Our Big Buddy Sampson

Sadly, Sampson has experienced seizures for over a year.  We have been combating the illness with medication however he still had monthly occurrences.  This past week, January 25, 2011, we had to say goodbye to our big boy, Sampson.  Anybody that knows Chad and I knows that we have had Sampson since we were married.  He was a 175lb Great Dane with a soft sweet heart, a goofy personality and a shiny smooth black coat. 

Remembering Sampson also is a walk down memory lane and all of the great places Chad and I have explored in the past 7 years.  Here we took him to Lake Tahoe and enjoyed sunbathing on a boulder in the water.  He never was a swimmer.  Lucky for him he had really long legs!

Chad and I were lucky enough to work for a great company that was very flexible in its office policies...allowing us to bring our BIG boy to work on occasion.

Although, to most people Sampson might appear to be an intimidating giant...

To me he was an oversized mannequin that was a challenge to dress up...

 

He was a loving big brother to his little sissy, Lucy.  From the very first day we brought Lucy home he loved her like his own.

 

He grew into a handsome, stoic Great Dane. 

 

He was loved by his Daddy and Mama.

 

 

And he loved Summer from the day we brought her home from the hospital.

In fact, he was so sweet that there were moments we knew that HE was the biggest baby in the house!

We love our Big Buddy and are so sad to not get to spend each day with him and to see Summer love him for more of her life.  Just last week I took these pictures of Summer hugging/riding Sampson. 

In his usual ways, he sat still letting her crawl all over him.

We are blessed to have received so much love from one of God's animals.

On the Road Again

I was trying to come up with some funny statement about Summer being a good road trip companion...until I realized that I have to drive back home with her and I don't want to jinx myself.  So for now, I will just leave you with this photo of us in the car.

We are in Birmingham!  Ready, Set, Go - first night in we went to dinner with Mimi, Uncle Bud and Aunt Jen.  As you can see Summer was using every ounce of cuteness in her to distract us from putting her back in her highchair.  She rolled her eyes (and her entire head) at us OVER and OVER...it was hilarious and so she kept doing it to keep us laughing. 

Dinner with Grammy and Papa was another successful public outing in the evening (2 for 2 so far)

Mimi and Summer playing around.

This girl is ready for some coloring...stickering...markering...staining...

We checked out the park and Summer took it all in.  She did quite a few firsts (see saw and tire swing).  I think next park trip will be more fun since she will know what to expect.

Summer got a rocking horse for Christmas so she felt right at home on Grammy's rocking horse. 

Meanwhile, while we are hanging out in Alabama, Chad is doing "Business" in these exotic locations - Costa Rica

And Nicaragua...we love you Daddy!

Big Girl

HELLO!

This is the image of a Big Girl who is too cool for her high chair.  There seems to be nothing more fun than to sit across the table from me just like an adult. 

Here is a little video from this morning before we hit the road to see family while Daddy is out of town. 

Charleston 1/2 Marathon

Today I achieved a goal that I set out for 6 months ago - I finished my first 1/2 marathon!

I ran with Nicole Hendrick (whose birthday was today) and Chad served as our driver and encourager.  Traffic was backed up so we decided to hop out of the car and he then met us at the 3 mile marker to take some of our warmer clothes that we shed at that time.  The first 3 miles were so pretty in downtown Charleston running along the water and Rainbow Row.  Nicole and I both climbed the stairs to run on the seawall.  I even saw a dolphin swimming around...I tried to soak it all in.  I was thrilled to see Chad at mile 3 in downtown along all of the trendy shops. 

He was so encouraging and even started running with me as I unzipped my vest and took off my gloves so I didn't have to slow down.  However, as the video shows he forgot that he was filming me and as a result we get some asphault. 

