Dear Santa,

Dear St,

I wont Joekeymoe to have a

big tedy Bear. and I wont

charly to have a adoolt

boy dog and I wont Miss Leishman

to get married!!

from.

Sam.

p.s. I Love your work.

Merry Christmas!!

As you can see this is Sam's letter that he wrote in school. The kids were told to write a letter to santa asking for things for their family and friends. Jakey-Mo is the one who he wants to get a big teddy bear (hint, hint, Hailey). And Charly is one of Sam's friends in his class. Charly already has an adult girl dog that is about to have puppies so he wants her to have an adult boy dog (i'm not sure if it's to help with those puppies or what, but cute all the same). And Miss Leishman is Sam's teacher (she was also his teacher last year--she moved up a grade and Sam is the only one that got her again and he's very happy with that). He told her that she could have a elf for a husband. Many laughs were stiffled.

So today as i was reading Sam's letter i was struggleing to read parts, so he read it to me. He started to talk about this situation.

Sam: Miss Leishman isn't married and there are lots of boy teachers at the school that aren't married.

Ethan: Mr. Rino isn't married. (Mr. Rino is Ethan's teacher).

Sam: But he has a beard.

Ethan: He doesn't have a beard.

Me: Why does having a beard decided if you're married or not?

Sam: He has wiskers.

Dad: You get wiskers in high school sometimes.

Sam: oh.

I'm still not sure how that makes you married or not.

Look Ma!

I meant to post this last week when it happened, but as you all know life gets busy and you roll with it. Plus Ethan is home today sick and mentioned it and here we are. Most of the local family all got to hear about the accident over the last week, so this is for the distant family and friends that haven't heard the story.

On Friday's i go into the school to hand out treats to the kids that are wearing the school colors as they are going into the lunch room for lunch. (one of the fun things about being on PTA--I'm aka the candy lady, Sam's mom, Ethan's mom--no one really knows my name). Sam's class had come through and i had just finished telling Sam to sit down for the third or forth time to eat his lunch, when one of the aides for the school came up to me saying "they want you in the office." Immediately my mind went to Ethan just praying he wasn't in trouble or that he wasn't sick. I walked into the office and saw Ethan standing there with one of the secretaries holding an ice pack on his forehead. Whew, maybe it wasn't so bad, he wasn't in trouble after all. Then the secretary moved the ice pack. HOLY COW!! Ethan had a golf ball growing out of his head that was all kinds of purple and red. Seriously looked like a golf ball was shoved under his skin, sticking straight out at least an inch. At that point Ethan had only shed a few tears but as soon as he saw me and i had him in my arms he lost it. I told the secretary i was going to take him home and she gave me a paper about concussions that is required of them for every head injury. I brought him home and had him keep an ice pack on his forehead for an hour. Durring that time i got the story from Ethan.

His class was at p.e. and they were playing basketball out on the play ground. He was going down for a rebound when Dillon, one of his friends, was coming right behind him. Dillion is a big guy. Keep in mind that Ethan is the average kid in his 5th grade class. Dillon is my height and heavier than me. As Dillon was coming up behind Ethan he tripped over Ethan's feet causing Ethan to fall and Dillon fell right on top of Ethan. We figure that having a kid Dillons size kept Ethan from getting more road rash than what he had. But it also caused him to whack his head that much harder. It wasn't until we got home that Ethan even got to see how big the bump on his head was. That convinced him that he wanted to keep the ice on it. After a while Ethan was sitting at the kitchen table eating his sandwich saying, "well now I'm missing this, and I'm missing this and in a few more minutes we're going to be doing this." I knew he was good. So i took him back to the school. Most kids would be happy to call it a day and stay home, but Ethan loves school and didn't want to miss any of it. Even if his head did hurt. Plus i think he was happy to show off his shiner.

The picture doesn't even do it justice. I should have gotten a side shot just to show how far out it still was sticking out after the hour of ice.

MY BABY IS 5!!!!

Where does the time go?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!

reasons i love ryan:

-his smile

-his laugh

-the way he is sooo good to take all over the place.

-that he still will get comfy cozy with me

-the way he plays mario cart/wii/gameboy (it's funny, and he's pretty good)

-how he tells me he loves me to the aliens and back (since i told him i loved him to the moon/stars and back).

-the way he loves each of us in the family.

-and a million other reasons

Sam is Perfect, for today.

Sam was baptized this last weekend and for those that were able to come, thanks and for those that missed out I'll try and summarize the event.

First and foremost those that came in contact with Sam at all over the last few weeks all knew about the baptism since he was sooo excited about it. I think every employee at the school was fully aware that Sam was getting baptised. The Monday night before the baptism, as we were putting the boys to bed we told Sam that he was going to have his interview with the bishop Tuesday. He said OK and was again expressing his excitement. Tuesday morning i took the boys to school and then went in to help in the class rooms like i do each Tuesday. As i was leaving i went into the office and talked to the secretaries, and then headed out the door and on my way. Wednesday when i went back into the school one of the secretaries stopped me and said, "I just have to tell you what happened yesterday." With interest i sat and listened as she told me that Sam had come into the office just after he finished his lunch and said, "my mom is coming to check me out." the secretary said "uh, i don't know if she is, i talked to her earlier and she didn't say anything to me, she usually does." He persisted that i was going to come and check him out and she said well if you want to wait for a couple minutes you can, but i don't think she is. He said "she is, I have an appointment with the bishop. I'm getting baptised." At that point she knew i wasn't coming and so she told him he could wait and that if i came she promised she'd call him right into the office. he was satisfied with that and went back to class. I guess we didn't explain to him that he didn't have his appointment till that night.

Saturday was a special day. Mike and Kim (my brother) and his family came up from St. George for Sam's baptism. And my Uncle Brent (who lives in Arizona) was up for the weekend and was staying with Grandma Priday so they came from American Fork. And all the local family and some of our closest friends came which made the day even better. I will fully admit its on days and family times like that that i miss my parents just a little bit more, but i still am glad that they are doing what they are doing. Sam smiled all day long. While we were waiting for Sam and Blake in one of the other rooms with all the family visiting, it started to get a little loud. Ethan went and sat at the piano and started playing "teach me to walk in the Light" a primary song that he's learned how to play in the last few months and it set the tone, and quited the visiting. I was so proud (sorry, scratch that) pleased. After Ethan had played it through a few times Blake and Sam came in and we went ahead with the confirmation.

After the events at the church we had invited everyone to come to the house for some muffins, sweet rolls, doughnuts, juice and milk. Blake made some amazing orange cranberry sweet rolls and perfect cinnamon rolls. It was nice to sit and visit with everyone. After that we did a Priday family birthday lunch for Mike and Ryan since their birthdays were just days away. I kick myself over and over again, and may not be able to call myself a Priday anymore, because we didn't not once sing happy birthday to Mike or Ryan. I know I'm ashamed. Sorry Mike and Ryan. i am still shaking my head! Either way it was fun to visit and enjoy every ones company. Thanks to all that came for Sam and to support us. We really are blessed to have such great family and friends.

Sunday Sam got up and bore a sweet testimony of how he was so happy he knew the gospel and that he knew who he is and where he comes from and that there are kids out there that don't know these things and how that's why we have missionaries. He said how excited and happy he was to be a member of the church. It was a really sweet weekend. Perfect really!

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.)