Merry Christmas!

We wish you a very merry Christmas and a fun-filled New Year!

Love,

Ryan, Audrey, Samuel

Lucy, and Desi

A river

After story time two nights ago...

Sam: River, Mommy.
Mommy: Where, Sam?
Sam: River. Cross river.
Mommy: Okay. Where is the river, Sam?
Sam puts his finger on Mommy's forehead.
Sam: River on Mommy head.
Sam: Cross river on bridge.

Thanksgiving at Temple

Honey and WaWa went with Sam to his Thanksgiving celebration at Temple. He was (obviously) so excited to see them!

Sam loved Thanksgiving. We chased turkeys around our house for weeks, apparently they really like to run away. One evening, Sam and I were talking, and Sam told me, "Mommy, turkeys funny. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha." I died laughing, and he kept saying it over and over again.

On Sam's hat, it says, "Sam is thankful for Pip."

Weekend with Ben and Katie

Ben and Katie came to spend the weekend with us - Sam had such a good time with 2 more kids in the house. He continues to ask, 4 weeks later, when Ben and Katie are coming back.
He crashed early the first night, so Ben and Katie had the bubbles all to themselves.

Three car seats is a bit tight in the back seat of my car, but look how happy Sam looks!

Just playing at Chick-fil-A.

On the way home from the party we had celebrating 2 marriages and 2 new babies amongst the people I work with...

A friend to play with on the teeter totter!

Katie told her Mommy when she got home, "Sam loves to wrestle too much!"

Shopping - Sam Style

Sam recently went shopping at Morgan Imports. He picked up trucks...

Trucks...

AND MORE trucks!

Trick Treat

First, some pun-kin carving...best done with no clothes on.
And later that night, Lightning McQueen is OFF! Sam's original costume was Patch from 101 Dalmatians, but Sam didn't want to wear the "coat" because he said it was "too big." And yes, it was, but we could have fixed that! So one trip to Target the night before his Temple Halloween celebration, Sam found Queen. Mommy was looking at the ducks and dinosaurs while Sam dug through the costumes that had fallen off the hangers. It was love at first sight!

Sam liked Trick Treating (as he calls it), but he LOVES the can-y. He's been asking for it constantly. That and to Trick Treat again. Hal-ween today?

Mommy and her favorite boy. When I say, "I love you, Sammy," Sam now says, "I love me, Mommy" and gives me a big hug. Aww!

Charleston

Silly Sam

Sam and Daddy - desperately needing hair cuts. Thankfully, they've both gotten them by now.

Playing songs for Pip. In this picture, he's playing with his hands, but he'd much rather play with his FEET!

I asked him to smile...this is what I got.

Mommy was working one night, and Sam was watching "The Dog Show" (aka 101 Dalmatians) on the couch. He kept calling, "Hi, Mommy! Hi, Mommy!" And here's what I saw when I looked over.

Sam went to church with us today, for the first time in a while. Since Chris and A-O moved here, he's been staying at their house while we go and enjoy church. We coached Sam the whole way to church. You have to be quiet. You have to whisper. You have to sit in your seat. For every time we said, "You have to whisper at church," he would SCREAM. Every time we said, "Tell Pip that he'll have to be quiet during church," Pip would bark. Sam was great through the homily. Very quiet. Stayed in our pew. Then he reached his threshold. He and I hung out in the back until communion, and then after communion, Daddy took him out. Sam was yelling as they walked to the back, "I want my mommy. I be good now!"

In the car today on the way from church to Sam's favorite restaurant (he starts yelling "Cafeteria!!!" when he sees it), Sam told us, "I keep my eyes op-op for nother park."

A little while later he told us, "My poopy stinky." Great.

What Sam Learned at Temple

Sam goes to two preschool programs...Temple on Monday and Wednesday and Aldersgate (but we call it "school" - Aldersgate is way too hard to say) on Tuesday and Thursday. Sam seems to really enjoy both programs, and after a few tearful goodbyes, we're now down to a kiss and a "Mommy, go work!" from Sam.

During the first week at Temple, they talked about friends. Thank goodness for those handy school calendars, otherwise, I might not have known. But Sam did bring something of those lessons home...the other day, he wrapped his little arms around my neck for a big squeeze and said, "Mommy. My friend."

