Sammy's 10th Birthday

Tate learned "Happy Birthday" for his piano lessons and continued to practice it until Sammy's birthday. I forgot that I had suggested that he play it for her birthday, and I sometimes wondered why I always heard him practicing it. I just figured that he liked to play it. When the family was all there to celebrate, he gathered everyone downstairs so that he could accompany us as we sang to her. What poise for a 6-year-old! I think she even liked it. :) Sorry (again) about the sideways video. I corrected it on the camera, and then it loaded sideways on the computer. If I waited to post it until I figured out how to fix it, you would never see it! :) Same goes for this next video, of Samantha's cake--it's actually a French Silk Pie. Again, she had to worry about someone else blowing out her candles. It's so sad my kids can't enjoy this, but it makes me laugh every time I see it.

Sammy has wanted a digital camera forever and has been saving her money. Her birthday money put her over the top, and she was able to buy her camera. I am happy and relieved to report that so far it has made it to the last day of school, camp (and back!) ,as well as various family outings. She used it to take pictures for her 4H photography project, for which she earned a blue ribbon! Here are some samples of her photography:

Our dogs will pick up whatever they can find on the floor and fight over it. Whatever it us usually ends up destroyed. This is a dress that was probably on the floor of her closet. She's never liked it, which explains why she took a picture instead of getting it away from them.

Camp! With both of her counselors, Sara and Kara. I guess they called themselves "Scara."Glen bought the boys these genuine Amish hats. They love them. A friend of ours brought his kids over to ride horses one day, and our boys were running around the yard in their hats--the daughter said, "They have Amish kids?!"
Her fair picture--the judge suggested that next time she crop it, but otherwise, she liked it!