Messy Party!

Sam got his very first friend birthday party this year!  He was so excited and I admit, so was I.  It's fun to have parties I think.  Asking Sam who he wanted at his party, he told me that he needed Maddie, Alison and Daphne from his Sunbeams class and Ezra, Eli to come and play.  And play we did! 

We started off by getting everyone in an old shirt and finger painted with vanilla pudding tinted green to make big Christmas trees.  Our trees were decorated with fruit loop ornaments.  It was a big hit to watch them smear it all over the place.  Cute little Daphne kept exclaiming "We're having a messy party!"  The brothers Ezra and Eli licked their fingers after every smear.  They really thought that this was a good time.  I didn't think about the fact that the pudding would not dry in time.  If I were to do this again, I think that finger paints would be perfect.  Still, the kids were in heaven!





Then we brought out the cupcakes with richly hued green, red and blue frosting with lots of sprinkles, Skittles, Nerds and sour gummy worms.  All favorites of Sam's and had a contest to have them make the messiest cupcake they could.  Again, Daphne exclaiming "We're having a messy party!" was hysterical to me as they dove in and covered their cupcakes with candy.  I had to keep urging them on to make it even messier. 





Then off to presents!  Loved watching them all gather around Sam as he dove into opening them all.  Then he gave a hug to each on of them.  My favorite was the surprise hug from behind that he gave to Alison that looked suspiciously like a choke hold especially when they hit the ground.  It wasn't and they were both not even phased by the outburst of lovin'.  I love how innocent these little kids are.  So sweet and funny!



Sam calls Maddie his girlfriend. I secretly hope that someday I can show them this picture to prove their love. :)



Of course, that all went so fast and they had a little more time to play then I had anticipated, but that is alright.  The girls set up house and the boys played with the new toys going in and out of the girls house scenario.  Do you eavesdrop on your kids?  I do.  Their little conversations are too cute.  "Now, we're sisters and you are the Mom and these are the brothers and we like food.  Oh I am so thankful for all this food!"  and "I know these trophies are Mia's, but we are pretending we got them for our ballet class." from the girls and "pew, pew! bam! bam! ahhh!!" from the boys.

All in all, it was a wonderful party and Sam had a wonderful time.  He loved that he got to play with them all and really thought it was great that they brought presents for him.  He's a pretty darn cute kid!

It's the most wonderful time of the year....if your Sam

It's hard to believe that it's already that time of year again!  No, not Christmas.  Sam's birthday!  Once again, time has flown and my baby is yet another year older and wiser too. 

Sam's getting quite the personality.  It's a little bit goofy and a little bit show offish and little bit shy.  He still doesn't like the camera, but I'm starting to get some smiles out of him.  Would you believe this was the best picture I could get of him showing me that he is 4? 

Yes, it is.  But these pictures so Sam's little personality in so many ways.  One, the outfit.  Silly faced, mismatched green clothes (which green is his favorite color) and some super cool cowboy boots that Ryan gifted him just minutes before.  Yes Daddy knows him well and when he found these little gems, he had to get them for him.  He has been stomping around, kicking snow, jumping and strutting in them ever since. He doesn't even have to be fully dressed to appreciate them because on Saturday, he sported an undies, t-shirt and boots look all day.

Sam still loves garbage trucks and the best day of his life was when we got our brand new recycling can.  He suited up and dumped anything that he could find in it.  I know that the addition of the recycling truck on Monday mornings is going to be that much better for him.

Sam is truly a good helper.  This Fall, the leaves keep falling between snow and rain storms.  Sam will stay with us until the job is done working all along with his little blue shovel and using the big rake.  I was so thankful for his willingness to help me rake some heavy wet leaves or shovel the driveway or take out the trash.  I love it and hope that he continues to give service throughout his life.

Sam is also very patient.  Funny that the littlest can be so patient with me and his siblings when they start their demanding.  Jake and Mia expect everything 5 minutes ago while Sam is content.  Another blessing I say.

Sam loves to play with friends now and often is asking to for a play date while the kids are school.  He loves to play with his garbage trucks, army men and Jake's Star Wars guys.  He loves to do what Jake is doing.  He loves to color with Mia and he is a good little student of hers.  She made a picture that has rows of colors that she makes him recite to her.  It's sweet to see him pleasing her as he recites the colors off.  If he misses one, she makes him start again and he will patiently do it again.  I can hear them now, "gween, gween, gween, lellow, lellow, lellow, bwue, bwue, bwue....".

We are so blessed and happy to have our Samalicious in our life.  He is such a happy boy with a funny personality.  He's got us all wrapped around his little finger and he doesn't even know it.  That makes us wrapped all the tighter around his fat little finger. 

We love you Sammy-boy! 

Love,

Mama



Jake's Choir Concert

This year, Jake decided that he wanted to be in choir.  I, of course, am thrilled to bits to have him involved in something that he is excited about.  He was so excited to get to the concert, that I didn't have time to make sure that his hair was fixed. 

We enjoyed several fun Christmas songs and I enjoyed watching Jake intently sing with determination on his face.  My batteries died, but not before I got one picture of him setting up for the concert. 

He's a good little singer and can carry a tune.   I would love to see him continue.  Being a part of a group is such a good thing.   Concerts make me weepy eyed being the sap that I am.  But Jake's favorite thing about events like this is when Grandma Sharon offers to take us all out to Crown Burger.  Jake's sure eating like a man already as he devoured a double cheese burger with fries and a soda.  What are we in for? 

Love 'ya boy!