At our ward Christmas party Sam wouldn't sit on Santa's lap, but by the time we flew for Christmas visits Sam was ready. Southwest had FREE pictures with Santa! We didn't pay for the picture to be taken or to be emailed to us. There really wasn't a catch-it was just free! Sam and Thomas look equally excited to be sitting with Santa.
Sam enjoying smores for the first time. They're a hit.
Sam and his fort-building gets a little crazy sometimes.
We went to see the lights at the Oakland temple. Dave even helped put some of them up at the beginning of December. We thought putting up lights at the temple could be a fun family tradition so we all went together. But by the time I finished feeding Thomas in the car Dave was already done.
Sam really liked to touch the lights.
Dave finished his finals on Thursday. On Friday we flew to Portland for Jeff's wedding. On Saturday Jeff and Lizzie got married (Hooray!) in the Portland temple. It was a very nice wedding. We couldn't be happier for them both! On Sunday we spent the night in "Uncle Dan" Bean's home, which was formerly my Grandma Hinman's home in Oregon City. In my mind, there are no better people than the Beans. I was happy to hear Dave express the same sentiments after meeting them. I hope I can learn to be as warm and inviting as they are.
On Monday we flew to West Virginia to spend some time with my family. It was great. I was ready for a vacation and this was just the vacation I was hoping for.
Watching "Joy to the World" on Christmas morning. Good idea Grandpa!
Sam-he's such a cutie!!!
That is one long table! (Tables actually) It was filled...although I think we always ended up with one extra seat. Elijah?
Garrett and Thomas in their matching pajamas! I think Garrett was ready for a nap. Garrett is quite the jabber-er, and I think Thomas learned a think or two from him. But we like it. Since we got back home Thomas has started making new sounds like ga-ga, da-da, and ba-ba. Before he just made oooooo sounds. He's also seems to have gained a little ambition. He used to just sit and watch the world go by, smiling at everyone and anything. Now he tries to grab everything, experience everything, and he still smiles all the time. He also learned to sit on his own while we were at my parents' house.
We got lots of snow while we were there and the kids (and Vid whose collar bone was recently broken and operated on) built an igloo in the front yard. I didn't get any pictures of it though!
We stayed with my parents for about a week (21 people in a 5 bed-room house!). My parents, just like the last Christmas we were there, kindly slept on the couch-bed in the living room to give the master bedroom to someone with young kids.
From West Virginia we went to Utah to visit Dave's family. We had a blast there as well. The relaxing vacation continued. We even got to go see a Jazz game. The following pictures are of Sam and Dave playing in the snowy back-yard.
We made it back safe and sound. Dave's classes don't start until the 18th so he's been going in to work half days which has been so nice. We love it! How will I survive when he goes back full time? We shall see. We love visitors!!!
Right now we're in the midst of the rainy season. Occasionally it hails too. Anyway, our friend, Cami, gave us a big box to play with on rainy days. So far it has been a pirate ship and a school bus. Here are a couple of cute pictures of Sam and Thomas in the pirate ship.
Sam likes to dress himself these days. This is one of his favorite outfits. I've decided that it brings him so much satisfaction to dress himself that maybe it's ok if he walks around looking like that every once in a while. 
Relaxing on a Sunday afternoon. Sam loves to play the piano and sing, especially with Aunt Rachel.
What a great photo of Sam and Grandpa getting ready to brave the cold rain. It was the worst weather we've had all winter!
We went to the Exploratorium in the city. Basically it is full of little stations with science experiments. I'm not sure who was more excited, Sam or Dave.
Sam got to try to make tHe ball float in tHe Current of air. My letters on my keyboard are not working suddenly. H and C and V are only working if I Capitalize tHem. Anyone HaVe any suggestions for How to fix tHat one? THis is Very strange.
Finally, DaVe got a breadmaking book for me for Valentine's day. THis is us trying to make Ciabatta bread. We didn't HaVe a spray bottle, so we used our iron. We Had to spray tHe sides of tHe oVen 3 or 4 times at 30 seCond interVals. It was exCiting. I'll neVer take Ciabatta for granted again. 
Thomas enjoying the fish tunnel.
Also deep in thought about the star fish. Actually, Sam was more interested in the moving sidewalk that moved us through the fish tunnel. 
There was a little bubble that kids could stick their head in to see the sucker-fish(?) from underneath. 
This was a fun place where we got to touch the wings of some sting-rays and tiger sharks. It was kind of cool. I didn't get to touch a tiger shark, but the sting-ray felt slippery and smooth. 
Sam was loving the waterfall that would turn on suddenly and surprise him.
Alyssa, Haven, Sam and Callie.
At our ward Christmas party Sam wouldn't sit on Santa's lap, but by the time we flew for Christmas visits Sam was ready. Southwest had FREE pictures with Santa! We didn't pay for the picture to be taken or to be emailed to us. There really wasn't a catch-it was just free! Sam and Thomas look equally excited to be sitting with Santa.
Sam enjoying smores for the first time. They're a hit.
Sam and his fort-building gets a little crazy sometimes. 
We went to see the lights at the Oakland temple. Dave even helped put some of them up at the beginning of December. We thought putting up lights at the temple could be a fun family tradition so we all went together. But by the time I finished feeding Thomas in the car Dave was already done.
Sam really liked to touch the lights.
Watching "Joy to the World" on Christmas morning. Good idea Grandpa!
That is one long table! (Tables actually) It was filled...although I think we always ended up with one extra seat. Elijah? 
Garrett and Thomas in their matching pajamas! I think Garrett was ready for a nap. Garrett is quite the jabber-er, and I think Thomas learned a think or two from him. But we like it. Since we got back home Thomas has started making new sounds like ga-ga, da-da, and ba-ba. Before he just made oooooo sounds. He's also seems to have gained a little ambition. He used to just sit and watch the world go by, smiling at everyone and anything. Now he tries to grab everything, experience everything, and he still smiles all the time. He also learned to sit on his own while we were at my parents' house. 
I had Sam try on his Halloween costume a day or two in advance just to get him excited since he didn't really know what was coming. He got a huge grin on his face and stuck his tongue out as far as he could. That's what he does when he's excited.
Periodically Sam entertains himself by pulling out all the tupperware and "cooking" it.
Sam was so excited for Grandma T to come. She arrived Wednesday evening. We went to the zoo on Thursday. I'm no good at taking pictures when I'm carrying Thomas. Unfortunately we don't have any pictures at the zoo. 
Sam was excited about the crayons because he always wants to color on his face with my make-up and I don't let him. These crayons were a dream come true. 
Thank goodness Thomas fell asleep despite the noise. It was a really busy day because it was one of the first rainy days. 
Below is the astronaut station. What kid doesn't want to drive a rocket ship?
Mission control I guess-loaded with lots of buttons that light up and switches to flip.
Sam was thrilled to get a backpack made by Grandma T. 
This haystack tunnel was Sam's favorite part. It was more extensive than I thought it would be. (I went through with him the first time.)
Sam and Isaac checking out the cardboard pumpkins.
We tried to feed Thomas some rice cereal. I don't think he's quite got the hang of it. He still pushes the spoon around with his tongue. I think that reflex is supposed to go away around 4 months which he isn't yet according to his adjusted age. He is actually 5 months old this week though (from his birth date).
I just happened to see this on the internet and wanted to post it because this is so me. Sometimes I spend so long deciding if I have time to exercise or what I want to do to exercise that I run out of time to exercise.