Laurelville is here!

Well, the first Laurelville weekend is now over, and it was a sucess. Negley Anne and I traveled up on Saturday morning for a few hours to check everything out. Jayson was the speaker, as well as running the show with Mark Steffey. All seemed to go well, which is good because there are four more to go this fall.

Tommy and Negley Anne getting their groove on in the club room.

 

Searching for the perfect pumpkin

A couple of weeks ago, Jayson, Negley Anne and I traveled to the pumpkin patch close to our house to find some good pumpkins for halloween. Even though no one comes to our house for trick or treating (3 years and running without a single doorbell ring), we thought it would be fun to carve them out and let Negley Anne play with the innerds. Sadly, it's been two weeks now since we did this, and they are still sitting on our kitchen sink... whole. A very concerned Negley Anne. Maybe it was because she was the only kid there without mittons, a hat, or a big old winter coat. Nahhh. (Sayward, do you like how the binky matches the vest?)
Jayson and Negley Anne walking around the pumpkin patch (hayride in the back that took us there).
She found the perfect Negley sized pumpkin!

 

Random pictures from last weekend

I'm not necessarily convinced that this is the cutest picture of Negley Anne that i've taken, but I thought it was funny. The girl loves her rice and beans... and what would a meal be if she didn't have grahm crackers and some form of fruit. Sounds odd, looks nasty, but she loves it. Better pictures of the Negs to come...

Last weekend Jay and I were able to get tickets to the Steelers game... it was a blast. They had not been doing too well and this made everything a little better. While we were at the game we found our friends Jame and Christa - also away from their kids. Go Steelers!

Jayson and I were lucky enough to get some tickets from a new friend of ours... Anthony Madison. He just moved to Pittsburgh and started playing for the Steelers this fall. It was a blast to be able to see him play at Heinz Field and for the team to win. I thought I'd send a little love to him on the blog. Go Madison!

 

Negley Anne's First Oreo

I wouldn't go so far to say that I've gotten hate mail in the past week or so... but I know that my good blogging friends out there are a little disapointed in me and my posts lately. All this talk I gave about being better was just a lie. Like everyone, life just got busy and blogging took a back seat to trying to relax after working all day. If I had the ability to do it at work, you would have an update everyday - but as it is, I can't. For all my students out there, that's probably a good thing.
Things at school have been okay, but a little more stressful than usual. If you live in Pittsburgh and have read the news about recent shootings, you'll know what I'm talking about. Anyway, to get on to the pictures - Negley Anne has made out with my "bad day at work" in terms of chocolate. On my way home with her while stoping at the store it was hard for me to pass up the oreos when I'm feeling blue. She didn't seem to mind.


I've turned my daughter into a chocoholic like her mom.

 

New Pictures

These aren't really new pictures... but I haven't gotten around to taking what I have on our camera off and onto the computer. If any of you are like me and check people's blogs almost everyday to see if they've updated it, I'm sorry that I haven't been to good at it lately. I even check my own blog to see if by some chance Jayson has updated it... I think those days are over. Here are some new pictures to tide everyone over until the camera gets cleaned out.


Tillie and Willie relaxing together.


This picture was taken in Michigan to show the Bishop family how much we love this back-pack. We take it everywhere! Negley loves being in it so much sometimes I wear it around the house just to cheer her up. Thanks again!


This picture I put on here just to freak my mother out. Mary Lou had the chance to come up to Surf City this year to check things out, and told me repeatedly not to take Negley out on the boat. I love you mom... but this was just too much fun. Anyway, this picture captures Surf City for this summer to me. Courtney, Negley Anne and I out on the boat while Jayson drove. It doesn't get much better than that.

Hopefully updated pictures soon!

 

Are you ready for some football!

Yes, it's football season here in Western PA... what a time of year. Jayson, Negley Anne and I had the chance to go watch my cousin play last weekend for the East End Crusaders. Sadly, they didn't win the game, but it still was nice to watch a game with family and have Negley Anne run wild in the stands. (She's learning from her mom) Here is Timmy - he's in 8th grade at Sacred Heart.

Negley Anne and Aunt Lynn watching the game.

Uncle Jimmy (he can't stand still) walking around during the game.

