I love birthdays.  So does Sam.  He's been anticipating his birthday since the first of his older buddies turned 5 back in May.  Of course I couldn't disappoint.   Saturday was "Party Day" with Samuel's friend party in the morning.  He had designated it a fireman birthday months before.  Which was perfect, since the house happened to be on fire when Sam woke up that morning.  We had planned a big obstacle course in the backyard for our little firemen to earn their badges, but we woke up to rain and had to improvise quickly.  I shrunk down the obstacle course to fit inside, and we were still able to rescue the cat from the tree, climb through the burning tunnel, spin around on the fire engine, jump over the laundry baskets (yeah nothing creative for that part), then spray out the burning building.  We also played a Pin the Tail on the Donkey type game with dressing a fireman, hot potato, stop drop and roll, and toss the firetruck into the burning building beanbag toss style.  We had ignitable cupcakes that each firefighter had to blow out, and per request so many months ago, a pinata.  Samuel and his fire fighting friends had a great time!

That night was Chuck E. Cheese.  But first we had the traditional stop at Toys R Us to use the birthday Geoffrey dollars.  Again, lots of fun.  I love any excuse for special time as a family.

Sunday was Samuel's birthday.  He woke up to balloons and a birthday banner in his room.  He asked me for days how I got them in there, like he couldn't believe I did it all while he was sleeping.  I heard Sam was beyond giddy when he was sung to in Primary.  (First year that I wasn't in there to see, *sniff*)  Sam got to open one present while Owen napped, Cars 2.  When Owen got up we finished presents, and then had pancakes for dinner, another birthday request made ages ago.

We sure do love our funny not-so-little-anymore Sam.  He is overflowing with personality.  He is sassy and quite the back-talker.  But he is also friendly, thoughtful, and polite.  Samuel loves to ride his bike, play with his friends, watch Wild Kratts, drive his monster trucks, and learn new things.  He changes his clothes a bajillion times a day.  Sam loves pancakes, bananas, raisin bread, and "cow milk."  He loves fighting, shooting, killing, swords, and guns, *sigh.*  He still struggles to write his S and doesn't color in the lines, but he can tell you 8 different names for Bigfoot.  He is growing up and learning so much so fast.  He makes us smile, he makes us happy, he makes us pull our hair out, and he makes up laugh.  And I absolutely cannot for the live of me get a decent picture of this boy.  Happy 5 years, Sambo!!  

November 13, 2010

So Saturday was Samuel’s real birthday.  The night before, I told Sam I would make pancakes . . . NOT the kind you put in the microwave.  I said I could make all sorts of shapes, like Mickey Mouse.  Samuel said, “How about a DINOSAUR pancake?!”  So I put my creative pancake making skills to the test.  Armed with an S, and number 4, a smiley face, and a dinosaur, I would call it a success. 

After breakfast we packed up the car and headed to Colorado for a quick visit.  My mom put together a great little party for Samuel and his cousin Tyson whose birthday was just a few days later.  There were balloons, birthday hats for everyone (including the dogs, per Sam’s request) and presents.  It was yummy, it was loud, it was lots and lots of fun.  Seriously, we know how to do birthdays. 

November 12, 2010

Samuel totally lucked out with two full days of birthday celebrations.  We knew we would be traveling on the 13th, so we planned Friday as the big day.  Samuel woke up to decorations and a new dinosaur.  We spent the morning getting ready for his party, and playing with Auntie C who was such a doll to be there for the party and help me out.  At 11:00 the kids came a’knocking for Sam’s first official friend party.  He told me months ago he wanted a dinosaur birthday party, so I had a few prehistoric tricks up my sleeve.

As Sam’s friends arrived, they got to do cave paintings and play with dinosaurs.  Then we made some dino feet so we could go on our dinosaur adventure.  The kids had to go through an obstacle course, but stay on the “stones” so they wouldn’t fall into the “hot lava” and become “extinct.”  After that we played “Chomp Chomp, Gotcha!” which was our version of Duck Duck Goose, with a triceratops hand puppet to do the chomping.  We had a yummy lunch of dinosaur nuggets for the carnivores, veggies and ranch for the herbivores, and chex mix and goldfish for the omnivores.  We read some dino books, did some dino puzzles, colored some dino pictures.  And then it was time for a dino dig!  I tried to do it two at a time while the other kids kept reading, puzzling, or coloring, but that lasted maybe 37 seconds.  It got a little crazy, but oh so fun!  There were lots of baby dinosaurs hiding in the sand, but there was also a dinosaur skeleton for each kid to find.

By that point, I could no longer put off the presents!  Samuel was so so excited, but it was adorable to see that his little friends were just as excited as him.  After Samuel opened all the generous gifts, he handed out the thank you/goodie bags and dug into the dino cupcakes.  By 12:30, we said goodbye, put Owen down for a nap, and opened all the new boxes and bags of toys and games.  Smart Mommy that I am, I let Sam open one present from Mommy and Daddy . . . How to Train Your Dragon!  So we popped the movie in, Sam watched and played quietly and happily, and I crashed on the sofa.  It had been a ton of work, but so much fun and I enjoyed every single second of it.  So did the Samosaurus Rex.

