She’s Growing Like a Weed

Posted By on January 10, 2019

Sam had her annual well visit today and she is healthy as can be! She only missed one letter on the eye chart so her eyes are still perfect (I don’t know where she got them – certainly not from either me or Mark!) and her blood pressure was normal. For the first time they did a cholesterol test via a finger stick and it came back normal too. I didn’t expect it to come back high – she doesn’t eat enough food, much less fatty food – for it to be an issue!

She is still a stick only weighing 52 lbs 4 oz (8th percentile!) and is 4 ft 3 in tall (22nd percentile). I always feel like she is getting so tall, and she is, but really, there are so many kids in her class that are taller than her. Her growth chart as far as the curve has remained the same, so even though she is super slim, the doctors don’t worry because that is how she has always been. She only gained a few pounds and not much in height, so I am going to try to get her to start eating not only more, but better foods. It’s still a battle around here with food. She is a….shall we say…selective eater. Still. That has not changed much. Only once in a while she will try something new, and even if she says, “It’s not bad” she usually won’t eat it again.  I’m just glad that she is overall a healthy kid, hardly gets sick other than occasional runny noses, and we have very few trips to the doctor. Isn’t that what every parent wants? A happy, healthy kid? Well, we have one, and I am very, very grateful.

Mary Poppins Returns

Posted By on December 28, 2018

Sam and I went to see our long awaited movie – Mary Poppins Returns! I am so glad that she likes going to the movies now because I really wanted to see it with her on the big screen. I don’t know that it was as good as the original, but it was magical and fun and captured the essence of the original film in a wonderful way. Sam was singing the songs in the car on the way home so I think it was a hit!

Scruff a Luv

Posted By on December 26, 2018

Sam got her Scruff a Luv from Santa and right after Christmas she had to fluff him up! She named him Fluffernutter, which is the silly name I gave a kitten in stories I make up for her at bedtime. I didn’t think it would be very cute, but he turned out great!

Jerry’s Surprise

Posted By on December 26, 2018

Well, you wondered what Jerry’s surprise was, didn’t you? Here it is! When Sam got her new camera, there were more than a few pictures on it. I guess Jerry was having a swell time before leaving for the North Pole with Santa!

Yeah, we know, Jerry. Getting the cats to sit still for a picture is impossible!

Those are not for you, Jerry!

Do the cats hear Santa?

Looking at Baby Ann’s list (Sam wrote it for her, obviously)!

I think Santa’s sleigh may be a slightly better way to get back to the North Pole.

That was NOT supposed to happen!

Saying goodbye to Barbie under the mistletoe!

Leaving Sam her note.

Clearly, Santa is here!

Now, really, Jerry. Is that how you fill a stocking?

Bye, Jerry! See you next year!

Santa Came!

Posted By on December 26, 2018

Santa never fails us! He was very good to our family this year. We had told Sam the night before that we were not getting out of bed until there was at least a 6 on the front of the clock, preferably at 7. It was all we could do to keep her upstairs!

This is the glorious sight she saw!

As soon as she got downstairs, Sam headed right for the picture and doll by the door. I had looked and found and framed an original advertisement for Baby Ann. She is a Fisher Price doll that was part of a series called “Lapsitters.” Sam got another doll, whose name was Audrey, but she said she looks more like a Molly. So, Molly it is!

Baby Ann and Molly are the best of friends already!

A new guitar! She deserves it for being such a good student.

Sam noticed that Jerry left her a note by the fireplace. He assured her that he would be back next year, that he loved our family, but he had to go back to his job tending reindeer at the North Pole. He did leave an address for her to write to him and told her he hoped she would find his surprise. Surprise?

When I opened the front door, I saw that there were some carrot pieces outside. Messy reindeer!

Sam got everything on her Santa list, including a new camera! We found Jerry’s surprise! More on that in the next post…

Sam and Baby Ann got matching mermaid tail blankets from Santa. How cute are they?

Willa the Wellie Wisher to add to her American Girl collection…

Baby Ann, Boo Boo and Baby got presents too. Baby got a turtle (Jason).

Mark found a really cool tool where you can make your own guitar picks! Sam has some of the most fun materials. I can’t wait to see them!

Penny and Zach always give gifts too. They are the most thoughtful kittens.

Sam begged me to buy her this doll when she saw it on Target’s website. She has red hair like Sam so how could I resist?

Since she is so into Harry Potter, it’s a good thing there were some Harry Potter LEGOs under the tree. All aboard the Hogwarts Express!

Mark had found this Bewitched Barbie a long time ago and we were saving it. We figured it was about time for Sam to have her very own Samantha Barbie.

The gifts never end. Not a lot of toys this year, other than doll stuff, because Sam is getting older, but she loved everything anyway.

The glue sticks she asked Santa for….she got a million!

GG joined us for the whole morning and Sam couldn’t wait to give her the present she picked out at the holiday shop, a necklace in a pretty swan box.

As always, a new Shutterfly calendar full of pictures of (mostly) Sam.

GG gave Sam and Mark this very cool matching shirts.

And Sam had lots of cards for me and Mark, handmade with love.

Sam helped the kitties open their gifts. Sam bought them toys at the holiday shop too!

Santa gave Penny a mouse laser pointer. How cool is that!

Zach wants more presents…. 😉

I think he likes the toys you got him, Sam!

Some portable guitar stands for Sam and Mark. Perfect for a beach serenade!

Sam gave Mark a guitar pick necklace with a silver guitar pick that says, I’d Always Pick You to Be My Dad.

She bought me a bracelet at the holiday shop that is just beautiful!

And she bought Mark a few things to show him how special he is.

The kitties got me pajamas…

I love my new slippers!

Penny is looking for trouble…what else is new?

Santa didn’t forget her springs!

I think the cats really like this gift Sam picked out!

The cats bought Mark some books that they just knew he would love!

Before we went to Krista and Adam’s for dinner, we posed in our matching outfits. Sam’s shirt was modified to say, “I’m ALWAYS a Morning Person, ESPECIALLY on December 25”.

Dinner at the Burke’s of homemade pasta (thanks, Krista and Adam) was awesome and Maddox and Mark played us some tunes while we all chilled out.

Ryder and all the kids had a blast playing together! Merry Christmas!