I don't know what it is, but it's pretty much to die for.  It has yet to grow old to any of us.  And he seriously does it all the time.

Oh, that wasn't it.  Rooster was just getting warmed up.  Here you go . . .

I was on the phone when I saw Emmett's car seat out of the corner of my eye.  With a child in it.  My heart skipped a beat and it totally freaked me out for a second because I knew I did not leave Emmett in there.  Busted!!

I’m still trying to decide what was most funny about this . . . Owen’s random fascination with and intense study of Samuel’s toes, the fact that Sam stared right past O and didn’t give any of it a second thought, or the puzzled expressions and stifled laughs that Erik and I kept exchanging over the whole thing.  Whatever it was, I don’t think I can explain the hilarity of this moment. 

I am often blown away with the things Owen says.  Sam had lots of things to say at this age, too, but O is quickly creeping up on him in the funny and clever categories.  It’s always amusing to hear things that Sam never learned to say, but O says because he’s learned them from his big brother.  Right now, it still just makes us hide our laughs when O shouts things like, Watch out!  Out of my way!!  Move it!  My turn now!  Hey, stop it!!  Yay, I did it! (sounds like I DEED eet!) and Oooh, what is it? (sounds like Wuh TIZ zit?)  Owen also knows names really well.  Sam didn’t even call me Mommy until he was almost 2, but O has been using Mom, Dad, and Sam for ages. 

But the other week, Owen said something worthy of the first official Owen Says documentation.  He and I were driving around running errands when we stopped at a light.  A man crossed the road in front of us.  He had on a really long trench coat.  He had shoulder length hair and a pretty thick beard.  O watched him walk past the car, then pointed out the window and exclaimed, “It Jesus!!”

November 12, 2010

In between birthday festivities, Samuel got a package from Grandma B delivered to the door.  He loved the robot game and the new books, but he was most excited about the big red shirt in there.  Erik had left it at his parents’ the last time we visited, so it was included in the box.  I tried to explain that to Sam.  He wasn’t going for it.  “Oh my, that’s a big shirt for MEEE?!  I’m growing up bigger and BIGGER and I get to wear a big shirt just like Daddy’s.  I’m grown up now!”  He put the shirt on and didn’t take it off all afternoon.  He didnt take it off when we went to meet Erik at work.  I made him take it off before we got out of the car to go in to Pirate Island.  Funny kid.

He also refused to open his eyes for a picture.  Stink.

I love Samuel’s age right now for his appreciation and understanding of what’s going on.  It’s so fun to make a big deal out of everything now that he’s definitely old enough to “get it.”  Halloween has been a lot of fun with Sam.  We’ve read lots of books, done so many different crafts, and talked about it tons.  One morning I bought spider webs while Samuel was at school.  He could barely wait for Owen’s nap time when I promised we could decorate.  And guess where Sam chose to decorate?  His room!  When Owen woke up, Sam and I were still going strong, now making spiders to add to the webs.  We all had so much fun talking about spooky Halloween things, deciding just where to put each web (I was hesitant to put them over the picture of Jesus, but Sam won), and naming all the fuzzy spiders.  Once our spooky masterpiece was complete, Samuel and I concocted a plan.  Sam called his Daddy, now on his way home from work.  “Dad!!!  You gotta come home quick, Mom is FREAKING OUT!  There are spiders all over my room.  A big mommy spider and lots of baby spiders.  Hurry home!”  He hung up, we high fived, and waited amidst fits of giggles.  Erik walked in the front door, and Sam was still totally playing it up.  Erik called from downstairs, “What do you want me to bring up to get them??”  He came walking up the stairs with a whole roll of paper towels.  Then Sam jumped out and shouted, “Surprise!”  And we all had a pretty good laugh.

Then this week for Family Home Evening, we carved pumpkins.  Once Sam saw what was inside, he had no desire to be involved.  He opted to color his pumpkin and poke holes in it.  But I think when he realized how into it Erik and I were getting, Sam jumped back on board.  He scooped all the gook out, chose and taped his pattern, poked and cut with minimal help, and TA DA!  Samuel’s first jack-o-lantern.

