The Sammons Family

Bye-Bye

2010-06-04T05:53:00.000-07:00

Our hope was to be able to blog to our family and friends about our life here in Africa. We have failed. Not because we are having too much fun with the kids at ROHI, or because we spend a lot of our day cooking, or because we get to go on cool safaris, nope not at all. It's because we live in Africa and our internet is way too slow to post anything on our sweet blog.

We do hope, however, to keep you updated through pictures and blurbs about what is going on here through our Facebook account. We have noticed writing and putting pictures on that site is doable. So, please look at our sites and comment. We would love to know if anyone wants to keep up with our live:-)

We love you all and thank you so much for your love and support with us being here. We know we could not do it without any of you.

The Sammons'

Great times with the parents...

2010-02-14T23:02:00.001-08:00

we are going to miss them, a lot!

2010-02-14T22:23:00.000-08:00

Last week we had an emotional week when we found out a good friend tested positive for HIV. I was with her at the appointment when they gave her to confirmatory result that it was HIV. My heart broke. I could see her heart break. I just held her as she cried. I reassured her we won't leave her and that we will help her through this. But hearing those words are devastating and scary. It's frustrating and confusing because 5 yrs ago and last yr she tested negative so it was a big shock. The only time she could have contacted it was 6 yrs ago.
I would appreciate your prayers. For my friend and how she will see God through all of this. That she will cling to the Lord and not run. Praise the Lord there are good medicines out there so can live a good life, just like normal.
Please pray for me that I will have the Lord's words flowing from my mouth. That I can show Christ unconditional love and that I will be able to help her however I can.
God has a perfect timing of her finding out when we are here to help her. I know the Lord has a plan in all of this.
I hope you have a great week filled with many sweet times with our Lord.

little Hope...

2010-02-05T01:26:00.000-08:00

These are a week old but at least I am getting them on:-) Little Hope is such a sweetie. She is very easy and very cute. She sleeps really well at night and eats really well. I couldn't ask for anything different. Dakota and Kate love her. They are always helping and wanting to hold her. The above picture looks a lot like one of my baby pictures. When she was first born we thought she looked a lot like Dakota's baby pictures, but now we are thinking she looks more like my baby pictures.

This past month my mom has been here. She has been extremely helpful. She plays with Dakota and Kate all day, puts them down for nap and bedtime and makes me and Troy go on a date every week.:-) She has been so fun to be with. She will be with us for another 1 1/2 weeks, yeah! My dad comes in tonight for 10 days. We are very excited to have him here. The girls miss him a lot.

Thank you all for your prayers. We have felt them and we appreciate them more then you'll know. We hope all is well with everyone. Please if you think of it keep us up-dated on your life...we love to hear whats going on with others. :-)

cuteness...

2010-02-05T01:01:00.000-08:00

Zed

Emmanuel, Zed and Gilbert

These are the cute boys who live on our property. Their dad, Douglas is our groundskeeper/guard. They are a very sweet family.

Hope has arrived!

2010-01-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Hello world, she is here! Hope arrive last night at 10:25pm Kenyan time with great health and is doing good. She is 6.7lbs and 19in long. Her full name is Hope Noelle Sammons. Depending on how Kenya votes on a new constitution she could be considered for dual citizenship, but we are not holding our breath as we are excited about the freedoms she will have as an American citizen. Bekah did amazing as the labor went from normal hard to accelerated and ridiculous after she past 5cm at 9:30pm. One hour later, she was out before the doctor had time to leave her house. The nurse did a great job delivering her and no complications were present other than the obvious of getting a baby out of mommy.

Her sisters visited early this morning with expected mixed responses. Dakota did great and immediately commented that Hope's hair needed a bit of gel. Kate was a little more stoic about her excitement and liked being close to mom or dad with a bit of a harder time. We are resting up at the hospital today and will probably leave sometime tomorrow to wait for Yia Yia to arrive.

