Ode To Sam

Today Sam played with the Utah Valley Symphony at the Covey Center for the Arts. It was such a joy to watch. He was so poised and competent. Too bad I was using an I-pad to film it and had a bit of a shaky hand, not to mention Anna dropping her plastic horses on the floor at the same time!

So while we are on the subject of Sam, I will now take the time to do his Birthday tribute (first time not in my journal) - not quite a month late!

Sam Is Twelve!

Our First Snuggle

Journal entry from 18 September 2001: "OUR BOY IS BORN! He was born at 2:14 pm. He is an angel. I am smitten. I love him so much. I love his father more than ever.  I can no longer imagine our life without him (Sam).  I feel as if I have always known him."

A month later (twelve years ago this week) I wrote: "Sammy really enjoys walks. He looks around wide-eyed for a little while and then he falls asleep and sleeps very soundly. (I've considered a walk as a way to put him to sleep during the nights.) He is actually quite easy during the night- no fussing, really he just wants to eat, have his diaper changed and a little snuggle time. We mostly sleep the night away in the reclining chair in his room but Grant and I are trying to get him to sleep more in his crib.  He hasn't much liked it in the past.

He has very large, beautiful deep blue eyes which could change of course (the color, not the largeness). One of the things I love most about him is his eyes.  I love how when I am holding him he seems to gaze into my heart as his eyes lock onto mine.  He spends so much time looking up at me it endears me to him more and more with every glance."

Now, what is Sam (no longer Sammy) like at 12? He still has a depth of soul and understanding that surprises me all of the time. He is a good balance of fun and zest for life and soberness. He is trying to learn when the appropriate times for sobriety and zealousness are. He received the Aaronic Priesthood on September 28th and it has been wonderful to see him settling into his priesthood responsibilities with devotion and joy.

As for his talents, Sam is naturally pretty good at just about everything he tries. Sometimes to his detriment. He thrives in situations when he is really challenged. Also, when left to his own devices, he has the very natural inclination to take the path of least resistance. However, I am very proud of his willingness to try things that are hard when he has enough encouragement from teachers, coaches, leaders, parents. (The Telemann piece is a good example of Mrs. Willey challenging him to try and him really working toward something.) One of Sam's greatest talents is his ability and desire to learn. He has a brilliant mind and a thirst for knowledge. His favorite subject is science. He wants to be a Chemical Engineer when he grows up. He reads books about science for fun and is trying to memorize Tom Lehrer's "The Elements" song which can be found here. He also likes to read fiction, "The Heroes of Olympus" by Rick Riordan being an example of one he has lately enjoyed. He is a voracious reader as well as a sneaky one. I often find him reading by flashlight until late at night.

Sam SLEDDING down the ditches in Alpine during a big storm

He is very athletic, and enjoys basketball and running and messing around in the backyard or playground playing soccer or kickball. He isn't very aggressive on the court, but does have a healthy dose of competitiveness.

Discovering the joy of being FAST!

Sam loves fun and is a very entertaining boy. He has a boisterous laugh that keeps us all laughing. He can be a dream of a brother for Lizzie, William and Anna, providing them with hours of entertainment. He is really trying to get over his teasing habit, which we all appreciate and with which he has varying levels of success depending on his mood. He is super conscientious and seeks approval (mostly from Grant). We want him to always understand that he doesn't have to prove anything to win our love, but teaching that lesson isn't always easy! How do you teach a child that while you disapprove of their actions you don't disapprove of them? (A post for another day I guess.) He is also very determined and has an amazing amount of self control. Six months ago Grant and I gave him an I-pad as a reward for him going without sugar for one year! 

Sam is very good around older people. Our church congregation has a large population of elderly people who have been very attentive and kind to him. One couple, Daryl and Wynette Card just moved to an assisted living home and donated their entire rock collection to Sam. He has buckets of rocks everywhere in his room! (Poor William.) He had visited Brother Card a few times to look at his collection and talk rocks! Another older woman, Diana Pitcher invited Sam over to look at her late husband's collection of dinosaur bones, and anthropological specimens from all over the world, then later accepted his invitation to come over and look at his own collections. I cannot express how grateful I am to these wonderful people who love and encourage him.

Cuddling with a knife?

Sam loves rocks more than meat

Sam loves meat almost as much as he loves his mother

Speaking of collections, Sam collects to following in order of passion: Lasers, magnets, rocks, science books, knives, flashlights, other kinds of books and lastly seashells. Thankfully with all these collections he is a very tidy fellow. He loves order as much as his dad does.

Sometimes we both feel like he is growing up too fast!

Sam it is a joy to be your mother. Thank you for the gift of YOU! Thank you for being so full of love and life. Dad and I thank God every day that we have the privilege of being your parents. Thank you for the example you are for your younger siblings (except when you have to get a flu shot!). We know that being the oldest child isn't easy and we are grateful for your patience as we learn how be parents.  Thank you for your testimony and for being true to your conscience. Thank you for your laugh and the light that I saw in your eyes as a baby that is still there. I can't believe you are twelve! Happy (late) Birthday sweet boy. Thanks for not being too old to say, "Hold You!" We love you. We love you. We love you!

 Sam through the years: 

Sam at One (In a box, reading)

2 years old

3 Years Old

4 Years Old

5 Years Old

6 Years Old

7 Years Old

8 Years Old

31 October 2008, Baptism

9 Years Old

10 Years Old

11 Years Old