The joys of cardboard

We seriously should have just bought Samuel a box for Christmas...

My Manly Man

Since Samuel was enjoying playing with mama's make up bursh, lipstick and head band so much...

We decided to teach him a little more manly way to primp...

Nashville

Also, during the holiday season, we spent a week in Nashville with my parents (minus an overnight in Birmingham for New Years). Sam and I drove back with them after Christmas and Bud met us there later in the week. We had a blast going out to eat (my favorite way to eat!), shopping, meeting up with Great Grandma P, going swimming in the hot tub, and just hanging out. It was great to hang out and (as mom says) "just do life together." :)

Here are a few highlights from the trip and a few additional pictures from Christmas in B'ville... stomping on the ottoman with G'daddy, modeling his new boots while petting "gaga" (Holly) whom I think he loves even more than Clara (if that's possible), riding Wowo's shoulders, at Pancake Pantry (!!!) making a mess of his "Bears in the snow" (pancakes, cut out like bears, with chocolate and powdered sugar... a big mess), blowing bubbles, cuddling with Gigi after being out in the snow.

New Years 2010

Samuel welcoming the new year last year...
And this year...

Not much difference except for his size :)

We met up with several friends from college in Birmingham for our new years celebration (Christmans, Rippetoes, and McDowells for those of you who know us from Covenant). Bud and these guys have gotten together for New Years every year since college, but this was the first year in a while that the wives could make it too! We were missing several of the west coast guys, which meant less video games :), but will hopefully get to see them in June for a wedding. And, as you can see from the pictures, life has changed a little since this tradition began. Sam had a blast tying to keep up with the big kids! Pictured above... twins Maggie and Eva (2.5), Ian (also 2.5, but a few months younger than the girls), and Ellie (4).

It was great to catch up with you all! Look forward to seeing everyone again soon!

Snow Days

Here are some pics of Sam in the snow over the past few weeks... For those of you not around here, we've had a lot of it already this winter (Global warming?!?). Kids have been off school all week this week and there is still a significant amount of snow on the ground (not by Spencer Iowa standards, but by Arkansas standards). As much as I like the snow, I'm ready for the kids to get back to school... they crowd our indoor play places (McDonalds, Barnes and Noble, Jump Zone, and the Library) and I hate that my teacher friends have to go into June now! But, Sam is enjoying kicking the snow, trying to shake it off his mittens, and watching Clara run in circles through it. We attempted sledding, but our sled popped and a snow angel, but he hates to lie on his back :). So, for now, I bundle him up, send him out to kick it around with Clara for a minute or so while watching through the window in the warmth of my home (except for today because it's way too cold!)... then spend another little while unbundling him and trying to steal some cuddles while he warms up (usually unsuccessfully).