Mothers Day Tea Party

This year for Samuel has been an exciting Mother's day.  He has been talking about it for weeks.  The excitement really started a couple weeks ago when he brought home an invitation he made for me for the special Mother's Day Tea Party that would be held on May 10th at his school.  He had in mind what he wanted me to wear to the party and every night he asked how many more days until I would be coming to his school.
Today was the day of the party and it did not disappoint us in the least.  Samuel squealed with delight when I came into the class room wearing the dress and shoes he had picked out.  The class room had a "beauty salon" set up so that the children could make their mom's look beautiful.  Samuel was so excited to put some eye shadow on me, paint my finger and toe nails, and do my hair.  After the beauty parlor we had our snacks.  It was a wonderful day.  Samuel is such a sweet little guy and I am so thankful to be his mom.
Here are some pictures of him making me beautiful:

Painting my fingernails.  Samuel painted the right hand all electric blue, and the left had every nail has a different color!  My hair he did his best to clip it all back - that is a challenge with his small hands but he did great!




My painted toes!  Mind you, I really think I have ugly feet, but I am still posting this so tht we can always remember what a good job Samuel did.



Some additional thoughts:

Although this year it is shaping up pretty well, I don't really like Mother's Day. It is probably the hardest time of year for me. It is mostly related to losing my mom right after Mother's Day and because Mother's day is always the second Sunday of May there are years that Mother's day is actually on the anniversary of my mother's passing.
This year is the 20th anniversary of my mom's passing and that has been somewhat difficult for me. You would think that after 20 years it wouldn't be that hard, that I would be "over" it, right? This year I guess I have just come to accept that I will never be "over" it. I miss her and I wish that I had more time with her, but that isn't going to happen so I will deal with it the best that I can.
However, this has also taught me the powerful influence a mother has. She was with me for only 14 years, and yet what she taught me either directly or through example, has influenced almost every decision I have made. This lesson has made me a better mom because I do treasure every moment I have with Samuel and when I think of what a wonderful woman my mother was, I want to pass on that legacy to my son. 

Flying Tigers - 2013

Going to a Flying Tigers baseball game has become an annual tradition.  We really enjoy the games and always have so much fun as a family.  Samuel usually has all of the ladies around us trying to talk to him and saying what a handsome boy he is.  I'm such a lucky mom!

Pretending to hold a bat

So cool

Behind home plate

This year Samuel got a baseball cap.  He loves it!  Soon after coming back from getting the hat they did a drawing for a digital camera and guess who won.  That's right - SAMUEL!!!  He had the lucky seat.  We always get such great seats anyway but this even made it better!

Home Depot Kids Workshop

Samuel was so excited to be able to participate in the kids workshop.  He loves to be a "builder".   When I told him about the workshop and that he would get his own apron he asked if he would get a builder hat as well.  Sadly (and yet this overprotective mother is grateful) these workshops don't entail that much danger and no hard hat is needed.  Samuel would still like a hard hat so perhaps we can get him one in the future. 

Today he built a plant holder.  It was awesome!

Getting ready to build (He got to use a screw driver!)

Painting

Checking out the work of the other kids

Painting the back

Putting on the delicate touches - it takes concentration and sticking the tongue out really helps with that.
Yes, yes, he is his father's son!

Dance Recital

Samuel is shy.  We want to help him build some confidence and not focus on being nervous or shy so in October we enrolled him in the dance class at his school.  It was a fantastic deal and I am so glad we did it.  I was nervous because at the first parent preview Samuel pretty much didn't want to stay up on stage.  He just stood there through one entire song with his arms out to me asking me to come give him a hug.  Please know that I had given him lots of hugs, and I was not far away.  Plus, the children that he was dancing with, he has been in school with since he was 2 months old.  He knows them and he loves them.  He is more shy when David and I are around....I don't know why that is.
Any way, at the Christmas preview he did better - the audience was still pretty small though.  With only 4 children in his class there were only about 8-10 adults there.  Plus, like any good parent, I bribed him with a happy meal from Chic Fil A if he participated - oh the power of bribery! 
Needless to say, I was nervous for this big recital.  It was to be held on a stage in a high school auditorium, all of the dance classes would be performing, and there would be a pretty full house of parents, grandparents, etc attending.   But just watch and see how awesome he did!

 

 

To be like you  (watch for someone awesome to join Samuel on stage)

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

 

Hawaiian Roller coaster

I realize that video can take some time to load so here are some still pictures for your enjoyment!


I want to be like you  (you need to watch this video because someone joins Samuel on stage during the dance)



A Dream is a Wish  - Samuel & Grace and Alexander & Evelyn



A Dream is a Wish




A Dream is a Wish



A Dream is a Wish



Hawaiian Roller Coaster




Hawaiian Roller Coaster



Hawaiian Roller Coaster



After the recital with his best friend (Unfortunately it turned out so blurry!)



After the recital with Ms Darla, his dance teacher



After the recital and feeling like a million bucks!