Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! Sam seems to be getting used to the fun of the holidays. Yesterday we went to the afternoon Christmas Eve service at Grandma Barb's church. Sam was so well-behaved, wearing his Christmas sweater and coloring a picture of the Nativity. He started to get a little restless so Grandma Barb handed him a sucker. He sat there, happily sucking away, and the children's choir started to sing Go Tell It On the Mountain. He got so excited he started to clap along with the music, and his enthusiasm caused him to drop his sucker. It rolled out of sight. He dove after it, trying to wriggle under the pew, and then looked up with the saddest face any of us have ever seen. He was so upset, Uncle Mike had to take him out. When the service was over, we found them happily playing in the courtyard - all painful memories forgotten. We went right to my Uncle Bryce and Aunt Pat's house. It was full of family and friends, good food and excellent wine. Uncle Bryce made an appearance as a very convincing Santa Claus. He even has twinkling blue eyes! Sam was not afraid, but was also not interested in getting too close to him. Santa had a big sack full of toys, and Sam got a book and two big yellow trucks. We stayed much later than we had intended and Sam had a very late bedtime. This morning, Sam and I were dragged out of bed by Miranda. Sam was so good! It had to be overwhelming to see all of the presents, but he was incredibly polite. He waited his turn, oooohed or screamed at everything he received, and sweetly said "please" for each gift. (It's the closest I can get him to say thank you...it works for me.) Today we will stay in our pajamas, play with our new toys, and have a wonderful dinner. I pray that all reading this feel as blessed as Sam and I do today!

The Denver Zoo

Earlier tonight the whole family went to the Denver Zoo to see their holiday light display. It was amazing!

We all ooohed and aaahed over the millions of twinkling lights. Every tree and shrub was covered. Stars and globes hung overhead. Lights outlined the shapes of every imaginable animal, and many gave the illusion of moving. Sam was incredibly impressed, and we were having the best time. We had no idea the animal houses would be open!

We walked into the first house and there it was - Sam's first in-person encounter with an elephant. Two elephants, in fact, using their trunks to shove food into their mouths. Sam gave a little scream and then trumpeted his little heart out at both of them. Also in that building were two hippos, who were actually wallowing (I thought that was an exaggeration of their day-to-day lives, but there they were). Sam liked the hippos but 14-year-old Miranda was just blown away. I was watching her face as she scanned the water looking for them. The second her eyes registered on the huge, floating head she jerked back and her mouth fell open. She attests that it was the most amazing thing she has ever seen.

We went on to see several other animals, including camels (Sam didn't care) and sea lions (Sam barked and clapped his hands at them). Once he realized how amazing the zoo was, Sam couldn't stop squealing or pointing at everything he saw. The park benches wowed him just as much as the animatronic giraffe. (That reminds me - we saw giraffes, too. I thought it was awesome when the biggest giraffe bent his head down and stared directly at me and Sam, and then it started getting scary. After a few minutes I ended up backing out, terrified.)

Between the lights, the delight on Sam's face, and the Christmas carols sung in the car, I am definitely getting in to the holiday spirit!

Purging the Friendly Skies

Sam and I were up at 4 am today. This morning was the beginning of our Christmas vacation and we were both too excited to sleep. By 7:30, we were packed into a car with Jackie, Mike, Miranda, James, and countless bags. We drove to a park-and-ride lot, hopped on a shuttle, and checked our luggage at the airport.

Through all of this, Sam was an angel. He took it all in stride. He patiently allowed himself to be pushed and pulled through the Minneapolis airport. After arriving at our gate two hours before takeoff, Sam fell asleep in his stroller and didn't wake up until it was time to board.

Unfortunately, our plane was late coming through Chicago, and we weren't boarding. Sam started to get cranky. An hour after our original departure time, we boarded the plane. We then waited about 30 minutes for our bags to be loaded. After finally starting to move, we stopped again to have the plane de-iced. Sam was really, really mad.

I did everything I could to keep him happy. I sang, gave him snacks, and passed him to Mike, Jackie, and Miranda. He was just miserable. A couple of times I looked away from him, hoping that if I ignored him he'd get bored and stop whining. Each time I thought he was fine, I'd look back to find him sobbing silently in his seat, huge tears covering his face.

After finally landing in Denver, he just went limp. He didn't seem to feel anything about making our way to the main terminal, seeing Grandma Barb and Grandpa Doug, or waiting for our bags. He was silent as he was strapped into the car and didn't pay any attention to the rest of us on the ride to Grandma Barb's house.

As soon as we were home, Sam walked into Grandma Barb's living room and threw up all over the coffee table.

Since then, he has been his happy, giggling self. Happy holidays!

Faces of Sam

Thanks to Grandpa Mark for taking these awesome pictures of Sam!

