BASKETBALL

Jaden started Basketball this year. I was surprised at how well he did for never having played any basketball. I have to say out of kids sports this has been my favorite.

It was fun and hilarious!

The little boys sure loved the bleachers.

Run Jaden Run....

The Sharks.... 2010

A Perfect Snowy Day!

Finally the first wet snow of the year! After shoveling I thought it would be fun to build a snowman with Tyler. He said he wanted to make a Dinosaur, so I thought why not, and immediately started planning it out in my mind.

Tyler helped a little, played in the snow and then in the middle of the project started digging holes in it. I had to tell him to stop and go play. Now who was this for? Tyler or me? Me of course!

So three and half hours later there was a dinosaur Tyler named Cocoa in our front yard. Tyler gave up after two hours and I found him asleep on the couch. Tate was watching from his window in his saucer chair. Poor baby.

I have to say I really, really enjoyed myself.

I had told Mike about my dinosaur over the phone, so when he came home... he scooted out to see it. He was impressed. He did tell me he thought it was going to look like some weird snake or something. What little faith. See, my sculpting classes in college were good for something!

Another One Down!

Four days after spending hours in the ER with Mike, I made another trip to the ER with Tyler.
He and Jill were running after the ball downstairs and he tripped and fell into the table. I was upstairs and heard him crying, and thought nothing of it as the cry seemed like a small one. Jill then yelled up that there was tons of blood. I ran downstairs to GUSHING blood. No paniking though as the head always bleeds a lot. Although when I removed the towel the cut was very, very deep. I knew I was in for another trip to the hospital, so I called my dear friend Carolyn to watch the kids and we were off.

5 Hours later...... Tyler received 3 stitches. We had a great time playing games and telling stories waiting for our turn to see the doctor. He was being so brave.The stitching was horrible and hurt him so bad. I hated watching him in pain. But he bounced back as soon as he got a cool cars bandaid around his cut.



They say things happen in three's. I hope the next incident is just an ear ache.

The Old Man is Down!

Mike has offically become on Old Man. He slipped on the ice and broke his left foot. Not as exciting as when we were first married and he broke the same foot by a sweet jump on his motorcycle.

Tyler came into the room and said he broke his foot and needed it fixed too.

We have a couple of Couch Potatoes! It's a good thing the Olympics are on for the next few weeks!

Mike was able to borrow a cool scooter from a friend, which made the time so much easier until he could walk on his foot.

The kids had fun getting out their scooter and racing dad around the house.

This was a fun winter activity.

Happy 3rd Birthday Tyler!

Happy Birthday Tyler! We love you! You are so adventureous

to be around and keep us laughing. We love you!

Tyler could not stop talking about having a

"BIG" Dino T-Rex birthday party.

He has patiently waited through everyones birthdays and his day is finally here. His biggest fans arrived and we played many dino games and ate burried worms in mud for dessert. He had the best time and had a big smile on his face the whole day.

The only little boy his age was out of town, but his biggest fans attended. A bunch of the children from Church ages 4 to 10 just love Tyler and made his birthday so much fun and special. Tyler thinks he is six, and says now that he wants to be 8 like Jaden. I am trying to convince him that three is a blast to be!



Later on we Celebrated as a family and opened what I thought would be the treasured gift a walking dinosaur! That's all he talks about is dinosaurs, but I guess I was wrong. He didn't care. He liked the flying dino for a couple of days, well I hope Tate likes little kid toys and doesn't skip right to legos.

From our Family to Yours.....

click to enlarge

Jill loved the Santa Hat and wore it all night. The kids are so excited to wake up in the morning and it brings back so many fun memories of sneaking upstairs to look in my stocking.

I love Christmas time.

May the Spirit of Christ bless your Christmas!

I am so thankful for his love in my life and

this chance to remeber his infinite birth.

We love you!

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Tate!

Yea! I am one now! Watch out world here I come!

We celebrated on his birthday with balloons and Cupcakes!

He finally took his fingers out of his mouth long enough

to try his first dessert.

He loved it! Mom my world has been opened to new tastes.

No more yucky baby food. I am one now!

A week later we had his big birthday party when my mom was in town as we celebrated with the Samuelson family tradition......

Jello Cake

It took him awhile to warm up to the idea and to take his fingers out of his mouth,

but in the end he loved hitting the jello and watching it wiggle.

He only ate a litte, so his big brother helped him taste it.

We invited all of his fans... the kids from church over

for the big event and it was a winning day.

Tate is so full of joy and curiosity. He is into more cupboards more than the other three put together. He has a great laugh and brings us such joy. We love you Tate. Have a great year exploring and being ONE!

As the baby of the family it is hard to see the last of the jello cakes, crawling and cuddling. He is now now off for exploration and independence. Walking here I come.

