We're not in Kansas anymore...

This past Sunday night, we went down to the Mayo Civic center to watch a free concert with the band Kansas. Sammy's Aunt Diane and Mike came down to watch it with us. The weather was great, the crowd was (very) large, and the music was great.

Diane & Mike...

Michele & Sammy...

Paul & Sammy...

His future is so bright...

Our Superman...

City at night...

WildWestDays2008: Five Dollar Fine

Sammy tends to have eclectic music tastes (everything from classical to Dean Martin to cowboy songs). At the Viroqua Wild West Days, he roped us into sitting down for a number of songs by Tex & Mary Shutz. He really seemed to enjoy their singing (as we did). Our favorite song sung by them is "Five-Dollar Fine for Whining."

Tex & Mary...
...can you imagine someday Paul & Michele...
...Michele playing the oboe and Paul (someday) the ukulele?

Sammy watching and listening intently...

Sammy applauds the performance...

Sammy keeps won't be a little boy for long...
...so we try to savor each day with him as much as we can...

Sammy jamming to Johnny Cash...

Last weekend Sammy put on yet another show for us. This time to Johnny Cash singing "Johnny Yuma". Notice how he checks his reflection in the bookshelf doors to make sure he looks good.

Sammy jams...

"Samousa?"

Sometimes feeding Sammy lately is a challenge. He doesn't always cooperate. But we have found that if we sufficiently "entertain" him he tends to cooperate better. Paul often entertains Sammy by loudly humming John Philip Sousa songs...and Sammy really responds. His favorite song is the "Washington Post." The last few days we noticed that Sammy taps his feet and nods his head to the beat of the song.

Sousa...his true achievement is to be appreciated by little Sammy!

Every Parent's Worst Fear

Or so it might seem. Apparently little Sammy has taken up the drums. He has a LeapFrog "Learning Drum" which until very recently he displayed no interest in. Then suddenly he took up an intense interest in it. He really enjoys making music to his own beat, so to say. We hope he still wants to go to college someday!

Sammy is all smiles when he's playing the drum!

"Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom!"

"So do you think I look like Phil Collins?"

"Tada!...now where are my groupies?"

Little Sammy loves Dino!!

It wasn't until a couple of years ago when we discovered our fondness for the singing of Dean Martin . We had just purchased a convertible and were looking for some cool cruisin' music to play. On a lark, Paul picked up a cheap Dean Martin CD at Michele's suggestion at Paul's favorite store -- WalMart. We instantly were drawn to his smooth singing voice even though he wasn't from our generation.

Anyway, Michele left Paul a message on his voice mail at work today. Our infant son little Samuel was feeling a bit cranky, so Michele put on a Dean Martin CD. Little Sammy loved it and was almost instantly soothed. We suppose it's only fitting...that our son would be drawn to the same kind of music we are...until he becomes a teenager!