My quarterly update (apparently)

Successful Halloween! We didn't even freeze to death this year! Sam is Link from the Legend of Zelda (he has rockin' boots on that you can't see, and a sword. But the most important thing is that he is GREEN.) Katie was afraid of her witch costume at 1st, but warmed up to it just in time!

Katie is THREE today. She has been WAY into dress up lately, as you can see from her fairy/cheerleader/princess get-up above.

She loved her presents tonight!

This baby appears to have wicked evil eyes- it looks much more innocent and non-possessed in person- thanks Grandma Sharon and Grandpa David!

Oooooo a Cinderella Barbie- thanks Grandma Laine and Grandpa Kell!

Grandma Dorothy doesn't know it yet, but this "Little Mermaid" dress up is what she helped contribute to! A big hit. Thanks Grandma Dorothy!

"Take this lame candle so I can eat my CAKE!"

Tumbling and Haircuts!

Katie had a tumbling class, met once a week for a month in June and July. She was super shy, but loved the BAR and her teacher was amazed at her muscles!

I cut Katie's hair a couple weeks ago- it looks super cute when we round brush it!

Sam got his 1st ever real haircut from a barbershop a few days ago- he looks so handsome. Here he is with Katie at the Jackson fair on Thursday.

Cheesin' it while we wait for the bus to go home from the fun fabulous fair!

STUFF- inspired by all the junk in my house I need to stop collecting

Got a few minutes? Watch this.
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
It’s an insightful presentation about how and why “stuff” is made and sold to us over and over again and why we think we need so much of it.

Swimming Lessons for Sam!

Sam is a Guppie! He has swimming lessons at the rec center every Tues. and Thurs. for half an hour all summer. I was nervous he would not want to listen to his teacher, but he is doing SO GREAT. He does everything she asks him to, and laughs and squeals the whole time!

These are 3 of the 4 kids in his class: Sam, Vega and Sebastian.

The kids have been on the deck alot lately, sometimes being secretly naughty! But I thought this was funny- Sam decided to play "tic tac toe" on his belly (like Elliot the dragon from "Pete's Dragon") Luckily they used washable markers!

Sam's birthday and preschool program

SaM's BiRtHdAy

Sam's birthday was on a Monday this year, so he took cupcakes to his preschool class which he thought was fun! Then his friend Landon came over to play while we waited for Daddy to get off work. We went to McDonalds for dinner and then went swimming at the rec center! Everyone at the rec center was very surprised to see Clark Kent turn into Superman right before their eyes! People were screaming wildly.

Birthday boy is FIVE.
Sam decided that 5 years old was big enough to go down the water slide all by himself! Daddy waited at the bottom to catch him.
Cold K-K-K-Katie

THEN, we got back to our apartment and finished off the cupcakes!

Finally came the presents! Sam got packages in the mail from both sets of grandparents and he was so excited to see what they sent him!

Here's Sam above opening a Bumblebee Transformer from Grandma Laine and Grandpa Kell, and below opening a Cars paint set from Grandma Sharon and Grandpa David.

It was a fun birthday!


SAM'S PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

6-12-09

There were 7 kids in Sam's class. Their last day was June 12th and the parents came for a program that the kids had been practicing for months. Sam got some stage fright and didn't sing or speak a word, but we were just proud that he stayed up there even though he was scared!

I keep trying to upload videos from his program- not working. :(

Some Catch-up for Grandmas and Grandpas!

Here's a few pics and videos of cuteness in the last couple months! I haven't been blogging like I should and realized that's not very nice especially to Sam and Katie's 4 grandparents who miss them like crazy!


Below is a video of Sam and Katie tackling each other- it cracks me up to see Katie hold her own with her big big brother!

EASTER 2009- We went to the egg hunt in the town square that Saturday

Cute church clothes on Sunday!

Shane ran a 1/2 marathon in Salt Lake (13 miles) in April. We watched him cross the finish line down town! His time was 1 hour 5o minutes. Shane's sister Tia ran the full marathon that day.

Sam and Katie with their friend Landon, who is one year younger than Sam. We went hiking that day. Katie thinks she's a baby. I caught her naked in the sink one day, wanting to take a bath (and brush her teeth.)

Gelb Family Vacation in Wyoming

I'm still shocked and amazed that it happened, and sad that it's over! All my family were troopers and drove ACROSS THE COUNTRY to see our neck of the woods. We had about 6 days together, 1/2 in Jackson Hole and 1/2 in Yellowstone. It was blissful. Even the rain agreed with us, letting up at the most convenient times.

My family at Lower Falls in Yellowstone
Shane and I at lower falls

Katie and I on the boat across Jenny Lake

Sam DID NOT like the sulpher smell of the hot spots in Yellowstone- here he is plugging his nose.

Katie at Teton National Park Visitor Center

Sam at Lower Falls, Yellowstone

"The Guys" (minus Chris): Debbie's husband Eric, Lorren's husband Matthew, Dad and Shane

Mom at Teton National Park, happy for a canopy to shield us from the rain during our picnic lunch.

The whole group, at Teton Village in Jackson

My sister Lorren with Katie at the Visitor Center

Lorren and Matthew on the boat across Jenny Lake

Lorren's 2nd son, Brandon (12) is in between Adam and Shane. We were on the tram at Teton Village in Jackson, going up up up up up the mountain.

Lorren's youngest son, Ben (9) on the tram

An awesome hot spring at Yellowstone, in West Thumb.

My sister Debbie's family arrived 1st and we met them at Teton Nat'l Park. Eric is on the left by Katie. Courtney is in the orange sweatshirt and is Debbie's oldest (14). Her friend Shelby came on the trip. Debbie is in green and her youngest, Matthew is in front of her.

Debbie holding Katie on the tram, and Courtney in front

Adam (13) is Debbie's middle child, sitting next to Sam in the car (who was OBSESSED with Adam's "magic dollar")

Matthew is 9 and Debbie's youngest. This was the 1st bear he saw on the trip. :)

A cool geyser at Yellowstone with some rockin' clouds in the background

We went with Mom and Chris's family on this horse-drawn stagecoach ride. It was fun!

Chris with Mom on Jenny Lake

Tracy with Mom and Dad on the Tram- it was REALLY HIGH so Mom preferred the view squatting on the floor, which obviously ensured her safety should we have crashed to the valley floor. :)

Chris's oldest, Sydney (8) with Sam at the West Thumb hot springs in Yellowstone.

Chris's middle child, Riley (4) with Sam, climbing rocks at Lower Falls, Yellowstone

Chris's youngest, Madilyn (17 months) chillin' in her stroller with Kate. They were binky buddies!

We saw MANY buffalo, elk, deer, crazy birds, and several bears. I think everyone was thrilled with the wildlife. We got to stay in awesome cabins (thanks Mom and Dad!), ate meals together at the lodges, saw Old Faithful go off a coupla times, took family pictures (forthcoming!), ate dinner at the Gun Barrel (best steaks ever!), went down the Alpine Slide, SHOPPED, hiked, played "Risk", drove alot (on lots of cliffs!) and had tons of fun. THANK YOU, FAMILY FOR MAKING THIS TRIP! It meant alot.