The Sopranos Extra And Hair Braids

Here is Mr. Sam looking like an extra on the (sadly off the air) Sopranos.



Nana was able to braid Anna's hair yesterday. Anna has not really let me brush or comb her hair since this summer so I am pretty excited about the braids .. plus they are super cute. Today she let me put her hair into "two piggies, not ponies."

Happy 4 Months Mr. Sam!

Sam is 4 months old today. It is really hard to believe that he has only been with us for such a short time .. it feels both like we just got him and like he has always been apart of the family. He is such a sweet little guy. He loves to be in the same room as Anna, loves to be held by his Pop pops, likes to babble and kick, and is really ticklish. Today I went shopping and ran into another mother when she asked me how old he was and I said 4 months she said ... "he is very, very healthy." I think that is a great way it put it .. Sam is healthy. I was getting a little tired of the the response of "No! How old is he really?"

Sam is weighing in on the home scale (His dr. appointment is not until next week) at 18 lbs. And I measure him at 25".





This is Anna on June 6, 2006 at 4 months old. She weighed in at 12.10 lbs and was 24" for height.

More Christmas Photo's

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve!

A new fairy house!



Anna helping Pop pops unwrap his present.



Anna baking cookies for Santa with Nana.



A happy Mr. Sam with his Pop pops.

Nuckcracker!

For Christmas Eve day in 2007 we to the Nutcracker Ballet. It started off the entire year long conversation about "the cracker" and led for many, many more ballet performances. Pop pops took us all to the Nutcracker again this year. We had a wonderful time. The dancers were beautiful and Anna was so happy. Thank you Pop pops and Nana.

Another Reason To Love The Hardware Store

Yesterday on my walk I went into the hardware store to buy a sled for Anna ... they were out. So one of the guy who worked there, he's been there forever, made me one out of a garbage lid. Makes me so happy to think that I do not have to shop at Walmart. I know they would never make a sled for a little girl to enjoy the snow if they were out of them.

Snow Day

Anna had one bear and one book in her bed when she went to sleep last night. This is all the stuff I found when she woke up this morning. I asked her if she got out of bed and played in her room ... "nope Santa give it to me."




Getting ready to watch "The Street" this morning.

The Artic Blast 2008 Freemont Style

These are some pictures of the house and the neighborhood today. The snow is amazing and everything still looks beautiful and white. I went to my friends blog this afternoon and realized that she was taking photo's of her street around the same time as me (see http://www.growing2bryans.blogspot.com/ if you want to see the snow down the street from us in Hollywood). I think everyone with small children is getting tired of being house bound up this week.

That's me under all the puff, hat, and mask.



Charles under the giant stoop snow cornice before he shoveled the snow.



Driveway.



Sidestreet off Freemont.



Sam is happy about everyone staying home. He likes to be snuggled in and warm ... inside.



Kathleen this is for you, the pot roast missed eating due to the Artic Blast 2008.

Hello Santa

Anna wanted to meet Santa today. We was happy to meet him and sit on his lap, however; she did not want to talk with him. This is the photo after "talking with Santa."



Anna dancing to Christmas music with Charles.



Mr. Sam, he may be wearing an owl hat .. but he is more of a chipmunk.

New Handbag

Anna's Auntie Linda sent her a fancy new handbag for Christmas this year. She quickly transferred her things (elephant soap, small plastic turtle named Henry, REI sales flyer, and a small photo of her cousins) from the lunch box into the new bag. I am really glad that I let her open the present early, last year Linda sent her a beaded cat purse which she took with her to the Nutcracker. This year Anna has been hauling around a lot more stuff ...

My Friend Mr. Snowman

We have been having some unusually cold weather around here. The news is calling it "The Artic Blast of 2008." We have not ventured very far this week and the preschool was cancelled due to snow. We all are having some cabin fever.

This morning Nana came over to play with Anna in the snow.

Pop Pop's Week

Since it's birthday week around here ... Anna keeps saying "Happy Birthday Pop pop's (birthday yesterday). Happy Birthday Katie (her friend had a birthday last week). Happy Birthday Anna (her birthday is in 2 months)." I thought I would post a few of my favorite photo's of Pop pop's and the kids.

Pop Pop's Birthday

We went over to Nana and Pop pops house yesterday to help him celebrate his birthday.



Anna went outside a few times to play in the snow with the dogs.



Anna, Sam, and Pop pop's took naps in the living room.







Anna, Nana, and Charles baked cookies.



And finally, Mr. Sam got a bath in the sink (his favorite).

Grotto Timelapse

When we went to see the lights at the Grotto last month a man was taking photos of the candles for a timelapse video. He gave Charles the name of site he posts them at ... anyhow you can see me pick up Anna in front of the candles at around 23 seconds. It is a pretty neat site be sure and check out his video on driving in Portland at night ... what a beautiful city.

http://www.vimeo.com/groups/timelapse/videos/2460901

The Deluxe Saucer

Sam's buddy Max is lending him his exersaucer (Max is more of a jumper and also little more mature). He has been playing with the little rolling wheels and smiling in the mirror at himself all afternoon. I think Sam knows a fun toy when he sees one.



Since Anna is on a photo strike today, I thought I would post a photo of her in a exersaucer from June 2006. She was approximately the same age as Sam and has the same funny, shocked, expression in this photo.

Double Wide Stroller

We tested out the new double stroller for the first time today. I had to bribe Anna with a bottle of water to get her to go one the walk with me. She and Sam ended up having a great time. Anna really liked sitting next to Sam and was pointing out all the crows, cats, and "squirles" to him. By the end of the walk, they were both asleep .. yea! (I was not walking them in the dark .. not sure why the second photo looks like a night one)

Happy Birthday Katie!

(Katie and Anna December 9, 2007)