Sam and all his Samminess

Sam, Samuel, Sambino, Sam-a-cama, Sam-I-Am, Sammy.

Wednesday was Sam's big day. He turned 8. He is a big kid for sure (at least in his mind). He was, like all kids are, very excited for the day to come. He woke up with out any additional prodding and was ready for school in a flash. We decided to let him open his gifts before school so that he would hopfully be more calm knowing he'd already gotten to open the gifts. Because this was the big 8 he got his cub scout uniform and a journal, from the brothers a few new books, and from grandparents his nice new scriptures. I had asked sam what he wanted to have as a treat for his class for his birthday. He said suckers and so i headed off to the target to get suckers just before his class would go to lunch, but alas i could not find suckers at target so i had to go to a different store. Which meant i didn't make it to the school before lunch, so i figured i had to just go a few mintues before school got out. The school was having an assembly when i got there so i just put the treats on sam's desk and went and sat in on the assembly for the last few minutes. Sam saw me come in and leaned over to his teacher and said "she was trying to trick me and make me think she wasn't coming, that little devil." Sam's teacher stiffled a laugh and said Sam you shouldn't call your mom a devil. I'm not sure where he heard that. I've never said that. Still, only Sam.

After school he got to go to cub scouts, uniform and all. (I totally meant to take a picture). And then for dinner we had Spaghetti, green beans, and bread sticks. Part way through dinner he said, "mom you sure know me. you picked all my favorites."

For his dessert, per his request, razzleberry pie and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. I am pretty sure it was a good day for Sam. He was all smiles.

Just a few reasons why I love Sam:

-His superhero mentality to make sure all the little guys are taken care of.

-The way he shares so willingly (98% of the time).

-His wittyness, his comedy relief.

-The way he loves and kisses me and means it/shows it.

-His smile.

-The light in his eyes.

-The way he wants to be helpful when he has decided thats what he wants to do.

-His self confidence in who he is (he gets that from the young side of the family).

-The way that he is proud of his name.

We love you Sam.

Family Pictures

Michael Lloyd does our family pictures. Not only is he a good friend--nay i say, a great friend, but he is an amazing photographer. He has tremendous talent and skill. I mean really, look at these pictures for example. If he can make us look this good, just imagine what he can do with real good looking people. hehehe. Seriously though, he is good. Thanks mike.
http://www.michaellloydphotography.com/

Out of the mouths of babes!

Ryanism:

The other day after the elections the boys were asking who won and we told them Obama. Over the last while we've talked about the elections and the things that you have to think about when you vote for some one or something. That you pick the person you agree with most and who you feel will do best. Anyway, many dinner discussions have covered this subject so i feel like the boys were well aware of what was going on with the election and the process it takes. And i'll tell you what if i had many reminders to vote not just because i wanted to and felt it was important, but the boys were reminding me. So back to the day after the elections were over and Obama had won. Ryan asked me a little later that morning after the other two were off to school about O-ba-ka. I had forgotten about the elections enough that i thought he was trying to say chewbaca. So i said "chewbaca?" Ryan: Yeah, he won the race? Me: Oh no, you mean Obama. Yes, Obama won. Ryan: Obama won the race mom, cause the other guy McCain was too slow, and Obama was faster. Me: Yeah, i guess you could say that. He was thinking it was a running race, like on a track and such. I guess we didn't explain that part so well.

Sammyism:

Casey was here working on sorting potatoes. (Cause they do that in the fall here in our garage. Real idaho potatoes from my uncles farm in Idaho come and they sell, sort, and deliver them.) Anyway, Casey was out in the garage sorting them and loading them into his truck and Sam was talking to him about the biggest looser. For those that don't know Casey is a big guy, and has tried to get onto the biggest looser a few times. Sam told him he needed to keep trying and to never give up. He went on to say: "Dr. Seuss tried to publish his first book over and over and over again and did he give up? NO! He didn't! He kept on trying. Just like you should Casey! Never give up, never quit trying!" He went on like this for a bit before i told him that was good. Casey turned to me and said, he sounds like a coach. So for all of you out there that need a good pep talk, Sam's the man.

