in Just -

in Just-

spring when the world is mud-

luscious the little

lame baloonman

whistles far and wee

and eddieandbill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it's

spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful...


ee cummings

This past Saturday we spent the day out and about. We took Sammy to the children's library to see the Schiffelly Puppets...then to lunch...then house shopping...and then finally to the park a few blocks from our house. Sammy was happy to emerge from the long winter to enjoy the sunshine.

The park a few blocks from our house...

Sammy's smile gets larger as he approaches the park...

The title sign on the park...but it's not the park's name...

Sammy inside the park...

Does Sammy see eddieandbill?

Michele and Sammy...all smiles...

Sammy uses a surfing pose to keep balance...

Sammy recreates a scene from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"...

The slide was Sammy's favorite!

Sammy explains the pros and cons of ethanol to interested parents...

Sammy is convinced we need a slide in our back yard...

Sammy continues his discussion on corn...

Sammy peers through the row of car tires...

Sammy's Cousins...

Last year, Michele's sister Sharon came with her two children (Ana & Noah) to stay with us while her husband Antoine was overseas in the Marines protecting Americans from bad guys. While they were here we had some photos taken of the three cousins together, though we had to wait six months to get the digital images from the photographer (a reasonable compromise so they could make money off of prints we ordered at the time). So now, in all legally correct ways, here's some photos of Sammy & his cousins taken back on July 1, 2006...

Is that a tsunami coming this way?

Sammy thinks outside the box even when he's in it...

Even at 6 months old Sammy's personality shows through...

This is Sparta!

We really haven't found a baby sitter yet. We truly enjoy spending our time together as a family with Sammy. But finding a babysitter is something on our to-do list. One thing we have missed over the last year is the opportunity to go and see a movie together as a couple. So today while Sammy was in day care (Michele only works 2 days this week) we went with our friend Johanna to an afternoon showing of "The 300."

The movie was pretty good, though not nearly as good as "Gladiator." The visual effects were excellent. There was an over abundance of gore though. We've seen there is some debate about the historical accuracy of this movie (which is about a real event). The one thing that amazed us was the size of Leonidas' mouth in the movie. It was HUGE! Who cares about whether or not Xerxes was really 15 feet tall as in the movie...what we want to know is was the mouth of the king of Sparta that large or is it just a myth?

Sammy's Aunt Jamie's Short Trip

A few weeks ago, Sammy's Aunt Jamie (Michele's sister) came to visit. Taking a break from her last year of medical school, her vacation plan was to fly to Atlanta to see her sister Stephanie, then fly to Minnesota to see us, and then fly back to Atlanta with Michele to spend a weekend with Stephanie and her family.

Winter weather in Minnesota played havoc with her plans as the airport was closed. But she eventually made it here. Jamie played a critical role in Michele's choice of curtains for Sammy's bedroom and in the suprise party for the pharmacy techs where Michele works.

For their weekend trip to Altanta they were travelling standby, so Sammy stayed home with Paul.

What follows are the photo's and text from Sammy's Aunt Jamie's e-book she wrote about her trip.

"Pay close attention to the snazzy curtains...
...which do YOU like better?"

"Sam, the Ham."

"Aunt Michele, expands the minds of the youth,
reading Superman to Mitchell and Katelynn,
while Aunt Jammy and Steph navigate the twisty,
nameless roads of northern Georgia,
seeking out our next adventure."

Sammy's cousins Mitchell and Katelynn..
...in the back seat...
...in safety seats...

"Aunt Michele tells Mitchell that Superman is faster than a speeding bullet...
...yet he is suspicious of such incredible super power...
..he is not a naive young man."

"Café in Blue Ridge...
Steph, how were those half moons?"

"Weird Georgia, the Book"

"Mitchell and Anti"

"Aunt Michele is teaching Katelynn the fine art of window shopping."

"A hidden treasure"

"Freezing in Chattahoochee"

"This looks like fun!"

"Fighting against the wind"

"Curiosity led us up the Quarry"

This looks like a set from Dr. Who

"Sunset atop the quarry"

"Ah, finally the Hilton!"

"Always in style!"

"Who do I look like here? Michele, thanks for the cap!
Why is yours on the counter? How is that protecting your hair style?"

"The End"

A Quick Trip To Austin

Last week we went down to Texas because Paul's nephew Chris was graduating. Paul's parents and brother live in Austin, so it was a good chance for all of us to get together. It was nice to see family and Sammy always enjoys seeing his grandparents!

Sammy & his Aunt Diane

The graduate...resting after all night studying no doubt...

Cousins Dominic, Sammy, Celine, Chris, and Andrew on the couch...

Sammy models his hat for his cousin Andrew...

Getting us all to behave and cooperate for a photo is like herding cats...

Chris and Celine arm wrestling...

Chris vs. all of his cousins arm wrestling...

Sammy and his Grandma & Grandpa (after who he is named)...

Sammy tells his grandparents an amusing story...

Up-coming...

Soon Paul will be putting on pictures from Sammy's and his Aunt Annie's birthday party a few weeks ago. With all the illness in our household lately, it's been tough to keep up-to-date on the blog. Here's a pic of our one-year-old Sammy from the party as a bit of a starter (more to come soon).

King 1-year-old Sammy!

Another First -- Sammy's First Haircut!

This past Saturday we had a celebration of Sammy's fist birthday and his Aunt Annie's 50th. Sammy needed to look his best but his hair was getting too long. So it was time for his first haircut! Michele's hair stylist was kind enough to do the honors of Sammy's first hair cut. He was so well behaved that the hair stylist said in amazement, "He's better behaved than most of the teenagers I do."

Hair Studio 52 is no longer located on Route 52...fyi.

Always calm, cool, and happy, Sammy tells the stylist what he wants.

Looking the mirror, Sammy monitors progress.

Sammy looks around.

He's looking shaper.

Sammy loves to have women fawn all over him...

Sammy evaluates the work...

Looks good in the back too.

Looking good...now time to head to the party!

Sammy's First Birthday

Last week was Sammy's very first birthday. We were still recovering from the great pandemic of 2007, so the celebration was small with just us. A week later we would celebrate Sammy's birthday along with his Aunt Annie's 50th birthday. It is a amazing how fast this whole year went. One moment Sammy is born, the next he is a full year old.

The Sammy cheer(imagine how a cheerleader squad would cheer it):

Sammy, Sammy He's our man!
If he can't do it, no one can!

Goooooo Sammy! Goooooo Sammy!
Sammy! Sammy! Sammy! Sammy! Sammy! Sammy! Sammy!
Yay Sammy!

Sammy's birthday meal was spaghetti...and cake!

Paul decorated the cake with the wording..can't you tell?