Campus Bike Ride

Today we took a few hours and biked to and around campus.  It is one of our kids favorite things to do.  Today I got to lighten the load a little and only pull Abigail.  Mikey rode the whole way and back.  He did great.  Now if he would only learn how to brake.

Sorry about my super loud voice!

It was Sammy's turn to fall into the fountain today.  Will had a turn a year or two ago.

And what better way to end the ride than with some ice cream from Aggie Ice Cream!

Sammy and School

My Sammy starts Kindergarten tomorrow.  I have all these mixed emotions.  He is such a softie, but you wouldn't guess it.  He is very shy and self-conscious.  Both are things that hopefully we can "work on" this year.  I don't know that being shy is a bad thing, but hopefully he can make friends ok.  We went to back to school night tonight, and he hid behind my legs the whole time and wouldn't go say hi to his teacher or any other kids.  We never had this with Will.  He is so different.  Will is very outgoing and not afraid to make a fool of himself.  I mean, take a look at any of his pictures.  He is making a fool of himself all the time!  I'm sure Sammy will do well in school.  I'm sad he's not my little Sammy anymore.  He is such a sweetie.

He got in a little bike accident a few days ago, so he gets to start kindergarten with a few stitches.  Maybe that will be something to help break the ice with the other kids, right?  Nothing like a good story (or several, with his scars!)

Love you Sammy!

What to say...

What do I tell this 3-year-old who is CONVINCED he is starting school with Willie tomorrow. I think he is going to have the hardest time with this whole school thing. Poor kiddo is going to miss his best friend.

Dear Sam

Sam,

You are now 3 years old, and you think you are 5. Your big brother is about to go off to kindergarten, so now you get to be the big brother. You are such a fun boy and you love life and making people laugh. You are a good big brother to Mikey and I am sure you two are going to be great friends. I love that you always want to be with your mom. I also love to watch you grow and become more independent. Like today when you went down the big slide at the pool all by yourself. And when you want to get dressed by yourself. And when you can go off and play with your brothers for a while. It is so fun watching you grow and learn new things. I am excited for you to have time to grow while Willie is at school. It will give you time to develop your own personality. I love that your favorite color doesn't have to be the same as your best-friend Willie's. Thanks for trying to obey. I know it is hard, but it leads to better consequences when we do. Know I love you.

-Mom

I Am Sam

Sammy had a birthday. I'll let him tell you how old he is:

Whew, that took a lot of work!

He had a great birthday. He got a dragon cake. It took all I could do to talk him out of a Ninja Turtle cake. We should have done it. Oh well. The dragon cake turned out pretty cool too. Thanks to Dad for the cake.

Thanks to Grandma for all the Ninja Turtle Toys.

Some things about three-year-old Sam:

-All we could get him to say he wanted was "a bear like Mike's" for his birthday. Mikey got a little teddy bear (thanks Grandma) for his birthday, and Sammy, apparently, is (was) super jealous. So he got a bear like Mike's (a little bigger, lighter color. Not exactly like Mike's. That would cause problems.) (Thanks again Grandma). And he carries it around with him all the time. The bear's name? "Bear Like Mike's." As in, that's what he calls it. All the time. His bear like Mike's.

-He will NOT wear pants. It is a fight every Sunday to get pants on him.

-He is not potty trained. We are working on it, and using everything we can think of, from phone calls to Raphael and Leonardo (thanks Bri) to a suppository treatment(thanks Amanda). Any suggestions are welcome.

-He doesn't believe that his name is Samuel. It is Sam, or Sammy, or Raphael. Sometimes Batman or Superman. Definately not Samuel.

-He loves his baby brother and likes to let Mikey "wrestle" him. (read: lay on top of him)

-His best friend in the whole world is Willie. He does whatever Willie does. He chases him around the stores. He is so sad when Willie gets invited to play at friends houses without him. One good thing about afternoon kindergarten for Willie is that Sam will be napping (fingers crossed) so he won't miss his BFF too much.

-He loves his mama

-He likes to snuggle...on his terms.

-Speaking of his terms, everything has to be on his terms.

-He still loves to make everyone laugh.

Jealous???

I get to do nothing but hang out with these guys for the next three months....

Jealous?

You should be!

(Sorry about the sideways pictures...Thought I fixed them...now too busy teaching my boys to dress to care :)

What...

What, you think they need new jammies?

Inside Jokes

Lately it has felt like I am on the outside of many inside jokes between Willie and Sam. One of them will say something at dinner and they both start laughing pretty hard. Sometimes even Mikey joins in. It happens all throughout the day. I guess at least they are getting along pretty well, even if it means I am on the outside!

Conversation with Sam-man

Scene: Sam looking up the chimney in our front room.

Mom: Is Santa going to come down the chimney tonight?

Sam: (Blank look)

Mom: Santa is going to fly with his reindeer, land on our roof, and bring a present for you and Willie down the chimney tonight.

Sam: Santa going to come down the chimney?

Mom: Yeah, and he'll bring you a present.

Sam: (Eyes getting big) He's going to bring me a bell?

Mom: A what?

Sam: A bell.

Mom: Oh yeah. (finally catching on. Darn slow Moms)

Sam: He going to put a bell in my hand?

-Too sweet. I love this age when they don't know that they can ask for anything. All he wants is a bell. I hope I can hear it ring when he gets it.-

Trains

We made our gingerbread trains the other night. We had a couple of friends over. It was a lot of fun...mess....and sugar. Thanks Landon and Drew for coming! P.S. Next year, I will assemble the trains before hand.

One of the benefits of having boys is I get to go out and run errands with this guy! (Who did dress himself, thanks.) He's so rad.

Sunday Best

Sam's Gash

Sam Man

Here are a few pictures to show what it is like living with Sam-man. He is always looking for a laugh. Even when his head is split open. He had his second birthday yesterday and got a sweet caterpillar cake from his dad. This header into the plastic climbing wall at the park cost him 3 layers of stitches. He is a tough guy!

Yeah!

Good news! This weekend I finally found these, which I have been looking for for the past 7 months! They always sound so good when I am pregnant and everything else makes me sick. Also, Sara sent me these pictures of the boys. Very cute! thanks Sara!

sam

Can you tell he likes to eat?

It Has Raisins in it!

Turn up the volume and listen to Willies reaction. This will be the best blackmail video ever.

Sammy

Sunday was Sammy's birthday. We had a huge party. (At least according to Willie. I guess dinner and cupcakes qualifies as a big party.) He's a good kid. He got sick the next day, but hasn't skipped a beat. We knew he was sick when he laid his head on my shoulder and cuddled for 15 minutes in the rocking chair. He's a trooper though. Happy birthday Sammy! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa and Jennie and Brian for coming to the huge party!

Why I Love Mondays

Monday is a great day at our house, it's like most people's Saturdays. I work in the morning, then we have the rest of the day to just hang out. Last Monday we went to Hardware Ranch, then enjoyed some food at a little local restaurant. We got to go for a sleigh ride, see the elk, and Willie had a first-balancing a spoon on his nose. Such a talented boy!

This is what Sunday Morning looks like:

And just some more pics: