Sam Turns One!!!!

My sweet boy turned one today.  It was a nice day.  Filled with simple things.  We decorated the dining room for breaky, and ate with party hats on (okay, so really only Julia did...but SHE thought it was the most wonderful thing in the world,  and remembered to tell me this a few times during the day, "mommy i LOVE birthdays!")   We are strange parents, and we have not bought anything for our dear sweet child.  i know i know, now you are all running out to buy something for our poor unfortunate child... but really you don't have to.  i can't imagine what else Sam could possibly want....  he has all he needs and desires at this point, food, NO socks on (not for mommy's lack of trying that's for sure!!), a sister to watch, balls to chase, light fixtures to point at CONSTANTLY (yeah, his favorite thing to look and point at.... a light fixture... figure that out!! ha) and all sorts of fluffy things to rub his face in!   Really, that is the life. to not be constantly desiring after the next colorful, plastic something... ah, innocence!   (we do own a lot of colorful plastic things..... can you believe how many different forms of plastic toy entertainment we have come up with?????? what a mess. does anyone else get totally overwhelmed thinking of the mass of stuff that is out there... in mile after mile of stores????)
I was thinking about how to make birthday's simple and meaningful in our home life.  So, julia and i made sam a sock doll. yep. it was..... interesting. ha. to say the least.  This 'creature' was well named by miss J, "Sukey Socky" .  it is odd. but julia did a lovely job of stuffing socks and coloring them. it was an attempt at showing her that we can make things for each other to show our love and care for them.  but really, what kid doesn't get that already?? maybe it was a lesson for me to learn again. :)

AND NOW FOR THE MEMORY PICS!!!! i love this part! :)
Sweet dear Isabelle with my new baby boy last year.  just after 5 in the morning! :) 9 lbs 14 oz. good sized little man.
The glorious afterbath that the midwives made for us!  Full of healing herbs and salts.  i got a bath like that every night for at least 2 weeks, it was amazing! :)  And a fantastic time of bonding with sam, that first morning his little eyes just popped open and he watched everything as he floated around.  
and just 7 hours later, Big sis returns home from her sleepover at omas.  And cuddles with her new favorite buddy. 

ah. i love my family.  

birthday cards!!!

Birthday cards are arriving, and today it was nana and grandpa's  card.  Sam was very thrilled to look at it, play with it, show it to Julia and flap it around. :)  
There is my happy boy.  we celebrate one year of sam tomorrow!! :)

ST JACOBS!!

THE LEGO STORE!!!

all made of lego!!!amazing!!
fun fun!

Helpful

This is my helper.

Acts 20:35 "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

She is my princess.  Completely willing to lend a hand whenever possible. (gotta love the camera smile eh.... she really has it to an art)  This is my daughter, who, asks (pleads) to fold laundry with me.  Then, she delivers it to the appropriate place quickly and well. (i feel like i'm writing a resume, but really i have just been observing these traits in her for a couple weeks now and had to write about them)  Her gift of service and keen observation have resulted in many humorous moments of joy for me.  I often place items at the top or bottom of the stairs to bring up the next time i go up or down.... she has started taking them herself (since she goes up and down much more than i do).   Another thing, she noticed that sam's bucket of washcloths was almost empty one day, so she retrieved some from the bathroom and filled his bucket!!  what nearly-four-year-old does this??? I just can't wait to see how this blossoms in her.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for this little life, so willing to help and be useful.  So willing to watch for the needs of others..... what a blessing she is to us.  

(don't get me wrong, there are moments when she doesn't act so kindly and sweet....  but if i dwell on them, i start thinking of her in negative characteristics instead of the positive ones)

:)  that is my rant for today.  God is good. He graciously gave us another day, another breath, another chance to glorify Him.   

sam the man

one of those moments.

my 2nd Cuteness came scooting over to me just as the day was coming to its end and he was elegantly draping this scarf over his head.  and thinking he was quite funny. actually, even now, after i've caught him on film, and uploaded the pictures and made this post, he is proceeding to his sister to do the same show for her. wriggling and draping the lovely scarf over his head. what a silly boy.  now he is talking to the scarf... hmmm. 

we are in a blizzard by the way, in case you are lucky enough to NOT LIVE IN ONTARIO , and don't know this already!!! dave is out shoveling half the town tonight. yikes. it is crazy out there.  our house screams every time the wind picks up.  (time to get new windows!! hahahaha)

anyway. it isn't SO BAD, but i am feeling a bit of cabin fever and need to have the freedom to go out and run and play and see GREEN. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

HELPPPPPPPP

one fish , two fish, one more fish to go!

Julia's (and soon sam 's as well) room is SLOWLY taking shape.

here are three of the four fish i have painted on the wall. there is a lovely yellow one to go above the greens and slightly to the left. :) this is a very fun artistic outlet for me. :) i am having a blast, when i actually get down to doing the work!! ha.

lazy photo mommy

Hello world. okay, i apologize for my lack of photos lately.  I don't know why, but i haven't been in the picture taking mood.  I guess all this snow, and all the news of spring in the west (sis) has me pining for green and not wanting pictures of white, gray, yellow and bla. :)  BUT i cannot complain any longer, for TODAY was awesomely beautiful out.  The sun made me warm and happy.  I took my sweet children to the animal farm and we walked through the pathways and around large trees and happy twigs and things. aaaaaaahhhhh. i love sunshine. blue blue skies. oooh sweetness indeed. Sam just kicked his legs and giggled is funny little stuttering giggle the whole way. HE loves being outside. this is going to be such a delightful summer!! 
my mother kindly reminded me that she hasn't seen many shots of the dude since we were in BC, so here is a bit of a series, i call it: Sweet Cheeks. because he has some SWEET cheeks these days. :) so: click, click, click, click. four in a row, here is my funny dude. man. his favorite thing is screaming at the top TOP of his lungs lately. yikes. we are working on appropriate times to scream, but with a near-12 month old that is a wee bit difficult! ha. Julia would have learned in a second, but sam is not nearly as fast at communication as my social butterfly of a daughter. that's okay though, he is super sweet and personable, cuddly and FUNNY. man. 


"ooooh mommy, stop that! :)"