Eight!

Sam turned eight this last weekend. We had a party with my family on his birthday. If you are around Sam much then you know he loves days where he is surrounded by family and he loves pizza so all in all it was the perfect birthday.

Things that I want to remember about Sam at eight. He is truly into sports right now. Over the last year he has really taken an interest in professional sports. He is learning the teams, their players, their divisions, checking records and watching a lot of ESPN. He is also into playing sports. His favorites are football and basketball. He really enjoys being part of a team.

He has also started reading on his own this year which I love to see. I am a big reader and Sam has always enjoyed books but has never liked to be the one reading. This year he will sit by himself and read. I can't say that the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants books are quality literature but he is reading which makes me happy.

Sam is still my outgoing child and hasn't lost his big heart. I have seen while teaching many boys lose some of their kindness as they get older but that doesn't seem to be happening yet and I hope it never will. Sam takes after his mom and likes to be on the go and loves to have a plan. He has even started making lists like me. When the plan changes he isn't always happy (which unfortunately, he also gets from his mom). He is really growing up to be a great kid and I feel so blessed to have him in my life!

Bowling Bash!

Sam with his bowling cake and pizza stained face.

Sam and friends at the bowling alley.

Sam had a few friends over Friday after school to go bowling and celebrate his birthday. I think the boys had a good time. They started to lose interest during the second game but otherwise enjoyed themselves. After bowling we came back to the house and were joined by John's sisters and their families for pizza, cake and presents. Sam had cousin Caleb and his friend Lucas spend the night. It was a nice way to celebrate turning eight. He will have another party with my family this coming weekend.

Brag Time

Allow me to brag for a moment. Yesterday our family was out at breakfast and I realized my cell phone was in the car. Sam said that he would go get it for me and since we could see the car from our table we agreed. We watched as he retrieved the phone and was headed back into the restaurant. Just then I saw an older couple headed towards the door. The husband was pushing his wife in a wheelchair. I noticed the door was being held open by someone. I couldn't see from my seat but asked John if it was Sam who had noticed the couple and stopped to hold the door. Yes in fact it was. I can't tell you the pride I felt knowing that he noticed someone needed help and gave it to them. We are proud parents and definitely told Sam so.

FOUR

I can't believe it but my little girl has turned four! The time just seems to go so quickly. A few things to record about Ella so I can remember what she was like at four. Ella is shy around people she doesn't know. At her four year old check up she wouldn't even talk to her doctor or nurse. She hides her face. But once she is comfortable around you watch out because she is a talker. There will be car rides to school where there is not a second of silence. Her teacher said she is volunteering things in class now and remembers things that no one else does.

Ella is a complete sweetheart and that is just not my opinion. Friends, her teachers, other parents are always telling me what a sweet girl Ella is. She really does care about others and their feelings.

Ella's plans for the future are to be a dentist and then a mommy. I guess since I was a teacher and now stay home she wants to do things that way too. Earlier in the year her chosen occupation was giving pedicures so I think I like the change.

Ella is a girly girl. She wanted to give pedicures because she loves receiving them. She loves anything with glitter or sparkles and likes to wear a lot of dresses. Princesses are high on the list of our favorite things.

She is an amazing little girl and I feel so blessed to be her Mommy and a little sad that she is growing up so fast and soon I will no longer be Mommy but Mom.

Big Girl Bike

So Ella decided that she wanted a big girl bike for her birthday. The one she picked out is definitely her. It is covered in princesses, has pom poms, a bag and a bell. She absolutely loves it and feels so big when she is on it. Of course she had to pick the bike that came unassembled so after a lot of work from Daddy and a few trips back to the garage for repairs she was ready!

She rode with lots of confidence. After a few trips around the driveway she told me, "Okay, I'm ready to take off the training wheels now!" I told her she might want to wait a little longer. She is very proud of her bike and her riding skills. She has to get it out and ride for the neighbors and everyone who stops by the house.