Thanks for all the encouragement, and notes we are soaking them up and have been blessed to have the technology to connect with people rather easily. Thank you for all the prayers we know her birth is a miracle, like each, but with the army we had praying she was well covered, praise the Lord for a safe and healthy transition.

She is almost here...

2010-01-04T22:47:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to let you know we leave tomorrow, Wednesday, January 6th, for Nairobi. We will be staying with my Uncle Mike and Aunt Liz Bussell awaiting the arrival of little Hope. We are SO grateful to have family nearby that are so hospitable and let us stay with them. They have been more then gracious in helping us in every way possible.

We would appreciate your prayers while we stay with them. It will be tight courters, they have two girls. Please pray the girls will do exceptionally well and that we all will not get too cramped in the house.

Also, please pray for the arrival of baby Hope. We re very excited for her to come... we can't wait! We do hope she will come early so we can get back home and enjoy our new bundle. Please pray for her health and safety.

Last, my mom arrives next Wednesday! Please pray for her safe travels. We are more then excited to have her here with us. The girls are always talking about Yia Yia sleeping with them in their room. We know it's going to be so good for Dakota to have my mom here because she has been missing family and friends a lot more lately. So praise the Lord He is bringing Yia Yia at the right time.

Thanks for all your prayers. We hope everyone is doing well. We pray for you often and praise the Lord for your faithfulness for praying for us and supporting us during our time here.

Thank you!

2009-12-21T00:16:00.000-08:00

A bible study group from LBC adopted our family for the year. They are committed to praying for us and sending us goodies throughout the year. We are so blessed to have them doing this for us. They sent us a ginger bread cookie decorating box. They girls had so much fun decorating the cookies and eating the candy. They would eat a lot of pieces of candy then put one piece on their cookie.

Thanks Allison's bible study group. We had so much fun!!

We hope everyone is having a blessed December. We hope your week this week is full of remembrance of what the season is all about. May you enjoy your time with friends and family.

We love you and

Merry Christmas!

My loves...

2009-12-14T22:34:00.000-08:00

Dakota trying to carry Kate on her back

the gansta face

Just wanted to share a few pictures of my 3

favorite people

Friends

2009-12-09T02:13:00.001-08:00

Here are Dakota and Kate's new friends.

From the left, Gilbert, Emmanuel, Kate and Max (Rita's son)

The baby is Zed

2009-11-28T11:24:00.001-08:00

Arrested…. Was it Troy or Bekah? Well lets just say both of our driving records remain intact and we have not been put behind bars due to our sleeping angels in the back seat, but having Bekah pulling up with the police lady in the car announcing that she was arresting my wife was a rather humorous situation.

After a successful weekend of navigating around Nairobi and visiting the Bussell’s we had only one errand left, to try and get a few items from the local market for our house. Our car, which I had remarked the night before how much I was liking for its sturdiness, promptly ( within 20 seconds of the remark) had the front window mechanics break. So the following day with a window stuck in the down position and two sleeping kids we think this is a great time to shop but we have to do it from the car. Well it worked, they brought the merchandise and we bought until we had to get out of the car to barter. I passed the drivers seat to Bekah so she could just leave if things got too crazy. It was a waiting game and the car was very hot so Bekah drove around in circles. After about four circles she was done, I was unsuccessful at getting a Kenyan price and not the Mzungu price (foreigner specifically white) so I grabbed our stuff waiting for her to surface. Finally after what seemed a longer time then would take to drive the loop I see the car and then see a Kenyan in the passengers seat. I was perplexed trying to figure out why she let a vendor get in the car, so I flag her down and she is pointing toward the other direction but finally pulls up for me to get in. I then realize the white uniformed shirt and hat was not a normal passenger but a police lady. She rolls the window down and says “I am arresting your wife.” I reply well that’s not good because we are suppose to leave for Nakuru. I ask what bekah has done to be arrested and apparently she crossed illegally during a U turn and needed to be sentenced and ticketed the next day. Well with the excuse of no money to give and sleeping children that would not allow that she decided that these Mzungus were not giving in and let us free to go. Bekah whisked us down the street where I took over and took us back to Nakuru where the rest of the trip was uneventful and the window could be fixed with out hassle. So Bekah’s slipped through the cuffs of the Kenyan jail and the rest of our journeys while bumpy and stop and go have been safe in the beautiful hands of our Lord. Oh those small things make life so different and yet still fun for us. Just thought I would share so you can give her a bad time about it next time you talk to her.

