Dear Sam,

Dear Sam,

I can always count on you to make me smile.  I can't tell you how much I cherish this sweet frame with picture that you made and brought home for me for Mother's Day.  I love your big hugs and little love notes that I always find from you.  You are such a tenderhearted little boy, and I hope you never change.  

Me and your Dad got to attend your 2nd grade Patriotic Program, and I loved it! You sang all of my favorite patriotic songs, and at some points I even got goosebumps.  I was glad to see you sing them big and loud, more so than I have seen you sing in the primary programs.  You know the songs, and hopefully feel the great spirit that is in them.  I am so proud to be an American, just like the song says, and I am grateful for your teachers who teach you these songs and start a seed of patriotism in you. 

Baseball season has started once again, and this year you are officially out of T-ball and into coach pitch.  I am impressed how well you have done at the games so far without your glasses, (hopefully the new pairs will get here soon enough), especially considering the little amount of time we are able to practice with you.  You have a powerful swing and throw, we just need your Dad to go out there and teach you the rules. 

On Memorial Day, your Dad took you and Keaton hiking up Payson Canyon.  From what I have heard, and from how much you are asking to go again, I think you really like to hike, and it is so fun for me to see you boys doing something with your Dad that you all enjoy.  This last weekend was the father and sons camp-out and although you didn't get a chance to go hiking, you did get outdoors with your dad and brothers, and again, had a good time together.  I hope you will come to realize how lucky you are to have your Dad, and will have many more hikes and other things with him.  You are a lot like him in many ways.  I love you so much.

Love,

Mom

CaMp-OuT!

The last time I went camping and slept in a tent I was a newlywed and it wasn't a good experience.  As novice as I was about camping, I had vastly underrated how freezing it gets at night even in the summer, and had packed Chad and I with just a sheet and little blanket to share on top of the air mattress.  Needless to say, we did not sleep well that night, and he has teased me since.  (Hey...what do you think I am, a Boy Scout?) 

Fortunately, since that time I have either been pregnant or nursing a baby for the most part, and always had an excuse not to go.  That, and we only have had a little 2-man tent, and so there was simply not room enough for all of us.  Well, Chad wanted to go to the ward camp-out this year, and bought a new 8-man tent, sleeping bags, you name it, so I would have to go.  I did, and tried to be a good sport.  The kids were pumped that we were all going, and up until later that night when I barely slept a wink, I had a lot of fun.  In fact, I am thinking of going again next year, being that I go home after dinner and come back for breakfast.  I would not have been that bad if I was not such a light sleeper and without my fan to block out the noise.  Mama needs her sleep!:)

Sam was fascinated by the fire pit and loved roasting marshmallows.  He didn't like to eat them though.  I let him cook me some until I was stuffed.  Keaton and Emmi loved eating them too.

Jack was all about the dirt and sticks, which would of course, be put in his mouth.  He slept in my sleeping bag with me that night, but keep moving all night long... little bounder.

Sam and a new playmate Beckham, were having fun with sticks. 

Me and Carolyn were getting a kick out of Jack and his filthy little paws...ew! It seemed to do no good to wipe them off, he would just get them dirty again.

All the kids in the ward that were there for dinner that night.

And with our cute Bishop Batty.