Happy Birthday Sam!

My little angel baby Sam came into our family 2 years ago.  This picture captures his presence in our lives perfectly.  He is the center of our family, the comic relief, and the source of so much joy and laughter.  Hank and Max adore him and love watching him achieve each new milestone in toddler-hood.  They look after him and protect him like big brothers should.  I had these pictures taken a few weeks ago and not surprisingly, Sam wasn't a fan of holding still and looking at the camera.

We had the pictures taken at Wheeler Farm which worked to our advantage since Sam is an animal loving fool.  He was so excited to see the "neigh".  Getting on his little tricycle which he calls his "cycle" and going to see the "neigh" is still a daily ritual for us.

Once all the picture taking was completed, we let Sam roll around in the dirt.  He's such a boy!

Sam is the best little boating baby I've ever seen.  He loves the boat and every time he sees it he says 

"boat...so fun!".  We've taken him on so many boating adventures this summer and he just rolls with it.  He's even become a little blondie from all the sun.

He has his favorite little spot on the boat and doesn't really move from there.  Just recently he's been more interested on getting in the "wa wa".  I have a feeling he'll be water skiing before his big brothers!

He loves to be outside.  He has a knack for finding old bikes and tricycles in our garage and storage shed.  The goggles and the binky really complete his biker look.  Such a little ham!

He found this little 4-wheeler in our garage the other day and scooted the entire way to the bus stop, with no shoes.  I guess that's what happens with your third kid.  Shoes are optional.

He went through a phase a few weeks ago where he refused to put both arms in his pajama shirt.  I have no idea what that was about.  As you can see from the pictures, his green binky is still around.  His addiction to his binky is getting worse I'm afraid.  I set a goal for myself to get Sam binky free by his 2nd birthday and I've failed miserably.  Honestly I can't bare the thought of taking it away from him.  It's like taking his best friend away.  I know it needs to go and it will...at least by the time he goes to preschool!

I've previously mentioned how obsessed the boys are with Sam but Sam is equally obsessed with Hank and Max.  He is constantly looking for them.

Max plays so cute with Sam.  He will jump on the tramp with him when no one else will.  He takes him upstairs and plays with him and is so patient when Sam constantly turns the Wii off during his games.  Max was made to be a big brother.

Here are some other tidbits about my darling little Sammy-boy at this stage of his life

• He loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and sleeps with Pete, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto every night.
• His obsession with motorcycles, "cycles", is still going strong.  Every time I mention Grandma or Grandpa to him he assumes they are on their cycle. 
• Speaking of Grandma and Grandpa, he is in love with all of them.  He is by far my most affectionate child.  He loves going to his grandparents house.
• He is talking so well.  He can say most words and he really understands when I talk to him.  He's starting to put together 2 and 3 words at a time.
• He is a sleeping genius.  He sleeps 10-12 hours at night and takes a 3-4 hour nap every afternoon.  I can't tell you how grateful I am to have such a good little sleeper.  
• He is terrified of the car wash.  He screams the entire time.  That's my excuse for why I have such a dirty car.
• He has a new obsession with the movie "Paranorman".  He calls it "zombies" and requests to watch it all day long.  I can't believe it holds his attention like it does.  Perhaps his cousin Jack is rubbing off on him!

Now that Hank and Max are at school every day it leaves some quality time for me and Sam.  I really cherish that time.  He is such an easy going kid.  He keeps himself entertained better than Hank and Max ever did at this age.  Since we've been spending so much alone time it's made Sam an even bigger mama's boy then he was before.  I can't say that I mind it.  I know it's only a matter of time before he prefers Randy like his brothers do.  I can't help but remember the circumstances surrounding Sam's birth this time of year.  I lost my grandma just two short days before Sam entered the world.  I miss her everyday.  She would get such a kick out of Sam.  His loving personality, his big brown eyes, and his sweet little voice I know she would've just died over.  I'm so grateful to have him in my life.  He came at a time when our family really needed something to be happy about.  I just love my little boy so much and I'm so blessed to be his mommy.  Happy Birthday my darling angel baby!

An End To A Fabulous Summer!

Although it's still over 90 degrees most days, Labor Day has passed and school is in session, therefore summer is officially over.  Our last weeks of summer went by in a flash.  Here are some highlights.

The kids have been wanting to go to an Owlz game all summer so we finally went.  Hank didn't want to leave until the bitter end and Max and Sam kept themselves occupied at the playground.

