Happy Hearts Day

We had a nice weekend. Dan's aunt and uncle were in Boston (from Cali) for the weekend with their daughter Kristen (who by the way Sam loves). We had a nice time catching up with them at Jen and Jeff's house.

Dan relaxed as he caught up with his cousin and uncle.
Rich and Kristen
The Light Family. It's always nice to get us all in one picture. Jen will be having Baby #2 in May ... so the family will be getting bigger.

Sam found his favorite things at his cousins house ... balls and trash cans.

Sam loves to cook and clean - what boy doesn't :) I have been wanting to get him a kitchen set ... this is (was) a topic of debate in our household. I explained to Dan that our little guy loves to play in "the kitchen" everywhere we go ... play dates, the museum, school. After the explanation and 2 months, we picked up a mini kitchen set for Sam for Valentines Day.

All I can say is - HE LOVES IT!!!

Here is a collection of Valentines Sam received from his classmates at school. Sam help me glue them to construction paper. I wish I could say Sam made (we all know I made them for Sam) homemade Valentines for his class mates. We cut out paper hearts and glued a small container of Play-Doh to the heart and wrote the message "You are so much fun to "Play-Doh" with Valentine! Your Pal, Sam.

He got $7 from his Grandma and Pap (McGraw), he picked out a blue basketball at Toys R Us. He put the change in his piggy bank.

Sam made a Valentine for Dan and I.

To Mommy & Daddy: I love you in the morning. At noon time and at night. I love you when it's cloudy. And when the sun is shining Bright. I love you when you are at work. And when together we can play. That's why I'' give you lots of hugs to wish you Happy Valentines Day. Love Sam oxox

More goodies from Sam.

This picture doesn't do justice for the beautiful flowers I got from my #1 Valentine. Dan is such a sweetie. I got flowers and beautiful card. As for me, I dropped the ball this year. I could list off all the excuses, but Dan has already heard them all.

Last weekend, my little buddy and I baked cookies for school and work. We made heart shaped sugar cookies to share with all of our friends. How cute is Sam in his apron?

Who couldn't love this smoochy little face?

Dan and Sam make my heart HAPPY ... Happy Valentines Day!

Happy New Years 2010!

So as you can see this post is getting to the blog a little late. Better late than never. Boy, did we have a fun night 12/31. Our neighbors hosted a kid friendly party - we had a great time. Can't you tell!

When I say "Light Weight" I speak for myself. Girls just wanna have fun!
Cathy and Bruce
Michelle and Andy - oh and Casey :)

Mike and Kim with Baby Liam

The host and hostess ... they know how to through a party, babysitters and all. Thank you Jay and Diana.

Mike and Val

The babysitters .... thank you Karen and friend.

We got to the party at 7:00 and Sam was asleep in his pack in play upstairs by 8:00PM.

Happy New Year!

Like I said, you can call me a cheap date, by the end of the night, I think I got 15 self portraits of Dan & I.

The Children's Museum is "The Spot"

We recently purchased a membership to the Children's Museum in Boston. And I feel like we have been there every weekend since. One weekend we met Jen, Jeff and Asher there and the following weekend, we picked up Asher and took him with Sam. The kids really enjoy themselves, it is a great, safe place that they can explore.

We packed lunches and ate at the museum. No time to eat, there is too much fun to be had. I need to remember to pack a lunch for Dan and I too ... we shared a $10 sandwich.

Climbing up the rock wall ... Monkey See Monkey Do!

Playing house.

The boys didn't spend a lot of the time together, but when they did, they played together nicely.

Sam was very concerned about the babies laying on the floor, he pushed he cart through the play space and picked them up.

Chilly weather outside, that's why we are inside.

Slides are the main attraction for Sam these days ... we seriously went down this slide for a 1/2 hour.

Asher is little monkey, this climbing space is meant for kids 5 and older ... he climbed up in and showed the other kids what it was all about.

Whatchyoutalkinabout Sam?

The boys take turns on the digger.

So happy together. The first visit to the museum Sam and Mommy made snow.

Sam was in a very loving mood ... he just wanted to hold his cousins hand.

Playing in Athurs tent.

1-2-3 Wheee!

This is a room full of contraptions you can put balls in ... One of Sam's favorite rooms.

Quite the workout! It's a race!

Getting dizzy!

I think we will be spending a lot of time at the museum in the next couple of months ... Lord save us from CABIN FEVER.

MMMMM .... Warm Sunny Sunshine in January

Gosh I love the sun and the warmth that comes along with it! It is so weird that it can be 74 sunny and warm in one place and 24 bone chilling cold in another, I know there is reason for it ... it's just so weird to me. Before we left for Phoenix Holiday I vowed that we would be outside every day. We have a serious case of cabin fever, and winter is sticking around for a while longer. Anyway, we stuck to my word and had a wonderful vacation in Arizona in January.

Sam and Grandma having a ball :)
This kid would do anything his Grandma did, and laugh the whole time he was doing it.
Still doing the "Chz"

The next afternoon I spotted the two of them in Grandma's room with bigger balls this time, all I had to do was follow the giggling.

Good exercises. I think Sam was able to stay on the ball longer than Grandma.

