Rosebud!

| January 27, 2014

In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve had a heck of a lot of snow in the Northeast recently. The new just reported that last year, which was such a disappointment to Sam, we got a whopping 2.5 inches of snow the whole winter season. This year, so far (and it’s only January) we have gotten over 33 inches. We have one happy little girl, that is for sure. Mark has taken her sledding a bunch of times already. I really do try to do fun, kid things, but snow is just not my thing. Thank God Mark is ready, willing and able to take Sam out to play. She deserves this kid fun that I had when I was her age. I don’t know what happened. I LOVED snow when I was her age. I would spend hours and hours outside playing until I just about had frostbite, but now, I just don’t like it. It drains me, the thought of all the snow. I do play with Sam as much as I can, but I can’t get into it the way Mark can. I love him for that (among other things). He gives Sam the experiences every little kid should have.

This weekend, on top of the massive amount of snow we already have, we got even MORE snow. It was supposed to be a 1-3 inche at most, but it turned out to be a lot more than expected. I haven’t seen any official snow totals, but I would bet we got around 5 inches. Anyway, Mark went into our shed and dug out his old sled that he has had since he was a kid. I still remember when he first put that sled in out shed a million years ago. He hoped someday he would be able to use it with our own child. For a long time, that seemed like it would never be a reality. But…you just never know. It was a good thing he didn’t give up on that sled, or our dream of being parents, because now Sam is here! And boy does she like to go sledding! When he brought his sled into the house she was super excited to try it out. He explained to her how you sit on it, and how you steer and she kept trying out all the different ways she thought you could sit on it and still manage to move the steering mechanism. I was actually pretty impressed at how many ways she had figured out.

Off Mark and Sam went to the sledding hill! It was still snowing when they set off, which was great since there were so few kids on the hill. Steering is not her strong suit, so having very few people in her way on the hill is a good thing. I just love the pure joy on her face on this sled, with her dad. She was so proud to be using her Daddy’s sled.

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Heading up the massive hill is a big trek, but Sam did it with a smile.

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They went again and again, and every time, even in the wipeouts, Sam just smiled and laughed. She wouldn’t go by herself on this sled, but she loved going all the same.

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As she heads off down the hill she shouts, “And away!!” It is the cutest thing ever.

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Here is our Sammy, on a sled that is probably at least 30 years old but still sails down the hill like lightning! I hope it brings back good memories for Mark.

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Even though I was there solely as photographer to commemorate the event, Sam talked me into going down with her. It is impossible to resist that girl, I swear. I am glad she talked me into it. We had a blast. And didn’t even wipe out! I was pretty impressed with myself, I must say!

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That walk up the hill is brutal! We look like we are at the North Pole!

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This is by far my favorite picture of the day. I love the absolute joy on both of their faces.

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On Thursday, at my parents’ house, Sam had some fun in the snow too. I wish I could have seen her heading down the huge hill in front of my house that I sledded so many times as a child. We had so much fun flying down those hills. It was the only time of year that the massive hill was of any use! Sam didn’t want to use her sled, but whatever works!

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Climbing back up was not generally a problem I used to have — we do have stairs! But Sam insisted on climbing up the hill. Mom said she slid back down quite a few times, but she kept on going!

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She took a break to help shovel some snow…

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Then throw some snow on her Poppy! But I heard he started it. 🙂

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Well, I hope Sammy has fond memories of all this snow because I have to say, I am done with it! Enough is enough! It actually started flurrying again and I flipped out. Sam thought it was hysterical and kept imitating me yelling at the sky. Oh well…it’s all for her amusement, I guess. Happy Winter!

Dress Up

| January 24, 2014

Sam’s newest thing is playing dress up. It’s something she half-heartedly played at before by putting on one of my shirts, or trying on my shoes. Ever since she had a playdate with her friend, Julia, and they played dress up at Julia’s house, Sam has wanted to play this particular game all the time. I realized that, other than a few scarves, my wardrobe was woefully barren of appropriate dress up items. So, while I was at lunch the other day I stopped in a Mandee store and found a bunch of clothes on the clearance rack that were just perfect. I think Sam’s favorite item in the bunch was this hat. For only a few dollars, it makes the perfect item for play and Sam looks adorable!

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Goodbye, Blackie Cat

| January 14, 2014

Yesterday, we lost our very dear friend, Blackie. Although he lived with Sam’s Grandmom and Poppy, he was very much a part of our family. Of all the cats, Zephyr, Blackie, Bella, and even Muffin whom we lost when Sam was so young, Blackie was Sam’s best pal. He was the most tolerant of her hugs, her squeezes, her dressing him up, and all of her shenanigans. She loved him so tremendously. Blackie was 17 and for a few years now, my mom has been telling Sam to be gentle with him because he is an old guy. Without fail, each time she was told that, Sam would reply, “He is not an old guy, he is a very good guy!” To Sam, he was just perfect. And I think to Blackie, Sam was pretty perfect too, as far as little girls go. He always came to look for her on the days she spent at my parents’ house, and if he didn’t, Sam was always running to look for him.

Like any old cat, he slowed down, and then ran into health problems that couldn’t be fixed. Sam doesn’t quite understand what happened and when we gave her the sad news she asked us why the doctor couldn’t fix him. Sam, I wish we could answer that question. Believe me, I do. She is very sad, but she does know that he is in heaven now playing with his best friend, Smoke, and also with Muffin. That helps comfort her a bit.

We miss you, Blackie. You were a good friend to all of us, but I will forever hold a place for you in my heart because of the love you showed my little girl. Sleep well, little guy.

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I Spy…

| January 6, 2014

Sam’s first day back at school was today. She was supposed to go back on Friday but we had such a terrible ice storm that school was cancelled. She was pretty excited to go back and that made me happy. She missed her teachers and her friends. Today she came home all smiles and telling me about this new game they had played – I Spy With My Little Eye.  She asked me if I knew how to play and I said no. Of course, I know what the game is, but it is always fun with her to pretend you don’t so that she can explain it to you. Which she did. It is EASY, she told me. It is amazing the little games and things you forget from your childhood that come roaring back when you have your own child. It makes you remember how fun it was to be a kid. And how lucky you are that you get to experience that fun, that innocence, all over again.

Best Snow Day EVER!

| January 4, 2014

Sam was so excited to see the huge amount of snow we got yesterday — about 8 inches. She was supposed to head back to school, her first day back from her long Christmas break, but alas, Mother Nature scuttled that idea quickly. We weren’t too sorry about that though. It was nice to have one more day at home with Sammy. I explained to her that school was cancelled because of the snow. We had been having fun doing stuff in the house, watching the snow, and then sledding, that Sam declared it to be the BEST SNOW DAY EVER!

We took her over to the sledding hill and she had a blast! Mark went over first and I followed and he told me she had already gone down the huge hill all by herself a few times. I couldn’t believe it! The hill is enormous. She went on both her butt and her stomach with no fear at all. She is getting much more daring than she used to be. Here she is, ready to go!

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After heading down, it’s a loooong trek back up and it’s really hard to walk. At least she’ll sleep well!

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I took a few videos of her sledding but the blog won’t let me upload them as they are a bit too big. I wish you could see her sailing down the hill on her own. After a while, she got tired and we just hung out at the bottom near the huge rock that Sam likes to play on.

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Someone doesn’t mind the cold!

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I have to agree, Sam. It was a pretty great snow day.

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