"Pool...I Coming!"

Samuel is going to be like mom was...when summer rolls around he becomes a fish!

We have been really lucky to have a nice pool at the apartment complex. Samuel loves swimming and asks to head outside as soon as he gets up. We generally make at least one trip to the pool each day! Yesterday he was about three feet in front of Mike and I and yelled out "Pool...I coming!" Here are some pictures from our trip!

Samuel is very cautious around the water and is actually surprisingly safe. He loves sitting on the steps and playing with his bucket and shovel. He mixes the water and dumps it over himself!

Yesterday, daddy was able to finish up at school early and headed home to spend some time with us. It is so much nicer for me when Mike is in the pool since I can then sit and relax. Here are the two dudes in the pool!

"One...two...one...two...one..."

We seem to get caught up on the one and two, but eventually he gives in and jumps!

Samuel is great in his ring. He loves floating around and splashing. He is really good about holding on to it so that he doesn't fall in or through! He even does his own version of motorboat by spinning himself around in the ring!

Looks like we have a whole summer of fun in the pool ahead of us!

Will You Forgive Me?

Samuel loves playing out in his sand box. He has the really bad habit though of allowing the sand to wander outside the box. It ends up all over the deck, on the people's deck below us, three floors down and anywhere else we might look. Since he has been told and reminded multiple times that the sand is to stay inside the box, when it wanders out he has to come inside for awhile. This is usually accompanied with tears and even a bit of frustration.

The other day, after having to already come inside a few times for allowing the sand to wander, he went into the laundry room, found the brush and started to sweep the sand off the deck. I want to believe that it was an act of repentance and him trying to "make up" for the wandering sand. Part of me wonders was he just trying to hide it? Oh well...it was cute anyway!

Jocie turns 2!

This past Saturday, we all celebrated Jocie turning 2! It is so hard to believe that all the kids are hitting 2 already! We had a great get together...

We all were able to create our own pizzas. The kids all helped out and came up with some very creative and interesting masterpieces. Samuel was very excited about putting the cheese on. We won the "Most Professional" award!

While the pizzas were cooking, the kids each were able to decorate a pot.

Samuel then chose a chili plant to put into his pot. He was pretty proud of himself and had to show daddy as soon as we got home!

After pizza we all sang Happy Birthday and ate yummy cake. Jocie even blew out all her own candles without spitting all over the cake!

Jocie then showed all of us her backyard and beautiful garden. The kids explored, played with bubbles and even ate a few raspberries right off the bush!

And here they are...the fantastic five!

Koen, Samuel, Jocie, Roxy and Matia!
It has been amazing to watch these kiddos grow up together.

Great friends...great memories!

Tay Dough

For Samuel's birthday, Gram got him some play dough. Given we tried play dough about six months ago and all he wanted to do was eat it. We figured we were beyond that stage and that he might actually enjoy it now. We were right!
Samuel asks for "tay dough" at least a couple of times each day now. We have to get it all set up, he picks his color and then wants us to sit with him and make all sorts of fun shapes. He also tries to make things, but gets pretty frustrated when it doesn't turn out exactly how he wants it too the first time. He spends most of his time talking about all the "broken pieces."

It is also fun to make a bunch of the same shape and line them up so we can count how many we have. Here he is making turtles to count. I think we made it to about six that day!

Big Boy

Once we got back from Michigan, it was time to transition Samuel out of his crib (converted to a toddler bed) into his very own big boy bed. We wanted to do this now so that when baby came and he saw the crib again he would already be accustomed to his new bed and not feel as if the baby kicked him out.

This past week, Mike and I took his changing table and crib out of his room and moved it into the office which will soon become the baby's room. Samuel was sad to see his stuff go, but waved goodbye as daddy pushed it out of the room. We then spent time putting his new bed together and rearranging his new room. He was pretty excited about the bed, his new dresser and having plenty of room for his train table!

He also has transitioned to sleeping in his bed just fine. He does seem to get out of it more and have to check with us several times before he will stay in bed to go to sleep, but we think that is more of a stage for him right now.

Samuel also loves his new train table. This was Samuel's early birthday present from Gram. He loved pushing the train around and is really good about leaving the track together. Hopefully it will continue to be a great independent activity for him!

Our Michigan Trip

Since we were gone for eleven days, I am going to give everyone the shortened and condensed version of what we did. We will let the pictures tell the story...

Our entire purpose for our visit to Michigan was to celebrate Uncle Mike's graduation from Coldwater High School. We arrived late Thursday night and spent all day Friday getting ready for the open house. Sunday was the actual graduation ceremony. Since we had a nice Michigan thunderstorm, it was held indoors. Samuel did a great job sitting during the entire hour and a half ceremony and had plenty of cheers for Uncle Mike!

Samuel and Uncle MikeThe proud parents...a sigh of relief...he actually made it!

The boys looking all tough!
Evan (cousin), Nate (cousin), Uncle Caleb, Uncle Mike


Saturday we were able to go watch Uncle Mike play baseball one last time. We were hoping for two games, but losing the first finished off the CHS baseball career. A great game to watch!

After the game we headed out to my uncle's cottage for a day in the sun. The weather was hot but beautiful. Samuel took his first ride on a boat and didn't seem to like it nearly as much as I thought he would. He would much rather play in the cooler or ice or run around with Maddy chasing behind.
We also had a whole family tournament of a game I cannot remember the name of. Anyway...Grandpa Bob and I are the reigning champs!

Here is Samuel enjoying the time with some of his favorite people!
In the pool with Aunt Angie!

Relaxing and drying off with Uncle Caleb!

Samuel and Uncle Mike's favorite morning activity!

Nana and her favorite grandson!

Gram and her favorite grandson!
Mommy and her favorite...yes, I can say that for now!


On Thursday, we look the day to head up to GR to visit some of our friends. Samuel loved playing with Lauryn. It was a short terrifying glimpse at what it would be like to have twins! Samuel and Lauryn are only three months apart and both into the independant two year old stage!
We were also so excited to meet the newest member of the DeWys family.
Kaden James
June 1, 2007
3:09 am
9lb 6oz
20.5 inches
Precious

We also were able to have a picnic with our old small group. It was great to see everyone. Here is Jack and Samuel enjoying the swings.

Our last big event for Michigan was Samuel's family birthday party. It is hard to believe that in less than a month he will be two years old! All the family gathered at Mike's dads for a cookout, cake and presents!
Samuel opening his gifts!

Happy Cake (at least that is what he calls it). He even tried to blow out the candles! Sorry about the spit!

We aren't kidding when we say Samuel loves puzzles.
Here is how we found him after his bath!
We finally headed back home on Monday. It was a long trip, but a good one. Here is Samuel on the plane enjoying some of his birthday presents.