Holidays and other random stuff

Sam really got into the festivities...as you can tell.

 Christmas Eve was at my parent's place. We made Swedish food (it's our tradition to make a meal from different parts of the world). Here I am with my mom and sisters.

Christmas morning with his cousins Alicey and Calvin. Olivia his other cousin is somewhere around there too...just not in this picture.

He certainly enjoyed his new presents!

But I think he liked the wrapping paper better!

 The monday after Christmas my family went on a little adventure. Our first stop was Bridlewood vineyard.

Such a good lunch overlooking the vineyard, so beautiful.

My nice family...they had stables there. Sam liked the horses as you can probably imagine.

He hates the car though. Luckily he had his silly Aunts to cheer him up...though he looks less then impressed with their efforts in this picture.

I am blanking on the name of this mission, but that was our next stop. Sam had a HUGE explosion and I forgot to bring an extra diaper with me. There also wasn't anywhere to change him. So between Anna, Bethany and I we managed to strip off his soaked oneies and wrap it around his bum to serve as a temporary diaper. This was all done in mid-air since there wasn't anywhere to lay him down. The cute part is that Sam was perfectly content during the whole process. needless to say I don't think I got out as much as I could have from the mission's history.

We just kept going up the coast until we hit Solvang. We had such a fun time looking at the all the shops and eating Danish pastries. We ended our adventure at Anderson's pea soup Resturant. I had so much fun with my family and doing things that were remisenant of my childhood, that I would say that trip was probably more fun than Christmas. I think Sam agrees.

Look what my Dad made Sam! His very own toy chest! I love it so much! Sam is so excited about his toy chest, as you can probably tell from his expression.

Sam is such a mellow kid. We went babysitting the other night and one of the girls brought out the pet bird and rat. We set them on Sam to see what he would think and as usual, he was fine with the whole thing. He just got scared when we started laughing really loud.

New Year's was a blast. We did the annual game night which occurs at my in-laws every year. Sam and his cousin are having their own game night. Alicey is 3 and got to stay up extra late. She was my super helper all night. What a darling girl. I feel bad I don't have very many pictures of my husband's family. They all came down for the holidays and we had so much fun with them. Sam and I really get a kick out his cousins. They are all so cute!

Look who is growing! He doesn't crawl at all yet, not at all, not even close, so not interested. He likes to sit and when a toy rolls away, he looks at it and then find something else to play with. He is strong though as you can tell from above picture. He can hold himself up when we put him up against something. He is so interested in investigating everything. He also is finally getting his first two teeth. They are just barely coming up now, which mean hes a little less agreeable then usual. What an amazing kid! Don't you agree?!!

Holiday Season Fun!

We have been having so much fun this Christmas season so far. Having Sam with us makes everything that much more festive. Where to begin?

This is the Sam's first visit with Santa. This was at my parent's ward party. He seemed okay with the whole thing.

We went to Disneyland twice when it was all decked out for Christmas. I forgot my camera the first time and the 2nd time I didn't realize until later that I don't have any festive pictures. You can kind of see the castle in the back, looking all snowy and pretty...oh well.

I think Sam wants to know what this pirate is all about.

 

Sam loves being on shoulders. He wouldn't have it any other way all day long. He is such a rascal! Every once in a while he would pier down below to check out who was holding him. This particular time it turned into an all out wrestling match.

  

 So this is the first ride where Sam had his own seat and seat belt. The ride was the Golden Zephyr at California adventure. He was nervous at first...

 

...but as you can he had the time of his life!

Hank was Santa at our Ward's Christmas Party. Oh my goodness he was such an amazing Santa! He was all jolly and none of the kids recognized him. There were of course a few older boys who were out to expose Santa's true identity while Hank was getting ready. It was a really fun night.

 

Oh and I was Mrs. Claus  and Sam was Baby Claus.

Look how cute!!!

This was a really sweet moment. The primary in our ward had a special program for Christmas. We were asked to be Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. Here we are getting ready to go into the primary room. Sam is asleep...little darling.

He stayed asleep through the whole program! Through all the singing and talking.

Sorry about the upside down pic...he is so precious.

