Kate with some Chapstick

The other day I was getting ready in our bathroom when Kate peeked in on me.
She saw I was doing my makeup and wanted some too.
So I let her.
All the three year old essentials.
Chapstick, then using my brushes with nothing on them to paint her face up.
Some palmade in her hair- which she calls makeup for your hair.
When she was done she admired her self in the mirror, convinced that she looked 10 times more beautiful than before.
When we came downstairs she wanted pictures taken. She even posed herself on a chair.
She is pretty funny like that.

Sam's Birthday Celebration

Jake thought to get Sam a tractor shirt. Sure he would want to wear it everyday and it would be funny to see. When Sam opened it at 1st he was confused and thought it was for Jake. When Jake explained it was for Sam and held it up to his chest, he immediately ripped his own shirt off and put on the tractor shirt. Then gave Jake a hug. Your parents know you well Sam.
Although the darling bow tie I got him he discarded as if it was wrapping.... ha!

A week or two before Sam's birthday I asked Kate what she wanted to get him. Quickly she thought of a tractor book and a snake. So I helped her get and wrap both things for him. I think she knows her brother and picked some great things for him.


Jake and I grabbed a few gifts for Sam last week. On our way out of the store we grabbed a small 2$ tractor. My thoughts were that I didn't want him to try to take his large tractor he was getting to bed with him, and that maybe he we would be able to trade him out for this smaller tractor. He opened the small blue tractor and did not put it down, and still has not. It is funny over all the gifts he got the small $2 tractor is his favorite thing. He did take it to bed with him too.
Grandma and Grandpa brought Sam this wagon. He has been loading his presents in it and pulling them around all day.

Grandpa and Grandma Anderson came to see Sam open his presents and eat his cake.
Every picture we try to take Sam just wants to show off the tractor shirt.






Sam saw this cake in the fridge about an hour before dinner. He got all kinds of excited. He tried to take it out. I helped him take it out and look at it. He didn't want to just look at it though, he wanted to eat it. He got his tractor plate- he had already been carrying it around- and begged for some. He was very upset when I wouldn't let him- then he said "put it back" in the fridge he meant, he helped me put it back, I think he decided if he couldn't eat it it would be safe in there until he could.
We have a tradition in our house that you get to blow the candles out lots of times. We just keep lighting and letting you blow them out. Why should you only get one wish after all. Plus then I get more than one picture. Sam didn't even let us get through "Happy Birthday" before he blew out the candle. Also he had fun licking the tractor candles. He actually didn't eat much cake.

At the end of birthday days for my husband and children, I always have this anxiety. Did they have a fun day? were they happy? did they feel special? I just want them to feel loved to badly. Sam was super amped up all day- indicating he was excited and knew it was a special day. When we sat down on this couch he gave me like 18 kisses. I should count this as reassurance that he had a great day, it seems to be a small thank you the only way my Sam knows how to say it.


After the party, and shortly before bedtime Jake went off to his basketball game.
Exhausted from the day, I sat on the couch to watch tv. The kids were playing with Sam's new things. Then laughing erupted from the kitchen. I guess this is the kind of mischievousness I can expect now having a three year old and a two year old.



Earlier yesterday for the birthday day with Sam we headed down to Orem to go to Pirate Island.
We had never been- but knew it was like chuckee cheese only better and pirate themed.
We were super pleased. Partly because we were literally the only people there.
The kids ate their pizza and salad buffet like champs, then enjoyed playing the games and rides.
Sam just wanted to sit and drive the arcade car regardless if the game was on or not. They rode the merry go round, climbed on the pirate ship and said "ARRRRR" like real pros over and over again. Sam had crossbones and skulls on his pants and he kept pointing to them and saying "ARRR" and throwing a fist up in the air.

We got home just in time for him to take his nap.
While he did Kate and I worked hard to make him a birthday party.
Kate was such a great helper. She kept saying things like " he is going to be so suprised, it is Sam's special day. this will make him so happy". In the morning when I told he it was Sam's birthday she was a bit dissappointed and told me we needed friends and people to come over, and decorations. So she was happy to help wrap gifts, and hang streamers and balloons.
Birthdays are always some of my favorite days. It is so much fun to celebrate somebody we love so much.

Sam is Two!

My little guy turned two yesterday.
Sniff. Sniff.
We postponed the real celebration of his birthday for today, with plans to go as a family to the pirate island in Orem, followed my cake and presents at home.
So as not to confuse or disappoint, we didn't even sing him Happy Birthday yesterday.
But that didn't mean I couldn't sneak in a little extra fun in where I could for the day.
This mostly included walking around the Kubota dealership for a good half an hour.
Which is like heaven to our two year old.
But if you have seen him in the last two months you already new that.
Since he says the word "tractor" at minimum of 15 times an hour.
He points them out when we are driving. He asks to go see them and gets his coat. He begs rides off his grandfathers every time he sees either of them. He plays with several tractors all day, and sleeps with at least two each night. I've been told he fights the other kids in nursery for the only tractor toy. He requests Bob the Builder- a cartoon with tractors in it
It is kind of his thing. His only love.
A complete tractor party with tractor cake is in store for him this evening.
When I asked him if he wanted to go see some tractors yesterday, he repeatedly threw both fist in the air cheering "tractor, tractor, tractor".
It was a delightful mommy/ son date with my sweetheart.


