Hey folks, Sam the man here.

Even though I just went to Utah last weekend, I've been itching to get out of town - feel the wind in my hair and sandy water up my nostrils. So Dad took Friday off of work for a much-needed vacay and we hit the open road.

This is how I like to roll. Some people put one arm out the window, I put one leg up on my toy thing.

Seven hours and one pit stop later we ended up on South Padre Island (known to the locals as SPI), the OBX of the Texas coast.

We got there in time to play at the beach and spend some time in the hotel pool. It was my first time seeing the ocean and I was mesmerized. It called to me like the sirens to Ulysses. I was putty in its hands.

We had some Mexican food for dinner and then hit the sack early. Only to have the worst night's sleep of all of our collective lives. Seriously. The pits. And did I mention how dirty our hotel room was? Mom wouldn't even walk on the floor barefoot. She had to stand on a towel and drag her feet to get around.

Dad got up early the next morning to enjoy the sun rising over the ocean and Mom and I missed him so we joined him for some pictures. We spent the rest of the day walking back and forth between the ocean and our hotel room. I had to nap a lot. The beach wore me out! Maybe because I would get wet and then crawl around and get sand all over my face, clothes, hair, stroller, chair, towel, Mom, Dad, etc.

Here I'm doing my stretches. Look at how flexible I am! Take that Cirque du Soleil.

Last night's sleep was better than the first. I think it's because Mom and Dad covered my crib with a blanket to make it easier to sleep. This morning we headed back and stopped at a church in Harlingen, Texas. Now we're home and Mom's finally letting me crawl around because this floor is much cleaner.

All in all, it was a great trip. It was exhausting trying to keep all the ladies off me, but I'd better get used to it.

Until next time folks, peace.

On Friday afternoon I flew to Salt Lake City for the wedding of one of my best friends. Saturday she got sealed to her husband, Ryan, in the Salt Lake Temple. It was such a beautiful ceremony! I'd never met Ryan before but he seems like such a great match for Brittney and I can tell that he treats her so well! They looked great together. It was a rainy day, but it stopped when they came out of the temple and for pictures so it was perfect. I'm so glad I got to be there for her wedding. I'm excited for them to start life as a married couple! I only wish they were closer...

Her reception took place at the Zions Bank Building right across from Temple Square. It had a great view.

I also got to see some old friends, my mom (who watched Sam for me basically all day! THANKS!), my sister, and her husband. They are really cute. By the way, happy birthday, Craig.

Birthdays, Alligators, and Weddings

Thursday was my 25th birthday! I can't believe I am such an oldy moldy. I can now rent a car. So exciting. Thursday night my parents flew into town because my cousin got married Saturday in the Houston Temple.

Thursday we went out to dinner and then came home to eat cake and ice cream. I got some sweet presents. My phone broke a while ago and I got a new one but then that one broke. So I asked my parents to bring me just a cheap free one from Virginia (I'm on their family plan) and they brought me a totally tricked out phone that does all sorts of things that I don't even understand. I think it will take me quite a while to figure it all out. But so far, I've learned how to play all the rockin' tunes my dad put on it like John Denver and Huey Lewis. It's amazing.

My big present from Dan was a plane ticket to Utah to go to one of my best friend's wedding this Saturday. I am really excited.

Friday my parents and I went down to Brazos Bend State Park to look for alligators. We saw 8 total. Most of them were hanging out pretty far from where we were, but there was one that was REALLY close. He was eyeing Sammy for a tasty lunch, but Sam flexed his bulging biceps and the alligator jumped into the lake. After we walked around the lake, we went to a nature center and Sam got to pet a baby alligator.

Saturday were the wedding festivities. Heather looked so pretty! Sorry to Jon 'cause he's making a funny face, but this is one of the only pictures I got! I loved seeing my aunts and uncles. They are such fun, loving people. They crack me up. Unfortunately this is the only picture of them that I got.

Sam was a cranky pants hanging out outside the temple so I took his shirt off and let him play in the fountain. He loved it until I made him stop.

It was a good weekend. I loved having my parents visit and Sammy loved being spoiled and held by all his relatives.

Life of Pi

Has anyone read this? I just finished it a few days ago and I'm kind of confused. Which story is true? I think it's the second one, but after I told Dan about the story, he thinks it's the first. Maybe it is the first, but no one would believe him and that's the point? Am I so dense? Probably.

Thoughts?

This Easter was great! Friday night Sam and I picked Dan up from work and we headed up to check out the progress on our house. It's really coming along.

After that, we went to visit with Dan's old roommate Adam and his wife, Kacie, since they were in town. It's so fun to see them and their little boy.

Next we started the 3-hour drive from Houston to Austin to stay with Adam and Yinelli (Dan's brother and his wife). Their family always keeps us entertained. They have such sweet kids and their kids absolutely adore Dan. It's really cute. They even had Dan waving around a princess wand and casting spells on them turning them into different animals.

The wildflowers in TX are supposed to be gorgeous so on Saturday we went to the LBJ Wildflower Center in Austin. Waste. Of. Money. I mean, the flowers were pretty but it was basically like going to a nursery. The weather was, however, perfect for picture taking.

On Easter we went to church and then hid eggs for the kids and watched them go nuts. It was Sam's first Easter, but he didn't get a basket. Maybe next year...

On the drive back from Austin, we came across the most amazing fields of bluebonnets. Tons of people were out taking pictures so we decided to take some, too. Too bad the lighting was awful. Just 30 minutes later and I think it would have been perfect, but we were in a hurry to get home.

In other news, I took Sam to the neurologist today and the dr. said that Sam can stop wearing his helmet!!! YAY! I'm supposed to wean him off of it. So right now he's taking a nap without it on for the first time in like 3 months, I think. Pretty exciting. I won't miss having to wash his hair every night and clean out the nasty smelling helmet with rubbing alcohol.

And lastly, Sam wanted to wish his cousin Carter a happy 1st birthday!

Two days ago Dan and I both felt it - Sam's first tooth! It's barely broken through the surface, so a picture wouldn't show it, but it's definitely here to stay. I was starting to think he didn't have any teeth and we'd have to feed him mashed up peas and chocolate shakes for the rest of his life.

Yesterday we headed to the local Bass Pro Shop to meet the Easter bunny. We had to wake Sam up to get him there so that we could make it home before the afternoon session of General Conference. He wasn't too excited about meeting a giant stuffed rabbit. The store took some pictures that they'll post online in the next few days. Dan snapped a few, too. They have major red-eye, but whatever. Sam was pretty apprehensive and started doing a weird wincing cry, but isn't childhood all about being subjected to weird traditions by your parents? Yes.

After that, we walked around the store a little bit. Sam liked petting the stuffed raccoon but was terrified of the grizzly.

Just down the freeway from Bass Pro is this random presidential monument of sorts. There are these giant busts of George Bush Sr., Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and JFK. Sam enjoyed rubbing shoulders with (or sitting on the shoulder of) good ol' TJ. Sam lamented his move from Virginia and TJ sympathized.

Other than that we've been enjoying Conference weekend. The weather here has been GORGEOUS (upper 70s) and we're lovin' it because we know it's only going to get hotter, and HOTTER. Sam has also learned how to clap. It's really cute. I'll post a video soon.

Also, mostly for my parents, here's a picture of our house. They poured the foundation on Monday and this is what they've done of the frame as of Friday.