The Dallas Arboretum with YiaYia and Papou

We spent a beautiful afternoon at the Dallas Arboretum when YiaYia and Papou came to visit. Sam had a blast just running in circles in the wide open spaces.








We had never seen a yellow azalea before. There were three different types and they smelled soooo good.

We tried to pose Sam and get some portraits, but he was not interested in sitting still or posing. Right about the time Chris would get the lighting correct, Sam would jump up and run off. We managed to get a few keepers in all of that ...








Taking turns in group photos ...










Ring Around the Rosie



A yummy ice cream snack before we headed home.



The view of downtown Dallas from the Arboretum across White Rock Lake.

YiaYia and Papou Visit for Easter

YiaYia and Papou came to visit for Easter. YiaYia showed us how to make Greek red Easter eggs.



Dyed red eggs are a tradition at Greek Easter, symbolizing the blood of Christ (red color) and rebirth and new life (egg).



Leaves are used to add decorations to the eggs. We used tulle to hold the leaves in place, but you can also use nylon hose.



This was the first time that Sam had decorated Easter eggs. We've always just done plastic eggs before.



It took a whole large bottle of red food coloring to color the eggs.



Here is the end result (with one egg having a special owl sticker for Sam).



YiaYia and Papou brought Sam a TrackMaster James. I think we now have every type of Thomas the Train that they make.



We had another rainy Easter this year so the Easter Bunny hid the eggs inside.



The Easter Bunny brought lots of stickers and trains and a little bit of candy.



Sam shared his stickers with everyone.



Sam opened his Easter present before he hunted for the hidden eggs.



The Easter Bunny brought him a TrackMaster train set.



As soon as Sam started finding the eggs, he had to stop and eat the candy.



Sam filling his basket with eggs.



TrackMaster Thomas



TakeAlong Easter train



More eggs



Putting batteries in the new trains



Here's a video of Sam opening his present and hunting eggs.



We put all the new TrackMaster tracks and trains together and built a big track.



Here's a video of all the trains running.



Peeling the eggs for deviled eggs.



Tasting the eggs.



Mimi came over for lunch. The Easter Bunny left a Thomas flashlight for Sam at her apartment.



Everyone taking a rest after a big Easter lunch.

Let's go to the circus ...

We went to the circus with the Johnsons last weekend. We bought tickets Friday evening and Sam wanted to ride the ponies as soon as he saw them, so that was the first order of business when we got there on Sunday.



They set the tents up across from Allen High School.



Another shot of Sam on the pony.



Walking towards the big tent.



They had elephant rides



and camel rides too, but Sam is still a little small to do those on his own.



The circus was smaller than last year. They had three rings last year and most of the seats were full. This year Sam's favorite act was the clown jumping on the trampoline.



Yummy, sticky, blue cotton candy!



Sam and Deedah watching the circus.

Side story: I sing songs to Sam before he goes to bed. I usually ask him what songs he wants me to sing. A few months ago he said he wanted me to sing the circus song. I don't know any circus songs so I made one up about Thomas and the other trains taking stuff, people, etc. to the circus. Chris has even made up his own version that he sings sometimes if I'm late coming upstairs to tuck Sam in. So, Sam was actually surprised not to find Thomas and the other engines at the circus!



PEZ - Sam was a PEZ addict for a few months. He has three different dispensers and he had to have PEZ every day as soon as he got home from day care. We've weened him off a little so he's only eating PEZ about once or twice a week now.



Random picture of me cooking dinner.

Funny stuff Sam says ...

Chris was putting Sam to bed and reading him stories. I went upstairs to tell him something, and as soon as I walked in the door Sam asked for some chocolate milk. I told him ok, but let me finish telling Deedah something. Half-way thru the conversation I pause, and Sam says, "so are you finished?"

Every evening when I pick Sam up from day care, he asks "where are we going?" I say, "home." Then he always says, "ok, but we have to go get pizza first!" I swear he has done this every day for three weeks. I have no idea where this came from. We hardly ever get pizza. The not so funny part of this story is the fit that he throws about half the time when he finally realizes that we are not getting pizza.

We were at Scotty P's eating burgers, fries, and milkshakes last weekend with Melanie. I was telling Sam how the first time I had a Scotty P's milkshake he was in my tummy. He got a shocked look on his face and said, "you ate me?!?!?!"