SAM - 2009	Home	My Site Map

	JANUARY - 2009 zoomed in before I knew it. I've been behind on the website but I'm getting caught up today. Sam and Mommy took a picture with their glasses on and then Sammy spent the night with Grammy and Grampy because Sam and Grampy were going to an event and mommy did not want them driving on New Year's Eve. So Mommy spent a quiet evening at home watching movies. There has been no significant snow yet this year so no outside snow activites. Grammy had a nice birthday dinner for Mommy's birthday. Near the end of the month we went down to Old Colorado City to see the first annual ice sculpture competition. It left a lot to be desired; however it was nice to be outside.
	FEBRUARY - February was a busy month of sports, school, and cub scouts. First, on Valentine's Day Sam gave Autumn a nice card and gift. She liked it a lot. Then Sam and Ryan went with their mom's to the Chinese New Year's Festival at the City Auditorium. We saw the dragon, the drummer's and some martial arts. The boys loved it. Finally, near the end of the month at the Cub Scouts the Bears earned their whittling chips by whittling a neckerchief slide. They did an awesome job and Mommy shelacked them all to make them shine. After that meeting the boys quickly ran over to the Cheyenne Mountain Retirement Home to view their art project. Their art was an interpretation of the butterfly exhibit that had been on display throughout Colorado Springs in the summer. Sam's butterfly was called the "Eye Fly".
	MARCH - Sam had a jam-packed March. First he finished up Winter Hockey with the CC Tigers mascot. He had a nice party at daycare for St. Patrick's Day and wore his giant hat. There was the Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts. Sam won first place in the den and third in the pack. This year he will be going with the rest of the winners to the Ute District Derby. Thomas the Tank Engine came to the Pikes Peak Center and Sam and mommy went to the show. And then finally for Spring Break, mommy and Sam were supposed to go to Canyonlands in Utah; however, due to the giant snow storm (the only significant snow of the season) we headed south to New Mexico. We took out new 17-foot trailer with us for the first time and it was quite the adventure. The wind was outrageous, we ran out of gas once, and we took a harrowing route over the mountains to Bandelier. But, Sam and I made it as we always do and we have a great story to remember!! Day one we drove from Colorado Springs to Carlsbad, NM. This was an all day trip and we were happy to set up the trailer and get to sleep that night. Day two was a short drive over to Carlsbad Caverns. We spent the day touring the caverns and Sam loved all the stalagtites and stalagmites. At the end of the day we headed out through the Guadalupe Mountains National Park to Juarez and finally up to Las Cruces. This was a horrible trip as we ran out of gas and had to unhook the trailer, come back, hook it back up, and continue on our way. Day three we drove to Albequerque. Once there we stopped at the Albequerque National Museum where we saw awesome dinosaurs, which we loved. The we drove over to Petroglyph National Monument which is stuck in the middle of a residential neighborhood. This was a little weird, but we hiked out to see them and they were really neat. Day four we drove out from Albequerque to Chaco Culture National Historic Park. Now this was neat. We spent the day touring the site, and had an awesome lunch at the park. On the way back we drove this mountaineous road to get over to Bandelier National Monument The drive down to the park was harrowing but I can see why they had their homes there, it was gorgeous. Day five, finally we headed home. I was a long drive but we survived!!
	APRIL - Sam began the month with Easter egg painting and hunting. He got lots of good things from the Easter Bunny (his second favorite holiday, he says after X-mas) and of course we enjoyed putting on our trash bag cover to paint the eggs. Since Sam won the Pinewood Derby in his den, he was able to go to the Ute District Pinewood Derby. He invited his friend Max and both boys had a great time! Sam did not win but it was quite the experience to enjoy. Finally Sam had his birthday party at Skate City. He invited a ton of boys and they all had a great time skating and eating Spongebob cake.
	MAY - May was a fun month. First, Mother's Day was celebrated at Grammy's house with great-grandma, Aunt Julie, Grammy, and Mommy. It was a multi-generational celebration. Sam also ran in the Skyway Marathon for the second year. He ran 26 miles in 13 weeks and qualified to run the last mile at the Cheyenne Mountain High School track. Near the end of the month was the final piano recital for the year with Ms Sofia. Finally, Sam celebrated the end of third grade and the move on to summer!
	JUNE - Sam's summer has been great. He started out by going to Indiana with Grandpa for 2 weeks. Then when he came back he wanted to play baseball with the YMCA. Sam also participated in the Scouting Day at the zoo with his friend Ryan. The lions took a real fancy to Sam and keep jumping at the glass enclosure to try and get at him!
