Sam's First Birthday Party

How can I convey the joy I felt today? I'll let these pictures speak for themselves...

An Excellent Way to Spend the Super Bowl...

I've been sucked in to Picasa. Have you tried it? It's fabulous and free and provided me with hours of entertainment tonight as I goofed around and made our new blog header instead of watching the Super Bowl.

A Wedding Slideshow

Want to see what occupied much of our time this past fall? Click on the link to see a slideshow of Katie & Joe's wedding...beautiful! password: elms

http://phrene.com/viewing/?slideshowID=132763

Oh Sam, how we love you...

Your full set of teeth, your chunky cheeks and chin, your naughty little grin. Why must you be so stinking cute? It's making it very difficult to discipline you when you climb the stairs, splash in the kitty's water, and bite your mommy's shoulder. You are so...HAPPY...and we love you!

Sometimes I just have to record the conversations I overhear...

Claudia: Jake, you're in my room. That means I have to give you a test.

Jake: Okay.

C: Do boys like princesses? [These questions come in rapid succession.]

J: Yes.

C: Do boys like makeup?

J: Yes.

C: Do boys like dolls?

J: Yes.

C: Do boys like Transformers?

J: Uhhh...no.

C: Do boys like Batman?

J: No.

C: Do boys like Star Wars?

J: No.

C: Do boys like birthdays?

J: No.

C: Do boys like rats? [This one threw me off.]

J: No.

C: Okay, you can stay.

Must document Halloween

Sam stinks at carving pumpkins!

But he makes a cute cow!

Ooh, what a handsome Batman! And creepy spider!


Add Princess Frankie and Spidergirl Molly, and with that Sam is done.

Funny what we can learn about ourselves by listening to our kids...

Claudia and Jake's new game is "Mommy, Daddy, and Baby." And it even includes Sam! Yes, Sam takes his role very seriously as "Baby." Last time they played, Sam really gave them a run for their money because he kept running away. He was eventually given a time-out for the rest of his life.

Claudia also takes her role very seriously as Mommy. Today she was very concerned (eyes brimming with tears) because "Daddy" was supposed to be watching the baby but he wanted to do so from the couch. She absolutely could not leave the baby with him unless he watched Baby the way she wanted him to. What a control freak.

Meanwhile, Jake was insisting he could watch the baby from the couch on his phone because his phone can show everything.

Where do these kids get this stuff?