Samantha's Christmas Pics

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This was the first time that I had to cook for Thanksgiving. I was so nervous, even though I usually cook a turkey for Christmas Eve, it was very nerve racking with more people coming. It turned out delicious and Paul helped me so much! I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Update on Zeus

Email received from Russell Rescue-

Paul and Brittany - here are some more pictures of Zeus - they just ADORE this dog - thank you for allowing us to help you place him in a happy forever setting - kindly, Pauline, Russell Refuge, NY Here is what his new mom wrote about Zeus: Here are some photos of Zeus and Trout (and me). Zeus is on my lap as I write this. He and Trout are the greatest of friends and playmates. They run all over the house all day long. They have their dog training lesson together. By evening they are a little tired from wrestling with each other. It is the funniest thing to watch because Trout is twice as big as Zeus, but she treats him so carefully while still "roughing him up." Trout like to jog with us. We are going to see if Zeus wants to work up to this, too, once his feet heal. They already look much less inflamed. He got a cortisone shot on Saturday for the skin condition (along with the rest of the regular vaccinations he lacked) and is taking antibiotics for 10 days or so. At night he is in our bed. He is like a little wooly lamb. We love him SO MUCH!!! He is the ideal fit for our household. What a great dog. We are so incredibly lucky. Thank you so much!

Halloween 2008

Work

Zeus's New Home

For those of you that didn't hear already, we had to give our male Jack Russell Zeus to the Russell Refuge of NY. Ove the past 2 years it has become very hard to manage 2 dogs, Sami and work. We didn't have enough time for him and he started acting out by marking all over our couch and chair. Paul took him to the Russell Resuce last tuesday and wednesday he was adopted by a family that live in Manhattan. His new family sent this picture with his new sibling Trout. He has his own room with Trout and window overlooking 2nd Avenue. The new family also has a summer house in Connecticut. His new mom was the head of the Humane Society of Manhattan, so we feel he is in the perfect home. It was very hard on me and Sami. Sami told Paul that Zeus is her bestfriend. It was very heartbreaking, but it is the best thing we could do for him. Madison is a very calm Jack Russell, where Zeus was very wild. Madison is doing great she has gone back to her old behavior before Zeus. She doesn't seem sad at all. We are just so grateful that the Refuge could find an excellent home for Zeus.

Carving Pumpkins

Sunday we went to Hicksville Nursey. They have a small walk-thru called Otto the Ghost for kids, very cute. At the end of the walk-thru Otto was there to greet the kids, Sami was very nervous :) Outside they had animals you could feed, a hayride and pumpkins. It was too cold and windy to do the hayride and Sami wasn't too interested in the animals she was on a mission to get pumpkins. Later Sunday night Paul carved Snow White and the Witch and Sami colored her baby pumpkins. We baked the seeds...yum! It was a very fun day and it is so exciting that this year Sami is so involved in holidays! Can't wait for Christmas :)

Utah

We recently spent 4 days in Utah. This was the first time Sami got to see her cousin Rowan, she instantly fell in love with him. She thought he was a real life baby doll. They were very cute together. We had a great time in Utah. Kelsey's wedding was beautiful and a lot of fun! It was so good to see everyone, but the visit was too short.

1st Ballet Class

Samantha started ballet today. She loved it! She was very upset when the class ended. The class was 45 min long, just enough for the teacher :) It was very trying to have all the girls positioned all at the same time and listening all at the same time. It was cute to say the least! :)

Daddy's 35th Birthday

Saturday we celebrated Paul's 35th Birthday, he is an old man! :) Samantha had a great time, I took her to the store to buy him something and she choose a balloon, but it had to be a Dora balloon. She was so excited to give it to him. Her favorite part was the ice cream cake. Every time she ate some of the cake she made this face. When she was about 9 months old she used to make this face for us, we called it the scary face, we hadn't seen her do it for almost a year now. We were so happy to see it again, our little scary faced comedian! :)

School Shopping

We know she is only 2 :), but we had to take advantage of the back to school shopping, especially at our favorite store Gymboree! Sami was so excited about her new clothes for the fall she had to model them. She also got a Dora backpack at Target. Dora is our favorite show, she can even count to 10 in spanish. I was reading a Dora book to her last night and we learned she knew how to count in spanish, maybe she is watching too much! :) She has become a TV bug since she doesn't watch all day at daycare, we have been trying to ween her off so much. She had a great day at the mall today shopping for school clothes, shopping is her favorite hobby :)

St. Rocco's Feast

Today we went to a Feast in Glen Cove NY at St. Rocco's RC Church. It was a lot of fun. Sami had a great time on all the rides. This video is the first time she has ever gone on a ride by herself. She loved it!

Uncle Paul, Aunt Britt & Cousin Sami!

THE STORK DROPPED OFF BABY ROWAN

6lbs 15oz

20 inches

We are so excited to welcome Rory & Dorthy's Baby. We bought plane tickets for Aunt Britt and Cousin Sami for Columbus Day weekend (October). Hope we get to see most of you! :)

Playground

Today we took Sami to the Floral Park Playground. She had a great time. We have been trying to keep her busy on Weekends. She was signed up to start Ballet Class on Saturdays, but the class was cancelled due to only 2 students for the Summer session. Starting September she will have Ballet Saturdays and Music Class Sundays. If we don't keep her busy and stimulated she gets very cranky :)