Miss Samantha the mulch eater!

Highlights and Lowlights of Summer so far

Highlight: The weather has been fantastic! Surprisingly, it hasn't been too hot!

Lowlight: Due to the nice weather, the pool has been FREEZING, so we haven't done much swimming.

H: The new YMCA just opened up and we were able to join because Lee got a discount.

L: The kids want to stay and dislike leaving the Y and always put up a fuss when it's time to go!

H: Kassie and Tommy have been taking swim lessons.

L: Tears, tears and more tears from both kids because they hate swim lessons. They are both afraid drowning.

H: Kassie and Tommy love playing outside in the back with the sprinkler.

L: Fruit flies in the house from kids coming in and out constantly.

H: My parents are coming to visit in a week!!!!

L: My house is a mess and I need to clean it!

H: It's summer which means no school stuff.

L: It's summer and I think I'm ready for the kids to go back to school.....like now!

H: Samantha has been walking all over the place.

L: She gets into the trash because it's now a perfect height for her to reach in and get some goodies.

H: Lee is going to be a 4th year!

L: He starts with Pediatrics and goes back to working weekends.

H: I'm growing my hair out and can finally fit it in a ponytail.

L: It's taking forever and it's hot on my neck.

L: The air conditioner was leaking water.

H: Lee was able to fix it!

The Richardsons go camping

We started off the summer break with a camping trip to Raccoon Lake with some friends. Now don't think we went crazy and camped for three or more days. We're amateurs! We have to ease into this whole sleeping in a tent thing. It was a lot of fun! When Lee got home from work on Friday, we headed to the campground. The van was packed to the rim! Who would have guessed it takes an entire van to fit camping stuff for one night and a day and a half for a family of five!! Kassie and Tommy were super excited and didn't mind resting their feet on sleeping bags and pillows. When we got there, the kids ran around, got super sweaty, ate bugs and threw sticks in the fire. We did the traditional camping dinner of hot dogs and s'mores! I must remind you, it starts to get dark around 9:30 here in Indiana so we were all in for a long night. The kids (minus Samantha) settled down in the tent around 10 p.m. It wasn't until after 11 that they finally fell asleep. Samantha was a different story. Lee had to drive her around in the car to get her to fall asleep. Once she was asleep we stayed up with the adults and talked around the fire. It was 12:30 ish before we headed to the tent to find two small slivers of a space for us to crash. The rest was history...Tommy snored in Lee's face. Kassie sat up and talked nonsense. Samantha woke up a few times. I made a bottle in the dark with my left hand while holding Sam. And last but not least, raccoons snarled and growled all night! (I bet you didn't know raccoons could make such wonderful noises! The campground is called Raccoon Lake for a reason folks!)















Roasting marshmallows for breakfast!


The perfect morning after picture. Dirty clothes, dark circles under eyes, messy hair, war wound on forehead from falling out of the tent!

Samantha Jean is 1

Kassie and Tommy were counting down the days to Samantha's birthday. Kassie decorated with balloons and streamers and Tommy helped with presents. Samantha is the cutest little girl! She has a sweet personality. This year has flown by and I secretly wish she will stay one for just a bit longer!

A one year old birthday wouldn't be complete without present eating!









First cupcake ever! She wasn't too sure about the pink stuff on the top, so poking and exploring calmed her fears.



She's probably saying, "Wow! That's good!"

#32

I had a birthday! Let's be honest! It's not fun to be "getting older". I know, I know 32 isn't that old. Kassie has let me know on multiple occasions with a big smile that, "I'm no longer a spring chicken"! That's ok right!

Celebration of Success

Kassie's school had a "Celebration of Success" night. It was a perfect idea to showcase all the hard work the students did throughout the year. Kassie was excited for us to see her Journal and "Hungry Caterpillar" book.
We were very pleased with her teacher this year. She had all the qualities an amazing teacher should have.