We've had so much fun already and I just can't wait for the big day!!

So much to update!

So much has happened in the last few weeks and I am just being horrible at updating it all! Where to begin? Oh yes...my sister's visit.

My oldest sister Sarah and her family came to visit the weekend before Thanksgiving. We took this family picture in the botanical gardens near our home.We had the best time. Don't I have a nice family? Except my brother is missing from this picture...he is Brazil and boy do we all miss him.


This is Sam with his cousin Elliott. He's showing off his piano playing skills. Elliott is less then impressed. She's already mastered the instrument.


Avery is 4 and one of the funniest girls I've met. While she was visiting she performed for us, gracing the family with her talents in gymnastics, dancing , singing and even joke telling. From this picture I can deduce that she is itching to show her grandpa up on the guitar.


The next weekend was Thanksgiving. Hank and I live near both parents so we had two thanksgivings dinners. So fun, so full. The first Thanksgiving consisted of a long hike my mom took my Dad, sisters and myself on. My mom is a BIG hiker she has been all over the Santa Monica mountains and can name most any plant we come across. We sorta blazed our own trail from a place off Decker Canyon. Sam loved it, slept a lot and seem quite intrigued. I am making a fist in this picture because my Dad said he thought the boulder in the back looked like a fist.


My mom and sisters. My mom has her hiking face on. Now you know why she is so skinny.


After our first Thanksgiving we headed over to the Florence parents' household. Marty made a little thanksgiving plate for Sam. Look how touched he is!


She also made some mashed potatoes special for him. He wasn't as excited about those.


We were so lucky because Hank's uncles were visiting from his mom's side as well as Pa his grandpa. Pa is such a sweet man. You can tell how much Sam loves him.


That weekend was Hank's cousin's wedding. We spent the day at the wedding and then hung out for the rest of the evening with Hank's Aunt, uncle and cousins. We really had an amazing time. Sam stole a dance with the bride. What a charmer.


Here we are at my Parent's ward Christmas party. The holidays are in full swing and we certainly are enjoying them so far. I have realized more and more how blessed Hank and I are to be around so many family members and friends. Sam is able to see people he loves all day. Its been so nice.


Sam loves horseplay...this video is proof.

Halloween!

Sam and I had a very eventful Halloween.


This is us at our Halloween ward party. Sam went as Charlie Brown and I went as Lucy. I think Sam looks like Charlie Brown. Hank wanted to go as the Marx Brothers but he had to work, so we are putting that costume idea on hold. I think Sam would have been a cute Harpo...oh well.


A close-up of the cutest Charlie Brown around.


On Thursday we went to Disneyland. They had it all dressed up for Halloween. They also changed space Mountain to Ghost Mountain...it was spooky!


California Adventure was all Halloweened up as well.


This is us waiting for the celebration Parade to start...which ended up breaking down, creating a lot of awkward moments for the dancers...Sam's face says it all.


I think we are going to start a new tradition. Hank brought hot chocolate packets with us and we drank hot chocolate while waiting for the fireworks. It was such a memorable moment. Sam ate a spoon. They had the coolest Halloween fireworks show as well!


Sam and I joined my parents and sister for the Spanish Branch's ward party. My dad is the high council member over that branch. This is a picture of my parents in line for the costume contest. Before the party Sam got a hold of a leftover birthday balloon at our house. He was pretty fussy until he started playing with the balloon so we brought it with us. That balloon was like a comfort toy or something because he held onto it the whole night.


My mom was being silly and dancing all around with Sam to show him off no doubt. Good thing Sam had his balloon to keep him safe.


Basically my family were the only ones dancing,. They are so fun and silly.


Hours after the party ends and Sam still needs his balloon.


Since poor, sweet, hardworking Hank missed out on both Halloween parties we had to make Halloween day really fun. This the whole family carving pumpkins.


Sam made use of the pumpkin guts. He loves Halloween!


Hank went into work that night so Sam and I went Trick or Treating at the mall. It was so busy! Which is perfect for a wide-eyed baby. He enjoyed eating the wrappers of candy while I enjoyed eating real candy. We were both satisfied. What a fun Halloween!