2009-11-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

Here is our excerpt from our next newsletter from december but the story is pretty funny and worth reading if you haven't heard it yet.

Then Bekah walks out

As I pull into the driveway just completing my inaugural drive on the backwards side of the Kenyan roads, I was feeling accomplished and confident in our survival in Kenya. Then Bekah walks out. Thinking that she is curious about the drive, I wait for the question only to hear, “Kate locked herself in the bedroom.” “What?” confused for a second and processing. She proceeds to tell me that the key on the inside of the room she was playing with while supposedly napping got turned and now she is locked on the other side. What to do now?

Option 1: Find another key. Every key in the house doesn’t work.

Option 2: Push the old fashion style key out the key hole and have her pick it up and put it into a purse slide through the crack over the window at the top of the door. Kate takes the candy from the purse but doesn’t register the rest and by this time has taken the key elsewhere.

Option 3: Get a ladder from the neighbor and have her give the key to us from the open but grated window. Windowpane breaks in process of raising ladder. Kate doesn’t understand. Key is nowhere to be found and Kate goes into hysterics.

Option 4: Take Dakota up the ladder with me squeeze her through the bars and have more communicable and capable kid in the room. Option works, Dakota gets scared at the end of the squeezing but manages to compose her self and search for the key. No key found.

Option 5: Break windowpane above the door and squeeze through the opening to find the key. Success, Douglas, our guard and grounds keeper, breaks the pane and I squeeze through the opening to rescue the key from the bottom of a cardboard box that Kate had dropped it in. Everyone is safe not even a scratch from the broken glass despite bare feet.

Lessons to be learned. 1. Remove all keys before attempting to put a jet -lagged kid down for a nap in a new country with fun old fashion locks. 2. Keep laughing. 3. Trials are better with a Kenyan counterpart that can help. 4. God has unexpected lessons in store to grow us in faith and wisdom.

Life apart from the lock in

Our time here has been good, full of REAL adjustment which hurts and is hard to express, but simultaneously full of unexpected hospitality and blessing. Our reception by everyone has been incredible especially our family, the Bussell’s in Nairobi, who have showered us with time and genuine welcome to Kenya. We have also been blessed by the Staley’s, a South African family, who has helped us get our bank account and graciously invited us to their home treating us to the giraffe center close to their home as a welcome to the continent that they love. The Kenyans we have met have also graciously welcomed us and are genuinely excited that we are here. I will introduce them more fully in letters to come. Thank you for your prayers we know that the transition was smooth because of them.

Our vow to you.....

2009-11-28T06:22:00.000-08:00

We,, the Sammons are sorry that we have so neglected the job of updating our blog. We vow from this point forward that we will blog at least twice a month with updates on how our family is doing. To start we will update you on our life so far in Kenya with the funny and sentimental things we have experienced to date. Thanks for your interest and support in us.

We are here!

2009-10-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

We arrived to Kenya safe and sound. The flights went really well. The first flight didn't have many people so we were able to have four rows to ourselves and sleep! PTL! THe second flight had more people but we were still able to sit with each other. Thanks for all your prayers on getting us here. We are with Unlce Mike and Aunt Liz looking for a car and trying to adjust to a new time difference.
Hope all is well.

mexico 09- Puerto Penasco

2009-06-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

Mom and Kate and the Hacienda

Dakota sporting Mom's Hat

Kate Oni on the beach

Kate, can you wink at mama?

