Sam I Am

Proud of this little rascal today.  Sam thought it would be more fun to do art, in pen, on the cover of the hymn book at church.  We talked about why that was wrong and what he might like to do to make it right.  He decided he'd like to bring it home and try washing it off with baby wipes.  He gave it a good scrub, but was surprised to discover this didn't solve the problem.  He then decided he'd like to buy a new one to give to the Bishop.  So he's been doing extra chores and saving his moola, and tonight he finally had enough money.  I might have had big tears in my eyes as I watched him standing at the counter at Deseret Book with his jar full of change and a new clean hymn book in hand.  He's getting to be a big kid, and I'm getting to be a big baby.  Now he gets to work up his courage to give it to the Bishop, and explain why we are missing a book in the chapel.  He'll do it with finesse- can't wait to watch! 

Sam hasn't gotten a bloggity love note from his Mama in a while, so here goes... I love this boy.  He is a stinker and exhausting and kind hearted and smart and brave.  He is a lover- he loves each of us the most.  He is a toucher- he will hug you or punch you or lick you or kiss you and you never which it might be or when it might be.  But lots of hugs and cuddles and bruises on the rest of us.  I have to alternate between "Let's have a big, big hug!" and "Okay, too much touching!"   He still flaps his arms when he's excited, and sometimes jumps up and down, up and down like a pogo-boy when he's really excited.  He got to go to ski school for the first time this year and they were amazed at how coordinated he is- which he really is.  He also has some killer dance moves- I love to watch him do Just Dance on the Wii.  He's awesome.

He's a wonderful helper and a good friend.  He finally decided he likes his little sister (it's been a long 2 1/2 years) and my life instantly became much easier.  They play so cute together.  He is pretty much his own little dude.  He's rocking a mohawk this week.  He really wanted an afro, or "hair like Cam Levins" for those in the know, but mohawk was next best.  When I spiked his hair up this morning he said, "Now all the girls will want to play with me."  ?  He has a fun group of preschool friends, he loves Legos and the Wii.  His birthday is in September so he'll have to wait one more LONG year until Kindergarten, which I think he will need.  He doesn't like mom to be too far away for too long and we have a whole lotta letters to start learning.  He' a good one.  We love this boy.  Big hugs!

Funny Farm

A

Today's funnies...

Mom to Sarah: Zach sures loves you.
Sarah- hugs Zach and says:  Yeah, we are best sisters, huh Zach!

Talking about the Super Bowl (I don't actually care about football, so we usually watch part of the Super Bowl, have good eats, and everyone gets to choose which team to root for.)
Sam:  My team's the one million-niners!

I love the awesome advanced sense of humor of smart kids.  I've loved watching it emerge in my nieces and nephews and I'm constantly entertained by Kade.  Zach's is just emerging which pleases me.  Today I heard him explaining in the kitchen to Sam... "Vomit means throw up.  This butter says Blue Bonnet, but I call it Blue Vomit."

Kade's funnies du jour aren't listed here cuz he got to ride with Gma and Gpa to cousin Keanon's for the weekend.  We miss him and his brothers are crazy- jealous!

I love these rascals!

Tooth Shortage

Since we took this picture Zach has lost 2 more teeth.  Yesterday 2 kids lost teeth in Zach's class, so he started wiggling his and it fell out, and then another boy started wiggling his and 2 fell out!  We go to the dentist in two weeks, and I'm hoping for a half price special since he has half as many teeth as the last time we were in. 

Zach is in a dual immersion Spanish program at school.  So 1/2 of his school day is in English and the other 1/2 is in Spanish (including math, p.e., and music). It's been fascinating to see how much he's learning.  He was reading way ahead of the other students and math comes really easily for him, so I wanted him to have something new and challenging to keep him on his toes.   

Zach's a fun kid.  He loves to play games- board games, card games, video games.  Thanks to my Auntie for Five Crowns- we have spent hours playing!  He got to try skiing for the first time this year and loved it.  He's getting ready for spring soccer- his favorite sport.  He just had his 7th birthday and got a pile of Lego Ninjago sets.  I love this age, these gap-toothed smiles, and I love this boy.

The Golden Boy

Kade was the talk of the PTA assembly this month.  He scored the student of the month award for his class, a reading award, a 1st place trophy for his reflections watercolor exhibit and a ribbon for his photography exhibit.  Not too bad for a days work...  But also just part of being Kade...

