Raising the Flag

At the last football game (Dec. 4, 2009) Samantha helped to raise the flag. In the picture, she has her back turned to us and is helping with the American flag.

Her ROTC captian has complimented her many times to me.

Crazy

Sorry this is sideways! I tried to fix it, oh well.

Samantha is our crazy/fun girl!!!

Young Women in Excellence

Look at this beautiful cake. Sister Lamb made it for the young women. The theme for Young Women in Excellence this year was to "Remember". Remember the Values and what they stand for. The leaders had planned a beautiful evening for the girls and their families.

Each girl brought in a "value box" to share. The put things in the boxes that help them remember the YW value. Morgan did basket (rather than a box) on Faith.

Samantha did a box on Faith as well. She divided her box in half.

We have awesome YW leaders in our ward and stake. I am so blessed to have my girls led by wonderful women. I am grateful for each of their love, kindness and testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Megan Lamb (secretary), Samantha, Kelley Kirkland (president) and Shalee Morrill (Stake YW president)

The Lamb Girls

Playing with the Lamb girls. Our friend Ryan Lamb came over to help fix the tile in our bathroom. He brought his two cuties with him. Cassidy helped Samantha wash the dishes. Melanie was thrilled to have Morgan toss her around. We love the Lamb family!

Cadet Webecke

I'm sorry this is such a fuzzy picture.

Today is Samantha, Cadet Webecke's, first uniform day. I know that she has already had one advancement in NJROTC. So I will have to find out what her rank is and add that latter and maybe also a better picture! Good luck with your inspection Samantha!

I had a terrible time doing her long hair today. It has to be off her collar, but not to high or her cap won't fit on. I had to remind myself often to breathe and that my mom was nice to me when I needed my hair putup for marching band color guard. Thanks mom for being such a good example.

Okay, these are better pictures. I went to her school during lunch and got these. By then Samantha had already had her inspection. It went well. She also got her rank pin (on her right collar), Seaman Apprentice. She had also received her ribbon for attending the mini boot camp before school started. Samantha you look great!

PCHS or CHS

We have two kids at Charlotte High, Samantha and Patrick. Morgan is at the opposing school, Port Charlotte High. It makes life fun and sometimes silly around here. I was taking pictures of Samantha in her new Charlotte shirt. Morgan happened to be wearing her school shirt as well, so she also jumped in the pictures. (Patrick wasn't home at the time.)

First Day of School

School has started (Aug 10)!


Jordan a 7th grader.



















Raeleigh in 3rd grade. She made this sign for the picture. She was so excited for her first day of third grade.



















Stuart, also a 3rd grader.



















Morgan a high school junior.




















Samantha a high school Freshman!!





















Samantha wanted he eyes to show on the first day of school, so Morgan helped her with make-up!



















Patrick a high school junior. As always not thrilled to get his picture taken!


All the kids had a successful first day and are glad to be back in school and have a routine!

CHS ribbon cutting

Craig and Samantha standing in front of the restored historic Charlotte High School. This first building (commonly called the three story) is the only historic part of the campus.

Charlotte High School as well as several other schools in our county were destroyed by hurricane Charley in Aug. 2004. Rebuilding the campus has been a slow process that is not finished yet. However the freshman and sophomore will have new buildings to meet in when school opens. Most of the junior and senior classes will still be in portables for a few more months. Craig is also hoping that the changes to the dinning room will be done when school starts. He does need somewhere to feed the 2,000 students!

There was a ribbon cutting and open house on July 13, 2009 for the completed parts of the school. The ribbon cutting took place in the new axillary gym. The school board was there.

Jerry Olivio, assistant super intendent conducted the ceremony.

Barbara the school board chair speaking. Jerry Olivio, David Galler (super intendent), and Wayne Goff (a CHS graduate.

Dr Dave Galler was pleased with prospect of the nearing completion of the school.

Barney Duffey, CHS principal, spoke on the excitement of opening the new school and how much tradition is in the school. Wayne Goff also spoke. He told stories about starting 4th grade at Charlotte and continuing until he graduated 12th grade. Mr. Goff was a student at the school when there was only the one three story building.

Samantha snapped this picture while waiting for the ribbon cutting ceremony to start. Craig graduated from the school in 1979, Tony graduated in 2006. We hope Patrick will graduate in 2011 and Samantha in 2013.