2009-02-14T14:09:00.001-08:00

Seattle

2009-01-21T19:49:00.000-08:00

H.O.P.E- Helping Others Pursue Eternity

2009-01-20T15:36:00.000-08:00

We are in the process to move to Nakuru, Kenya in September. Here is a link if you would like to read about our journey. We are so excited and can't wait to go.

http://www.cvmusa.org/Page.aspx?pid=988&frsid=252

Kate's first birthday party...

2009-01-20T15:16:00.000-08:00

The day after Christmas we had a birthday party for Kate.

We had our family and a close friend over to celebrate.

It is amazing to think about how this past year has flown by.

And it is also amazing to think about how this next year to come is going to fly by... with preparing to move and then moving in September and then adjusting to life in Kenya. Before we know it it is going to be January again.... and Kate will be two!!!

Dakota eating her cup cake
Beautiful Lorie and her little guy Henry

Helena waiting to eat her cup cake

My sis, Sarah. She was so helpful that night. She came

over early and helped me set-up and cook for the party.

She is the best!

Since all (well minus 2) of the grand kids were together

for Kate's party my grandma insisted that we had to get a picture.

Kate's birthday party continued

2009-01-20T14:59:00.001-08:00

Kate was so excited opening her gifts.
I LOVE that smile! I just want to munch
on those cheeks.

She loved her cake.

She was not sure about her cake when I first

brought it to her but then she warmed up!

Our Christmas

2009-01-20T14:44:00.001-08:00

Kate opening her first Christmas present.
Dakota opening her present.

Here we are all dressed up ready to tell the

Christmas story.

Our cute girls.

A couple of years ago, for Dakota's first Christmas, we started a tradition that she can pick a character out of the nativity and then Troy will reenact the Christmas story from the character's eyes. This year it was Kate's turn to pick and she decided to go with the Shepard. Trying to make it age appropriate, daddy thought it would be fun to dress us up. It was a very entertaining story and we think the kids really liked it... well Dakota did.

Christmas with the Bussell's and Zervis'

2009-01-20T14:23:00.001-08:00

Dakota is really excited about her candy cane. Basil and his new BOY cousin.

All the little girls.

Dakota's silly smile with her Yia Yia.

Papa and his little Kate. They are so cute!

On Christmas Eve night we drove down to Bakersfield to spend time with my side of the family until the Saturday after Christmas. Everyone was there this year for Christmas!:-) It was a very full house but very fun! We mostly hung out and ate. It was a lot of fun seeing how big the family has grown this past year. I love big families.

Christmas with the Sammons' and Miller's

2009-01-20T13:59:00.000-08:00

The girls and I are riding on a long board down the Miller's street. It was a lot of fun!

Auntie Heather, Oma and Ashlyn.

Papa, Dakota, Bekah, Auntie Amber and Rayah.

The weekend before Christmas we went to celebrate Christmas with the Sammons' and the Miller's. We had such a fun weekend! Saturday morning we opened presents and relaxed. Later that afternoon we went to San Francisco and rode the cable cars down to Fisherman's Wharf and ate at Bubba Gumps for dinner ( and I think I was the only one who liked my dinner:-) It was a nice time spent with family. We really enjoyed ourselves.

Grosgrain: The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-01-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

Grosgrain: The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

sweet girls...

2008-09-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

an update on our life down below....

sweet girls cont....

2008-09-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures Troy took of our girls. He did such a great job!

We have some exciting news.... Kate is crawling! I am still in denial... I will not write it in her baby book:-). It just makes me sad because she is actually growing up! I am not wanting her to grow up and I really don't like this stage of teaching what is not ok to touch and what is ok to touch. It's just a lot more work:-) Dakota thinks it's pretty fun to encourage her. She loves to say, "come on kate-kate you can do it... good job kate!" Lately Dakota has been a wonderful big sis. It's very encouraging to see. It warms my heart:-)

Dakota has been learning verses...well she actually only knows one and is in the process of learning another.... "Do everything without complaining and disputing. Phillippians 2:14" and the second one she is learning is, "Children, obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20" I am learning Dakota LOVES to go and do things during the day even if it is going to Target or Costco. After a few hours of being home she will ask me, "mommy going to Target?". She is a very active girl and loves to be on the go.

