The Sams Family: December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year's Eve 2011

While we always have good intention to have big plans on New Year's Eve, things have changed since having kids. This year we decided to take advantage of the nice day and head to the mountains for some sledding. Many people had the same idea as us. In fact, we ran into The Poorts who were up enjoying the afternoon, too.

Mason couldn't get enough of the snow and sledding. Our little Chloe wasn't into it so much. She finally came around and warmed up to playing in the snow, but still opted to avoid the sledhill.

We all took a nice nap in the afternoon, enjoyed a relaxing and nice dinner at our favorite favorite Mexican restaurant near our house, and then enjoyed a family night at home watching a movie and the New York New Year's Eve.

Chloe and dad - she's a bit uncertain of the snow

Chloe and her bruiser

Mason treks up the hill for another run

Getting our snuggle on

Friday, December 30, 2011

Her first bruiser

Chloe had her first bruiser just after the holidays. You always wonder how things can happen so fast, but she literally stood up in her chair, lost her footing and fell right into the table. We were just lucky she didn't need stitches, but boy, it gave her a nasty black eye. It finally went away while I was in Las Vegas for work.

Andrew said it made her tough. I guess maybe it builds character.

The photo doesn't do it justice

Monday, December 26, 2011

Fall Pre-School Highlights

Mason is having another wonderful year at Creative Kids Preschool. His teachers Mary and Shirley have been fantastic, teaching the kids so many new things and doing many fun projects. The highlight was a calendar we received from Mason as our Christmas present. One of those pieces of school work that we will truly treasure and keep forever.

Don't get me wrong, we are so excited by all of the work he brings home to share with us, but as he proudly walked over and asked us to open the gift last week, and then proudly showed us each month, it was a moment where I felt so proud and my eyes welled up a bit.

Our little guy is growing into a boy/little man. These milestones and moments occasionally hit me, but as he shared each month and some of their meaning and how he made it, I noticed how he continues to grow more independent, how every little thing around him, including us continue to have an impact on him and his growth, shaping his spongy mind.

It also hit me when I was conversing with his teacher over email right before the break and she shared that Mason had approached her with an idea to make a necklace and bracelet for his daycare provider, Frankie. It was a project he wanted to do with his daycare friends in the other class. Both sets of teachers wanted to encourage this enthusiasm and interest, and helped to make it happen. In the email, his teacher shared the kindness Mason has for others, and that this idea was all his own. My heart wanted to burst. While there are days I wonder if I am doing everything I possibly can to be a good parent, I get a note like this, which makes me think we must be doing alright.

Mason - we couldn't be more proud of you and so blessed to be your parents. Tonight as we all watched some old videos of you as a baby, I realize how quickly time is going. One of my resolutions in the New Year will be to stop more, savor the precious, simple and small moments, and continue to tell you how proud I am of the person you are becoming.

Pumpkin patch field trip with Papa Craig

Enjoying it all

Sipping yummy cider

Learning about apples

Going batty

Special pumpkin carving night with the dads

Finished masterpiece

Halloween 2011 - Harry Potter

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Holidays 2011

The holidays always flash by way too quickly and the sounds of Christmas songs on the radio have disappeared. This is probably my most favorite time of year with the sounds, smells and sights that come along with Christmas. Yes, I am one that loves to decorate as soon as Thanksgiving is over, I tune in to the holiday radio channel in the car and at home, and once the holidays are over, I reluctantly take down the decorations.

Each year becomes more wonderful as we experience Christmas through our kids' eyes as they grow older. I think Chloe began to realize what it's all about, and of course, Mason couldn't get enough. While we sometimes became exhausted by his requests of "I want that and this" with many commercials or things he saw in the mail, the moments of building a gingerbread house, decorating the tree, taking in Snowflake Lane, the Nutcracker and Bellevue Botanical Lights together, seeing Santa and driving around looking at lights were moments cherished more than anything. In the hustle and bustle that can become the holidays, I constantly find myself "to cherish the moment." Like my previous post, I think that will become my 2012 motto.

So here's to the cherished holidays moments from this year. We savor everyone one!