Dear Sammy,

Dear Samalamalicious,

Lately, you've been bored being home by yourself with me.  You are getting very social and want to have friends over.  Today, we invited little Alison.  Alison with her big brown eyes, dark brown hair and creamy tan skin.  Beautiful little Alison that is just as funny as you.  You played well and I loved listening to your conversations.  It was mainly about how your brother loves Star Wars but you love Jango.  She responded how her brothers love Star Wars but she likes to play house.  Then you showed her how far you could jump. 

You are rad little one.

After she left, we had our lunch and made chocolate chip cookies.  You wore Mia's pink apron, but it wasn't really your idea.  You were willing to wear it if that meant you could make the cookies, but pink is a giiiirrls color you say.

Baking with you was different then baking with Jake or Mia.  Mia loves to bake but is a little distracted.  Jake is intense and you can't do it fast enough for him.  It's a bit stressful to bake with him.  But you, you enjoyed yourself.  You had to feel all of the ingredients poking the butter (which you called peanutbutter), cracking the eggs, scraping the dry ingredients out with your fingers.  Lots of taste testing and telling me how you were excited to tell the kids that you made cookies for them. 

Did you know that we think it's hilarious that you refer to Jake and Mia as "the kids"? 

I love you so much little Sammy!  I can't believe that you are going to be four soon!  Time is flying and soon, I'll won't have my little helper home with me.  You clean, vacuum and put the laundry in the dryer.  You learned to fold clothes over a year ago.  Can't say the same for your siblings.  You bring in the groceries, stack the cans and set the table.  I'm thankful for you and your soft heart. 

I love you!

Mama

Halloween 2010

I think that I forgot how to use my camera.  I got two pictures of the kids in costume and missed one child completely. 

It was cold, wet and raining cats and dogs.  Mia and Sam were not interested in pictures.  They wanted to get out trick or treating!  Even though we were soaked through, the kids had a great time and raved about how this was the best Halloween ever!

Jake went as Percy Jackson from the book series.  We sprayed his hair black, made a t-shirt that said camp half-blood and he wore a roman chest plate and carried a pen to represent the pen Riptide that Percy has that turns into a sword.

Mia insisted on a pink pirate costume from the store.  She told everyone that she was Jack Sparrow's wife.  She has a crush on him.  Him and Connor Stout.   My goodness me, you wouldn't know that she was just seven years old with how much she loves the boys.

Aunt Dee! Dee! made Sam's costume and she did an amazing job.  "The Three Amigos" is one of his favorite movies.  I love all the detail and really, he does love it, he just HATES pictures and just wanted to go trick or treating. 

Happy Halloween!! 



It's not summer unless...

There is a redneck swimming pool to play in. 

    (This is the smile I get when I tell Sam to smile! Oh boy!)

The girls, Mia and Lauren, are in their swimsuits all day long.

And Jake is trying to sell something.

(Look! Sam smile as Sammy.)

Happy Father's Day!

Three.

This little cutie-pie turned three today. 

He ran circles around the kitchen singing "Happy Birthday to you!" at the top of his lungs.  He had whip cream on his cake.  He blew out candles and opened way too many presents.  He finally understood that he was three by the end of the night.  He talked on the phone to Auntie Debbie telling her that it was his birthday and he was opening presents.  Only Dad was allowed to help him open presents. 

He played with all his new toys.  He got diggers and firetrucks, tools, crayons and coloring books, playdough and paint, firetruck undies and new clothes, a DVD about diggers and fireengines and a big dump truck too.  Phew. 

He blew out three candles on his melted cream snowman cake.  (Mental note, don't put cream on until right before.)  Three candles flickered back on.  So he blew even harder making some great puffer lips that made Mom laugh.  We all laughed.  We all love him so. 

Mia decided to drive a truck on her hair and got it stuck.  Jake played with all of Sam's new toys.  So did Mia.  And um, so did Mom.  :)

It's hard to believe three years have already passed when the fresh memory of the craziness I felt to have him born.  Each day passing creaping closer to Christmas brought on new emotions and breakdowns and one fat baby that was determined to stay put.  He wasn't interested in joining a crazy lady.  :)  A whole week passed and finally he was born.  He came quickly.  It was painful.  Grandma Sharon was invited to witness his birth along with Grandma Desse.  He was worth it.

Already three years old and happy and content.  Loves to be with Dad and plays late at night in Mia's room when they should be sleeping.  He loves gum and classifies it as either spicy (mint) or by it's color (purple gum).  He'll eat a whole pack in a day and leave chewed bits in places that I don't want to find them but it makes me laugh because it's Sammy.  My Samalicous who calls himself "Sam'l ".  Who requests that we drive past the firehouse everytime we go somewhere.  (Good thing we live close.)  Who hid under the table when Stephanie's family sung to him this week and snuck pieces of steak of the other children's plates when they were not looking.  Who was throughly thrilled that it was his birthday.  If we all could all be so happy. 

Happy Birthday my little man!  I refuse to believe that you are growing up and will be a Sunbeam in just a few short weeks.  That you'll be big enough for Preschool next Fall.  That you were brave enough to sit on Santa's lap and tell him that you wanted a garbage truck for Christmas.  That the dimples on your hands and wrists will soon be gone.  We love you with all of our hearts!

xoxo,

Mama

Halloween 2009 - Big Fat Baseball

I found this cute little baseball in my yard.  I quickly got my camera to get a shot of him.  I had never seen a baseball this size in this location before.  