I do love having short babies so the little clothes last at our house a little longer. The doctors don't think the same and the boys might not think the same in high school.

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY JILL!

Jill had a day full of celebration....

She started out with a favorite cereal!

She then opened her morning presents...

a Bath Bombe and an Ariel Game!

There was no school today so she enjoyed

a bath with her bath bombe that my friend makes.

It turned the water turquoise and she spent an hour

being a mermaid.

Jill's two best friends came over in the afternoon

to watch the New Tinker Bell Movie!

In the evening we PARTIED as a family with a Pizza Dinner and...

Gifts!

Cake!

and
Dress Up!

Happy Birthday Jill!
We love you!
You are our sweet little Princess!
We love your loves and smiles!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Our Sweet little Witchy!

This year Tyler had so much fun trick or treating! He would go up to the door get his candy, and then ask for "two" or "more". At one door he was told he could only have one and he started to cry and wouldn't stop. I think the lady felt bad and asked if she could give him another one, but Mike told her no that he needed to learn the realities of life.

Watch out for our fierce little dionosaur! Tate did not like the cold grass and solved the problem by putting his fingers in his mouth. Beware of his ROAR!


This year we went to the Thompsons for dinner, trick or treating and lots of fun with friends. We had a SPOOKTACULAR night.

Jaden is in the NO PICTURES MOM zone! I respect this unless I really want a picture and then I give him OPTIONS.... You can take a picture or you wont get to..... It usually works to my advantage.

JADEN'S BAPTISM DAY

It's Great to Be Eight!

Jaden Michael Thomas

8 Years Old

Baptism Day

October 11, 2009

Jaden's Baptism Day was one of the most Beautiful and Peaceful Days in our Family! It is a memory I never want to forget.

We were not sure exactly how Jaden felt about being Baptized, except that he said he wanted to. We did know that he has been scared that his friends will laugh at him for this choice, so he has been more reserved in talking about his feelings. I prayed that he would be able to put those fears aside and be able to enjoy his day. I saw the power of the Lord at work this day. This was fullfilled. Two of his friends from school were also able to attend.

As I looked over at Jaden I saw him snuggled up next to Mike looking so happy. After his Baptism, where he was immersed in the water, I watched him again and he could not stop Smiling! He would look at me with joy in his eyes. He looked perfect and he was perfect. He knew he had followed the Savior. It was a beautiful moment for me as a mother.

After Jaden received his Confirmation blessing into the Church and received the Holy Ghost I could see a change in his countenance. The Spirit of God was so strong in the room. I know that God was proud of him and his decision to follow the Savior Jesus Christ by getting Bapized.

Jaden kept hugging and kissing Mike and I, his siblings and Grandparents all day. It was so fun.

Jaden Congratulations

on your choice to be

Baptized and follow Jesus Christ!

We are proud of you!

We love you so much!

You are a wonderful little Boy!

Tribute to Evan Chateauneuf

19 Years ago I had the wonderful experience of being a Nanny for the Chateaunef family in Boston. They had three sons that I took care of during the day. Cameron, Evan and Graham. They were a delight to be around. I knew exactly what I was in for having five little brothers in my family. I had a great time in Boston and meet many great people who will always be dear to me.

Evan was five years old when I arrived. I had so much fun watching him grow through his kindergarten year. He was a brave little boy the day he had to get on that big yellow school bus all by himself. He was so loving, funny and kind to all around him. He has a great smile that lights up the room.

Just this week I had the chance to talk and laugh with Evan about that first day of school, and talk of his dreams and joys in his life.

Three days later he passed away.

Evan I am so grateful for the time we had to talk

and for your love and friendship in my life.

I will miss you.

And to the Chateauneuf Family I Love You! My prayers are with you!

Fieldtrip with the Little Boys

It was a beautiful sunny day so the

little boys and I went on our first

Fieldtrip to Jonamac Apple Orchard.

We played in the corn...

We ate yummy Apple Doughnuts and drank delicious Apple Cider....


And we raced Rubber Duckies!

I had a lot of fun playing with the little boys. I do however miss having friends with little kids to go on fieldtrips with us....

September 11

Happy 8th Birthday Jaden!

We love you and hope you have a fun birthday!

We love to Party!

Jaden's birthday started out with a present under his bed, his favorite boxed sugar cereal for breakfast, and lunch with Mom at school. Then a Lego Power Miner Party with his friends to end the day! Jaden is a very cleaver person and came up with the ideas for the party theme, games and invitations. The party started with pizza, then we watched the Legos power miner clips online, played feed the rock monster, and had a cyrstal hunt where the treasure in the end was their own box of a lego power miner kit. It was a lot of fun!

Illinois Train Museum

For Labor Day we went with the Kings to the Illinois Train Museum. We had a fun time riding different styled trains and checking out the huge wheels on the Steam Trains.

Another fun day.