It's been a long time since I've updated our blog. I'm sure you can all relate, with how busy this time of year is!

Life is so good! J.M. is keeping busy with work, projects around the house & tickling Sam. I never thought there was so much to do around the house, when I'm home all the time! Sam has hit a mental growth spurt & is saying new words, some sentances, wanting to go potty, and learning the concept of sharing.

I love Fall!! Sam got to play in the leaves for the first time.

For Halloween Sam was his true self... a little Monkey. He loves this outfit! In fact I've had to hide it so he won't wear it everyday. But it's nice, because it keeps him warm.

A Monkey on a Scooter! His favorite thing.

Eating Tomato Soup. One finger dip at a time. I can't complain, at least he's eating a vegetable.

On November 7th (J.M.'s birthday), one of our good friends got married. Tyler Olsen & Shelly. This is the "tramp house" group. It was so great to see everyone, even though it was a quick day.





Thanksgiving day at the Thunell's. It's so nice to have a little entertainer around, who is always doing something unexpected.

The BEST sound in the whole world! A Child's laughter.

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!!

Sam and the "MaMo"...

I'm sure all of you can tell what my most favorite thing in the world is...

I love posting pictures of Sam. He's so sweet, so cute, and so happy.

Here's a few of my recent favorites:

























My baby isn't a baby anymore! He's grown into a little boy.
Where did the time go?













































This is the bunny lovingly called, "Mahna Mahna", none of us could live without him. Thank goodness for stuffed animals!






















Playing with Uncle Andy:

Summer Vacations 2009

Lake Powell

This year we were able to go with both our families to their favorite annual vacation spots! At the end of July we went to Lake Powell with my family. We discovered that Sam is a little fish. He loved swimming with his Dad, that is, after he got used to the initial shock of the cool water! He was a little trooper at wearing his live jacket. Which made his parents a little less nervous. It was wonderful to be there and enjoy the water during the day and the amazing stars at night.



The water felt a little chili when we first got in, Sam wasn't too sure what he thought about it:



But after a while, he decided it wasn't too bad! Even "Torpedo" Chance got in for a swim.



Drying off with Dad & Fruit loops, the comfort food.



Make-up and hair don't really matter here!






















We walked a ways up a canyon looking for some indian ruins.



And of course, boat rides are always refreshing in that heat!


























Jackson

The Thunell family goes up to Colter Bay every year to the tent cabins. Sam went last year, but doesn't remember much of it. My favorite part was falling to sleep at night to the fire J.M. made for us in the stove.

We took a break from the car ride on the way there, and found a teeter-totter.



Going for a canoe ride.




John Michael & Sam on String Lake.



The afternoon activities were wonderful! They consisted of: sitting on the beach, eating all the treats Steve could find, canoe rides, jumping off the rock, and enjoying the beauty of God's creations.




At the tent cabins.




J.M. is so good at finding things to entertain Sam... and the rest of us!




Getting ready to leave.



Saying good-bye, until next year.

We have a silk tree in our house. It used to be upstairs, but Sam would always crawl over and pull out all the moss in the basket, and eventually pull the whole tree over on himself! So, we moved it to the bottom of the stairs where we never go. Well, the other day Sam found it again and grabbed a huge wad of moss. I promptly signed & told him "No." This video shows his response. I guess he was trying to tell me that he got the point.

I know all you moms out there are thinking I'm crazy, but I think it's so cute to see & hear him say "NO!". I'm sure in a few months it won't be so cute, but he's my first child & I'm going to enjoy it while I can! :)

City of Rocks

In mid-June my sister & her family came out from Texas, so my dad put together a camping trip to the City of Rocks National Park in Idaho.

This is tiny Kaela. Have you ever seen a cuter smile?

We found this great picture spot. This is Maggie, Dane, Kaela & Jonathan.

Some of the guys climbed to the top of Bath Rock.

Here's John, J.M., Laren & Martin

Family Picture.

Sam loved crawling around all the rocks.

We brought bikes, scooters & trailers and rode them around the campground.

J.M. took Sam & Tyler for a trailer ride. I think they were in there for almost 30 minutes! The both loved it as long as they were moving. J.M. got a workout!

Kaela & Sam sitting on Grammy's lap & eating crackers while waching the show.

And here's the show. It consisted of a "solitare run" which Wesley was amazing at! But all of his brothers were pretty good, too, and of course they get it from their Dad! There was also a parade of bicycles going around the loop.

This is Sam's dream machine! It's cousin Sadie's trike. Only he didn't quite know how to make it go, so he just sat on it like this for about 10 minutes, with his helmet, just in case he fell off!

But he's a pro on his scooter!

Bath Time...

This is a total John-Michael look... Like Father, like son!

And here's the 'just teasing!' look that he also gets from J.M.
It always follows the previous, serious look.

...and my favorite, Sam just kickin' it in the tub.

Just when I think it's not possible to be any cuter...

Sam sure loves his Dad, and I love watching them together.

Snips and snails and puppy dogs' tails

Every boy wants to be just like Dad.

Sam decided to try out the sprinkler. Yep, it works.

Very curious child! With some encouragement.

The Phone Phase.

Bathtime.

This picture breaks my heart! Sam's scooter wheel was stuck in a crack & he couldn't go anywhere, so he gave it a good shove which made the back wheels come up & the scooter did an endo. His first fat lip. But Dad's lap & a popcicle can fix anything!

...almost.

SURPRISE!!

This pin has supplied Sam with collectively an hour of entertainment!

Sam figured out that if you push the big green button on the remote it makes the car go! It was fun watching him discover this.

So, I tried to find some pictures of J.M. & me to put on the blog. I like to see parents as well as the cute kids when I look at other peoples blogs. I don't have many! I'm always the one taking the pictures & Sam is always doing something cute. But I found one from Easter Sunday. Of course, the kid & dog arn't looking at the camera because no one was behind it to catch their attention. But here we are, anyway!

March 21, 2009

Family Pictures
taken on Feb. 24, 2009

What's hiding in the cupboard??




Sam's dong signs now!! I love it. Which is his favorite? AIRPLANE, of course!




This is our very own Biker Sam.




Update on the bathroom:
Here's a before and after picture. We're still not done with the rest of the room, but I couldn't wait to show off the amazing tile job J.M. did in the shower. And, NO, I don't miss the blue tub.