 

Negley Anne in KiddieLand!

After talking to my good friend Erin on the phone yesterday I realized that we had never actually taken Negley Anne to Kennywood to ride for herself. Can you beleive it? Of all families, we forgot that now that she is an "independent walker" she can go on rides herself! Luckily Kennywood was open another night - so we went out just for her. To our surprise she didn't cry, but then again, she didn't really smile either. The pictures turned out cute...


The first ride of the night was the swing. This was about as excited as she got on the ride.


If only I knew someone that worked at Kennywood... this would be a great photo for a brochure... don't you think?


What would a trip be to Kennywood without the airplane. Sadly they put a little boy in front of her, so neither of them could reach the stick to pull the plane up in the air. A good time was had by all at America's Finest Traditional Amusement Park.

 

My little ones

After having a not-so-great day at work, I came home to a sweet baby, dinner with my brother, and an evening of great music by Mark and Brad. I thought I would share some cute pictures in case anyone else had a day at work like me.
These pictures were taken before leaving for Surf City (so about a month and a half ago) - so both Negley Anne & Willie have aged quite a bit... but I still think they are cute enough for the blog. The two of them are quite a pair. Willie goes where she goes and she LOVES it! Luckily she is mobile enough to get away from him when she needs a break.

Waiting for Jayson to come home.

Yes, my dog does really have blue eyes. Creepy.

I'm sure this is a scene in many households with little kids & dogs. Willie & Tillie know exactly where to hang out when Negley Anne is eating. They aren't stupid!

 

Random Pictures From This Summer

These aren't necessarily in order of events... but they were sitting on my phone and I wanted more space to take more pictures. I love the camera phone. What a wonderful invention. Unless you use it in my gym class... then you will get a detention. I love detentions too.

This was taken at West Park on the North Side of Pittsburgh, at a Pittsburgh Project picnic. Negs and her dad.

I went to Surf City a good 10 days before Jayson arrived and everyday had to send him pictures of Negley. This picture reminded Jayson of a Cure album cover. I love The Cure too.

One of the highlights of Surf City is the creamery. A dairy farm about 15 minutes from camp that makes their own Milk, Cheese, and Ice Cream. This was one of the first nights at camp, I posed Negley Anne under the cow. She's hard to see... but I think it's cute. Negley Anne and Ice Cream, it doesn't get better than that!

 

Negley and Charlie Joe at the race.

Some shots from the zoo.

Beach

Bath Duck

Negley Loves Her Rocking Chair

Surf City on the Boat

Cutting Off The Hair

As you can tell from the pictures, or if you have seen me since last Sunday... I got my hair cut. Not usually something that is blog worthy, but I had 10 inches cut off this time. A big change for me. I haven't had my hair this short since I was 18 and a freshman in college. It was a huge mistake that time around (never cut your hair for a boy unless you are married to them), but this time feels pretty good. I miss my hair being long, but I was able to give it to Locks of Love so some kid out there is going to have a pretty awsome wig (if I do say so myself).


My good friend Courtney had the honor.


Right when she made the first cut I could hear Jayson saying, "Oh no, this was a huge mistake." What a way to support your wife.


This picture frightens me. Mom if you happen to see this blog, doesn't my hair style remind you of preschool at Shadyside? Crazy. If you want to see another picture of me with short hair... feel free to go over to the Pauli's blog... a nice picture of me and Greta Polo when we were in 7th grade. I have to find those shorts somewhere...

Super Doula's Wedding!

Like always, it's been pretty busy around the Samuels' house... Jayson managed to get Mark and Courtney married! The wedding was a blast, everyone had so much fun! Negley got a chance to hang out with some of her favorite people that night, even though they were the busiest. Our entire family cried during the service... Courtney, then Mark, Negley seemed to cry all day, then me... then Jayson, while he was trying to marry them. Good thing the service only lasted about ten minutes. They should be coming home sometime this week from their honeymoon - and as happy as we are that they are married, it's hard to get used to the fact that Mark doesn't live with us anymore. Good thing they didn't go far!

Super Doula & The Negs


Uncle Mark & The Negs


I had to get Brad Yodder on my blog somehow... We've tried to get Negley Anne to say Yodder as her first word with no luck... sorry Brad.