Cookies are a serious business.

On the other hand, cookies can be the height of hilarity.

The antlers help him concentrate.

Embodying the essence of his Cobra Strike monster truck.

Just...about...there! The piano is perfectly tuned.

Grandpa Mark and the Mall

Yesterday, my dad drove up to spend the day with Sam. We originally planned to take Sam to the Children's Museum, but I was afraid of him catching something so close to Christmas. Instead, we went to the mall.

Grandpa Mark bought us lunch. The food court was very busy and we ended up sharing a table with two other women and their 10-12 kids. (I never counted...but there was a LOT of commotion from their end of the table.) In comparison, Sam was an angel. He doesn't cry or throw fits when I tell him no. The only poor table manners he showed was the non-stop pointing and staring at all of the good (junk) food the other kids were having.

After lunch, we went to check out the little put-a-quarter-in-it-and-it-shakes vehicles. Sam sat in all of them, and was shocked when Grandpa actually put money in one. I'm cheap, and Sam is too little to understand, so I have always let him think just sitting in a little car is the fun part. Grandpa had no problem paying 75 cents, so Sam's eyes bugged out when his car began to shake and rattle.

After the cars, we rode on the carousel. Grandpa stood by Sam's horse and I concentrated on not feeling sick. As Sam's horse went up and down, Sam's head went the opposite way, staring at Grandpa. He was amazed each time he found himself looking Grandpa right in the eye.

Because we were having such a relaxed day, I thought it would be a good idea to try to see Santa. Eric took Sam a few weeks ago, and it was a fiasco. Eric saw no sense in buying a picture of Santa sitting merrily in his chair while Sam was a sobbing blur trying desperately to get away. So, we walked up to Santa's area and watched him for a while. Sam still looked pretty happy and I asked him if he wanted to go sit on his lap. He said yes, so we got in line. Within a minute or two the line advanced forward and Grandpa and I turned to see Sam still rooted to the floor. I asked him to move forward and he looked at me blankly. I asked if he wanted to see Santa, and he slowly shook his head no. And so we gave up - I was pretty happy Sam changed his mind before we made it to Santa's lap.

I shopped in a few stores while Sam played with Grandpa. They had the best time! Grandpa bought Sam a little ball and they must have sat on every bench in the mall, taking turns putting the ball in their pockets, while I shopped with no one hanging on me or whining. It was beautiful.

Grandpa Mark, you can come to the mall with us anytime!

How To Get To Sesame Street

Several weeks ago, Eric bravely took Sam (by himself) to the Children's Museum. The museum rotates special features, and right now they have an entire exhibit set up as Sesame Street. Sam was just wild about being there - we will definitely be going again before it changes!

Sam is happy - but the slightly crazed, glassy look in his eyes is worrying.

Sam chillin' on the front steps of 123 Sesame Street.

Ringing the bell for Gina...

...and leaving her a message when she didn't answer.

Simply one of the funniest pictures I have ever seen.

Sam's Perfect 10

This morning Sam and I went over to (my friend) Karen and (his friend) Aiden's house for a playdate. They just moved in to a house with a big, unfinished basement. It is full of great outdoor toys, including a large castle with a slide.

Sam and Aiden took turns climbing up and sliding down. Each time Sam came down the slide, he tried to land on his feet in a standing position. Each time it looked like he was going to do it, he'd fall over.

Karen and I were kneeling on either side of the slide, half-ignoring the boys. We saw Sam come down, concentrating. He landed on his feet (!) and almost lost his balance. Bent at the waist, he steadied himself with his hands on the floor in front of him. As soon as he stopped wobbling, he snapped straight up, threw his hands up in the air, tilted his head back, and smiled.

He had stuck his landing - and made sure everyone knew it!

Presents Under the Tree

This is a slow Monday morning. Sam and I are coming off of a weekend filled with Christmas celebrations, and we are wiped out.

On Saturday, we had Christmas at Eric's dad's house. It was a mess of adults, kids, cookies, and tissue paper. The first present Sam opened was a train flashlight. As soon as enough paper was off for Sam to see what it was, he said, "Oooooooh!" and ran in place watching his aunt get the rest of the paper off. He was SO excited. The presents just kept coming. He got a little overwhelmed in the middle of opening, so I took him in the other room to play with his flashlight. After less than a minute, he was ready to go back in with a clear head.

On Sunday, we had Christmas at my dad's house. We take turns opening presents, so it was much calmer. Sam is now the one-year-old owner of his own CD player and remote control car. He remained pumped up through the whole thing. Each gift warranted either an "Oooooh!" or an "Awwww!" and lots of running, jumping, and twisting. When he pushed the button to make his car go, he simply screamed in delight.

Now we're completely exhausted. I'm not going to tell him that we're doing it all again next week...