The past two years with Sam have been such sweet years.
Here is Sam one minute old.
I remember when my water broke at midnight, Jake was sleeping and all I had to do was poke him, and he knew exactly that that mild poke meant "my water broke, get up and help me get to the hospital now".
I remember that we had been worried based on ultra sounds that his kidneys might now work, and that he might have to be operated on him within his first few days of life. But before they could even weigh him, he peed all over two nurses, and instantly we knew his kidneys were working just fine. It was funny, and made us laugh with relief. Had they got him on the table before this he would have likely weighed in at more than 8lbs 2 oz.
I remember the minute I delivered him I knew he was a big guy, only at his 1st appointment would the pediatrician say he had never seen a baby that was so muscular- or with such perfect head shape.
I remember when he was born, and I was pushing, that I wanted Jake to tell me what was going on, I wanted some narration from his end. I asked during my second push "tell me what is going on" and Jake said "don't talk, just push, he's here"
I remember I instantly loved him to pieces and never wanted to stop cuddling him.
I was sure I had known this precious child before that minute.
When we debated and debated over what to name him, in the end Jake decided be better call our "Buddy" Samuel. It was not his favorite name but it was mine, and he knew about the little blond haired toddler named Samuel I had seen in my dreams at night playing with his dad on the front lawn that had comforted me during a rough time. And Jake knew if we didn't name this son Samuel, I might feel like there was another blond haired boy named Samuel still. So he got the name, and it suits him well.
Sam one week old
We use to call Sam- Serious Sam or Sad Sam because he always had this grumpy face.
When he was born he cried for like twenty minutes.
We were unsure of what kind of disposition our new little guy might have.
What a pleasant surprise it has been that he is the happiest guy ever, always smiling, easy to make giggle and tons of fun. He just hadn't figured out how to smile yet.

Growing up to be the cutest boy ever.
One year old. This seems like yesterday, how did an entire year already pass again.




Sam has brought a lot of balance to our home.
Not only did he even the genders 2 to 2. And the adult to children ratio.
His peaceful, fun, happy self makes him a lot like his dad.
They are perfect compliments to the busy, feisty Kate and I.
As a mother one of my favorite things about this guy is how lovable he is.
He has always been his mama's boy.
He has always liked to cuddle with me. For the first four months of his life I slept in a bed in his room, with him by my side. Sometimes when he has been sick we sleep side by side again.
When somebody is hurt, even if it is because he hurt them, he furrows his brow and frowns a sympathetic face and pats them on the head. This is a learned behavior, because when he get hurts, no matter where he is, he searches the house to find me. I give him a sad face and a little pat on the back and then he goes on his way.
If ever I am sitting on the couch, he wants to sit in my lap and cuddle under the "bankie" with me. He leans his head on my shoulder and never gets up.
He hates when he has to leave, or somebody has to leave, but as long as he gets to say goodbye he won't cry. When he can't have something and we take it away he gets upset, we tell him to say goodbye, and he does, and then is happy again.
Sam is loved by everyone. I think it has a lot to do with always being so happy.
And how cute he is.
He is cute like a lot of little boys are cute.
But his dimpled smile and down turned eyes seem to just make you want to kiss him like crazy.
Sometimes we he smiles a real big "cheese" it seems as though the corners of his smiling mouth run into all four of his dimples and touch the corners of his down turned eyes and make a circle on his face. It is hard not to smile at this face.... or not to cry you are so full of love for him.
He is a giggly guy.
He teases, and wrestles and laughs and giggles some more.
He loves to play.
His giggles have filled out house. I remember when he was about 9 months old he started laughing at everything. We could make him laugh just by raising our eyebrows. I decided it was my favorite age- because of the laughing. But the laughing has not stopped. Just a look can still send him giggling and rolling on the floor.
What a fun two years our Sam has brought us!

We love our lovable Sam!

Days Like Yesterday

The last few days have been some of my hardest thus far in the pregnancy.
That may be evident to some of you based on my absence from church, my refusal to answer my ringing phone, and my solicitation for a mother's helper on facebook- which sadly only offered up sympathy and charity.
With the sick sick sick days come a lot of depressed feelings, and worried feelings of how I can to this for 25 more weeks.

Then days like yesterdat magically occur, and I think I might just make it.

