Just a Few Observations...

Observation #1: Lauren is still super cute and is a daddy's girl...


Today after I picked Evan up from the bus I got Lauren out of the car and went to carry her inside the house. However, she had other ideas. She started crying and looking at Evan and it was clear she didn't want to have anything more to do with me. The minute I gave her to Evan she was a happy camper. Then later tonight when Evan was vacuuming he picked her up and held her while he worked. She was perfectly content and loved every minute. Now when I try and hold her all she does is try to squirm herself out of my arms. She's definitely a daddy's girl.

Observation #2: While the cat is away the mice will play...

I went out of town over Labor Day weekend and left the kids home with Evan. They had such a GREAT time and went all sorts of fun places...the zoo, the children's museum, and the Burke Museum (UW campus). Anyway, here are a few pictures from their time together.

Sam sitting in his favorite window at the zoo watching the penguins swim by...

Sam looking at the giraffe...another favorite of his!

It was raining the day they went. Lauren doesn't look too thrilled, but Sam sure does!

Sam and Lauren playing with these cool blocks at the children's museum...

Observation #3: I give a mean haircut...Not too shabby if I say so myself!

In an effort to save money I've started giving Evan a haircut when he needs it. I think this is the fourth haircut I've given him and for the record we have indeed saved a lot of money. I was super nervous the first time I cut his hair, but now I'm much more confident and definitely not as nervous. Anyway, now if only Evan could learn how to color my hair. Then the real savings would begin...don't think I haven't thought about this. I just have to find someone willing to teach him.

Observation #4: Sam is experiencing some spiritual growth.

On Sunday morning Sam was ready to go to church in his sunglasses and anxious to bring his *pink* bag full of Lauren's clothes. We somehow convinced him to leave the glasses and bag at home, but it was the first thing he went to when we walked through the door after church. Anyway, he's adorable and I couldn't love him any more! ;-)

Every night part of our bedtime routine is reading the Book of Mormon with Sam. We only read one or two verses, but Sam has gotten in the habit of doing it. Well, lately he wants to read them all by himself instead of one of us reading to him. I caught him on camera "reading" the other night. He saw me and got embarrassed and so unfortunately you get the inhibited version for your viewing pleasure. Oh well...it's still cute.

Observation #4: My kiddos like to wrestle...

I caught this cage fight on camera. :-)

Observation #5: Sam is a true boy...

Tonight he wanted to fill his dump truck with dirt and go digging outside all while wearing his new dinosaur rain boots. It was late and a little past his bedtime when he announced his plan to go digging, but I had to let him have his "boy" moment. Let me just note that I have a cold and sound like a frog in this video and when I was filming this I all of a sudden felt like I needed to cough up a lung...

"Uh-oh" and "S-A-M"

Well, friends...this is as good as it gets around here...I tried to get some really great "uh-oh" videos for you to see and ended up with these two. They're alright, but not stellar. I'll keep trying. I sure love my little girl. She's just so easy going and fun to have around...well, I guess that depends on who you talk to. Sam prefers for her to stay far away from his books or his animals. You'll notice the animal line-up in the background of the 2nd video.

Sam is learning the letters in his name and is pretty excited about it. We worked on it for the first time the other day. We "colored" the letters in his name. I'd take a turn and then he'd take a turn. It was fun and it's exciting to see him learning! :-)

News from the Thacker Family

Our first piece of breaking news is that Sam has made the switch to a big-boy bed!!! :-) Oh my...he was so excited to sleep in what he calls his "boy-big" bed. He loves the added independence it has given him. Although I don't think he realizes he can get out of it in the morning without us helping him because he still cries for us to come and get him when he wakes up.

Lauren's latest and biggest accomplishment is that she can say, "Uh-oh!" I haven't been able to catch it on video yet, but I'm determined. I'm confident our next blog post will have the proof for you all to see. Anyway, this picture has nothing to do with this latest news worthy accomplishment, I just thought it was a cute picture.

We have these educational placemats that I found at Walmart. They're great! They've helped Sam learn his ABC's and now they've been the means for him learning his shapes, so three cheers for educational placemats! :-)

The kids LOVE their daddy to give them horsey rides. I love Lauren's giggles in this video!

Father and Sons Campout

Friends in our Shoreline ward...

GREAT picture of father and son...

Setting up the tent...


Sitting around the campfire...


Sitting outside the tent...the next morning...

Evan said Sam had a hard time going to sleep. He kept telling Evan he was "all done sleeping" and that he wanted to go home! I guess eventually Sam got tired enough and fell asleep.

Sam's favorite part of the trip...throwing rocks in the river!

Our First Girls' Night

Evan took Sam to the father and son's camp out last night (Friday, August 14th) and left me and Lauren home by ourselves. We have had such fun! We went over to a friend's house last night and watched the movie, Hairspray. Lauren loved it! She would just stand in front of the TV and squeal with delight. I think she even tried to dance a little. Anyway, I feel like I've seen more of Lauren's personality since yesterday afternoon than I have since she was born. I think she's thoroughly enjoying not having her big brother around to tell her what she can play with, when she can play, and how she can play. I've had fun bonding with my little girl. It makes me excited for the many more girls' nights to come! :-)

Oh, and by the way...Lauren slept until 8:30 this morning which means I slept until 8:30 am too! Seriously, Evan can take Sam camping any weekend he wants to! :-)

August 10, 2007

Two years ago today my mom died. I have thought about her and missed her so much the past few days. She was a wonderful and caring person and the best mom a girl could hope for! I love her and miss her beyond expression.

I love this quote from Bruce R. McConkie. It makes my heart happy.

"When a righteous man or righteous woman dies, they do not cease to love their family in the flesh, they do not cease to pray for them, they do not cease to labor in their behalf. As their family was their primary concern in this life, so it will continue to be their primary concern on the other side of the veil. We would demean the nature of their labors in the spirit world to suppose that they had nothing more to do than to conduct a daily watch over those they left behind; yet the love and interest is still there, and on special occasions their presence will be felt and in some instances, as appropriate, they may be granted the privilege to more fully manifest themselves, though these treasures of heaven will not be common."

Itsy Bitsy Spider and More...

Sam has started singing Itsy Bitsy Spider around the house lately. It's so fun to hear him singing. He was sitting on my lap last night and I got him to sing it for the camera. Sorry for the poor filiming job on my part, but at least I got him singing it TWICE!

Isn't this smile just SO CUTE?!?

Our little Mozart...

I hardly ever post a picture of myself on our blog, but I sort of like this one of me and Evan.

I love my hubby! :-)

Sam is still lining things up at our house...I need to take a picture of when he sets the table for dinner. It's hillarious. There's a line of spoons and forks next to my plate and another line next to Evan's plate.

Lauren is still crawling everywhere. She especially likes to crawl under her exer-saucer. She's super cute and very mobile these days. I think she'll be walking by her 1st b-day.