Summertime at the park

Sometime earlier this summer we started going to the park two or three evenings a week as soon as K gets home. There are so many great playgrounds within minutes of our house. We usually pack a picnic dinner and if it is warm we head to one of the parks with wading pools. It has been great family time. Father and son run wild and mom gets to watch, enjoy, and relax.

Independence Day!

For our 4th of July celebration we went to the Mariners game. We got great seats right behind home plate from a guy selling tickets outside the stadium for the price of bleacher seats. Sam was very excited to watch "bay' ball!" and kept repeating "bay' ball" all the way to the stadium and all through the first few innings. Sam was very a very enthusiastic fan for three entire innings cheering and clapping. When he got too antsy after the seventh inning stretch rendition of Take Me Out to The Ballgame, we took him to the playground. It was a fun outing and my boys looked very cute in their matching shirts. ... and the Mariners won! We weren't quite ready to end our festivities after the game was over so we went over to my parent's house for a traditional 4th of July BBQ.This picture is for you Kara. We were lamenting that you weren't around to create a festive dessert, so Keenan decorated his angel food cake appropriately.

We put our own fireworks show on for Sam with sparklers and two fountains complete with a patriotic soundtrack (Grandpa's favorite Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA). As you can see, he was thoroughly impressed.

Mr and Mrs Jones

My brother Jeff was married to beautiful Keiko in June here in Seattle. Here are some picts from the happy event. Congratulations!

Keiko and Sam!
Sam loves Keiko! He can say her name perfectly and does so everytime he sees her picture on the fridge.

Mouse!

Sam loves Mickey Mouse. He has two stuffed Mickey's which he loves to push around in his stroller, push on his swing outside and throw in and out of his crib. He shares his binky with Mickey and puts Mickey to bed (covering him up with a blanket and giving him a bink and patting his back and saying "night night"). I bought him a few episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on itunes and now he wants to watch "Mouse" whenever he sees my computer or IPOD. He loves the hot dog dance and tries to copy everyone's moves. (I'll have to get a video of that to post someday)
Maybe he is just missing his aunt Kara who is working as an extra special friend of Mickey Mouse on Disney Cruise Line. We love you Kara!

Adenoids

Sam had his adenoids out early this month. The surgery went very well but the poor kid came down with a stomach virus and an ear infection in both ears within a few days of surgery. It was rough week for the little guy.

Sam waiting for surgery



Sam after the surgery. Luckily, Sam's favorite show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was on TV when they brought him back to us in the recovery room.









Sam recovering at home.


I am happy to report that Sam is now feeling all better! He has also been snoring less and sleeping better.

Disneyland

We went to Disneyland with Keenan's family to celebrate brother in law Lee's graduation from law school and Keenan finishing his pre-clinical years of med school! Way to go Lee and Keenan and thank you Grandma and Grandpa! Sam had a great time at Disneyland. Who wouldn't? It is, after all the happiest place on earth. I think that his favorite rides were the tea cups and Buzz Lightyear Astro blasters (both spin in circles).
Sam loved the parades and shows. We saw the main street parade three times!
Sam was particularly fascinated by the trash cans and streamers. Go figure!
It was a wonderful vacation!

Disney Magic

Sam's grandma took Sam and I on a cruise aboard the Disney Magic to visit Auntie Kara and see her at work. Sam loved Mickey and all of the other characters.