Owen had a blast playing in the sand, running around after the big kids, shoving his face full of watermelon and hot dog, knocking balloons around, and investigating a few new goodies.  I can think of a few more people who enjoyed the evening, too.

Samuel must have known I had big plans for his birthday, because he slept in till nine.  I was doing the dishes when I heard his cute little groggy voice from the stairs, “Oh balloons!  It’s my birthday!”  Sam just sat there looking at the decorations and getting more and more excited by the second.

We spent the morning getting ready for Sam’s monster party!  We had a few friends come over for games, crafts, a monster hunt, and adorable cupcakes compliments of Triana.  She also did a killer post summimg up the fun with lots more of her cute pictures.  http://ordfamily.sk8erord.com/?p=1128

Samuel attempted a nap, but he was too excited.  Lucky for him, Grandma’s present arrived so he had some original Little People and several new airplanes to keep himself busy and happy instead of driving me nuts while he didn’t sleep.

Erik came home early, and we took off for dinner at Pirate Island Pizza.  In the waiting area, Sam was super taken by the low lighting, skeletons hanging from the ceiling, and pirate ships on the walls.  He was also a bit nervous.  When the thunderstorm started, and one of the skeletons started glowing and talking, Sam did his “Scary scary scary” reaction.

The rest of the evening was a blast, eating pizza, playing arcade games, climbing the pirate ship, and, after 3 tries, finally being back at the table for the pirates to bring ice cream and sing happy birthday.  Sam heard them coming and got super excited, then when they stopped at our table and he realized it was for him, he got shy and embarrassed.  It was so funny, I’ve never seen him act this way!

We stopped at ToysRUs on the way home and Samuel got to choose his very own toy.  Sam hit the jackpot when he found a set of three pull-and-go monster trucks with flashing headlights and sound effects.  He was completely taken with them the entire way home, still in the box.

At home, it was finally time for presents.  Sam had been talking about opening presents all day long; he knew that was a big part of birthdays.  Samuel got “Up,” and Imagination Movers cd, a dinosaur racetrack, radio controlled Mater and Lightning McQueen, and his very own childproof camera.  We let him stay up almost until 10 playing (remember, he didn’t nap!!).  When I put Samuel to bed that night, he gave me my hug and kiss and said, “I found a good day.  Thank you my birthday.”  You are so welcome, little big man!

I love Utah for giving us another 3 day weekend this month.  Thank you pioneers!  We also chose this weekend to bless Owen at our church.  We had so many fun things going on, so many friend and family around, and a fantastic weekend we won’t forget!

Friday was a low key Family of Four day.  We geared ourselves up for what was to come.  We used the day to catch up on some sleep, do some shopping, and get some things done around the house.

Saturday was the beginning of the events.  We met the Mutter family at Thanksgiving Point for a visit to the dinosaur museum.  Sam loved it this time just as much as his last visit; probably even more with his personal assistants, Jenna and Ashley.  At one point, Sam took off with Jenna.  We followed after them a few minutes later, anticipating getting Samuel prepared for the erosion table.  But when we got there, he was already smocked up, and being led by the hand to play.  It was so cute.  The erosion table and dig site were by far the biggest hits of the museum.  Samuel thought it was necessary to literally dive into the sand and roll around.  Fun fun.

We left the museum early afternoon and headed home for naps, but not before stopping at El Pollo Loco for lunch.  Once boys were fed and sleeping, I raced off to Costco in prep for BBQ that evening and Sunday lunch.  Around 5, family started showing up for a night of hamburgers and fireworks.  Yep, it was our turn to play the obnoxious neighbors.  But it was so worth it.  And by 10:00 everyone, parents and kids alike, were pretty much spent for the day.

Poppers were a huge hit.  If throwing them doesn’t work, stomp on ‘em!

Sunday was the culmination of the weekend’s activities.  I was so impressed with how calm, cool, and collected I was!  When we left for church, I was totally prepared and ready to go.  Erik gave Owen a really nice blessing.  In the circle were grandpas, uncles, great uncles, cousins, and friends.  Afterwards was lunch at our house for the 27 adults and 18 kids who were all there to celebrate with us.

Some of Owen’s fan club from the weekend.  {Pretty sure Brooke is the president of said fan club.}

I remember being at home alone with Samuel one day when he was brand new.  I was telling him about his family; his cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, greats, mom and dad . . . so many people who loved him, many of who hadn’t even met him.  I thought of that again this weekend as so many people came to support us and our newest addition.  How blessed we are to have such an amazing family and so many great friends who we love. 

I’ve been thinking all day about how I wanted to wrap up this post.  I want to remember it all exactly the way it happened and how I felt.  There were a lot of emotions tied to the events and happenings this weekend that I wish I was better at expressing, and the only reason I feel I want to try is because this blog is my journal and my way of remembering.  I think the word that says it best is joy.  Pure Joy.  And that’s good enough for me.