Melt my heart!

Has anyone seen Sam?

A-O (Ariel) taught Sam a new game...

He now LOVES to play hide-&-go-seek! A-O took these pictures of him on a day they hung out together while Mommy and Daddy worked.

When we play, someone has to hide with Sam (his request). He giggles the entire time. When the seeker calls out, "Sam, where are you? Are you in the kitchen?" He responds with, "No! I in the ba-room."

We are so glad to have Chis and A-O living near us again!

Duke Football

We got season tickets to watch the Blue Devils play this year. Wallace Wade is certainly NOT Kyle Field, but we all had a great time tail gating before the game and then at the game.

"I can't believe this is happening!"

Here we go, Devils! Here we go!

WaWa helps Sam get a better look.

Honey

First Day of School

On Thursday, Sam went to school for his first day in Mrs. Kim and Mrs. Leigh Anne's class. We went to orientation on Monday, and he cried for a few minutes after I left to go to the parent meeting, but when we (Wawa and I) got back, Sam wasn't very interested in leaving!

Sadly, the best picture I have of him on the first day of school was strapped into his seat in the back. The whole 5 minute drive to school was filled with Sam telling me, "Mama take me to school. Wawa pick me up." When I interrupted and asked him what he was going to do at school, his response..."Play train."

He was so excited to get into his classroom that he couldn't even stand still for a picture in the hallway. We hung up his backpack together, he denied me a kiss, said "Bye, Mama" and headed straight for the train. No tears (from either of us).

What he did at school will remain a mystery - he hasn't told anyone, no matter what questions we ask.

More Birthday Celebrations

For his birthday, Sam got a train table from Mama and Daddy and a train set from Honey and Wawa. He couldn't wait to play - in fact, he starting pulling it out of the gift bag while none of us were paying attention.

What's taking so long?

More cake!

Sam sandwich

So Dada's room (the bonus room) is now home to Thomas and his table and track. Sam races up the stairs when we get home every day..."O-oop door, Mama. Toma." When we leave in the morning, "Bye, Toma." When we go upstairs to bed, "Nigh nigh, Toma."

Sam's 2nd Birthday Party

Sam is 2!

We celebrated with our neighbors with a very low-key party in our front yard on July 16, just a few days late.

Sam had been practicing blowing out his candles with Honey, so he was SO excited when we brought out a cake with candles AND his train.

Sam thought his new bubbles were a GREAT gift. Thank you, friends.
Sam and Ally.

Why does Ryan look so happy holding Baby Ben? I certainly hope he's not getting any ideas.

Ryan, Baby Ben, and Tommy.

And just like last year, we couldn't have had a party without the help of WaWa, Honey, and Aunt Laura. Thank you!!!

Sam and Honey.

Also a few days late, Sam went to the doctor for his 2 year checkup. He weighs 24 pounds, 2.5 ounces (10th percentile) and is 35 1/4 inches tall (70th percentile). Tall, skinny, and healthy. The pediatrician told Ryan not to worry...that toddlers usually only eat what we consider a "good meal" every 2 or 3 days. That's exactly what I've been telling Ryan too, but I guess the doctor had a little more credibility.

Morning

Watching "Clue Clue" with Pip while Mommy gets ready for work.

Our morning conversation:

Sam: I wake up.
Sam: Sun out.
Mommy: Right. The sun is out.
Sam: Moon go way.
Mommy: The moon is gone. It went to sleep.
Sam: Moon sweep-ing. Sun out.
Mommy: That's right.
Sam: Day time. Cwock off.
Mommy: Yes. My alarm clock went.
Sam: Pip sweeping. Pip, wake up. Day time.

More June pictures

I honestly don't know what we were doing in June that I am so delinquent in posting any pictures of our adventures. We were probably just getting by which seemed to be the theme of the spring at the Turley house. Ryan was back working in the SICU in June, and work for me was a little crazy too.

June 3, 2009 - Hanging out at Honey and Granpa's House

June 27, 2009 - Sam and Mommy were loving some McAlister's Tea just like Aunt Corrie