Ethanism:

Back a few weeks ago in primary the lesson was about when Christ visits the Nephites and teaches the beatitudes. Ethan came home from church really excited about the lesson and talked of some of the different promises and commented that he hoped he would be blessed this way or that. Fast forward to this last week. This last Sunday Ethan decided he wanted to take a pass along card to the new kid in his class. Domeatry moved in about a month ago and Ethan has become friends with him. I asked Ethan if he knew if Domeatry was a member of the church or not. He said he wasn't sure but he really wanted to give him the card. Both Blake and I were a bit hesitant about it since we just didn't know much about Domeatry and didn't want to cause problems in the classroom. So we told Ethan if he really wanted to do that it was fine, but the he needed to make sure he gave it to him when it was ok to be visiting and not in the middle of class. Ethan was pretty excited about it and promised he'd be good.

The next day after school Ethan came running out to the car with a big ol' grin on his face. As he got in the car I asked if he gave it to him and he said yeah, but that domeatry said no thanks. I said well that's ok. He said "no mom, i'm really glad, cause i tried." I would have been proud had he stopped there, but he continued. "There were some kids in the class that were making fun of the Book of Mormon and saying things that were not nice. And I told them that wasn't very nice to make fun of things like that." I was just a little more proud of him for sticking up for himself and for what he believes. He then turned to me and said "Mom i'm pretty happy cause that means i'm totally going to the kindom of God." I was a little surprised by his answer and asked why he said that. He then reminded me that "those that are persecuted theirs will be the kingdom of God. And since i was persecuted I am totally going to the kingdom of God." WOW. One he remembered the lesson and scripture. Two he is so sure he is saved now. And Three I am just so amazed at his faith and courage. I bet he is right.... He is totally going to the kingdom of God.
3 Nephi 12: 10-12 (Just incase you wanted to see the promise yourself.)

My sneaky-sneaky birthday surprise!

Yesterday (Nov. 5) was my birthday. Yeah! Happy birthday to me. I'm 28--that's all, after that i gave my birthdays away so i stopped counting after that. Growing up my dad had a conference with his work that was always the first week of November, and since my mom and dad most of the time took the opportunity to have a trip away with work paying for part of it they were generally gone together that first week. And since my birthday is the 5th they were gone part or most of my birthday many years (i think they were gone more than they think they were gone but that's not really important). I don't think it was really a big deal most of the time. There might have been one or two that i was totally disappointed, but i tried not to let them know (but maybe that's another point they would argue).
Anyway, Blake's job over the last year has required him to travel more. We roll with it and make things work and get along. It stinks sometimes when it's a lot, but at the time I'm really grateful that he has a good paying job and one that he enjoys. At the beginning of the year we got the schedule for his travel for the year, and we put it on the calendar. I figure a day before and after each of the events just to be safe. When he's going to California or Vegas he can generally leave really early the morning the event starts but when they are in DC or NY those are a lot longer to fly to so he has to leave the day before. This week he was scheduled to go to DC for the 6th-8th. But because it was in DC he had to leave the 5th. When he had said he was going to have to leave the 5th he was really feeling bad about it, but i reminded him that I'm a big girl that i have had lots of birthdays and have more to come that if he had to miss part of it he could just make it up to me later. And i pointed out to him that i was used to celebrating my birthday in sections since my parents were gone for many. I tried to not really bring it up so that he wouldn't feel too bad about it. He had decided that since he had to be gone he'd make arrangements for me to go out with my girl friends that night. AHHHH, how sweet. MY dearest sweet friend Dev had talked to Blake and they made all the arrangements. Blake "left" for the airport at about 11:30 and I headed to the grocery store. Throughout the day most of my family and some friends called to wish me happy birthday and i was feeling like ok it's not going to be so bad. Devron had told me to just come over to her house at 5:30 and that we'd go from there so i was to come up with a place to go eat dinner. When we got to devron's house Mike her sweet hubbs was going to watch her 2 boys, my 3 boys, and another friends 3 boys. I was touched that he was willing to watch all 8 boys by himself and that he was willing to do that for me. that was a great present. It was really nice to go out with my friends and just have time to sit and visit and enjoy each others company. When we were getting close to finishing up Dev got a text from Mike saying he was going to go over to the house with my boys to get their pajamas on. (ding ding ding). I thought oh, wow, mike's really helping out here. So we decided to head home shortly there after to relieve mike from the chaos that certainly reined. When we got to my house i thought huh, i hope they didn't have any trouble getting into the house. And as i went to open the garage door dev quickly covered my eyes and said oh, shoot mike might have hid something in here. In my head i was thinking ok, whatever. Maybe blake had made arrangements for her to pick something up or whatever, but ok. So we walked in the back door and there were flowers all over the table with a big poster planted right in the middle that all i was able to read on it was "surprise!" When Blake popped up from behind the table! I am pretty dang sure i just about dropped. I was in shock! He was really here! I had just been wondering why i hadn't heard from him yet, that he was probably just getting settled but it's not like him to not call when he lands at the destination. Blake said the trip had been canceled the week before but figured this would be a good birthday surprise. And surprised i was. So the whole thing about birthdays not being as fun as they used to be, is totally a farce. This was a great birthday, one that i will remember! Thanks be to my sneaky-sneaky husband and to my good friends and to my family that all knew but didn't let on at all! No wonder i love this guy.