He has dozens of awards- ribbons, certificates, medals, & trophies, for things like art, science, scouts, track, mtn biking, 4-H, etc.  He's smart and talented, and he works hard all the time.   

This past summer I signed him up for his first track meet where he got a few ribbons and qualified for the region competition.  At the region competition he earned a few more ribbons and qualified for the state final- where he placed 5th in the standing long jump.  When he expressed disappointment that he didn't get to go to the national competition with the top 3 jumpers I had to assure him that we were super proud of him, and that people typically don't do as well as he does the FIRST time they try something.  Funny kid.

I loved this letter from his teacher when he told me that Kade would be receiving the student of the month award.  "I sure enjoy having Kade in class.  He is respectful and always does what he is supposed to do.  I appreciate his dedication to his education and his desire to be a good student.  He always puts in his best effort in his work and it shows.  He is a great artist as well.  I am always curious to see what he will come up with when we do art."
   
Kade is wonderful and we all love him.  He is a good friend and a fun kid, and even his baby sis knows it.  The other night at bed time she said, "Kade's a good boy."  And he is.   

Wild Thing

I just spent the last hour being entertained by Sarah.  All the boys were in bed and sleeping, but she was still awake and wanted extra cuddle time.  She talked and talked and talked....  We covered Dora and Diego and all their friends and accessories.  She covered who's who of nursery today.  We talked about her toys- she loves her stuffed animals and her dollhouse the best.  She's at such a fun age, and she is so verbal, so she's like this tiny little person that thinks she's a big kid and tags along with the rest of us.  We love this girl.

I call her "wild thing".  We often sing the song to her, and she'll join in "you make evwything gwoovy!"  She's not wild like some of her bouncy brothers, but she loves fun.  She loves to be silly.  When she gets her pajamas on (all by herself, cuz she's an independent 2 year old), she'll come into the living room and dance and shout "Disco Party! Disco Party!" (actually "dikso party") 

 She's delightfully independent.  She will disappear to her room and play toys by herself, or read some books, or just hop in her bed and snuggle with her blankie and animals.  Her biggest brothers love her and spoil her, and even Sam is starting to like her.  We love this girl and we are so glad for the joy and smiles she brings to our family.

Happy Halloween!

 Well looky-looky, another blog post.  It's a miracle...  Here are the yahoos dressed up for Sam's preschool co-op Halloween Party.  A cat and a bat- you could tell sort of, right? 

Here is the whole crew in action.  Trick or treating was super fun in our new neighborhood.  Everyone was outside, a couple of people had cotton candy machines, and lots of creepy decor and costumes.  The creepiest was the dad dressed as a baby trick or treating in front of us.  Man in diaper- not the guy you want to be behind.   We had to speed up and pass that family.

Do you recognize this guy?  Kade dressed as his hero.  As a side note- Kade is wearing my first pair of glasses, which were the perfect prescription, and such a good look.  I wish his shirt would have said something fabulously political like, "Forget Obama, Vote for Pedro".  I didn't think of that until after the fact...

Cat woman.  Actually black cat, just like HER hero Dora wore on Dora's Halloween episode.

Zach dressed as his hero Harry.  He read half of the first book all by himself this summer.  Not bad for a 6 year old.

 Oh yeah, proof I was there, and in my witchy costume no less.  Horizontal stripes maybe not my best look?

Trick or treat! 

Birthday Girl

We're baa-acck!  Sarah's birthday pics were too cute- I had to post, even though it's been a year or so since my last blog update. 

Maybe I'll start to post more frequently... maybe not.  We'll see.  

Here is the birthday girl decked out in her birthday bling.  She doesn't mind fancy or sparkles or jewelry or bows.  This one's a girly girl.

 Some of our favorite friends came to the big party.  Thanks to my friends for helping with jewelry making, finger nail painting (or "pinking" as Sarah calls it, cuz hello, the nails must be PINK!), coloring, present-ing, playing, laughing...

 Oh, and singing and cupcaking!

She liked the attention, loved the presents, and loved having a party with friends.  This is a good times girl.  She loves to have fun, and makes us laugh and smile every day.  She's definitely 2 now.  She's been such an easy going baby, but since the big day we've had the usual 2 yr old dramatics.  She is super expressive, she says things like "that makes me feel sad", "Stop it, idiot!" (that's for Sam, from Sam) and "I love Dora, Mom!"  My fave is when she sings "I am a Child of God"- heart melter for sure.  And last night she wanted to read Goodnight Moon, "I do it!"  And she did such a good job.  We are all smitten, she's a keeper.