At first, he wasn't too sure about me and my camera.

But a little candy dropped in his spider friend seem to warm him up to us.

And then he let us poke is squashy tummy to make him giggle. 

He ended up following us all around gathering candy from house to house pointing to each house asking if they had candy too.  All loved his fatness and cheered for Boston.  After the night of fun, we just couldn't send him out on his own and decided to keep him for ourselves.  After all, who wouldn't love a big fat baseball?

Pretty, pretty ballerina

It was his idea.

He thoroughly enjoyed dance class with her.

(And art class before that. Note the blue nose and the colored pencils everywhere.)

The boy can't help that he just wants to dance!

I thoroughly enjoyed his moves and his little boy undies peaking out.

Pretty, pretty ballerina.

Birthday party

Happy Birthday to Auntie Dee Dee (aka Megan) and Gramps!



We celebrated at the care center gramps is staying in. Just a few more weeks of antibiotics and he should be as good as new and ready to come home to his favorite big blue chair.









Auntie Dee-Dee was looking smashing for the day. She was spoiled with a blow out from her favorite stylist and a cutie sweater. She sure loves her sweaters. I still remember when Ry and I were dating, her announcing to me that it was sweater season when it was still 80+ degrees outside. We were on Weber State's campus by the institute. Funny what you remember.








Matt was happy to be there. Jake, well he was being Jake.























Sam was being silly. Mia thought that he was especially funny so she did it too.

The kids made Gramps a poster and they think it's the cat's meow to draw on it every time they go to the care center. And looky loo, I was there too.

Happy Birthday again!

Family Outing

A much needed, good ol' family fun outing was had tonight. We don't see much of Ryan these days so we thought it would be fun to go miniature golfing. Jake was super excited. Sam loved it and set up every shot for himself. Mia was all about hitting the ball crazily. The sun was setting, the light was beautiful, the air was getting crisp. There was laughing and good times for all.

Mor-da-cycle! !

Sam's got a little thing for motorcycles. Just a teeny, tiny bit of excitement over them. Nothing really, just excitedly yelling "MOR-DA-CYCLE!!" every single time one passes by. (He also enjoys pointing out all the garbage cans he sees and if Ryan is in the car, he'll yell out "Taco BELL!" just for Ry. Funny to us because neither of us have ever taken him to a Taco Bell.) So of course, when Ryan and I saw this little motorcycle, we could not resist it.

Sam was too excited dancing around and helping us put it together. He ran and found his helmet and took it out for a test drive.

Today, as I was going through all the little videos I took of him, Sam especially loved this little snippet. He cracked us all up because he was answering all of my questions on the video. Much louder and more excited then this little camera shy version here.

This little motorcycle was the best $20 spent on him. I only wish that we would of gotten it sooner.

I Spy......Wait! How did it get to the middle of July?

Let's just pretend that time didn't fly by shall we? Ok, glad we are on the page. Sooooo....

Happy 4th of July!!

The 4th was the best weather we have ever had. If only it could always be like that. Not too hot and overcast made parade watching just right. We were lucky enough to be invited to sit up at the house of the sweetest couple in the ward. Right on the main road, lots of shade and good food and friends.

Mia got to be in the parade this year. I got our whole section to cheer loudly for her so when she saw us, she got really excited and waved to us all like a movie star. She was cute and did well.

Sam took a while to get used to the idea of the parade but quickly warmed up when his little friend kept him in constant supply of taffy. She caught them. opened them up and feed them to him just as fast she could. Aww, cute little loves.

Even though the weather was mild, that didn't stop Jake from getting soaked from head to toe during the water fight part. The water fight is the highlight of Jake's year.

After the parade and the picnic, we had the in laws over for another BBQ, fireworks and fun. I didn't take one picture because I was too busy enjoying myself. It was fun!

I Spy....

I spy with my little eye.....

a mama and daddy duck that came to visit us in our yard.

Mia wanted to get close.

Sammy stayed back saying "Dook! Mama duck! Daddy duck." over and over. Guess reading those duck magazines to him at night pay off.

Children's Mueseum

A few weeks back in the midst of all the rain we got, Jessica and I decided to take the kids to the Children's Museum for a day of fun. It was a hit of course.

Sammy loved the balls beehive. Are you surprised? He spent the majority of his time putting one ball in after another in the tube that sucked it up. His windblown hair was too cute!

It's always fun for Jess and I to watch our boys together. Just a few months apart, it's interesting to me to watch their personalities.

The ball beehive was the very first thing in the museum. It took a bit of time to get him out to try other things.

Mia and Megan were inseparable from the start.

Jake enjoyed it all in typical Jake fashion. This building area was fun.

Climbing the wall was a sense of accomplishment for Jake and just plain fun for Mia. I used to climb quite a bit a long time ago. Haven't been such my college days. Would love to take the kids sometime and get them comfortable with it.

The helicopter was especially cool. I do believe that Jake and Ali planned a rescue mission.The off to the water fountain to get soaked. Never mind that it was only in the 70's at best. Kids didn't care until they were all soaked from head to toe and started to shake from the cold.

All in all, I think it was a successful outing. We all went home wishing we had more time to play.