Labor Day 2006

Our Labor Day Weekend began at 2:00 AM when our friend Danny came to pick us up to take us to the Amtrak Train Station in Newton. After a quick stop at Druber's Daylight Doughnuts
(which opens at 10:30 PM) to get some "breakfast" we waited for the train to come at 3:30 AM. It was close to on time, but once it got there, Sam decided that it was too scarey and wanted to "just go home." So after practically dragging him onto the train, once on he decided it was pretty cool. Our seats were upstairs, very comfy and very roomy. We stayed awake until the next train stop in Hutchinson, then we slept about 3 hours (that would be Kristin and Sam, I don't think Doug slept more than an hour or so) until the next stop at Garden City, then Dodge City. Kristin learned what it means when you say "the other side of the track" as the houses and scenery at the towns we went through were not in the best of shape, nor the yards very spick and span. We were just one car away from the observation car (the top picture). It was nice to be able to get up and move around. We ate lunch in the snack car (not the dinner car, which required reservations), and then took another nap in the afternoon. We arrived in Alberquerque, NM close to on time, and were met by Grandma and Grandpa Shaffer who picked us up and took us to Aunt Doris' house. It was a fun weekend of visiting the Shaffer cousins. We went to the Alberquerque zoo one day (very nice zoo!), and the Aquarium and Botanical gardens the next day. The train ride took about 14 hours, but it went, overall, pretty quick. The van ride back with the Shaffers was about 12 hours long(with many potty stops and snack stops), and it didn't really go quite as fast as the train ride. But it was nice to be home. It was a great weekend with family, and Sam enjoyed sleeping in his tent at Aunt Doris' house.

St. Louis Zoo

We finally made it out to St. Louis to visit our friends Scott and Jennifer this last weekend. They had a cool tent set up for Sam to sleep in, and if it weren't for our demanding that we go places, Sam would have stayed in the tent all weekend. Their dog, Oliver, also stayed with Sam in the tent some too. We made it to the St. Louis Zoo, after a very tasty breakfast at Einstein Bros. Bagels (need one of those here!). It started out not too hot, but by the time we were ready to go, it had steamed up a bit. The coolest part was the indoor penguin exhibit where it was 45 degrees and you could walk right up to the penguins. I think this zoo has to be one of the nicest we have visited, and the best part was that it was FREE. Sam, Dad and Scott are pictured here riding the carousel. Sam, of course, wanted to ride the "bench" instead of an animal (like he did at the Santa Monica Pier Carousel in California), but mom insisted that he ride an animal, after all we were at the zoo. After a bit of hesistancy, he selected the tiger, although he clung to his penguin and blanket for most of the ride. We ate at great restaurants, Sweet Tomatoes (in Kansas City on the way up), Chevys, and Cheesecake Factory, plus had a great homemade dinner of fried rice with chicken and steak--thanks Jennifer! It was a great trip, and we will have to go back again to visit the 100's of places we didn't make it to this trip.

Latest Pictures

Here are a few new pictures to share.

The first picture is of Sam and his buddy Ethan Doerksen. We both went to a place called "Pump It Up" which has lots of those inflatable "jumpy things" as Sam would say. Ethan was a big help to Sam when the obstacle course was a bit too challenging (as was Ethan's mom, Kristen). Mom tried to help some, but with a growing stomach (thanks to the little one), it made jumping and climbing a little challenging. Ethan was celebrating his first day at kindergarten, and Sam says that he is going to go to school with Ethan on Tuesdays, and Sam is going to be the teacher. Sam also says that he is going to learn to dance when he goes to school. I'm not sure where he comes up with these ideas.

Sam has gotten into playing computer games. Some are online, others are on a disk. He still hasn't mastered using the mouse, but he knows the word "loading" and says "click on that one" very well.

It has cooled down here a little bit, enough to visit the park some. Here is Sam on the turtle at the Sedgwick County Park. Today when we went, he sang the alphabet song to the turtle.

