Eight Paws

Samuel paints his new room at the farm. March 2009

Meeting baby girl for the first time

Samuel enjoys his homemade sushi ("shushi") (avocado rolls) and asked for "chopsticks?" Thankfully, we had one hidden in a drawer, and he stabbed away. Here he points at dadda. 10/27

Samuel and mama have our first wagon ride to the park in a long time. It was so cold and windy that we turned right back around and came home after only a quick swing. 10/28

Grandma and Grandpa came for Halloween. Here Papa catches Samuel before heading off for more sushi. 10/30

Samuel is lucky to have such a fun papa and grandma! Here the are swinging on the rocket swings. 10/30

Samuel and Maple go "superfast" at Vale Park 10/21

A beautiful fall day

Making pizza (peez) with dadda 10/20

Picking our home-grown pumpkins! 10/20/07

Samuel and dadda inspect our round pumpkin

Samuel and mama cut the tall pumpkin

Chop!

Samuel and mama share some raspberries after pumpkin picking

Samuel and Mama go to Saratoga 10/19/07

Samuel and mama stop at the caboose on the way to Saratoga. Samuel's first time being close to a real (or formerly real) "boose"
"I drive?"

Samuel happy to be with the ducks of Congress Park

"Upside down" duck. Funny!

"Bye-a ducks"

Tired but happy to riding the carousel

"I make wish Sooby doo." Samuel remembered what to do at a wishing fountain without being reminded.

We always have fun in Saratoga. My baby.

Our visit to Indian Ladder Farm Oct. 17, 2007

Samuel tries to get close to a goat

Samuel drives the red tractor

The BIG red tractor

Samuel and his pals Izzy, Elizabeth and Ethan meet a kind and handsome donkey

Samuel and Izzy try to climb in with Mr. Pig

The friends watch the ducks

Samuel takes Elizabeth for a spin (she would have preferred a solo trip) :)

Samuel takes a spin on his trike. He can peddle now! 10/17/07

Samuel watches a "tree truck" take down a banner at the park. They waved and beeped on their way out. What a day! 10/17/07

Samuel pushes Gia at the park (then jumps on). What a big "hi hi" (kid). 10/17

Samuel has his first taste of tea at a tea party with dadda before bed 10/13

Cedar joins too.

Samuel takes one last spin on the tractor 10/13

Samuel and dadda take our first hay ride (after we confirm that the horses are well-loved) :) Mabee Farm 10/13

Samuel thanks the horses by sharing his apples 10/13

Samuel climbs on some hay bales at the Mabee Farm 10/13

Samuel greets a sheep at the Mabee Farm 10/13

Samuel and mama greet baby Honey at the Mabee Farm 10/13

Samuel "drives" the "blue tractor" at the Mabee Farm. Not really a display, but leave it to Samuel to find the tractor. He proceeded to ask to drive the blue tractor during our entire visit. 10/13

Samuel helps put his firetruck away. He enjoys helping close the door. 10/10

Samuel sips cocoa (warm soy milk) while wearing his new racecar PJ's and dadda's boots (his firefighter boots) 10/12

Samuel calls dadda at work to tell him about the arrival in the mail of his "green tractor hat" 10/10

Samuel fills his fire truck at the nearby hydrant. Mama gets a huge kick out of the way he wears his hat backwards. 10/10

Dadda (just back from work) pushes Samuel back home 10/10

Samuel successfully blows a party horn on his first try. Izzy's party. 10/9/07

Samuel with his oldest friends at Izzy's party 10/9

Samuel enjoys the yummy vegan cupcakes that Jaime made. 10/9

Samuel enjoys his first rousing game of balloon with Chris 10/9

Samuel blows out the moon's birthday candle

Yummy!

Samuel, Izzy, and Elizabeth have fun in Izzy's box 10/9

Samuel eats like a big kid next to Cousin Camilla 10/6

Saying goodbye to cousins Camilla and Nathanael 10/6

Painting a picture for Grandad with Cedar 10/7/07

Helping mama ice the moon's birthday cake 10/8

Samuel gets a lift from Papa at the park. Water fountains are a favorite. 10/6

Papa and cousin Michael make Samuel go "high" 10/6

Samuel and his big cousins swing 10/6

Samuel finds a vehicle at the park near Gma and Papa's 10/6

Samuel helps cousins Nathanael and Camilla with a puzzle at Gma's and Papa's 10/6/07

Samuel and Camilla rest at Gma and Papa's 10/6/07

The cousins play 10/6

Samuel follows cousin Nathanael down the big hill at Gma and Papa's 10/6

This slide is "super fast" 10/4/07

This is the only slide that Samuel goes down head-first 10/4/07

The two "Sams" at Central Park 10/4/07

Samuel "helps" his cousins Camilla and Nathanael with a puzzle at Gma and Papa's 10/6/07

Samuel and mama visit the Front St. Park for the first time

Samuel watches the boats on the Mohawk

Samuel helps mama paint. "I help mama paint." 9/30/07

Samuel poses with a fresh carrot from the garden

Samuel and mama are proud of our pumpkins

Reist Wildlife Sanctuary 9/30

Samuel runs "super fast"

Having gone too fast in the beginning of the walk, Samuel takes a break.

Samuel loves finding bridges in the woods

One more bridge.

One last day in the pool (mid 80's!) 9/25/07

Samuel in his pool in late September!

Sending a car down the slide. Splash! FUN! 9/25

Our trip to NJ 9/20-23

Samuel invited grandad to the Shark Park after a yummy organic dinner. 9/22

Back at Lake Absegami with his new shovel. Note the rain clouds forming! 9/22

Storm is a brewin', but we play on. 9/22

Cedar says maybe we should go!?!

Samuel's first train ride Atlantic City to Absecon 9/22

Samuel's first hot pretzel (from grandad and auntie's stand). Atlantic City train station

Samuel and dadda get tickets for Samuel's first train ride. Atlantic City

Walking to the train with grandad and dadda for Samuel's first train ride. Atlantic City to Absecon

Mama and Samuel get ready to board the train. Samuel is excited but ready for a nap. The locomotive is also very noisy!

Samuel and dadda next to the noisy locomotive

Samuel, dadda, and the conductor.

Dadda and Samuel board the train to Absecon, NJ Samuel's first time on a train!

Samuel, dadda, and grandad wait for the train to go.

Arrived in Absecon (about 10 minutes later!) Samuel loved the trip! Samuel says "More train??" "Where train go?"

Driving at the Shark Park in Brigantine 9/21

Giving grandad a goodnight hug 9/21

Samuel plays "Ring around the Rosie" with cousins Joy and Cody after dinner 9/21

Our first non-beach nature outing in NJ - Lake Absegami at Bass River State Park 9/21/07

Maple "nigh nigh" on Samuel on our way to Lake Absegami. Samuel thought that was great.

Taking a break for some banana at Lake Absegami

Maple tests the Lake Absegami water

Maple and Samuel have fun with a waterlogged stick

Samuel thinks Maple's attempts to raise the stick are hilarious

Maple is one funny dog!!

Maple and Samuel decide who is going to pick up that stick from the lake bottom

There go the semi-dry clothes

At least it's a warm September day! Lake Absegami

Maple shakes off at Lake Absegami, NJ

I'm going to get you Maple!!!!

One more throw for Maple! What a fun game! Lake Absegami

Mama forgot dry clothes. Thankfully, it was quite warm!

Nature boy walks his pal back to the car.

After a ride on Grandad's cart (in an attempt to satiate Samuel's desire to ride the train), Grandad introduces Samuel to the ticketwoman. Atlantic City Train Station 9/21