Month: November 2014

Halloween 2014

Posted on by heather.e.d.mcpherson@gmail.com
 
 In case you can’t tell from the picture above, we had fun on this last Halloween.  Yes, the kids had fun, but I think the grandparents had the most fun.  Grandma and Grandpa surprised us all with their detailed Mary Poppins and Bert costumes and stole the show.  Clare especially loved it.  
Of course the little kids had fun too.  Clare was Elsa, wearing her custom-made-by-Grandma-T dress.  Sammy had a few costume changes over the fall, but we settled on a zebra costume.  We joined the neighborhood crew, more than 25 of us, for a quick dinner and Halloween celebration.  I didn’t get any good group pictures because as the adults were chatting and eating, the kids started to mutiny and threatened to leave to go trick-or-treating on their own.  We had to hurry out the door and missed a good group photo shoot.  Oh well – next year. 
 
Trick or treating was a hoot with the kids this year.  Clare and her friend C, both dressed as princesses, set an aggressive pace.  G, dressed as a chameleon/lizard, raced to keep up.  Princess Maddy and Sam stayed back with Grandma and Grandpa.  For the first few blocks we tried to keep our two factions together, but eventually the princesses charged ahead (fortunately with a parent) and took a wrong turn.  We all ended up at home that evening, with stories to tell and candy to gorge on. 

 We missed the obligatory trip to the pumpkin patch, but fortunately Grandma and Grandpa were able to pinch hit for us.  In general our Halloween was a little more low-key this year (only one trip to the pumpkin  patch, no pumpkin carving, etc.) but it was still fun. 

Birthday Party

Posted on by heather.e.d.mcpherson@gmail.com
 
 It took a while to figure out just the right birthday party for three-year-old Sammy.  He’s equal parts active and thoughtful.  He likes to be celebrated by his loved ones, but he gets a little overwhelmed and introverted in crowds.  He really wants to be outside, but his birthday is in the beginning of November.  I finally came up with three ideas and gave him the options – 1) a party at the gym at the community center, 2) party at a bouncy house place or 3) a hike in the woods looking for bugs.  He didn’t have to think about it – he wanted to hike in the woods and look for bugs.  He was very specific about which friends to invite.  He also wanted a blue cake on a blue plate to be eaten in a blue house.  

So I signed us up for a Ladybug Walk with Portland Parks and Rec.  They provided a very knowledgeable naturalist and ladybug backpacks complete with magnifying glasses and we provided seven very excited Walkers. We also provided seven parents and three grandparents to celebrate along with him.

Holes were dug, slugs were observed, centipedes and millipedes were held, worms were discovered, birds were listened to and puddles were stomped in.  In short, Sam loved every single minute of it. 

  They really did have fun – you just can’t tell from this picture.

We came home for a lunch party at the house.  We ordered food from Sammy’s favorite restaurant – Chipotle.  I found a bakery to make a blue cake with blueberry filling, which we served to him on a blue plate. (I didn’t repaint the house blue – but Sammy didn’t seem to mind.)  Sammy enjoyed the party with his trademark quiet observation, but with his contented smile on his face.  We invited mostly family with a few close friends – all of Sammy’s nearest and dearest.  Even with a “small party” of just a few families, well, it’s about 18 people.  Our families are growing!
We finished his birthday on his actual day of birth, November 4th, which happened to be a Tuesday.  There was a small celebration at school (where Sammy broke a glass candle holder) and a small evening party.  We had another cake (not blue – but chocolate), homemade pizza and Grandma and Grandpa.  He took it all in stride, has played with his new toys, read his new books, worn his new clothes and every few days will ask me “is it going to be my birthday again?”  Oh my sweet boy, next year it will be.  I promise, we’ll make it the best one yet.

Happy Third Birthday Sammy

Posted on by heather.e.d.mcpherson@gmail.com

Dear Sammy,

Happy Birthday to our sweet little three-year-old!  One of your teachers asked you how it felt to be three, and you said it felt “soft.”  I’m not sure exactly what you meant by that – comfortable? content? Not hard?  You were smiling when you said it and when I ask you if you like being three you always say that you do. 

This has been a big year for you.  You’re reaching out more into the world – meeting new friends, doing new things, moving into new “big boy” roles.  You’ve started school and just love being one of the kids in the classroom.  You’re making new friends, learning new tasks and revel in new-found independence.  It’s a wonderful to watch your confidence and you’re going into new experiences and finding success. 

You’re a busy guy – usually on the go.  You’re not so much a watcher as a do-er.  If you’re outside you’re engaging with everything – touching every plant, running your fingers through the dirt, climbing on the rocks, testing testing testing.  How does it feel?  How does it smell?  How does it taste?  You’ve become a little scientist who always want to gain the answer to questions. 

Your scientific discovery has lead you to bugs and animals as your new favorite topics.  Any time you’re outside, you’re looking for spiders, ants, worms, centipedes, caterpillars, slugs and snails.  For your birthday party we arranged for a Ladybug Walk, which is an event that Portland Parks and Rec does.  A naturalist lead a group of you and your friends on a “hike” in the park looking for bugs.  You found several bugs, touched moss and lichen, dug in the mud and generally had a wonderful time. 

This year you became a “big cousin” when baby Frederic was born.  You are the proudest big cousin that’s ever been seen.  When Freddy is around then you are close by him – asking to hold him, talking to him, snuggling him and handing him toys.  Your sweetness and kindness with the baby has warmed the hearts of the family.

We’re watching to see what the next year brings you.  You are the heart of our family and lead us on new adventures.  Your thoughtful contemplation is a reminder to all of us to slow down and watch life’s details. 

Lots of love to our wonderful little Sammy-Boy!
Your loving Mama