California

We came out to visit my mom nearly 2 weeks ago. My maternal grandma (and the only grandparent I had left) got really ill last month and had to be hospitalized. We came out as a distraction for my mom as she had been practically living in the hospital all this time. Unfortunately, my grandma passed away last Sunday. Fortunately, we were able to be here as a support and comfort for my mom. My grandmother lived a full life to the age of 84, and was able to hold grandchildren and great-grandchildren. What more can anyone ask for?

We return home this week. I am looking forward to seeing my hubby and sleeping in my own bed. It's the little things that count. I am also anxious to get home to start planning a trip out to AZ in the middle of this summer in order to have this baby. Why the craziness? Not only are midwives illegal in AL, but Ben and I would feel a whole lot safer and more comfortable if Paula caught this one as well. So, please wish me luck and pray that I am able to get to AZ without a problem.

The Big S-I-X

Samuel turned six this past week. He has been anxiously awaiting his birthday, because six is "so big." Time flies way to quickly. In so many ways I cannot believe that he is only six. It feels like he has been with us forever, but at the same time, six years doesn't seem that long ago.


He was so jazzed to find me up before him that day. He had asked for a Superman cake, and he got that. Sort of. He also asked to go out to dinner, which we did, and we surprised him with a trip to Cold Stone's afterwards. Good stuff (the celebration and the ice cream!). Most of his gifts were of a piratey nature (Carribean, not those who don't do anything) with a couple of new video games to torment me, uh, entertain him with.

SO, I really do need to put that wax paper under the cake before icing it. And since 4 out of 5 of us will require a gluten-free cake every year, I really should take a cake decorating course. He was vastly relieved that it was not pink like David's Spiderman head last year. (Please don't ask him. I am sure he has had nightmares about his cake.)

It was after this picture of him with his cake that my camera died on me. I have more pictures of him on my new phone, but don't know how to retrieve them. So maybe as an early (way early) b-day gift for mommy, she will get a new camera. Hint, hint, honey.

Back to Sam. He had a wonderful day all about him. He didn't get Mackydonlald's for his special dinner like he asked for, but he did get it for lunch. We went and took daddy with us too during his lunch break. We are truly blessed with Sam in our lives. He is a big help and source of much laughter to Ben and me. His brother and sister love him and enjoy playing and pestering him. The only thing that could have made his birthday better, in his own words was "to have all the family with us." (As in grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins.) We miss you guys.