Handsome Sam the dog lover

Isn't Sam totally handsome in his suit and tie? He loves dressing up for Church so he can look like the 'water-boys' (i.e. priests who bless the sacrament).

I love this picture of Sam. He is such a great kid.

Here is Sam with his cousin Hailey. I use the term cousin loosely. In my family you have too. She is actually my cousin's daughter. Which makes her what to Sam, second cousin? First cousin once removed? I have no idea. And then there are the cousins that are my cousins but Sam's age. It gets confusing. So everybody is just a cousin. It is simpler that way. So Sam loves Hailey's puppies. Chad said we could have one and honestly I wished I could have taken him up on it because Sam LOVED that dog.

Here is Sam with his other cousin Berkley. Can you not feel the love?

Sam and his little buddy who was sold to someone else. Someday Sam ... someday!!!

Happy Birthday Bug!

We had a great time at Sam's Army Birthday Party. We played find the flag outside in the snow. It was actually a really beautiful day. Sam and the kids played Wii and other fun games in the house and of course opened presents and had cake with ice cream. We had such a great time with all our school friends.

Chemistry and Field Trip Fun

Sam LOVES science. And one of his favorite things to do is science experiments. He got this great book for Christmas about fun and easy experiments. This one is where you mix vinegar and baking soda to make the balloon blow up all by itself. He really liked it and when he got home he even remembered all the ingredients and we did it at our house too. What a smart kid I have!

Sam had so much fun on his field trip to the zoo. By the way he does actually own a coat but for some unknown reason only wants to wear this jacket that I have to wash only at night because it does not matter if it is dirty he must wear it. He loves riding the carousel and playing with his friends. I wish I had been there but after taking ten days off for Christmas I felt I could not take the time but after seeing all the fun pictures I wish I had. Maybe next year!

Christmas Photos (Better late than never!)

Sam and I had a great Christmas. On the Eve we went down to my uncle Brent's house, both Sam and I had a great time. Sam played with all his cousins; running, screaming, jumping. I played Guitar Hero with Landon. SO MUCH FUN! We left early as to avoid getting caught in the horrible snow storm that did not show up until the next day. Oh well :)


Christmas Day was magical. We opened presents, ate yummy food and snuggled on the couch. I can not imagine a better day. We missed spending time with extended family but we definitely enjoyed being home, safe and warm. Enjoy the pictures!



Sam has Lego fever!!!

Whoa - what a mess! We had SOOO much fun making it. Sam got some great loot but I must say he was a little disappointed in the amount of clothes he got. I guess he cares less about being clothed than having toys to play with fortunately he has a loving mother who is willing to take the eye rolling at Christmas when he opened another clothing item :) Poor kid!

Here is my little helper. He loves to use the swifer vacuum - best purchase I ever made.

Sam talking on Mom's new cell phone... hey wait that is my Christmas present...

He took a picture of me while I took a picture of him. He deleted my picture ... oh well :)

We had so much fun putting together his Lego helicopter thing. Can't do Lego without hot chocolate and popcorn snacks!

Nightmare on Christmas

I do not watch scary movies. I just don't. First of all I live alone with my son, no big bad man to keep me safe in the dark night. Second, I have an overactive imagination. Third, I am a wimp. So a couple nights before Christmas I had put Sam to bed and decided to go downstairs and change the laundry from the washer to the dryer (I know Marie it was a miracle I remembered!). I go downstairs and decide to not turn on any lights but the light in the laundry room because I am stupid. Anyway, I hear Sam sneaking down the stairs. I put the laundry in the dryer and prepare to be scared by Sam because that is one of his favorite things to do. I go out of the laundry room and Sam is standing in the dim hallway then very kids-in-the-Shining-like points with his thumb at our front door and says, "someone is at the door"....

Remember no lights on. I walk slowly towards Sam peak my head around the corner to look at our front door. It is WIDE open and a dark shadowy person is standing in the doorway.

I actually died for a moment. My heart stopped beating, blood stopped flowing, and no air filled my lungs. It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life!

Then my Relief Society president said, "It is just me..." just me my foot. Then I walk towards the door. She tells me Sam let her in and I turn to glare at him but she says he did look out and he does know her. Blah, blah ... I am getting a lock that he cannot reach so he can NEVER open the door again. She gave me whatever it was that she was going to give me (I cannot for the life of me remember what it was) and left.

