Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We are heading to Arkansas to spend the week with my (Jess') side of the family. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Attempting a Christmas card picture.

Take IV, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Tricky. Very tricky with my two nutballs. Obviously there will be another photo shoot but here's one for your amusement.

Side note: we unknowingly stumbled into this Employees Only area at Bachman's and we all thought the giant wreaths were cool. I was really hoping for a card-worthy shot!

Sammy waiting for Santa

Sammy waiting for Santa, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We took the boys to the annual Holiday Open House featuring Santa's arrival at Bachman's , a local nursery. In addition to Santa, there were cookies, crafts and lots of beautiful Christmas displays. Check outFlickr for the full onslaught of photos. :)

Power Wheel!

Power Wheel!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Many MANY thanks to Cody and Ashley for making Sammy's 5th b-day more awesome than even a five-year-old could imagine. He LOVES this thing.

They gave it to him Saturday afternoon and he drove it around for about 45 minutes even though we were freezing! Then, Sunday morning he woke up ready to go out and ride, which Jacob obliged even though there was frost on the ground and he could only find one sock for Sammy (C & A were bunking up in Sammy's room). He went to the Vikings' game, then came home and rode for another hour or so. Today (Monday) is a glorious, perfect fall day and the boy drove from about 11 am - 1 pm, barely stopping to eat a few apple slices and a bar for lunch. He is thrilled, and as an added bonus, totally big stuff at the playground now. Thanks, guys!

Sammy's 5th Birthday Party

, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Held at Edinborough Park this morning. Thanks to Cody for taking ALL the pictures for us! :)

More pics can be found here!

It's my birthday!

, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sammy posing again with his birthday hat and mittens and in the outfit that Grandma and Papa sent - the greens match perfectly! More b-day pictures on Flickr... clicky clicky

Birthday hat and mittens!

Birthday hat and mittens!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Happy 5th birthday to our sweet Sammy boy! Sammy woke up about 45 minutes early this morning (around 6:30 am) and went to bed at least an hour late last night because he was so excited for his birthday to start. Look at that tired face! He happily obliged posing for a picture with the hat and mittens I knit for him - the first present he opened, his choice. :)

Pump It Up

Freddie, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Leah invited the boys and I to this giant bouncy house place called Pump It Up on Friday. There were two rooms of inflatables - including two HUGE slides that were the big hit of the trip. Sammy and Freddie LOVED it.

For his birthday...

Sammy would like a remote-control butt. Then he asks me, "But, where would we find one?" (uh, let's hope we never, ever can)

I have a feeling Sammy is going to be a bit like Jacob's Uncle Ramon when he's older.

This morning

Freddie: "Where's my candies?"