I woke up feeling the same as how I went to bed, sick and sad about it.
I couldn't even get Kate ready for her school by 10:00.
Luckily I have a live in Knight in Shinning Armor who got her ready and delivered her to her preschool.
To top it off he decided he was going to take his car to get fixed and run to Home Depot, and he was going to take Sam along.
Which left me alone for at least 1.5 hours I calculated.
I mustered up the energy to pick up half the living room, which was covered in some Valentines crafts of the kids and half a box of Chex cereal.
And watched some morning magazine shows.
Then it was time to pick up Kate.
A little sad my rest/ alone time had passed so quickly, but aware of how lucky to have it I was, I got some shoes and pants on.
Then the phone rang.
It was a neighbor asking if she could pick up Kate from school with her own daughter and take Kate for the next two hours to play with her daughter (who Kate talks about on a daily basis).
It took me about 1/2 second to agree to the arrangement.
She brought Kate home around 1:30 claiming Kate had made it easier for her to clean her house.
Kate came home singing the wonders of her cute little friend and her toys.
Sam and Jake arrived home around 2:00.
It had meant 3.5 hours of myself resting on the couch time.
I should have gotten something done.
I should have put away the laundry.... umm the 18 loads of laundry piled in my bedroom.
But I just slept and rested on the couch.
And then I felt much better.

And the day got even better.
That night was the night Jake and I had arranged to go on our Valentines Date.
We left the kids at home with my mom around 4:00.
We went to Sears and it only took us 1.5 hours to pick out new stainless steel appliances for the kitchen. (I know I've been dreaming of them since me bought the house!)
Then we took ourselves to some Chinese Food and shopping for some birthday gifts for Sam.
Three hours with him alone and out on the town makes me feel like I am 23 again.
And I like it.

The night finished off with us at mutal, and a crazy storm.
The kids were not in bed until 10:00.
But that was okay. It was pretty much the best a day gets lately.

Love is....

Jake picked up these Valentines for the troops yesterday.
They had Disney characters, pop-ups and sang. They were the perfect Valentines.
Especially since Sam likes "mackey" lately and always tells us so.
I caught the two of them mid afternoon cuddled in Kate's bed together reading their Valentines side by side. It was a perfect picture of Love.

Our Valentines Day was low key.
Of course Jake and I exchanged gifts as well.
A book he has been wanting and some Little Debbie snacks for my man.
Roses, chocolate (including Easter candy- my favorite), card filled with sentiment that made me cry, and a pregnancy massage scheduled for Friday for my me.
We took the kids to the rec center for a hot evening out.
Then sat on the couch watching tv, and put off cleaning the house.... which is in desperate need.

Our new quote that we say around here is
"Love is sitting on the couch watching tv together- putting of cleaning the bathroom"
Lately this really is our life.
It may have not been the hottest Valentines Day ever,
but that is kind of how things go when your 14 weeks pregnant.

We do intend to sneak in dinner and buying new kitchen appliances Wednesday evening before mutal. We are counting that as our Valentines Day Date. And no "buying new kitchen appliances" is not code for something much steamier than a trip to Sears, but new appliances are pretty exciting too.

Eight Years with my Valentines and I couldn't feel more loved or be more in love.

Crazy Eyed Kids

The kids were doing crafts this morning.
Next thing I saw Sam came up with putting these large googly eyes over his own all on his own.
He was laughing.
I laughed too.
Then Kate showed us how to really get those eyes on perfectly.

Dentist Day

Today we took the whole family to the dentist.
The kids have never seen a dentist, and since lost our dental insurance about a year ago, it had been at least 14 months since Jake or I had been.
I could see a cavity in my back molar- my 1st ever.
I figured it was time.
So we made 4 appointments one after the other for Thursday morning.
And I was a bit nervous.
Nervous that we would be paying out of our own pockets to fill cavities on everyone,
and more nervous the kids would riot and refuse.

I told Kate that we were going to see a dentist while we were at home.
She complained and said she didn't want to go.
She kept saying over and over again "My teeth are fine"
I couldn't wait to see what she did when they tried to clean her teeth.

I went 1st. Just the one cavity to be filled next week.
Or course I didn't get x-rays to protect the fetus.

When I was done Kate, Sam and Jake were not in the waiting room.
They had been taken back, and both kids had had their teeth cleaned already.
Without me, and any protesting.
I hadn't ever heard a thing in the next room.
I was shocked.
The dentist finished checking them up and they hopped down happy to get their prizes and new toothbrushes.
No cavities or problems for them either.
This surprised me too since they make me chase and pin them down to brush their teeth.
Jake and the hygienist said that Kate had been especially good, interested in the chair that went up and down and happy about her appointment all around.
I was so proud of her and kept telling her over and over again.
While Jake finished his appointment I waited with the kids in the kids room.

The two of them were more interested in the books about dentists, and carried around their bags of toothbrushes for the rest of the time there.
At home the continued to carry around their bags of goodies from the dentist, talk about the dentist, and then both brushed their teeth while watching a movie this afternoon- without any prompting. In fact I couldn't get them to put their toothpaste and floss away.

At night we were cleaning up Kate insisted we put all her new teeth cleaning supplies away in her bathroom so they didn't get lost.

It was a very strange and much better than expected 1st time at the dentist for the kids.
It made for a great rest of the day.