Sam at the Fountains

It has been so hot these last few days, all there is to do outside is swim and play at the fountains. There are several parks that have these interactive fountains. This park has all sorts of shapes to run through and stand under.

 

Cake Anyone?














Here is a picture of Sam and his cousin Hayley Fields enjoying cake and ice cream. Do they have the same smile???

Too Big?

Here is a picture from the other morning. Apparently the new big boy bed is so big that the best sleeping spot was halfway on the bed and halfway off the bed. Thank goodness for the wall or it might have been an unpleasant awakening.

THANKS UNCLE KEVIN!

















Uncle Kevin in California sent Sam a gift card to Target for his birthday. Last night we had lots of fun looking for things to buy. We settled on a bike helmet (for his new bike - whenever he decides he wants to ride it) and a T-ball set. Here is Sam modeling his new gifts. And even better, he still has a few dollars left on the gift card for another day (perhaps for a couple of #1 combos - that would be popcorn and lemonade for you non-diehard target shoppers).

HAPPY

BIRTHDAY

SAM!

Sam took 3 days to celebrate his 3rd birthday. Here he is pictured with some of his loot, including a Radio Flyer Bicycle - complete with a bell and training wheels. It seems odd that a boy that has no problems jumping off the low dive at swim lessons, is terribly afraid of candles - notice the death grip on mom's arm. Thankfully birthday's only come around once a year!!

July 22, 2006 Sam goes to the movies at the (as pronounced by Sam) big movie the-AT-er.

Here Sam and Dad patiently await the start of the new Larry Boy and the Bad Apple Veggietales video. Notice the large bucket of popcorn that was finished before the movie was halfway over. The video was shown at the Warren Theater, and Sam enjoyed his own seat. He is holding his blanket (a pooh pillowcase - not sure why he had to bring that with him, but oh-well) and his Larry Boy Zipper pull that quotes Larry Boy sayings when you push a button. And since the movie WAS about Larry Boy, we had to bring that too. 

Today's big happenings...

Today Sam had 2 big firsts. The first one was at his swim lessons. There is only one other boy in his class (a parent/child swim class) and he wasn't feeling well today, so Sam got a one on one lesson with his teacher. Sam LOVES to be underwater. If he can get his head under the water, he is most happy, so most of the lesson is spent trying to get Sam to do other things, like swim. During one time where he was "swimming" with his teacher, Annie, Sam suggested that he would like to dive off the diving board. Annie said that if Sam would use his "big arms" to swim that he could go off the diving board. Well after a few more minutes of trying to get Sam to swim on his stomach, kicking, and using his big arms, (which he may have used his arms once) Sam was allowed to jump off the diving board into his teacher's waiting arms. After emerging from the water, Sam suggested going off the high dive, because "my dad jumps off that one." His teacher suggested perhaps another jump off the low dive, which after he arose from the water was followed by his most used phrase in the pool, "Let's do that again." He jumped a third time, and that was enough for everyone. To jump off the diving board for real (not in lessons) you have to be able to swim the length of the pool using your "big arms" so it might be awhile before he can jump off the diving board again. Apparently Sam is not afraid of challenges or heights.

Milestone #2 today. Sam pooped in the big potty. He'll probably regret me sharing this, but hey, only those of you who know and care for Sam will read this anyway! We've got a whole box of unopened diapers waiting to be returned to target!!! Whooppee.

Welcome Friends,
I thought this might be a better way to keep in touch with what is going on with our family, than using my poor email skills. This way you can check in on us and see what is new in our family whenever you want. It will be a great way for you to see the latest pictures of our big boy Sam, and catch a few of his very funny phrases and pictures. His 3rd birthday is this Sunday, so look out for more pictures sometime next week. Until then here are a few pictures of Sam's new big boy bed (mom's old twin bed). He is pretty much potty trained, and today went all by himself without telling anyone he needed to go, until I found him in his room with no pants on. Also a few pictures from our vacation in June to see Uncle Kevin in Pasadena, CA, outside of Los Angeles. I will have to consult with Uncle Kevin to see how to get the pictures where I want them near the description part of the blog, but for now, you get the picture.