Boot - Scoot

How Sam gets around now....



Sam is on the Move

Sam is not crawling, or even close, but he has figured out how to scoot around when he wants to get around.  I don't have a video yet of his scooting technique, but he still loves to rotate in circles, which is pretty cute.  The impressive thing about the video below is that I had put Sam on the ground on the Living Room carpet, and he made his way to the kitchen all by himself!

Trip to California

This post is long overdue..... But better late than never!  

 Day 1:
Travel & Beach Day

The second week of June, Sam and I flew to Southern California for a week with family and sunshine!  Sam did good on the airplane ride there, sleeping the majority of both legs, but was definitely more active than in previous flights.  Grandma and Grandpa Vander Stelt and Maddie greeted us at the airport, and as soon as we got to the beach house, we turned around for an afternoon at the beach!

Braden and Sam heading to the beach

 

  We had fun at the beach - the waves were a little rough for the kids, but they had fun outrunning them (mostly successful!), and playing in the sand.  Sam spent a lot of time in a tent with toys to keep him out of the sun and too much sand!

 

 After the beach, Sam got a bath with lots of help from Maddie, and then we hung out and had a nice dinner.

Bath Time!

 

Day 2:

DISNEYLAND!!!!!

We got a good start in the morning to drive to Anaheim for a day at Disneyland.  Everyone was excited and the Cooke kids, especially, had been looking forward to this day for months!

Sam went on a few rides - Pirates of the Carribbean, Winnie the Pooh and the Tiki house, but spent most of the time in the stroller or with mom.

 

 

The BRAVE ones - Papa, Grandma, Maddie (ducking), Jason, Robert, and Ethan in the front!

Papa treated to ICE CREAM!

 

We didn't get back to the beach house until 10:30 at night so it was a long day but Everyone had a fantastic time!

Day 3:

Beach Day

We'll call these pictures, "The Morning after Disneyland" - I love them because every one is in the same position in every picture, except Braden, who is going at 100mph.... still!

 

 

Maddie was Sam's "Older Sister" on the trip and was constantly entertaining him and helping me out!  She is welcome to visit anytime!!!!!  Sam loved her!!!

The other excitement the morning after Disneyland was the appearance of Indiana Jones HIMSELF!  We watched an exciting swordfight between Indiana (Ethan), and a formidable adversary (Braden).  Sam enjoyed all this crazy entertainment!!!

 

 

  Sam got lots of attention from his cousins and he loved when they built him towers of blocks so he could send them crashing down!

 

Sam learning some self-defense techniques against Braden that may come in handy down the road!

Time for the beach.....

 Anna and Ethan face the waves!!

Sam still in the tent since he won't wear a HAT!

Sam LOVED the sand - feeling it and playing with it - so much he puposefully put his whole face in it to feel it....... :)  So, that means we need another.... Bath!

Spending time with Uncle Robert

 

 This picture below may not seem like much, but if you know Anna, and how MUCH she loves Kitty and her new Minnie, it was a sure sign of love when she put them next to Sam to play with!!!!

 

Lastly, Braden taught Samuel how to handle Grandma since he has lots of experience hanging out with her.

Day 4:

Legoland

  The kids are READY to go!

 

 

Sam enjoyed the sights and sounds of LegoLand but missed half of the day (3hours+) taking a long nap!

 After Legoland, we went back to the beach house, and the Vissers came over for a big BBQ!  It was really cute, Grady fell in LOVE with Maddie and wouldn't let her out of his sight! (or grasp!)

 Day 5:

Cookes Depart / Lazy Day 

 

The Cooke family had to leave Friday morning to head back to Idaho, so Sam and I hung out with the kids upstairs for awhile and played.  Sam loved Braden's sword from Legoland!

The kids also made a cute video for Uncle Bradley to tell them how much they missed him and wish he had come :)  I will try to upload on Monday.....

Sam also got to hang out with Aunt Brooke (and his new cousin that will be here in August!!!)

 After the Cooke's left, Some of the rest of us went shopping in the nearby town, and then Sam and I took a much needed 2 hour nap upstairs in a BED, which was a treat as we were in the living room all week.  That night, Papa took the rest of us out to an amazing Seafood dinner on the pier - Sam kept me on my toes, but the meal, company, and views were fantastic!

Day 6 / 7:

Day with the Vissers / Travel home!

On Saturday, Robert and Brooke headed back to Idaho and Sam and I went with Papa and Grandma to Escondido for the Day.  Sam and I hung out with Zak & Annika, Grady (24 months) and Jared (6 months) at their house.  Sam LOVED all their fun toys - Grady was mostly happy to share with just a few growls :)  I cannot believe we did not get a picture of all three boys.....  That night, we went to a big BBQ at Arlan and Auralee's house and had a great time.

Sunday morning, Sam and I were brought to the airport by Papa and Grandma and headed back to Minneapolis.  The second flight from Arizona to Mpls was one of the longer 2.5 hours of my life.  Sam was good but DID not stop moving the first whole 2 hours - he even managed to undo the guy's seatbelt next to us.. oh well.  We were so excited to get home to Bradley, though, and were anxious to relax after a long and fun week!

Thanks Papa and Grandma for SUCH a FUN WEEK in California!  We loved seeing the whole family, and Sam loved getting to play with his cousins! 

Family picture (minus Sam who was sleeping and Bradley in Mpls)!