Party Time!

Sam is having a pretty fabulous birthday week.  On Tuesday, his friends joined us for a super fun pool party. We had swimming, pizza, Nutter Butters (Sam's favorite) and Angry Bird Cupcakes.  

I spent two hours on Monday night making the cupcakes.  Cupcakes that I knew that my son wouldn't eat.  (He's anti-cake) However, he loved looking at them and his friends devoured them.  They started off looking really cute.  (Of course I only got a photo with my iPhone.  I think there might be a tutorial coming.)

After 2 hours, our Angry Birds looked like they had been shot at one too many pigs.  

Sam had such a good time swimming with all of his cute friends. We had lots of friends from church including some of our very favorite adults.  Somehow I didn't get pictures of everyone but we had quite the crowd.

Here is the back of one of the Peterson kids. She has brothers that are just older and just younger than Sam.  When her mom told her they were going to a party she asked who it was for.  When Megan told her it was for Sam she replied, "Sam Hanson?!  Oh, we know him.  He's the loudest kid in Primary.  He likes to play the piano loudly."

Sam's reputation precedes him.

 

He even had an older woman there. We love Jordan and she loves Sam.

Here is Ben and Sam's current lady friend Renee.  She loves buckets.  

It wouldn't be a swimming party without his BFF Logan.

And our sweet friend Rebekah.  We don't get to play with her much now that Sam is in school so he was extra excited to see her.

And finally, even Dannelly got in on the swimming action.  This girls loves the water AND her brother.

(Kinda) Solid Food

Little Miss is not super interested in her bottle these days so we gave solid foods a shot today.  Pears and Oatmeal. Some of it may have actually made it into her stomach.  

Besties

Sam and Elly are best friends.  They love to be around each other.

If Sam hears Elly crying he says, "Sounds like Baby Sister!  Mom, go get her!"

If Sam is playing with Elly and leaves, she immediately starts to cry.  Even if the playing involves him laying on top of her. 

One of Sam's favorite games (that I can hear him playing the bedroom right now) is when he lays on the bed and rough houses with Ben.  If Elly is around she performs her signature (assisted) move called The Baby Slam.  It amounts to us slamming Sam in the stomach with his sister.  They both love it. 

Most of all, they both love their snuggle time.  I grabbed the picture above last week while Sam was "watching Baby Sister" while I was getting ready.  Hooray for the iPhone.  

While I was getting ready today, much to her dismay Elly got put in the bouncy.  Finally I took her out and laid her next to Sam on the bed.  She immediately stopped crying. 

Sometimes you just need some time with your big brother.  

4 months old and 3 yrs and 11 months old

Ben says this is my triumphant return to the blog.  I say it is that I'm finally caught up on photos shoots.  Nothing like taking the summer off.  :)

The kids are FANTASTIC as usual.  Dannelly is four months old today.  She seems to  have finally kicked congestion, a clogged tear duct and most of her reflux.  She has the sweetest little personality and is just happy to be here.  She constantly smiles at everyone, especially Sam.  Sam appreciates this and constantly tries to maul play with her. Most of the time she is pretty tolerant and rewards him with jabbers and grins.  

Sam will be four next month and has had a GREAT time this summer. Mostly because he is naked CONSTANTLY.  I seriously cannot keep anything but underwear on this kid.  Last Sunday Ben had to dress him three times for church.  He had a FABULOUS time in Utah and talks about his grandparents and cousins all the time.  About every other day he tells me we are going to Utah.  He loves to go have lunch with Daddy and most mornings he wakes up and says, "Where's Dad?  Let's go get him and have P. Terry's."  The kid has good taste. 

Last Day of School

Sam's last day of school was June 1st.  

We are so lucky that he was able to have such a wonderful program to attend.

(Last day of school)

(First day of school)

His progress in the last 9 months has been amazing.  

They took a little guy who talked with his mouth closed to a dude who asks every single person that we meet, "What's your name?"

He does addition.  He spells.  He reads.  He LOVES telling us what day it is and what the weather is like.

We constantly hear about his friends and teachers.  

We are so blessed to have had this opportunity and we know that our lives were made better by Ms. Laura, Ms. Cory, Ms. Jill and Ms. Dana. Love you ladies!