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!

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

Dear Daughter,

Dear Mia,

Tonight, we tackled the cleaning out of your room...again.  Your room is going to be the end of me!  Right now, I am sure that your Grandma Desse and Aunt Sharmyn are laughing that I you are just like me.  I am sticking my tongue out at you two!  We can get your room clean again.  We can do this! 

We just started the cleaning tonight and we were able to get rid of:  a large bag of garbage,  a really full black garbage bag of hand me downs for friends and another black bag of donations to DI.  Great progress but shocking since we just cleaned out your room two months ago!  Where is all this stuff coming from?

We put away all of your clothes and put your shoes back on the shelves.  Your bed was stripped of all the excess blankets and you choose one teddy blankie and a soft pink blanket to sleep with.  We played a game choosing 3 items that you loved and wanted to keep, 5 items that you could throw away and 5 items that you could donate.  And Mia darling, you loved it.  You like to clean your room with me!  I know you like it clean, but, my dear,  I think that you have too much stuff that you are trying to take care of. 

I've been trying to get your room organized since the day we moved in.  Organized so you can easily take care of it.  I love for you to have toys to play with, dresses to dress up in, books to read and babies to love but those things need to be put back in their home.   This is a project that I really want to let be.  It's exhausting trying to figure out how to help you best.  I love you dearly, but maybe it's time to clean out your room entirely.  No more toys, dolls, Barbie's and dress-ups.  Just the necessities so you can have a nice, peaceful place to sleep.

Dear Mia-mine, what I am going to do with your cute self?

Loves,
Mom

On a whim...

On a whim, I made my family blog public again.  It feels oddly naked and exposed right now, but somehow, makes me want to blog again.  See, having it private means that no one is looking at it so I don't have to write.  I want to write.  So, on a whim, it's public again.

A Conversation...

A conversation between Ryan and Sam late one night after enjoying a late night shower. 

Sam:  "I sure wish I had my "I Love Dad" (pj) top."
Dad:  "I wish I had a "I love Sammy" shirt."
Sam:  "And Jango Fett wishes he has a "I love Boba Fett" shirt and Boba wishes he had a "I love Jango" shirt."
Dad:  "Really."
Sam:  "Yah, and they can put it on their chest plates!"  said while rubbing his own little chest then layed back down feeling pretty satisfied with his funny little self.