Jedi in Training

Random moments caught from a Saturday walk. Sam didn't want to come with us at first -- he never does -- but as soon as we get him out the door he transports us to another planet or dimension.

Father's Day 2014

Every day, Bruce makes Sam's breakfast. It always includes fresh fruit, usually a fruit salad. In fact, I put some grapes on Sam's dinner plate last night, and he objected, "Only grapes?" He is used to white glove service. Breakfast also includes yogurt, cereal, and, depending on availability, a baked good or breakfast meat. Bruce scrambles Sam an egg a few times a week, and then proceeds to harangue Sam thoroughly until he eats it. Because I insist, Bruce gives Sam a multi-vitamin every day, even though he doesn't believe in them and even though Sam complains about it unless it's the grape flavor. Then Bruce reads to Sam while he eats.

Every day Bruce ushers Sam through the morning routine: shoes on, teeth brushed, sunscreen on. It's sometimes more difficult and frustrating than it may sound. And Bruce does it every day, and then he takes Sam to school, usually by bike, which is Sam's preferred mode of transportation.

Bruce does a ton of other things for and with Sam, including but not limited to: lego construction; swim lessons; wrestling; indoor (!) and outdoor soccer; running; hiking; reprimanding; threatening; cajoling; carrying; cuddling. But it's the morning routine -- in all of its banality and consistency -- that to me reflects Bruce's commitment to this kid. Neither of them are usually at their best, and it is certainly not glamorous or always that fun. But Bruce does it because that's what he does. He's Sam's Dad. Every. Damn. Day.
This is new to me, seeing this side of fatherhood. Don't get me wrong, I grew up with a few amazing men in my life, who did wonderful things for me and for whom I'm very thankful. But seeing Bruce be a Dad to Sam is something that touches my heart every day and makes me so proud to be a part of this family. He is Sam's rock. That's important.

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In honor of Father's Day 2014, here is Sam's annual interview, answering a few questions about his Dad. Sam was totally not into it this year.

Sam's New Bike

Actually, Sam has two new bikes. The first is a new "big boy" bike with training wheels. He hasn't been very excited about riding it, and we have figured out that we likely got it a size too big. So I will need to get him a slightly smaller "big boy bike." In the meantime, Bruce bought a trailer bike that Sam is super excited about. All the cycling cache with a fraction of the work. But it gets Sam excited about riding, so that works for us.

Snow Days

The winter of 2014 has been a good one. These things most be recorded for posterity. In a couple of years, on an unseasonably warm January day, I will complain about how it NEVER snows in North Carolina anymore, and Sam will complain about how he has NEVER gotten to go sledding, and then someone can say WAIT. It did snow. Twice. And there was much sledding. Don't forget the winter of 2014, we will remind ourselves! We got to sled twice that year, remember? On the foam penguin sled that got all cut up because the snow was very icy? That was a great winter, we'll say.

A little long perhaps, we'll recall, as I'm writing this on March 21, and I see next week's forecast calls for a potential spring snowstorm in N.C. Maybe that penguin sled will hold up during another round.

Posing on one of the many hills in the neighborhood.



Mush! Mush!


No hands!


Sam marches back up the best hill in the neighborhood for sledding. This is a hill that he usually whines about having to climb, but put him in sub-freezing weather, too-tight rainboots, on an ice-coated surface, and he'll climb it repeatedly. For hours.


Apres sled.


I even made snow cream. It was actually pretty darn tasty.


 Snow Storm No. 2

Colter is not amused.


The boys check out the snow before breakfast.

Pretty house in the snow.

Heading back to our sledding spot.


One more round.


Just sittin' on a giant snow ball.


Super Snowman!

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013, a set on Flickr.

It took me forever to weed through all the Christmas photos from this year, but I really have no excuses. It's February 7, and I'm just now getting them up. But I had to get this done for posterity. So I can move on to our fun sledding photos and video.

These shots really do speak for themselves (as poor quality as many of them are). What can I say? We had a blast. Sam was truly obsessed with Santa and presents and cookies and all the trappings. Good times.

Milestone Alert: Sam's First Football Game

On November 30 Sam attended his first college football team -- a classic rivalry between Duke and UNC. The game was sold out, probably due to Duke's stellar performance on the field this year. We brought along my dad and stepmother, because my dad is a life-long Duke fan. The weather cooperated -- it was crisp and clear, just as you always imagine it would feel like when you see yourself sitting at a football game. I think Sam enjoyed it. It was a bit of a mixed bag, but overall he did great, and I know he won't forget it. The whole outing almost failed from the start, when UNC launched a cannon and/or fireworks at the beginning of the game. Sam, whom you know has never been good with loud noises, panicked, started crying and immediately begged to leave. I tried to calm him down by telling him that they only did that at the beginning of the game (I was wrong -- they shoot them after every touchdown), but he couldn't settle down. The scene was dramatic enough to elicit the sympathy of a man sitting one row back who gave us earplugs. I still think about him and wish I could thank him again. He saved the game! Sam loved the earplugs and was really able to enjoy himself after that. Add earplugs to the list of things (wet wipes, bandaids, etc.) that I will always remember to pack.





This is right before the crying started.

Then and Now, Williamsburg Edition

Then....


(December 2009)

Now....
(November 2013)