Hank's favorite player on the Owlz...Hank Yates!  

We paid my carni-workin' sister a visit at the Utah County Fair.

I must say Sarah makes those waders look good.  She let the boys battle it out in the balls probably 10 times each.  They had a blast.

I had the brilliant idea one day while I was drying my hair to have a multi-family yard sale to raise money for JDRF and Team Hank.  I had done pretty well with my fundraising but I had to do something more.  It was much more work than I imagined but I had so much help from my family to get it organized.  I couldn't have pulled it off without them.  Rick and Anna were here visiting and they sacrificed their vacation time by spent hours helping at the yard sale.

Here was just a portion of the items we were selling the night before the big day.

The most remarkable thing about this yard sale was the fact that all my family was there at 7:30 a.m. ready to help.  Because of their donations and generosity along with my incredible friends and neighbors we were able to raise 1,200.00!  I am still so amazed by that number and I'm so glad it was so successful.

After the yard sale, Randy took Rick, Anna, and the boys out on the boat.

 

Max is really perfecting his skills on the ski tube.

Hank loves when Rick is in town.  He wants to spend every minute with him while he is here.

Like father like son!

Cool Cousins

Rick had his very own cheering section as he tried out the wake board.

Anna took this cute picture of the boys on the party boat!

We got the boat out again last weekend after waiting out a little storm.  

 Max and his ski tube were at it again.

He was doing all sorts of tricks with the handle.

Hank has had some serious wrecks on the tube this year and was not ready to get back on.  He kept himself entertained by taking selfie after selfie on my phone.  Hopefully we can get him back out before we store the boat for the winter.

Sam wanted to get in the "wa wa" so bad so Randy handed him to me and Hank and Max jumped off the boat to join us.  I love that picture of me and my boys.  I also got to try out the wake board.  I'm feeling much more comfortable on it.  It is so much fun!  The only negative thing about being a boat owner is that I haven't played golf this summer.  There is only so much time in the day.  Hopefully this fall I can find my way to the links.  After our boating trip, Max lost his first tooth! 

I remember when that tooth came in!  Max was so excited to put his tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy.  He can't wait to loose another one.

I'm sad to see summer come to a close but we have had one of the best ones yet.  We've lived life to the fullest and created some incredible memories.  

Back To School

Hank just started 3rd grade!  Here he is on his first day of school, outfitted from head to toe in Under Armour athletic gear.  I resisted his jersey clothes wearing ways for a long time but gave up half way through last year.  The kid likes comfort and still manages to look put together.

Hank has a quiet, cool, confidence about him.  His teacher this year is Mrs. Budge.  She is really young and seems really nice.  She has been very willing to work with all our diabetes related requests.  Speaking of which, Hank is much more independent with his diabetes care at school this year.  I give him a lot of responsibility and he rises to the occasion every time.  He's such a great kid.  

Here are some pictures I had taken before school started.  Talk about handsome and grown up!

Max was so bummed that Kindergarten started a week after all the other kids went back to school.  By the time that day finally came, he was giddy with excitement.

He picked out this entire outfit the day before.  Talk about style!  This kid is the coolest Kindergarten baby at Snow Springs without a doubt.

Hank likes to pretend he could care less about Max starting school but I know he was excited.  Sam had no clue they were about to leave him when I snapped this picture.

Yep, I'm that mom.  The one who desperately chases after their little kindergartner on the way to the bus stop, snapping any last pictures she can.

Sam 100% thought he was getting on the bus with his brothers.  He waited in line with them until the bus came and was beside himself when he didn't get to follow them on.

Farewell little buddy, good luck in the big bad world!  It's hard for me to be really sad when I know Max is so ready for school.  He has been waiting for this day for a long time.  His teacher is awesome.  Her name is Mrs. Mower and she is everything a kindergarten teacher should be.  It's going to be a great year for Max.

  

Sam and I were so anxious to see Max after school and hear all about his first day.  Here he is with his buddies Ryan and Rylan.  He had a fantastic first day and has been excited to go back every day since.

Here are the pictures of him I recently had taken.  I got a little choked up when I saw them for the first time.  My little baby isn't a little baby anymore.  He is such a handsome boy, wow!

And my personal favorite...

This one captures his personality perfectly.

Sam and I have been enjoying our few hours of one on one time but can't wait until 12:30 and 3:45 come.  We miss our little buddies!