February 2010

Another blast of several posts at once...it's my own style of blogging...the blogging blast followed by months of silence. I like to build the anticipation. :)

Thanks to Mormor Sam has been doing a lot of skating this winter. Good thing, because all the snow has been in DC!

Off to the rink with Mormor.

Aunt Kristin and Gordie have logged lots of rink time too. Here's Sam with Kristin and my mom.

And here's Gordie with his mama. Both boys are way into hockey and have been going to lots of Bowdoin College games this season. Sam often insists that I call him "Goalie" not "Sam".

Check out the video we've posted to see Sam in action. He LOVES this little guitar. I think we may have a budding musician here...as long as he continues to think his guitar-playing daddy is cool!

January 2010

Sam the painter. This day he kept saying, "Mommy, I'm a real artist!"

Jack gets a visit from his friend Nora. Sweet Nora belongs to my good friend Jones.

Coming home from a wintery walk.

Love those smiles; they can warm the coldest day in January!

Lots of snow means a good snowblower show from our neighbor Mr. Reed.

Jack getting his guitar lesson.

Pure sweetness. What more can a smitten mama say?

November & December 09

A few images from November and December 2009:

Early morning swaddle snuggle. I think I was asleep standing in this photo!

Yes, I recall being so tired that I actually sat down while making pancakes with Sam. Good thing Sam was there to steady my flipping hand.

We're really not this yellow. Must be our energy efficient bulbs.

A pensive Jack on the changing table.

Wide-eyed Jack.

Alongside Advent Elf, Sam models his skates.

I did a lousy job of photographing Christmas this year, but I did capture this one sweet image of Sam and our twinkling tree - my favorite part of the season.

October 2009

October was full of many wonderful things...

Jack spent lots of time in his season appropriate pumpkin hat, kicking around on this wonderful handmade quilt, a gift from our friends Susan & Chad.

My mom's neighbors do an annual cider press with apples from their own trees. Sam & Gordie had a great time playing in the tree house...

and feeding apples to the press. Great fun and the cider was delicious!

Our Swedish friend Asa came for a visit while on a business trip to Boston. Though we've kept in touch since meeting in college, six years had slipped by since our last visit. It was such a treat to catch up and compare mothering notes. Sam was delighted by Asa and even learned a few Swedish words. A trip to Sweden is definitely in our future. Asa and her husband have a little girl, Siri, who is Sam's age.

We also had the pleasure of having Great Grandpa Peterson come for a visit from South Carolina. 91 years old, Grandpa continues to be quite a world traveler. At six weeks old Jack was newly interactive and enjoyed his time on Grandpa' lap.

Sam also bonded with Great Grandpa. Here they enjoy grilled cheese with mustard, a Peterson family tradition.

My boys. Can't believe I have three of them now!

Of course, you can't review October without mentioning Halloween. Here Sam poses with our jack-o-lantern, carved mostly by Kevin.

And here's our little giraffe. You might recall seeing Sam in this costume two years ago. It's a 6 to 12 month size but Sam found it and insisted on squeezing into it. The lobster costume would have to wait for another year.

Mister Three

I've had the photos to this entry cued up for ages and just never managed to push the "post" button! In this age of instant information six-month old news is ancient history, I know, but hopefully you'll still appreciate images of our Sam turning 3 back in late September.

Our friend Sarah made this gorgeous three-layer carrot cake. At first I had declined her kind offer, feeling it was my duty come-what-may to bake our son's birthday cake. But after a few more sleepless nights with newborn Jack I had a clear change of heart. Important to know one's limitations!

Thanks to Gordie, Ava & Macy, Sam got plenty of help opening and inspecting presents.

4 week-old Jack with his Big Poppy.

Jack with Aunt Laura, cousins Ava and Bella nearby. The girls were very sweet to wee Jack and gave him lots of kisses.

My father made up these wonderful tool box building kits and sent them up from South Carolina. We gave each party goer a kid-sized hammer and they built their own tool box...(with a little help from the grown ups who were wielding full sized hammers). It turned out to be a fabulous, albeit noisy, activity. Thanks, Morfar!

The morning after Sam posed with his new tool box. Also notice his super cool vacuum cleaner t-shirt made by our friend Hana. She sent him one in red and one in blue. Needless to say, Sam thinks they're the greatest shirts ever. Hana, you're the best!

Just before turning 3 Sam started preschool. He goes to a sweet Waldorf-inspired program of just 7 kids. It has been a great fit for him and I love that he has this wonderful new world all of his own now. This photo was taken on his first day, mid-September.

We had a beautiful, warm fall and Sam enjoyed many outdoor projects with Daddy. Sam still hasn't quite grown into the work gloves my mom gave him, but he wears them faithfully!

Priming quarter-round for our living room.

Still a bookworm. Sam couldn't get enough of this one page: Busy Town dump trucks of every sort.

Meet Jack

It's taken me TEN weeks to finally make this very important post. Guess you could say we've been a bit busy with the arrival of our newest family member. Although Jack's arrival is no longer breaking news, this sweet second child certainly deserves a little recognition. So, please welcome Jack Ellis Cashman, born August 26, 2009, 9lb. 3oz., 22". These first two and a half months have brought all the challenge and bliss one might expect of a household with a newborn and a three year-old. The good news is that Jack has already given us the gift of sleeping through the night, and Sam is now using the potty. Let's hope for continued success on both accounts!

Please enjoy a few pictures from Jack's early days. I'll make another post soon with more recent photos.

With Mormor on his first boat ride.

with Uncle Bobby...

and Aunt Kristin.