This summer has been nice, not too busy but not too slow. We went camping, which Dakota loved, Dakota's 2nd birthday, Kate's dedication and a lot of time home. It's actually really nice to have some weekends home and not travel.

We hope everyone is doing well.

Good times with friends....

2008-08-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

Troy's classmate Ellie and her family.
Baby Linus

Troy's good friend, Ryan, came to visit last Sunday. We had such a good time with him. He is so sweet and played with Dakota:-) Dakota thought it was pretty fun to have Ryan here. She like to show off for him...Kate liked him, too. Especially when we took a group picture at Oma and Papa's house. She couldn't get her eyes off of him! :-)
On Monday night we meet up with Troy and Ryan's classmate Ellie and her family. She just had little Linus 6 weeks ago. It was so nice to meet her little boy. He is sooo cute!
Thanks Ryan for coming. We really enjoyed having you. You are welcomed any time!

The Fair...

2008-07-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

Dakota and RJ looking

at the horses.
Sweet Karlie

Dakota LOVES Auntie Amy

Dakota's 2nd B-Day Party

2008-07-30T10:19:00.001-07:00

Dakota and Papa in the

bounce house

Look at the drool
Dakota with Yia Yia and Oma
Papa Bussell and his girls

Dakota's B-Day Party Cont...

2008-07-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

Breakfast cupcake
So Cute!!!
Yia Yia and Dakota suppose

to be frosting the cupcakes

Jumping in the bounce house

with Oma.

I'm six months now...

2008-07-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

Our sweet Kate is already six months!

She is such joy to be with. She LOVES
to be kissed on, and smile, and play with
Dakota.

She is a VERY easy-going baby.
She loves one-on-one time.
She loves to watch Nika (our dog).
She loves when daddy comes home.
She gives him big smiles and hangs
out with him while he rests from
a hard day at work. She thinks he
is a pretty awesome dad!

I'm teething....

2008-07-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

Getting worked up because my teeth are hurting me.

Since you are not going to hold me and I am going to
complain. Mommy says I look so cute even when
I complain.
More pictures mom?
Ok, I am done! You are not picking me up and I am
in pain. I will sit and cry.
She is so cute!

Kate's first haircut...

2008-05-30T11:41:00.000-07:00

When we were in Tahoe I finally talked Troy into letting

me cut Kate's hair so it didn't look like a mullet anymore.

He has a hard time with the thought of our girls getting

their haircut... he likes long hair.

I didn't get a good after picture, but it looks a lot

nicer now. :-)

Tahoe with the Sammons...

2008-05-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

Kate and her cousin Elianna. They are only 2 1/2

months apart. We hope one day they will be good friends.

Dakota and Auntie Bam.

Monterey...

2008-05-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

I think a fly is on Kate's face.... :-)

Fishes and more...

2008-05-30T10:54:00.001-07:00

Papa Sammons and his girls

Oma and Dakota sitting on the ground watching

the fishes swim around.

The first food...

2008-05-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

Kate had her first food, spinach, on the 15th. She did such

a great job. She seemed to like it. She is now eating

rice cereal... she is such a big girl!

Ballerina...

2008-04-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

Dakota loves to wear her ballerina outfit. When we got out the camera to take a picture we asked her to twirl and this is what she did (I did not show her how to twirl). Maybe she will be a ballerina one day?

she's 4 months!

2008-04-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

Such a sweet smile

propa and proyia gombos

2008-04-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

last weekend we went to bako for my cousins wedding. propa and proyia came out to visit and munch on the girls(dakota was sleeping). they are so sweet with the kiddos. you can tell they really enjoying being great grandparents.

it's getting longer....