{Sidenote.  Fully aware I use the word “fun” at least 8 times every post.  I could use a thesaurus I guess.}

I keep a regular log of Samuel Says.  This kid is a character and all personality.  Plus, he never ever ever EVER stops talking.  Never.  But he keeps us laughing regularly, even if it’s behind our hands with our backs turned because we’re supposed to have our Mean Mom and Dad faces on instead.  Anyway, I’ve been holding onto these gems for too long.  It’s time to share. 

We took off for a walk, when Sam stopped and sat down on the ground with his legs spread.  Sam what are you doing?  “I’m just stretching, Mom!  It’s so important for me.”

Jumping on the sofa absolutely out of control, Samuel screamed at the top of his lungs, “Yaaaaa!  I’m a ROCK STAR!”

Sam was whining during dinner about the wind coming in through the window but we wouldn’t let him shut it.  So he got a bunch of his monster trucks and stacked them up about 8 inches high in front of the 5 foot window and threw his arms up in the air in triumph, “I saved the day!!  The wind is gone forever!  Now I need a candy.”

Driving home from SLC one day, we saw about 50 paragliders at the point of the mountain.  Samuel gasped, “Incredible!  I’ve never seen that before!”

Playing in the backyard, Sam pulled a chair up next to me, sat down and let out a big sigh. “This is such a nice day.”

I couldn’t find the wipes, so I asked Sam.   He replied, totally exasperated with me, “They’re right there, Mom!”  Where, I don’t see them?  “Right there . . . MOM!  Look where I’m pointing!”

At the Walgreens drive thru, as I was talking to the pharmacist, Sam growled in a really funny, deep, gruff and LOUD voice, “I’ll have 2 fries please!” 

Sam was ticked about something when we loaded into the car to go home.  A few minutes later, our cd in the car started playing If You’re Happy and You Know It.  Owen was clapping, so I said, Come on, Sam, clap your hands.  “NO!  I will not clap my hands.  I am NOT happy right now!”

At the dinner table one night Samuel held a handful of rice above his lemonade, looked at me and then Erik, me and then Erik, daring us to say something.  Samuel, do NOT put rice in your lemonade! I said in my mean mommy voice.  Samuel, hand and rice still above the cup of lemonade, looked at me again, then at Erik, still saying nothing but testing us with his little three year old eyes.  Then he grinned.  “Daddy didn’t tell me no!”

Sam was helping me by bringing toys to Owen as I tried to feed him.  Owen threw them straight to the floor.  “Owen, don’t throw the toys I give you.  It’s just rude!”

“Mom, I have a rule for you.   The rule is don’t say no to me, and be happy!”

Samuel played downstairs early one morning before I got out of bed.  When I came down he was playing with his monster truck ramp and told me, “Jesus was playing with me.  See, he’s right here.”  Then he turned, pointed, and gasped, “He’s gone!  Jesus left and went back to church.  He’s in the picture now.  Then he’ll come out of the picture and be so happy and play with me again later.”

“I like Caroline, she’s a nice girl.”  Oh yeah? “Yeah, she doesn’t say no to me.”

So excited about going to IHOP with Mormor, Sam walked right up to the cute lady at the cashier counter and said, “I’d like some pancakes please.”  Then the waitress came over and asked what she could get us to drink, We have Pepsi products, maybe an orange juice?  Sam looked her dead in the eyes and said, “Yes, I’ll have a Pepsi please.”

Caroline was babysitting so Erik and I could have a much needed night out.  I explained to Sam that we were going on a date, and he asked, “Are you going to church to kiss?!” 

After a long afternoon running errands the boys were getting a bit restless on the way home.  I turned on the radio and found “Another One Bites the Dust” and started busting some moves in the car.  Grumpy Sam huffed, “Stop dancing, Mom.  I don’t want to dance.”  Why not?  “Because I’m boring!”

I always think it’s so cute when the boys match.  Matching pjs might be my favorite.  The boys were in the bath when I put the clothes on the sofa.  Erik got Owen dried off, lotioned up, and dressed.  I got Sam.  I thought nothing of him whining that he couldn’t get his arm through because he was “too much bigger.”  Sam is a pro at making things much more difficult than they need to be.  Then Erik said, “Wow, this shirt is huge on Owen.” 

Oops.

{May 18}

“Look at me!  I’m upside down!  Hahaha.  Take a picture of me!!”

Owen’s tongue is aaaaaalways sticking out of his mouth.  It’s so adorable.

Sam, not quite as adorable, but we still like him, too.