Sam's 3rd Birthday!

While I feel like Sam has been 3 for quite some time (based on him always following his brother and doing as he does), today was his actual birthday. It really was the perfect day for a 3 year old. We started with a gift from Papa and Nanna Sally - a glider bike. His older brother is quite good on a homemade version, but it was a bit big for Sam. So he was given the real one (which is much smaller). He literally was glued to it all morning.

Then this afternoon his Daddy took just him to the book store to pick out his own book for his birthday. His father steered his choosing and he ended up with a Little Bear Treasury. When he was gone, his godparents showed up to help me decorate the house. And he was able to come home to a small surprise.
He had the sweetest smile on his face and was so excited his friends were there. Then we opened presents.

This is what occupied the kids (and dads as you can see) while dinner was cooking. For dinner - good ol' Sam-picked steak, asparagus, and roasted potatoes. Looks like we are in for pricey birthday dinners. What happened to a kids' favorite.... pizza, spaghetti?
Eliza is also a form of entertainment for the sweet Krueger boys.

Then on to cake - We chose this birthday to start our little lego collection, so I used them for the cake. Legos....



I think this smile pretty much sums up Sam's feelings about the day.

Sam is his own little person. He is so much fun to be with and IMPOSSIBLE to sum up in words. Instead I will give you some of the things he has done or enjoys doing.

*Peeing outside or in a cup. If you give him either of these options the boy would be potty trained. Otherwise, he may wait until Kindergarten.
*Sam is a meat-hound. He ate an entire steak by himself tonight.
*He is incredibly focused when he wants to be. He can sit for hours doing a task he loves.
*He loves little things. His friend Ryan gave him a miniature pumpkin and he carried it around most of the night. He also does this with pennies, and I'm sure he will do it will little creatures as he grows. I will have to check pockets at laundry time!
*He is incredibly affectionate. He spends much of his day nuzzling his sister.
*If he wants something, he is very stubborn.... persistent we'll say. He will sit for an incredibly long time on a swing waiting to be pushed. That is a moment when I know he is a middle child.... his older brother is pumping and his younger sister is nursing... Sam is sitting on the swing waiting for his mother.
*He knows his physical abilities incredibly well. He is incredibly daring physically, but only when he knows he can do something. He will jump from ridiculous places, yet he is happy to watch his brother higher in the tree because he is not quite ready to follow him to the top.
*He is a bit argumentative. He will argue with his brother FOREVER even when I have told him he is wrong. For example, tonight at bedtime Steven said, "I'm bigger." Sam's response was, "No, I am." He continued much past my correction.
*He is always the last to the table. Slow and steady.... or in his case, not so steady sometimes.
*He is happy for you to do things for him.....feed him, tell him his birthday...whatever.
*His is really gentle much of the time, but when he blows, watch out. He will come swinging, even with a toy in his hand.
*When he doesn't want to do something, he just stands still and pretends not to hear you. Even if you are inches away....and if you are not his parent... good luck getting him to listen if he doesn't want to! I have to drag him off the playground weekly at church to eat. It is almost a ritual.