2008-04-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

I can finally put Dakota's hair up! She doesn't really like to keep the rubber bands in so we are trying to work on that. :-)

snack time...

2008-04-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

I, bekah, decided to give Koda peanut butter on a cracker for a snack. She really wanted to do it herself, so when I went to grab the camera to document this she decided it tasted so much better right out of the jar!

sis time...

2008-04-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

Dakota's First...

2008-04-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

Last night Dakota wanted to take a couple of pictures... this is the result. Not too bad :-)

Kate and Drew hanging out...

2008-04-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

We are SO excited for baby Powell to come!!

Dakota and RJ hanging out...

2008-04-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

Dakota found the "wadu"

2008-03-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

Dakota LOVES her PB&J :-)

2008-03-26T14:30:00.001-07:00

Helena's Birthday Party

2008-03-26T14:24:00.001-07:00

Easter

2008-03-26T14:13:00.001-07:00

Kate on Easter Sunday

2008-03-26T14:08:00.001-07:00

Dakota on Easter Sunday

2008-03-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Cuties....

2008-01-28T15:23:00.000-08:00

Baking Time...

2008-01-28T15:03:00.000-08:00

Mommy and Dakota had their first baking experience together making banana bread. Dakota had fun "tasting" all the ingredients before adding them. She is a good cook!

Our little girl...

2008-01-18T08:42:00.000-08:00

She is here…Kate Rebekah Sammons. It all started in the middle of December, I went to the hospital on a Thursday morning because I did not feel Kate move at all on Wednesday night. When I was at the hospital her heart rate dropped about 6 different times so they wanted to check my fluid levels and when doing so they found out I had low levels. They told me I had to start going twice a week to get my fluid checked until Kate was born. On Dec. 31st I had an appointment at 3 in the afternoon to get my fluid levels checked. During the appointment I started having mild contractions every ten minuets. After an hour of getting monitored they released me and said everything looks good… so we thought. A doctor looked at my monitoring strip after I left and realized Kate’s heart was dropping again, so he called the house and told me to go to the hospital to get monitored, again! Troy and I went to the hospital thinking they would send us home. By the time we got to the hospital my contractions were 7 minuets apart, but I still thought I would be sent home. After monitoring me for an hour my doctor came in and said her heart was dropping during my contractions and thought it would be good to break my water to get things started to get her out, which I was completely fine with…I was ready to have her! He broke my water at 7:56PM which really got my contractions going a lot stronger and faster. My mom-in-law and my parents and my sis arrived at the hospital by 11:30PM and my nurse told me she was going to check me around 11:50 PM to see my progress. I was thinking I was going to be in the hospital FOREVER being that Dakota’s labor was 14 hours. When my nurse came in she noticed the head was right there waiting for me to push!!! I was completely shocked and didn’t quite understand that I had to start pushing. My doctor came in my room…taking his time setting up to deliver Kate because he really wanted the first New Year’s baby since he has never had one after 34 yrs. of practice (I could have had her in 2007 but we decided to let Dr. Bigalow have the first baby). After two pushes Kate Rebekah Sammons came out at 12:01 AM on Jan. 1, 2008 weighing 6 pounds 7 ounces. We noticed the cord was wrapped around her neck 4 times, that is the reason why her heart would drop every once and a while, but thankfully I had a cord that was twice the length of a normal cord so Kate was just fine!

Kate is a delight and we are enjoying her more and more. Dakota is adjusting much better. The first week was really hard for her, but thankfully she had her YiaYia here to hang out with. Now she loves to kiss and put a lot of blankets on baby Kate…she is a big helper!

Getting to know Kate...

2008-01-18T08:34:00.000-08:00

Mama and daddy getting to know our new little girl.

The day Kate was born...

