This Little Buddy is Getting Baptized this Saturday! (Easter Eve!)

If you're in the SLC area, we'd love to have you come. Send me an email for time/place. KerrySpencer At BYU Dot EDU.

And also, did you know that Hagrid's long-lost son is living at our house?

This picture (of Sam's first day of first grade) prettymuch sums up Sam and Lily's relationship:

Lily: Adoration
Sam: (Reluctant) Toleration

ps: Sam is literally twice as big as Lily. (80 pounds versus 40 pounds.) But they're only two years apart. Crazy, right?

In which we discover why Sam is a Ladies Man

me: [walking into kitchen]

Sam: "So, Mommy. What are you up to?"

me: "I'm getting more ice for my water."

Sam: [pause] "So why do you look so fabulous?"

A momentous occassion, indeed

Sam: on his very last day of kindergarten.

They're Animals, I tell You

In which Sam decides, like a good little American, that notoriety is more important than the risk of embarrassment.

Sam: "There's something that I don't tell people about."

me: "That sounds bad."

Sam: "Well, I don't tell people that I still cuddle at night."

me: "Oh?"

Sam: "Yeah, I think people think that only babies should cuddle at night."

me: "I don't think they think that."

Sam: "They do. Some people my age think that if you cuddle with your mommy you're a baby."

me: "Oh, well, you don't have to tell them then."

Sam: "I know! That's what I said."

me: "Okay."

Sam: "So we agree. No talking about the cuddling."

me: "Sure."

Sam: [pause.][thought.] "You're going to put this on your blog, aren't you."

me: "What if I did?"

Sam: [thinks.] "Well, your blog is going to make me famous... So I guess it's okay."

Somebody give that kid a dollar.

me: "Okay, well, it's like almost 10AM. We should all get out of bed now." [Among other reasons, the bed is just not big enough for four of us.]

Steve: [groans]

Sam and Lily: [screech with laughter and start jumping around.]

me: "Should we go shopping today? Finish buying presents?"

Sam: "Oh, Mommy. I don't need any more presents."

me: "Huh, what?"

Sam: "I already have the best present of all: you as a mom."

Steve: "Oh, that's so sweet. Kerry, would you pass me some insulin?"

Sam: "Let's all take a group hug!"



ps: Sam was totally sincere; he's five and doesn't understand sarcasm yet. plus he hasn't had grad school erode his heart like Steve.

Dear Santa

Sam wants

Lego mans from eBay

Gift card from Game-Stop

Love Sam

[alien picture thrown in for kicks]

One of many recent self-portraits

Sam's Pioneer Day Prayer

transcribed as per Auntie Barb's suggestion.

Grandpa Mark: "Sam, would you mind helping me say the prayer?"

Sam: Sure. [completely ignoring the "helping" part, he just dives in.] "Heavenly Father, we are so happy to be here with each other surrounded by all of this great food. Bless all of the great food because it's good for us to eat it. And thanks we could all be here today on... [turns to Grandpa] "What day is it again?"

Almost everyone whispers: "Pioneer Day."

Sam: [Voice takes on a more authoritative tone: think the Princess Bride "Marriage" speech.] "Oh, yes. Pioneer Day. Pioneer Day is a very important day. It's a day when we... remember Pioneers... and eat lots of food. It's a day we should all remember because it's so important. We should remember it all week. And especially while we eat all of this food. AMEN."

(am I missing anything, Barb?)

Have you noticed that Sam has been talking to me a lot lately?

He has. He'll come up to me and say, "Why don't we light some candles and talk?" Or sometimes he'll just come up to me mid-whatever-I'm-doing (insert whatever inappropriate and/or non-conducive-to-chatting moment here you want)and start saying stuff to me. Apparently, he's got a lot on his mind.

Last night:

Sam: "Mom, right now my name is Sam S."

me: [trying to figure out how much of Lily's diarrhea got on the bed] "mmm-hmm."

Sam: "But when I grow up, I think I'll need a different name--to show that I've grown up."

me: [tossing some stuff off the bed for a better look] "Don't you like your name?"

Sam: "Oh, yes. It's nice. But when you grow up your name should *show* that you've grown up."

me: "Oh."

Sam: "I think when I get married is when I'll do it. I'll change it to my wife's name."

me: [confused because I did read that whole debate on FMH a few weeks ago about men taking their wife's last name, but did I mention that out loud ever (I don't remember having done this) or did he just read my mind?]

Sam: "Okay, well, I just thought you should know."

Sam took this picture with my cell phone

He told me that he wanted me to have a picture of his smile to have with me all the time because it always makes me so happy.