First shots of Summer

Nothing says Summer is here like that first dip in the pool and swinging outside.  Here are a few shots of Sam's first taste of Summer.

The Blue Bell cousins....ready to hit the pool in Fort Worth on Memorial Day.

Playing in the pool at Gran and Grandfather's house. 

Afternoon swinging with Dad

Maifest

Maifest 2012 was a blast!  Cousin Jake was the Junior King over the Court of "A Make Believe Adventure".  He was an awesome pirate king, complete with a life-size ship!  Sam loved his first Maifest in Brenham.  The all-you-can-eat pass at the Blue Bell tent lost money on Wyatt and Ryan and we had a great time dancing under the pavilion at this 122-year-old celebration of our German heritage!

The Pirate King Jake at the Coronation

The Big Kids after the Coronation

The First Mate Hudson and his crazy uncle

Eleanor - "Princess of the Seven Seas" - with Nelson and Hud

 The Cousins on the Ship

At the Former Royalty Breakfast before the Saturday Parade

The Cousins at the Parade.  Sam was already tuckered out.

RaRa and Sam at the Parade

Eleanor and Sammy

Wyatt and I headed to Brenham this weekend with Sam, Hudson, and Eleanor all along for the ride! We had a great time seeing RaRa and playing. Here are a few phone pics I caught of Eleanor and Sammy (her name for him). She's a great big cousin!

Swimming at LaLa and Johnny Boy's house

It's almost Maifest time and E wanted to see how Sam would look in a crown

Ready to watch some Saturday morning cartoons

Happy Easter!

Sam had a great first Easter and can hardly wait until he can hunt eggs next year. He enjoyed a visit from the Easter bunny and fun family time.

Here is Sam's nest, waiting for the Easter bunny to bring presents. Wyatt tells me this is a Brenham tradition, but we're keeping it alive up here in the Big D!

A close up of the nest. The traditional choice is bluebonnets (of course) with a touch of red blankets (or indian paintbrushes, as Wyatt calls them), but we city folk had to improvise a little with what was blooming in the yard.

The Easter bunny came and left presents by the nest!

Sam's version of opening presents is trying to eat the tissue paper. This resulted in a Papa Smurf mouth, complete with blue lips and tongue.

Checking out his first swing

Watching the Masters with Grandfather

Easter dinner

All tuckered out

Cousin Huddy

Sam already looks up to his big cousin Hudson, who takes good care of him. Hudson shared his chair to watch a little March Madness with Sam the other weekend. I have a feeling these cousins will do lots of sports watching together in the future!

Happy (Joe T's) Birthday CoCo!

Happy Birthday CoCo! We loved celebrating with you at Joe T's this weekend, and Sam loved his first Joe's outing and being with the fam. We love you!

Christmas Joy!

What a great first Christmas as a family of 3! We celebrated in Dallas and in Brenham and Sam was showered with Christmas love from the whole family...Santa too!

Christmas Eve at the Pedersons

The Maxwell Men

So excited on Christmas morning! Sam's first Christmas on Chesley Lane.

Dad explaining that Sam must've been a good boy this year.

Happy Birthday Dub

Wyatt turned 30 on December 18th and we celebrated with great friends and merriment. I think he had a good time celebrating the end to his 20s!

Here's looking at you, kid.

Turkey

Thanksgiving was so much fun it deserves another post, and we couldn't leave out these gems of Wyatt, master turkey carver. Enjoy!

Wyatt and Rob Walters working hard...

...a little play...

...ok, a lot.

Sam's first trip out to Round top...

...and to Royer's. He's studying beef cuts at an early age. Good boy.

Little bit of tummy time with Dad.

Watching Notre Dame's last game of the regular season. It's ok Sam, the Irish made Dad want to cry too.

Thankful for Family

Sam made his first trip down to Brenham for Thanksgiving and we had a great time. He slept the whole way and was greeted by so much family. We then rounded out the holiday in Dallas. We are thankful this year for our wonderful family who loves us dearly. We are especially thankful for our newest little family member. Here are a few pics of Sam being showered with love on his first Thanksgiving!

With LaLa

Johnny Boy has the touch

Sam loves his cousin Lois Kate (aka LoLo Cake)

A visit from the Kolkhorsts

Checking out Aunt Sherrie

Sacked out with his CoCo on Thanksgiving day

Sweet Eleanor - her shirt said "Santa thinks I'm Nice." She sure was sugar sweet to Sam the whole holiday.

Love from RaRa and Aunt Cat

Meeting cousin John Paul for the first time

Sam's Granny - such a natural