2008-01-18T08:26:00.000-08:00

Proud Auntie Rah holding her nieces.

Papa B and Dakota hanging out in the hospital getting to know baby Kate.

Kate holding mama's finger right after she was born.

2007-12-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

This is a video of RJ pushing Dakota around in her baby doll stroller.

Christmas with the Bussell's and Zervis'

2007-12-19T21:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas Continued...

2007-12-19T21:10:00.000-08:00

Halloween

2007-11-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

She was checking out her chicken outfit before putting it on...

Our cute little chicken

2007-11-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

Dakota loved playing in the balls at theHarvest Party at our church.

Before we went to the Harvest Party we stopped at Gigi's house so she could take a look at our little chicken.

Finally...

2007-08-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a long time since we have updated you on our lives...sorry. Dakota turned one on July 19th and is now acting a lot like a "toddler". She has a really fun, outgoing personality.
This summer has been busy with me trying to get over this "all day" sickness from the baby, Troy working a lot and all the weddings we have been in and are attending. Life will hopefully slow down in October and then we can start preparing for the little addition to our family.

Daddy got some great pictures...

2007-08-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

continued pictures...

2007-08-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

She does not like keeping her bows in...

2007-08-15T14:42:00.001-07:00

The Ranch

2007-05-31T12:38:00.001-07:00

Bekah, Dakota and I took a quick sunday trip to my grandparents house in the foothills. The excuse was to preg check some cows, but it was all together really a relaxing day. Here are a few pictures from the day. Yes the hat was borrowed, I was playing sidekick for the real cowboy standing next to me. Dakota enjoyed her first ride with Dad. I don't think she really understood that the horse was alive, but she still seemed to enjoy it. Her Daddy certainly did even if she didn't.

Just a few more pics from home

2007-05-31T12:29:00.000-07:00

Uncle drews puppy Baron with Dakota

2007-05-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

Dakota is a big fan of puppies, lately she even tries to imitate there bark with her own version, although she is not quite able to figure out how to make the noise. Baron was just the perfect size, although he has already out grown these pictures and now lives in Bako with Uncle Drew.

Dakota has some news to share...

2007-05-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

I am going to be a BIG SISTER!
My baby brother or sister is going to be here
some time in January 2008!!!
I am so excited!

Dakota at 9 months...

2007-04-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Dakota's two front teeth decided to come. She looks like a little girl now! She continues to make us laugh and she still enjoys being center of attention.
Papa Bussell got this shirt for her when she was born...now she can finally wear it! It quotes, "Being this adorable just tires me out." And that is so true!

2007-04-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

2007-04-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went to LA for a wedding. I just wanted to share how cute Dakota was. She did so well.

2007-04-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

2007-04-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

Dakota went to Disneyland...

2007-04-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

Dakota in tails...

2007-03-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

i was instructed by auntie joy we needed to put her cute hair on the blog....so here it is.

Dakota unpacking our new house!

2007-03-25T19:19:00.000-07:00

Here is an assortment of photos we found on the camera that needed to be viewed by more than just me (troy). I have two incredible ladies in my life.

Dakota's back and lovin' life...

2007-03-25T17:39:00.000-07:00

Dakota on a Sunday afternoon...

2007-03-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

Our New Home....

2007-02-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

Today escrow closed!!! Here is a picture of OUR new house! We are super excited to move next weekend and to call this our home.

Thanks for all your love and support.

Dakota at 7 months!

2007-02-23T16:47:00.000-08:00

Some more Pictures of fun lovin' Dakota...

2007-02-23T16:40:00.000-08:00

my hair...

2007-02-05T14:29:00.000-08:00

So the other day my mom and I needed to go to Costco. As we were walking in the guy that checks for the cards said to me, "Having a bad hair day, huh?"...my mom replied... "Nope her hair is like this everyday" So, today my mom decided maybe we needed to try something different so my hair wouldn't look so crazy!
What do you think....?