I got Sam back to bed. I think he might have been half asleep anyway. And then sat trembling in my bed for hours. I slept with the light on that night.

Yet another reason to not watch scary movies...

You Surround Me

Game Rules:

1. Put your music player on shuffle (all music).
2. For each question press the next button to get your answer
3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing the game as well as the person you got the game from.

If someone says "Is this ok?" you say:
You're Welcome/ The Beach Boys

What would best describe your personality?
Dancin/ Olivia Newton John

What do you like in a guy/girl?
Independent Trucker/ Brooks and Dunn (that is funny!)

How do you feel today?
The Lucky One/ Alison Krauss & Union Station

What is your motto?
I Don't Want to Know/ Fleetwood Mac (That is freakishly true)

What do your friends think of you?
I Know What I Like/ Huey Lewis & the News

What do you think about very often?
It's a Hard Life/ Queen (yeah me and Queen we are on the same page)

What is 2+2?
Live Those Songs/ Kenney Chesney

What do you think of your best friend?
Hope Has a Place/ Enya

What do you think of the person you like?
Where Does My Heart Beat Now/ Celine Dion

What is your life story?
Caught/ Nylons

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Touch Me When We're Dancing/ Carpenters (Wow Carpenters. Blushing!)

What do you think when you see the person you like?
Hit Me With Your Best Shot/ Pat Benetar (Hahaha!)

What do your parents thing of you?
Don't/ Jewel (I think that was a word they used for their other children...I was perfect)

What will they play at your funeral?
Make Believe It's Your First Time/ Carpenters (That is hilarious!)

What is your biggest secret?
May It Be/ Hayley Westerna

What do you think of your friends?
Sea Cruise/ Beach Boys

What the worst thing that could happen?
Immenso/ Andrea Bocelli (Umm I hope that is not too bad??!?!?)

How will you die?
Those Canaan Days/ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat

What is the one thing you regret?
I Walk the Line/ Joaquin Phoenix

What makes you laugh?
Memory/ Cats

What makes you cry?
Bruises/ Chairlift (yeah bruises do make me cry!)

Will you ever get married?
If Love Was a Plane/ Brad Paisley (what does that mean? I will get married on a plane?LOL)

Does anyone like you?
Sweet Surrender/ Sarah McLachlan

If you could go back in time, what would you change?
Those Sweet Words/ Norah Jones

What hurts right now?
Hurts So Good/ John Mellencamp (honestly I can't believe this song came up!LOL)

What will you post this as?
You Surround Me/ Erasure

This was fun I am taggins all my friends who want to give it a shot :)

Christmas is a Feeling

Sam and his class did such an amazing job at their school Christmas program. I love that Sam goes to a religious school and we can call it the Christmas program. He had a wonderful time singing Feliz Navidad, Hallelujah Christmas and City of David. Afterward they had a reception with candies and goodies the children made themselves. It was a wonderful night.

After the performace Sam and I got our picture taken. The performance was in the beautiful sanctuary of the 1st Presbyterian church.

I do not know what possessed me to let Sam dress in boots, a swimming suit and an old t-shirt from when he was a baby to decorate for Christmas. But more than that what possessed me to take a picture! :) We had a wonderful time listening to music and decorating the tree.

This was the first year we tried the gingerbread thing. We had a lot of fun though not a lot of success. It kept falling apart but it did stay together for the picture. We had a lot of fun again listening to Christmas music and enjoying being together. Isn't that what Christmas is all about?

We invited our friend Ellen over for dinner and Sam was so excited that he made name cards for each of us...

Here is the table set by Sam. Isn't it pretty. He did a very fine job. We had a wonderful soup (which Sam would not eat) and rolls and Lion House Honey butter (which Sam would not try) but he did eat the roll.


After dinner Sam and Ellen played Wii. We all had a great time.

Last night Sam had a homework project. He had to list his favorite Christmas traditions. It was really fun to sit and talk to him about what Christmas means to him. His favorite Christmas treats are mint M&Ms and cuties (little oranges). His favorite Christmas tradition is getting new pajamas on Christmas morning and celebrating Jesus's birthday.

I love the feeling of Christmas. May the joy of the season surround you. Merry Christmas with love ...