It must be halloween!

Sam's class for halloween did a program. They sang songs and told a story. Sam did really good. He sang his best and did great. I was proud of him. (if you watch the video you'll have to shut the music off on the seal beach slide show below).

Also this is Aliah (said A-lee-a). Sam and Aliah were in Kindergarten together and became good "friends" and still are friends. PLEASE DO NOT BRING THIS UP WITH SAM (it embarrasses him)!!! but, the other night after the program Sam and Aliah posed for this picture and later when i was showing it to Sam he said: "You know mom that's a pretty good picture. We look pretty good together." I said: "Yep, it's a nice picture." Sam said: "Mom, can we get a big picture of that for me?" Me: "we'll have to see." Sam: "ok" (as he sighs a big sigh). He tells me all the time that he loves aliah and i tell him back all the time that he's only to love her like a friend. He generally accepts this answer but every once in a while he tells me he is going to marry her. I tell him he'll have lots of friends and that he'll have to wait and see what he thinks after his mission. Ah' young love.......i just wasn't ready to have it be soooo young.

Halloween, of course!

This year for Halloween the boys all went as Jedi's, and my greatest friend made the cloaks/robes for Ethan and Sam (since she was making one for her son to be a Jedi as well). Originally Blake and I thought we'd go as princess Leia and Hon Solo. We didn't end up having any parties or trunk or treats to go to so we decided to just not dress up this year. That is until i got a call to help in Ethan's class with their party. And since it's just more fun to dress up with the kids i decided at the last minute to throw together a costume for myself. I had all the fixin's for a great cow girl. So away i went. While we were at Sam's program at the school later that morning Granma Young came to watch and told us about the trunk or treat at their ward so we decided to go to that. When i got home from helping in Ethan's class, Blake said he'd dress up as and indian (get it? cowboys and indians)since we had some of the stuff from a past halloween. Only problem was that it was from Ethan when he was only 6 so it wasn't going to all work. I headed over to the local halloween costume store and found Blake's costume......it was perfect. See for yourself (see pic below). Blake had gotten a call from our friends Brett and Kathryn (and their 3 boys) that live over in American Fork in a really big family neighborhood so we went and did the old fashion trick or treating going door to door. (see pic below) The boys have been spoiled over the years to have trunk or treat parties to go to so they get a lot of goodies in a short period of time. I think Sam and Ethan were sort of surprised how little they got for the amount of time they were out. In my opinion they got enough. Enough to last for the month of November and maybe into December, but not till Feb or March like in past halloweens. Hope y'all had a great halloween!

(it's inflata-bull!!! hehehe)

Seal Beach Day 2

The Happiest Place on Earth.