They moved on to bowling balls. Sam was getting demanding at how fast we put his pins back up.

He's a natural.

The next day we went to the Phoenix Zoo. We packed lunches and planned to leave after a few hours. Sam had such a great time, we stayed all day. I love the zoo!

Snakes ... believe it or not I Mommy was the only one to pet the snake.

Elephants - according to school, Sam's favorite animal is elephants. They recently did a "favorites" week. He was real sure how close he wanted them to come.

MONKEYS - Do you remember "Stinky Larry" Sam's little friend his first year. I think we probably watched more at this exhibit than any of the rest. Sam can do a great impression.

He couldn't take his eyes off of them.

Sam has also been very interested in birds lately. He got a bird feeder for Christmas from Grandma and Papa (Light) and it sets right outside of the window he eats at. He loves to watch them.

This was some kind of nest for a "Rhino Toucan" bird or something. None the less, the boys had fun playing in it while we snapped pictures.

The little tour guide, in charge of the map. Where to next?

Has there been a super model sighting at the Phx Zoo? Who is the super model behind Sam an Mommy. She looks a lot like Grandma.

We watched the spider monkeys play.

Watching the big tortoise.

Family photo op.

Time for lunch!

As you may know from previous posts, my son is obsessed with trash.

Grandma lends a helping hand.

So proud of themselves.

Be silly with Grandma, one of Sam's favorite things to do.

Riding a carousel for the first time.

Checking out the giraffes. Sam is getting to heavy for me to hold.

The Papago Mountains.

Taking a rest while we all try to find the tiger. He was sleeping.

Sam is happy he just spotted the lion ... Sam says "RRRROOOAARR"

King of the Jungle was taking a nap too.

Sam tries to get a little closer to the rhino ... he was huge!

He has become quite the little climber.

I think we are ready to call it a day at the Phx Zoo. Grandma and Sam say "CHZ"

The next day, Dan and I had a day date, while Sam hung out with Grandma and Pap. We haven't had one of these in a while. We drove down to Tempe to check out the sights. That took about 15 mins. We are really out of touch with dating and the cool attractions of the Mill Ave. area. So we decided to hike up the ASU mountain. Even though I was half joking when I suggested it, we had a great time.

It felt so good to get fresh air. It's nice to breathe in through your nose with out freezing the hairs in your nostrils. It was also nice to be outside with a t-shirt on. Oh, it's this little things in life.

Dan calls me Freddie Kruger when I wear this shirt. Thanks honey!

We attempted another self portrait.

Yeah! We made it. Dan went all the way to the top, I was perfectly happy to touch the fence and call it a day.

Dan at the top! What a stud!

I know we are total dorks ... but here we are after we completed the tretuous hike.

After working up a nice sweat in the middle of January, we got lunch at "My Big Fat Greek Resturant"

That evening we took Sam to Downtown Glendale to see the "Glendale Glows" it is fun event where they close of the streets for 20+ hot air balloons to set up. It was awesome, they balloons went up later than we hoped and as you will see Sam got tired.

There was a park full of jumpys ... Sam pulled along he Grandma to check it out. Grandma told him maybe next year he will be big enough.

Dan and Sam look on where the first balloon is getting ready to go up.

The park was beautiful ... this is trhe only picture we got. Dowtown Glendale is so pretty at Christmas time.

It's about time to head home, you can tell Sam is already zoned out.

No rest for this kid, he was having too much fun. He helped his Dad make calzones when we got home.

We spent the next day, helping my mom get the front and side yard cleaned out. I forgot to take before pictures. We all felt very accomplished at the end of the day.

Even Sam rolled up his sleeves.

My parents have this grocery cart in the backyard - Lord knows why? :) Anyway, Sam loved to be pushed around in it, so him and his Grandma walk up and down the neighborhood ... 1 bum and a baglady. They had fun, you could hear them laughing the whole way up the road.

It was so nice to visit with a very dear friend Jessica. We got to meet her two very cute kids. We spent an afternoon with them, the kids had a ball.

Sam's first time on a trampoline - he loved it. I don't think he was too sure what to think at first, so he just sat and giggled.

"Appatizer Night" Dan made homemade potstickers and Pap made homemade jalopeno poppers - it was a spicy night.

During our visit Sam and Grandma went to the park a couple of times to play on the playground and feed the ducks. Our last day there, we all went. Sam is such a big kid going down the swirly slide all by himself.

1-2-3 GO! Wheeeeee! This is all we heard for 15 - 20 minutes of going down the slide he LOVED it.

On their way to feed the ducks. Sam is dragging the bag of bread behind him.

Quack! Quack!

Grandma gave Sam lessons on how to feed the ducks, he got better with each visit, but he did throw in the ocassional whole piece of bread.

Balancing on the wall as he walked - showing off his skills.

One more trip down the slide with Daddy.

and Grandma.

Sam is Grandma's "Little Lamby" she did this with him the whole time we were there, it was a little game they played and believe me it was really cute then. That "Little Lamby" came home with us and Sam still is pretending he is a baby lamb that needs to have his sippy cup fed to him before he goes to bed.

"Best Buddies"

Having breakfast with Pap before he takes us to the airport. We all had such a good time. Sam and I will go back for birthday in March.