Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving fell so late in the month this year, I felt like I was a week behind the whole month of December. I was behind at work and behind on Christmas preparation. I probably have the same feeling every year (and if you look back at my archives, my blogging is always light at the end of every year), but it had to be worse this year. Which is what brings us to my Thanksgiving recap here on December 28.

Sure, I may not remember the finer points a month out, but I recall clearly that we had a great time. While it may not have been quite as awesome for Sam as Thanksgiving at the beach last year (he was under the same roof with his cousins for 48 straight hours), he still had a blast.

The first thing Sam dove into was Grandma's collection of toys.


Next came the football sweater. Tis the season!

And then we played football (oh yeah, and there was a huge, delicious meal)!

Here, Uncle Tomato gives Sam the next play.


The best part for Sam was hanging out with all his cousins (especially his main man Daniel).

The day after Thanksgiving, we all went to Williamsburg.



Here's the whole group of cousins, with the exception of the youngest, James.

This is a poor shot due to the position and angle of the sun, but I couldn't miss the chance to show how much Sam (quite literally) looked up to Daniel.

A Walk in the Woods

Remember the little story I told you about how Sam and Bruce walked across a creek on a log, but I had no proof? And you didn't believe me, did you? Well, joke's on you. While I in no way was prepared to encourage them to do it again for purposes of posterity, when they did attempt it a second time, I was there with my trusty iPhone. This is how America's Funniest Videos get made, after all.

The bad news is we have nothing to contribute to AFV, but the good news is that nobody broke a leg or got too wet. Another great day on the trail!

Happy Halloween!

Maybe you don't know what a minion is. Maybe you've never seen Despicable Me. For you, then, I present Sam's favorite minion video. There is singing, there is silliness, and there is a little bit of violence. Sam loves the minions.



This Halloween, Sam went as the minion they call Dave. So he told people while trick-or-treating that his name was Dave. I think they thought Sam was just a really polite kid introducing himself, not that he was actually "Dave the Minion." Anyway. His costume was a hit amid a sea of ninjas and bumblebees. We thought about sending him around with a banana, but his hands were full with a flashlight and a candy bucket.






But Mom, minions don't wear crocs, Sam said. So we weren't 100% authentic. Next year.

Some action shots:


Walking around with the neighbors.


Hi. I'm Dave.


Swarming the bowl.


This is the "haunted" house around the block that we've been looking forward to visiting.


Thumb's up for candy.


Sorting through the goods.

He ate two pieces last night (and then asked for some apple because he was still hungry), picked out 10 pieces to save for later, and left the rest for The Great Pumpkin, who visited overnight and traded Sam's candy for a monster truck. Would've been a fool-proof plan except that Sam woke up well before 6 a.m. this morning in anticipation of The Great Pumpkin's visit and couldn't fall back asleep. On a related note, Bruce announced that we are canceling The Great Pumpkin for next year.

Frame-worthy

We had one of those weekends that wasn't anything special, and yet it was incredibly special in its routine. It didn't hurt that the backdrop was beautiful, crisp fall weather. We went out for a hike on Sunday, and Sam surprised us -- as he does every day. Things that, heretofore, we had not been able to convince him to do, he wanted to do. He wanted to walk barefoot in the freezing stream. He wanted to climb a tree. He wanted to hold Colter's leash the whole way. He wanted to cross the creek on a rather thin log. And he did it, with Bruce's help! Bruce and I were marveling at the fact that they made it across, and then we marveled at the fact that I didn't take a picture of it. I guess it's hard to do much else when you are holding your breath and covering your eyes.

Of Fall Festivals and Pumpkin Farms

I love fall! Sam, Bruce and I have been checking off our autumnal milestones. Still up for debate for this year: will Sam attend an actual football game? Will Sam go to the State Fair?

First up, Festifall, where we met Sam's friend Luke.


There was jumping...


And more jumping.


There were blue firetrucks...


And paparazzi.


And Sam even picked up a fiddle.


Next up: the Pumpkin Patch! The vibe was decidedly less L.L.Bean than I had envisioned. But they did an awesome job of providing family entertainment (over two hours worth of family entertainment, phew!), so I had definitely warmed up to the place by the time we left. Pros: the exotic pumpkin patch and the goat tree house. Cons: the hayride actually rode past a tract house neighborhood, so not super-idyllic. And Sam left the scene howling because we did not win their Facebook check-in contest. Maybe next year!


That's a *great* pumpkin, Sam!


Goats in a tree. The goats were the best part of the whole experience, in my estimation. I took a ton of goat photos, but I will spare you. But Bruce knows how I feel. Bruce does not yet share my dream of running a B&B/Goat Farm, but he will someday.


Sam feeds the most precious goat in the world.


Sam in the hay bale maze. Maybe we'll upgrade to the corn maze next year.


He was pretty excited to find his way out!


Welcome to Sam's hayride to Suburbia.


Sam is loving the hayride! So stop complaining about the hayride!


This is Sam's wry face. He is saying something very witty, to be sure.


The money shot.


And the pumpkin shot.

Dispatches from the Soccer Field

In a complete 180 from last spring, this fall Sam loves soccer practice and is lukewarm about the games. He has been happy enough to go to the games but generally just more excited about the refreshments at the end than anything else. Juice boxes, y'all. The accompanying snack could be gold-leaf-covered-chocolate-superpower-inducing-gummy worms, and he'd still go for the juice box first. Because we are on a strict no juice policy (within the confines of our home). You can imagine how devastated he was when it was our turn to supply the snacks, and I brought water. Even Bruce thought that was a bold move. But, in case you hadn't heard, sugar is poison. Just so you know.

But Sam has been warming up to the games lately, in large part, I think, due to increased confidence. He slowly discovered that he could mix it up with the best of them and only get knocked down a little bit. He has even scored a goal or two so far.


Check out this crew. Don't be fooled by the tutu. She's the best on the team. She tore up the soccer field during their last practice, while wearing cowboy boots. I love her.


Running fast.


Here is Sam (on the left), getting into the mix a little bit. Check out the tall girl throwing an elbow. These girls are no joke. That giant of a man in the background is her dad. He played football at Carolina and as a pro for a few years. He is Sam's favorite coach.


Look at this defensive line (you'll pardon me if that's a football term, as I really have no idea how the game is played). Have you ever seen anything more adorable? See how Sam has placed his foot directly in front of little tutu? That's his strategy. He'll either get off in front of her or trip her. Same team, Sam!

Here are a couple of shots of Sam doing some ball handling:




Finally, a little video I like to call, "Turn it around!" It's hard to see, but that's Sam in front, kicking the ball down the field and then, eventually, off the field. And you can hear his coach shouting, "Turn it around, turn it around!"

Sam Turns Four

Sam wanted a Carolina theme for his birthday party. Then he wanted a Buzz Lightyear theme for his birthday party. Then he wanted a Carolina and Buzz Lightyear theme for his birthday party. Then he wanted a Duke theme for his birthday party. Then my head exploded.


You can see we settled on a Carolina-themed party. (I conceded a bit and put Buzz Lightyear trinkets in the treat bags, much to the confusion, I'm sure, of the party-goers.)

Some party highlights: