Santa Sammy strikes again!
pamelamyers | December 23, 2016
Sam came home from school today with the cutest gift for Mark and I. She made this candle at school. We just love it! I can’t wait to display it every year.
She’s got Christmas on the brain
pamelamyers | December 23, 2016
Sam is just about bursting at the seams waiting for Christmas. We have been doing two advent calendars, one paper and one Lego, and every single day she keeps asking me how many days it is until Christmas. Today we were sitting in my car waiting for the morning bus when she said to me, “Mommy, don’t those lights look like Santa hats?” I didn’t know what she was talking about, then I realized…and yup. They do!
Party Time
pamelamyers | December 22, 2016
Today was Samantha’s holiday party at school. Originally, I didn’t expect to go but then luckily, a few days ago, one of the homeroom moms asked me if I was free and could help out. Of course! I was so happy to get to go to Sam’s party. It never is a bad idea to befriend a homeroom mom. That way, you get asked to do all the fun stuff because she likes you, but have none of the actual responsibility since, you know, you’re not the actual homeroom mom! 😉
Sam made sure she was decked in her party gear. I think she looks like the cutest elf!
At the party, the kids were busy making a craft/gift and a fancy bag to bring it home in. Here is Sam with some of her friends in the midst of craft making.
The kids also made food for the reindeer (oatmeal with lots of sprinkles and glitter) and snowman soup (hot chocolate with marshmallows, Hershey’s kisses and candy canes). I don’t know how many kids asked me if it was ok for the reindeer to eat glitter, Sam included…
Outside the classroom, we had a photo op!
Here is the craft the kids made. Sam’s came out pretty nice.
After all the activities were done, they played snowman bingo.
Sam gave Mrs. Hall her gift before the party was over. We got her a gift card for Amazon because, well…who doesn’t like Amazon? and a mug with her initial on it and some cozy socks.
As the party came to a close, we got the entire class outside for a portrait. Say Christmas! I love being able to be in Sam’s school as much as humanely possible. It is one of the major reasons I still work part-time. I don’t want to miss out on the opportunities to share in her days and to be present. Every time I come to school, no matter what the reason, Sam is so happy. She likes knowing I am there and that I really am interested in what she does all day. It will make me sad when the day comes that there are not so many chances to sneak a peek into her daily life. I will really miss it. But for now, I am grabbing every chance I get to be there, to share, and to experience life as she sees it.
Holiday Sing!
pamelamyers | December 21, 2016
Yesterday was Sam’s holiday concert at school. She has been singing and singing at home, practicing all the songs. When the big day came, we were happy to see that she was in the front row – again! She was super excited to wear her sparkly dress and her high heels for the occasion.
We all came out to see her, me, Mark, Grandmom and Pop Pop. Sam had a special guest, her cousin Trinity, since Pop Pop was babysitting that day. Sam had quite the cheering section right there up front – I always make sure to go early so we get great seats!
Sam sang every single song…
…and even did some of the hand movements, but not all of them. Later that day, I asked her why she doesn’t do them during the concert but she does them at home and she told me, “I just want to sing.” Ok. Whatever works!
They sang a bunch of old standbys like Rudolph, as well as a Hanukkah song and I think one that was sort of Kwanzaa related, but my favorite was Suzy Snowflake. It was really cute when the kids sang, All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth. They all looked so adorable in their holiday finest.
When the show was over, we got a chance to get close and grab a picture or two before they had to go back to class.
Trinity and Sam stood together for this cute photo.
One last shot of Sam with her friends, Adrianna and Ella.
Congratulations, Sam on another fabulous show! You’re a star!
Time to make the pasta!
pamelamyers | December 19, 2016
As we always do, the family got together to make ravioli for Christmas dinner. This year, we went to Krista and Adam’s house to make it. Rich bought a new pasta maker that makes lasagne sheets with the thought that it would be easier than rolling out dough after dough. It worked out great! All the adults started making the ravioli (even Mark and Adam – for the first time I think!)
We really wanted the kids to help but they were nowhere to be found. I eventually discovered them in the basement. It was hard to break up this adorable game of air hockey!
Eventually, I got the kids upstairs and they were happy to help.
Sam was so cute. She was showing Ryder how to do the whole thing in her cute little patient teacher voice.
She really does try hard to make the perfect ravioli. It’s a shame she won’t eat the fruits of her labor…
The process was taking a while so Adam jumped in to help.
The kids got bored (kids will be kids) so it was time out for some dreidel games. Not sure why dreidel is such a hit with the kids, but it seems to be. Sam has been obsessed with them this year so she was happy to play with the one Maddox had! Or maybe it was just the idea of eating the goldfish crackers they were playing with…
We finished ravioli making and then moved on to making spaghetti, which was new this year. We really wanted to make something that Sam would enjoy eating. She liked cutting off the long strands when they were ready.
Here it is, all ready for Christmas dinner. Sam can’t wait!