	JULY - July was another great month for Sam. Our awesome friends Tina McMaster and Brent Goering invited us to come spend a week with them in Alaska. We left for Alaska on the 1st of July and spent 7 days with our friends Tina, Brent, and their son Spencer. Unfortunately during this whole trip I was not feeling good. I had a car accident earlier in the year, and I didn't know at the time that I had strained the ligaments in my neck. I was suffering from horrible headaches and exhaustion. But I toughed it out and made it through the trip. Day one we flew out from Denver to Anchorage. I got the departure date wrong and so Grandpa had to hurry and run us up to the Denver airport. No problem. We got on the plane and after 7 hours we were landing in Anchorage. I can't tell you how weird it is each time I come back. It is such a beautiful place, but I am also so greatful to know I can leave!! Day two I let Tina and Brent know that Sam wanted to see Mt McKinley. They oh so kindly booked an airplane ride out of Talkeetna to the glacier on Mt McKinley. What a flight. We were in a small twin engine plane that flew right up next to the mountainsides, weaving in and out, and then landed us on the glacier. Once there we had about 1/2 hour to get out of the plane and look around. Sam was in awe. This was amazing. Day three, we drove down to the Seward Pensula. While there we saw the Alaska Sea Life museum which was cool. There was a walrus and puffins!! Then we all took some dramamine and jumped on a boat that took us on a cruise out into the Seward Penisula to the edge of a glacier. More awesome scenery. Then, to round out the day we took the Alaska Railroad back to Anchorage. We saw bears, waterfalls, and more AWESOME scenery!! Day four we went to the Anchorage Museum. This was an awesome look at the town, it's natural and manmade history. Then went and had lunch at the Simon and Seafort's restaurant overlooking the bay.That was wonderful. And we spent the last part of the day looking for the house I lived in while there. We couldn't find it!! Day five was cold and dreary but we went to the little Farmer's market in downtown Anchorage to do some souvenior shopping. Day six Sam and I went downtown alone to do some more souvenir shopping. We also stopped by a see a Wild Dog Sled show. Day five we flew back to Colorado Springs. Again, I feel a great sense of relief that I am leaving. Too bad I got such a bad taste the first time around Thank you Tina and Brent!! Near the end of the month Sam went to the wedding of his mom's friends Donna and Tim. The wedding was held at Farish which is a military recreation site near Pikes Peak. 2011 Update. Tim was killed in a motorcycle accident just this year. What a tragedy for Donna and her family. My heart goes out to them!!
	AUGUST - This was finally a quiet month for Sam. We spent some time with outings at Sam's daycare Greenshades. We went to the Denver museum and then to Elitch's. Finally on August 17th 4th Grade started for Sam at Skyway elementary. He was super excited to head back to school and see all of his friends!!
	SEPTEMBER - All right another vacation!! This Labor Day Sam and Mommy decided to go visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. National Park. The park was just added as a national park this year. Day one, we hooked up our trailer to old Rackety Boom and it took us all day to drive to the Blue Mesa reservior. Day two we hiked down to the Morrow Point Boat Tour and saw the Curecanti Needle. Our tour guide was awesome and funny. And Sam was the only kid on the boat so he got everyone's attention! Day three we went to the actual Black Canyon and saw the painted wall, went on several hikes, and saw the "death drop". A nice Belgian man took Sam over to see that because I COULD NOT go on the platform which was cantilevered over the side of a sheer wall. Day four we drive the long haul back home. So quick!! School has begun and Sam is getting into the swing of things.
	OCTOBER - This month was Sam's piano recital. He chose to play "My Heart Will Go On" from the movie Titanic and a composition of his own. Near the end of the month was the traditional Skyway Halloween Party. Sam loved playing the games as usual. He wanted to have a very scary (read that as bloody) costume. We compromised on a zombie skeleton.
	NOVEMBER - ANOTHER VACATION!! Early in the month Sam and Mommy decided to head to Disneyland for Thanksgiving. Day one we flew to Los Angeles and spent the first three days in Anaheim. The first night we went to the Medieval Times for an awesome dinner and show. Day two and three were at Disneyland. We went on every ride that we didn't go on when we were here when Sam was three. Day four, five, and six we moved operations down to San Diego and first hit Legoland on our way down from Los Angeles. The next day we saw the San Diego Zoo. Of course mom stood in a LOOONG line to see the baby panda!! Finally, the next day we spent the day with Shamu for Thanksgiving, even having dinner with him. This was Sam's favorite place to be. He loved the killer whales and the "Believe" show. Day seven and eight we headed back up to Los Angeles. The first place we went was near the Santa Monica pier so Sam could swim in the Pacific Ocean. Next we went to Universal Studios. And on our last day we saw the Lea Brea Tar pits and the Hollywood sign. Day none we flew home exhausted!! I asked Sam if he liked Los Angles and he said NO!! It was too big and ugly!! Back to our little hometown then. Sam finished up the month by playing basketball and more hockey. He's getting much better.
	DECEMBER - Finally Christmas swept into our house. Sam had another music recital this time at Skyway. He played in the percussion. He plays, bass and kettle drums and the xylophone. He's mad at me because I made him choose this instrument but it helps with his piano so he's outta luck for now. I told him he can pick up any instrument he wants later in life because he will have gotten the basics of reading music through piano. Sam's really struggling with believing in Santa this year. He is convinced it's me until he got his "Santa" presents which he put in a letter I wasn't able to see. But he got what he asked for :)
More miscellaneous pictures of Sam in 2009: Sam 2009

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