me with her big brown eyes and says, "loosh?" (Lotion) I smile sweetly, and say, as you wish my love!!! It doesn't get any better than that! This is my mom, with Michaela, enjoying her new favorite hobby!
Beautiful girl on a beautiful day!
Talking on the park phone. Michaela calls it the "PakTak", (Park, Talk)
