Sam and Nathan

Sam, Kath, Grandma & Grandpa VM went to visit Jim, Kathy & Nathan last week. Nathan and Sam love hanging out together - check out the pictures below.

Kath with Nathan sporting his Thomas the Train t-shirt.

Sam & Nathan both sporting their Thomas t-shirts.

Ah-yes... snack time on the front step.

Bath time somehow turned into what looks like a blue animal cult gathering.

Nathan and Sam loved feeding and watching the fish in Uncle Jim's new fish tank.

Sam was welcomed home with his first fish tank (a MUCH smaller version of Uncle Jim's!).

Cancer!

For those who do not know the story, here is a brief summary. Kath discovered a lump in her neck this past Dec. and had a biopsy done in January to check it out. We then got the phone call... yeah that one. It's cancerous... She has thyroid cancer and this past Wednesday (March 12) she had surgery to remove her entire thyroid. The surgery lasted just over 3 hours and the doctor said it was successful. She stayed one night in the hospital and we returned home Thursday evening.

Before surgery...

After surgery...

Thank you all so much for your prayers, calls, love and concern. We are so encouraged and strengthened by your prayers and various ways of reaching out. We will continue to give updates through email and this blog.

Reading Train books

After coming home, Sam immediately found his train books and started reading them to himself. If you can't understand him he is saying "I think I can".

How about a long overdue post!

Sammers sledding at Uncle Chuck & Aunt Char's house on Christmas day. Here he is hitting a jump!

Aunt Char had to give it a try... on Sam's sled. She did amazingly well.

Sam admires his "Frosty" out on the deck. About a week later a January thaw took care of Frosty.

Sam thinks he is ready to head outside and play in the snow.... uh, forgetting something Sammers?

Sam and his friend Abigail bring in the new year. Abigail stayed up to watch the ball drop and Sam woke up about 20 minutes before midnight to bring in the new year with us.

Happy Birthday Sammers!

Sam turned 2 on Jan. 20.... I know, we can't believe it either! We gave Sam a train set on Friday night so we would have plenty of time to play with it together. Well... he did (does) just that. He woke up Saturday morning and spit out his paci (yes, he means business) and played the ENTIRE day with his new train set. It is so much fun to see his mind at work.

Sam with his birthday dirt cake equipped with John Deere tractors and worms of course. Really he is excited about his birthday... maybe he is thinking about eating the worms.

Cousins Tammy and Jamie reading one of Sam's new books to him.

Sam loves hanging out with his cousins. Here Nathan and Tim are teaching him about paper football.

We have several fun pictures from the holidays that I will post soon. I know that was so last year, but they are good ones.

Move over Napoleon Dynamite...

Here is Sam practicing to play the next Napoleon Dynamite. Sam loves wearing his boots everywhere. If you don't laugh at this.... check your pulse.

Finally a new post!

My apologies for being a huge blog slacker. Here is a small taste of what we have been up to for the last month and a half.

This is especially for our friend Jenny in Hilton Head SC. She taught us the term "snacky snack" and Sam uses it all the time!

Sam loved playing with Einfeld's dog Aussie while we stayed there last month. Sam would chase Aussie and then Aussie would turn around and chase Sam.

Grace and Sam are so amazing together. Here Grace reads Sam's latest favorite Clifford book to him. Grace has a special touch with Sam and can get him to eat foods that nobody else can!

Sam and Julia are on good terms once again. Although Sam will have to continue to show his love for Julia to make up for his kissing another girl episode.
Sam's Uncle Mark thought it would be funny to give Sam an Ohio State Buckeyes t-shirt. Am I glad he didn't like it. Oh well.... nice try Uncle Mark!

Ah-yes... Sam is much happier in maize and blue. And he loves his cousin Leah... She is so cute!

Broken Heart

Sam and Julia have known each other their entire lives (all 21 months) and have grown quite close. They have camped together, hugged, kissed... So it was a heartbreaking experience for Julia to open up her email to find a picture of Sam kissing another girl!!! We'll start with the incriminating evidence and move to Julia's heart breaking.

Thanks to the Herzog's for sharing these great pictures.

Ready? Jump!

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. Our computer died and it took a little while to get everything back. Here is a taste of what Sam has been up to.

Hippopotamus

We have mentioned to a few of you that Sam is now saying "hippopotamus"... Well for those who haven't heard him, here is a short video of him saying it. Sorry the video is a bit bumpy, and the most clear "hippopotamus" is at the end.

Happy Birthday Abby!

September 1st marked Abby's 3rd birthday. Thank you to those who called or sent a note (or a butterfly!) and continue to remember Abby in your own way. We miss her so much!

At the Farm!

While Kath and I got out for a date to see the Bourne Ultimatum (great movie...) last Friday, Sam's Aunt Lyndsey took him to a farm. He had an awesome time seeing baby chickens, kittens and playing with all kinds of tractors.

Uncle Brian shows Sam how to hold a baby chicken.

Sam thought it was funny that the baby chicks would follow him around.

Sam sitting on a combine.... I've always wanted to do that!

Sam on his favorite tractor... mini loader.

Sam playing in Uncle Brian's derby car. Can't wait to watch the derby this weekend!

Camping at Silver Lake

Sam experienced camping in a tent for the first time last week at Silver Lake State Park. We went with our friends (the Herzog family) and had a great time. Here are some highlights.

Sam and Julia (2 days younger than Sam) hanging out in their camping chairs. They were both incredibly good and just enjoyed being outdoors for 4 straight days.

Sam trying to get a quick big drink with Jeremy's assistance.

Sam just simply loves being outside. Everyday at home we hear him say at least 5 times a day "outside" and we did not hear that once while camping.

We all rode our bikes to the dunes and enjoyed a good hike on Monday.

Ahh Yes! - Kris and I had to rent a 2 person dune buggy. Sam and Julia sat in it for pictures before Kris and I tore up the dunes.

Our afternoon at Lake Michigan proved tiring for Sam, so he took his nap under an umbrella.

Even while camping, Kath figured out a way to get bath time in.

"It's a bird - it's a plane" - I have no idea what we are looking at.

Oh Boy! - Kris teaching Sam how to start the campfire!

A beautiful sunset over the dunes of Silver Lake.

The whole clan from left to right: Kath, Duane, Sam, Kris, Julia, Gabby, Leslie, Jeremy. When do we go again?