Samuel's 9th Birthday

One of Mark's sisters was thinking ahead and helped plan a combined birthday party with Grandma, who's birthday is the day before Samuel's. So we all got together at the grandparents' home for cousin fun, swimming, presents, etc.

Sam loves the babies. This is cousin Lily he was cooing at.

Friday he opened presents from just that side of the family. Some candy, games, a telescope, great ideas. He opened the presents from us and my side of the extended family first thing the next morning. He knew he was (likely) getting some new Wii games and wanted the day to play them!

He also got some books, clothes, and additional "lazer" guns. Per usual, he was kind of hard to shop for because he could only think of two thinks he really wanted (a particular Wii game and a quiz book). I really love that about my kiddos: not greedy at all.
Sam asked me to make brownies to share at the combo party, but we had chocolate cake with white icing for his actual birthday.