Not a little boy anymore...

I'm not a little boy anymore...
I sit at the table now using a booster seat instead of a highchair.
I can tell Mama and Papa what I want or don't want
and they understand me.
Sometimes Mama lets me walk in the store instead of riding in the cart;
I have to be extremely obedient, though.
I go to the 2-year old class for Sunday School and Children's Church.
I know how to put on my boots when we are going to leave the house.
I'm not a little boy anymore...
In fact, I am a big boy now.
I'm a big brother...

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Today, January 19, is Samuel's 2nd birthday.
We had a family party on Saturday.
Here are a few highlights...

It was a cowboy theme and Samuel thoroughly enjoyed the
s'more brownie! (thanks, Rachel!)
Uncle Nick and Aunt Amber gave Samuel a tee and a bat and ball.
Uncle Shawn and Aunt Leanne gave Samuel a sweater and pants
which he insisted on wearing immediately
(sound like anyone we know?).
Nana Dawn and Grandpa Stuart gave Samuel a new book, some cars and a few outfits
which he has already worn since.
And Nana and Grandpa gave Samuel a front-end loader.
Whoa!
Let's just say it's a good thing we saved that one for last!

This morning we celebrated the true birthday
with cinnamon streusel muffins.
Samuel enjoys anything that looks like cake!

He even helped us sing to him.
He sings Happy Birthday so well!

Katrina wanted to get in on the festivities even more
than simply participating so she asked if
we could re-light the candles, sing again and if
she could have some candles too.
I obliged.
She graciously asked for "4 candles" since she is not officially 5.

Happy birthday, Samuel.
You have been a gift from the Lord from the moment we
learned of your presence.
God has used you to teach us to trust Him completely and
it is our prayer that you trust Him completely as well.
Tu papa y yo te amamos mas que nunca.

How do you rate?

My dad has a saying that I can remember him
mentioning countless times when I was young (er).
Usually he would say it in regard to us getting to
have pizza on a night he worked
(he doesn't even care for pizza).
Or if our mom would make a special meal and he
did not get to have it because he was working
that particular night.
He would say,
"How do you rate?"

I couldn't help but think of the saying when I
saw this in our living room earlier this week.

Samuel has been shafted to the mock pillow-pet as
his horse while Katrina rides Black Beauty
(well, Brown Beauty, but you get the idea).

And yet, Samuel is just happy to go riding with
his big sister.

Lord, help me to have the same attitude as Samuel
is displaying in these pictures.
He is simply happy to be riding.
I want to be happy riding too and to not be
looking around at all the other horses, wondering why
those people "rate" so much better than me.
They don't.
You love me and the test of Your love for me
is the cross.
PERIOD.
Thank You for the cross.

Hosey-Ho

When we were little we had a rocking horse
that we absolutely loved to ride.
My brother Shawn coined the phrase,
"Hosey-ho!"

Grandpa and Nana gave Katrina and Samuel
a rocking horse last week.

Friday morning Pancho put it together
while two very anxious horseback riders
waiting as patiently as possible.

Once "Bullseye" was fully-assembled and safe
for mounting, Katrina got on to show
Samuel how to ride.

It did not appear as if Samuel really needed lessons!

We are still working on the concept that
it is better to wear clothes while riding
with this little cowboy!

Growing... Like a Weed

Samuel's hair grows fast!
Saturday marked the day of his second haircut.
Grandpa gave it to him this time.

Dad was surprised at how fine his hair is,
even though he has quite a bit of it.
It has been too many years since he cut Shawn
and Nick's hair when it was as fine as Samuel's.

Samuel sat like a very big boy and actually
seemed to enjoy all the attention and eyes on him.

* The pictures are snapshots from a video that we took
so please excuse the poor quality.