An Incredible Evening!!!

Wow!! What an incredible evening my husband orchestrated for my birthday. He had told me we were gong out to dinner and that the older boys were busy and couldn't go. (That is the only thing I thought a little suspicious) So imagine my surprise when we entered one of my most favorite restaurants(Fosters in Rhinebeck) and there seated were the boys and Jenn and Sara, PLUS my brother and Diane and my favorite niece, Jamie, AND my sister and Debbie who drove all the way from Maryland to join us!! I was so surprised and cried with complete joy to have my entire family celebrate my birthday with me. And then to top it off I told my sister that I felt bad because I had to work today and Scott said "No you don't! I got you the day off!" (Thanks Jill for working for me!!) So Beth and I are going hiking up to Mohonk Mtn. today with a picnic lunch!!! Is he the best or what?!!!!! My camera battery died so I will post pictures when Sara sends them to me. In the mean time I am off to spend the day with my sister!!!!

OK, the day is here and I am not feeling so bad about it. I really wasn't sure how I felt about being 50, but now that its here I am OK! I usually love birthdays!! I believe they are days to celebrate everything good in your life. And boy do I have it good. I have a wonderful husband, 3 amazing young men for sons, and a beautiful, special little girl who has stolen my heart!!We are surrounded by extended family who I can count on for anything. I have my health,the best friends in the world ,the opportunity to stay home with Sierra, and a church family that equals no other. But truthfully the thought of turning 50 has been a little difficult for me. I am not quite sure why. I have just lived the most amazing year. I never thought that a trip to China would be apart of my life plan but oh what a fabulous journey that was!!!Anyway, I am so very grateful for all that I have in my life and I am so thankful that I am here to enjoy it all!! Its been a great ride so far!!!
So today is the last day of camp. I started doing camp when I was 25 so now I have been doing it half my life. Thanks, Sandy Barbara, Linda and Annabelle for the cake!! It was yummy! Sierra has loved going to camp with me each day and I know next week she will wonder where all her friends are!! I am so lucky to have a summer job that I can bring her to!! The kids each year teach me so much and its so much fun to see them in a setting other than school!! I am lucky indeed!!!

A few pictures from the past week!

These are just a few pictures from the past week. We had a big wiffle ball game at David's party. You can also see SIerra helping David blow out his candles. Daddy bought Sierra a new monkey playdough activity. She loves monkeys and playdough so it was a big hit!
Sierra had her first experience roller skating by herself...on the carpet around the rink!!!!

David Turns 18!!!

Boy has time flown since this guy was born. I have loved every minute of being with this young man!! I am so grateful that he was able to travel with us to China to get his new little sister.
I am posting in his honor "18 Reasons Why I Love David!!"

1. He is kind.
2. He is respectful
3. He tries hard at anything he does
4. He has a great sense of humor
5. Young children love him
6. He has a great smile
7. He is sensitive
8. He loves animals
9. He is a leader, not a follower
10. He sticks up for his stepfather whenever we have an argument!
11. He worries about his 92 year old grandmother
12. He was a great sport in China when he was sick in bed for 3 days
13. He didn't complain even though he ws very nervous about flying!
14. He still likes me to say goodnight to him
15. He is a volunteer fireman and takes it very seriously
16. His brothers and their girlfriends think he is awesome
17. He still loves to go on vacation with us ( and we love having him!! )
18. He jumped right in and his held his new scared little sister and was the only one who could get her to stop crying!
Happy birthday David!! We love you and it was sooo easy to come up with 18 reasons!!!

Water Fun!!!

Fun at the Town Park!

Went to Belleayre Lake with camp today!!Here she is with Baby Jamie!!

It was a gorgeous day to be in the mountains!!!

Swimming lessons with Sam. I used to babysit for Sam when she was 2 years old, now she is Sierra's swim teacher!

Sierra loves the water as everyone in this family does. But she really LOVES it!!!

And she is not afraid to try anything. She can almost already swim underwater!! And she will swim in any kind of water. Which is good because we have creeks for swimming(rocky and sometimes a little murky), nice lakes and Aunt Carol and Uncle Steve"s built in pool. And of course there is the little 5 foot round plastic pool that I bought at a yard sale for 2 dollars which I matched up with a plastic slide that someone gave me. That is what we have in our backyard and she loves that too!!! She is taking swimming lessons at our town park and they use her to show the other kids how to put there face in the water, blow bubbles etc.Oh how I love to watch her as she experiences all these things for the first time.

Swimming at Belleayre Lake