2007-02-05T14:13:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been a long time with updated pictures. Life has been pretty busy this past month. A lot has changed with Dakota...she is sitting up, she has two teeth, and she is occasionally scooting backwards! She loves to blow bubbles and squeal at the top of her lungs.
She is preparing to moving into her new home (escrow closes Feb. 28th!!!) and she is pretty excited about her pink room!

Give me some lovin'....

Family Pictures....

2007-01-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

Here are just a few pictures from our fun day of taking family photos with the Bussell's. We had a wonderful weekend with the family and celebrating the engagement of Josh and Crystal. We are excited to have her in our family.

Dakota's First Christmas

2006-12-30T10:36:00.000-08:00

Daddy had Dakota pick a piece of the Nativity to tell a story about. At first she went for the donkey then at the last minute she let go of the donkey and picked the black sheep. Dakota enjoyed daddy's story about the black sheep.

Dakota opening her first present from daddy and mommy.

Christmas with the Bussell's

2006-12-30T10:17:00.000-08:00

Papa B and Yia Yia got Dakota a swing for Christmas At first she wasn't sure what she thought of it but then she decided it was pretty fun.

Papa B and Yia Yia with their grandchildren.

Thought you might like to see my excited husband on Christmas morning...

Christmas with the Bussell's Continued....

2006-12-30T09:54:00.001-08:00

Daddy and Dakota hanging out relaxing over breakfast on Chrsitamas Eve.

Daddy and Uncle Caleb thought it would be fun to make Dakota's hair look CRAZY! She was a good sport...just sat there sucking her thumb.

Yia Yia and Grandma Zervis helped the kids put on a Christmas play. Basil and Julia were wise men, Helena was an angel, Bill (Jim's dad) was the donkey and a star, and little Dakota was the baby. They did an excellent job!

Weekend at Papa T. and Oma Sammons

2006-11-27T08:35:00.000-08:00

Troy got some beautiful pictures of Dakota hanging out in a tomato garden.

Cute pictures of our family

2006-11-27T08:28:00.000-08:00

What a big girl!

2006-11-27T08:13:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures we captured of our Dakota.

Dakota on a relaxing Sunday....

2006-11-20T10:18:00.000-08:00

Dakota and daddy hanging out watching Sunday night football. She loves hanging out with her dad!

Dakota has her thumb for the very first time!

Weekend away at Monterey

2006-11-20T10:07:00.000-08:00

Continued Pictures....

2006-11-20T09:51:00.000-08:00

Was it a cough or a laugh?!?

2006-11-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

Last Monday, October 30th, 2006 Dakota Karis Sammons had her very first laugh. It was late in the afternoon when I was making a phone call while Dakota watched in curiosity, as I finished my call the words "All done...YEAH!" came out. Just those three words got Dakota laughing! Not her usual coughing laugh...but a real laugh! I grabbed the video camera and caught the tail end of it.
Now I wish we could put it on the blog for all to hear...but Troy and I are not computer savvy...so you will just have to imagine this cute Dakota staring at her mommy laughing away. It was the high of my week!!!

Dakota with her Great Grandparents

2006-11-07T14:46:00.000-08:00

Great Papa Hertlein

Great Granddad & Grandma Sammons
Great Grandma Hertlein

Propa and Proya Gombos

We don't have a picture
of Great Grandma Bussell
so hopefully we will be able
to get one soon.

Dakota at 3 1/2 Months!

2006-11-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

Dakota and her cousins...Basil, Julia on the left and Helena. She had a great time hanging out with them...they love to make her laugh.
Uncle Caleb and his new motorcycle!

Our Sweet Cowgirl

2006-10-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

Dakota at Twelve Weeks!

2006-10-12T14:46:00.000-07:00

Time is flying by and Dakota is getting bigger. She loves to smile, laugh, talk, and suck her thumb and index finger. As of last week she weighed 11 pounds and is 22 inches long. We are having a blast with her!