I was very surprised with how calm I was in the run and how fast the time went by.  I never felt the urge to use the bathroom, amazing! In addition, I never had to dig deep within.  It turns out that my 6 months of training prepared me for the task at hand, go figure that is what preparation can get you!  I knew that I had passed the 2:30 pace runner around the 3rd mile and at about the 5th mile I could see the 2:15 pace runner.  I had told myself that I didn't care about time but mentally I wanted to finish between 2:15 and 2:30.  At mile 10 I was part of the 2:15 pace runner's pack.  It was neat feeling like I belonged to an exclusive group running around this one girl...but once I got to mile 11 and I realized I only had 20 more minutes to finish I realized that I could go faster and I took off on my own.  The last mile took us back along the water and I ran tall till the last turn when I saw the FINISH LINE sign with balloons.  At that moment I smiled and soaked in the satisfaction of all the hard work.  I finished...I actually did it.  The day was here, I ran 13.1 miles and I was about to cross the finish line, ahhh! 

My final time was 2:12 and I couldn't have been more pleased for my first 1/2 marathon.  I missed seeing Team Jana on the way in but found them shortly after coming out of the baracade.  Nicole was a little bit behind me so I decided to run back and encourage her in the last 1/2 mile.  This was a wonderful day that I will always remember with a smile. 

On a side note, hours after the race I can say that my legs feel like lead sticks and if they stay bent for too many minutes they start to feel like broken lead sticks.  A massage is definitely in order for Monday!

In addition, my sister-in-law, Jen's birthday is also today.  Happy Birthday Jen!

I am a Winner already

It is just days before the race I have been training for since August and I feel like a Winner already!

• I have found a passion for an exercise regimine that I can easily do anywhere. 
• I have lost 25 lbs. to date. 
• I have proved to myself that I can set a long-term goal, show will-power to consistently train and maintain focus and confidence that I CAN DO IT!

If it sounds like I am bragging I kind of am. 
I am proud of myself and no matter how fast I run this race on Saturday I will be happy with my success.
Yay me...

Oh and my camera is beyond help and therefore I haven't been able to take pictures in the new year.  I will use the FLIP for the race and hopefully put togther an exciting movie of the experience.

Christmas Continues

The Sun finally came out making for a beautiful morning over the river.  Time for Summer and I to travel to Birmingham.

In Birmingham, my Grandmama, Aunts and Cousins gathered for the annual Christmas get-together.

 Summer and I also had a play date with my best friends, Nicole and Ashlei.  Ashlei lives in China and I haven't seen her since she was in Alabama to give birth to Grady (now 2 1/2).  It was great to hang out with these girls...haven't changed a bit.

 Little Jana, Little Nicole (x2), Little Ashlei

 Summer loved playing with Emma.  Here they were playing Ring around the Rosie, but stopped for a photo.

 It warms my heart to see my SOO Sweet Loving Family!

 The guys in plaid.  Little Reece is the happiest child!  You would have to drop a heavy silver platter on this child's foot to get him to cry...

 Summer loved acting big like cousin Ella Katherine. 

 With all of this activity, she slept the majority of the way home (with her hands behind her head, at that).  Luckily, I didn't wreck while taking this photo.

 We rang in the New Year back at Gramma and Grandad's house.  Summer wore her new official Alabama Cheerleading uniform (2 piece) for the bowl game on New Year's Day.  She definitely brought the Tide good luck!



Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful Christmas at Chad's parents house in Hayesville, NC.  Mom and Larry joined us and we all got snowed in for the weekend.  Chad was very surprised to get an inflatable boat... we can already imagine the three of us relaxing on the water... catching a tan and making memories!

We really enjoyed spending time with Kiersten and Tony as well.  We all gathered around the dining table and played Mexican Train dominos.  I was apprehensive at first but it turned out to be a REALLY fun game that we couldn't stop playing.

These women all think alike.  Each of them, secretly got matching pajamas for us to wear.  Kiersten got the guys matching pjs.  Susan got the girls matching pjs and Mom got us monogrammed pjs (Mama, Mimi, Aunt Kiki and Gramma). 

Mom and Larry got out of town in the small break in the storm.  After they left the snow returned and we went outside to build a snowman.  Grandad and Gramma loved on little Miss Summer.

 The crew in action, building Java the fat snowman.

 The girls with Java the snowman.

 The boys & dogs with Java the snowman.

Gramma then started a fierce snowball fight!  In this photo she is getting a taste of her own medicine.  Susan had just nailed Doug with a snowball only to be receiving one in the back from Chad... and poor, innocent Summer is caught in the crossfire.