This is a picture from inside of one of the new buildings, looking onto the pathway that leads to the cafe dinning room. This is supposed to be done before school starts.

The Tarpon Fish is the school mascot. Samantha is standing next to one of the many tarpons on campus. This one happens to be in the main office.

This is a window that shows the original construction on the historic three story building. This building sits at the front of the campus. In the picture below, Craig and Samantha are standing in front of the three story building.

Unfortunately I did not take pictures of the inside of the new buildings. Not sure what I was thinking there. The new school is very nice. So much technology to be used in the classrooms. This is a nice opportunity for Samantha and Patrick to be students there.

Samantha's Award & Farwell Dance

Samantha was awarded the science award for the omega (gifted & talented) program at her school. She invited Craig, myself and Grandma S. to the ceremony. It was a nice evening and we are glad that Grandma could be with Samantha.

Samantha was so excited to go to her schools farewell dance. She and Craig spent several hours shopping for just the right outfit. Craig has much more patience than I for shopping.

Samantha, you look so beautiful!

Mother Daughter Day

Samantha and I at the Girl Scout Mother Daughter Day. The day was packed full. We made name tags for each other. Smantha made a necklace (you can see it in the pic above), I made a bracelet. We made bathsalts. We learned about skin care from Mary Kay. Lunch was yummy, of course being pregnant, I was starving by lunch time.

We also went to the photo-op and took pics of Samantha's whole troop and their moms, and pics of each girl and her Mom. So the Boas are not Samantha and I at all, but we followed suit with the rest of the troop.

The last activity was to paint gift boxes, but the room was crowded - so Samantha and I went for a walk on the boardwalk. I love this pic of Samantha. She is a beautiful girl. I like to tease her about wearing jeans and old little league baseball t-shirts. But that is her, relaxed and looking for a fun time.

Thanks for taking me Samantha. I had a great day with you, it was nice to have time with just the two of us.

Spring Concerts

Samantha and Jordan both had their Spring Band Concerts. It is so hard to take decent pictures of them on stage. So this time, I opted to take pics afterward.

Mr Kraus and Samantha after her last middle school concert. Mr Kraus has taught her a lot. Mostly she has enjoyed learning to play the kettle drums. She did get to play these in the concert, I think that was her favorite part. Samantha has improved in her musical ability over the middle school years. I am glad that she has played in the percussion section and had to learn so many different instruments.

This is Jordan at home after his concert. He is currently 4th chair in his class. Jordan was so happy the day he moved up to this chair, he has learned a lot this year. Jordan likes music and enjoys the sounds he can make with the clarinet.

Good job Samantha and Jordan!

Samantha and Basketball

Samantha played basket ball for her middle school team. This is about a six week season. They practice for three weeks and then have six games for the last three weeks. Samantha loved it and did well. The JV girls basketball coach at one of the local high schools kept asking Samantha if she was going to go to his school. She still is undecided, but the coach told her that she has a chance at being on the team at the high school if she keeps practicing!!

These pictures are from the first game. Her team finished the season 5-1. All the girls did a great job! Grandma, Aunt Joy, Austin, Patrick, Daddy Craig and I went to the first game. The other kids also attended some of her games.

Samantha's a year older!

Samantha has been so excited for her birthday. She was a little disappointed that she had a meeting to attend that evening, but once she got home she was happy.

Patrick BBQed hamburgers. We also ate outside in the dark. We all enjoyed being outside, until the bugs started biting. Yuck! February is to early for bugs.

Samantha was excited open her homemade card from Grandma. All the kids love these and the check that comes inside (the dollar amount is the same as their age). I am glad my mom carried on this tradition from her mother.

Samantha had been looking forward to her birthday present for sometime. She really wanted a drum set & lessons. I wish that was in our budget along with building a sound proof room.

After Samantha's birthday celebration and Family Home Evening, Samantha was still waiting for her present. Craig and I told her that we were taking her to the store. We knew what we had in mind, but wanted her to pick out her choice. She wondered where we were going in the store. Craig led the way to the bike department. She had a difficult time choosing, but in the end picked this red & black bike.

Happy Birthday Samantha, We love you!