Samuel decided he does not want to be fed and would rather starve than surrender to a spoon in some one else's hand. He pursed his lips into the equivalent of a locked vault.


He was not happy that I insisted that he eat something. Next he whipped his head and smooshed his face into the back of the high chair at any sight of the spoon. On the rare occasion the spoon neared his mouth he took the food and smeared it all over his head. The whole feeding area and Samuel needed to be hosed down after the meal.... and every other meal.


Liana neatly enjoyed her watermelon.


Samuel refused to eat the pieces I cut for him, so I gave him the whole slice. He did his best to pick it up but decided to munch on it off the tray after it kept slipping from his hands.


I threw aside the baby food and gave him a spoon and plate of food. We were grateful that something finally made it in his mouth. It seemed to be neater too.


Liana checked out her flippies on her new shirt from Kelly. She loved Mama and Daddy's flippies. She spent many an hour walking around the house in them.


Liana pointed them out to the camera.


LiLi developed quite the imagination. She and Sammy pretended to have a picnic in the kitchen. They took a walk from the parlor to the park and spread out their blankies. She brought her play grill, plus everything including the kitchen sink, and made hamburgers.

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z276/paulandshannonflood/?action=view&current=MOV02533.flv

Samuel loved walking around the house. He was determined to improve his skills. I think we officially decided that he "walks" now.

Paul's Birthday Weekend

I thought this was the best birthday present paul could receive this year. I arranged for overnight babysitters for the kids. Paul and I went out alone. It was kinda nice to have fun with just the two of us. We decided not to call Nama and Maddy the next morning extending the birthday until well into the afternoon. Nama and Maddy are the best. Thanks!!!


We did not know what to do with ourselves without the kids so we snapped a shot.


Paul was trying to act cool. What do ya think?


We are still a couple!!! I think we forgot.


Sammy celebrated Daddy's birthday, too. He said, "Hooray, look no hands".

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z276/paulandshannonflood/?action=view&current=MOV02515.flv


Happy Birthday to you.


Everybody's home and happy with their birthday cake.

Hampton Beach

We took a long weekend in Hampton Beach last week. We rented a "cute" place only about a block from the water. The kids had a blast. It was worth all the hard work to see them have such a great time enjoying everything and playing on the beach for hours.

Sammy is finally learning to play with the sand as opposed to eating it all.

I just like Liana's "I Love Dad" shirt.

These two do not know what to do without each other.

We had to look twice. We didn't recognize these people without the two kids. Oh yeah, it's us.

Someone before us left a giant hole in the sand, so we buried Sammy. He didn't mind.

Long day of playing. Notice Liana not wanting to be left out of the shot.

Fun on the whirly-wheel. This was Daddy's idea. Mommy was somewhere off camera having a nervous breakdown. I guess she was afraid they were going to fly off it or something. That's why kids have daddies.

LiLi easing into a pool for the first time. She absolutely loved it. Her only problem was that her swimmies were too tight. She dosen't like anything "tight".

Sammy loved the pool too.

Samuel demanded to feed himself. He needs a rain slicker for protection from the mess he creates on and around himself.

Liana enjoying her first lobster

In front of our motel on the balcony.

Liana enjoying her first fried dough ever. Sugar everywhere. This is Daddy's new favorite picture of her.

Fried dough with Daddy.

The beach at night.

Still able to enjoy video games without actually putting money into all of them. We saved our tokens for the ticket games.

Going for the jackpot with Mommy.

Liana's maximizing her tickets a.k.a. cheating.

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z276/paulandshannonflood/?action=view&current=MOV02446.flv

Flying the kite Auntie Amy and Uncle Bill bought for LiLi.

Actually, I spent more time dragging the thing along the hot sand and running around like a fool than actually flying it. Liana didn't care, though. She just kept saying "I do, I do Daddy?" I kept telling her I would get it flying and then let her try. I think she knew I couldn't really do it, but she humored me. She had fun pulling it.

Our big boy.

Daddy and Sammy. No it wasn't cold, I was just trying not to get more fried than I was from the previous day. I think we spent more time making sure they were ok that we didn't realize how much we were baking.

This was the day we were leaving. The kids were pretty cranky. It was windy, sand blowing in their faces, cold water, hot sand, etc. Nothing was really entertaining them until she started playing with the umbrella and pretending to leave all by herself.

"BYE!"

Getting ready to go home. Vacations never last as long as it takes to prepare for them.

On the way home we stopped off to pick some strawberries. Unfortunately when we arrived at the "family farm" it was nothing more than a house. We opted not to knock on their door and ask if we could pick strawberries in their backyard, so we cruised over to Newburyport to have a picnic and we ended up staying for a concert on the green. The kids had fun dancing, even though I couldn't catch it real good on video.

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z276/paulandshannonflood/?action=view&current=MOV02491.flv

Don't even ask Shannon about this juice box. Liana carried this thing around from Hampton all the way home. She was trying to squeeze every last drop out that she could and shoving it in everyone's face to "share". I guess all those admonitions to share are finally paying off. Except of course, if Sammy took her up on her offer and tried to grab it away. She didn't want to "really" share, just pretend.

Our happy little girl.

Sammy, not so much......

Welcome home, welcome home. He screamed for a good 30 minutes before falling back asleep five minutes from home. Sweet.

Happy Fourth (a little late)

We went to a parade and a small kid's birthday party for the fourth. Liana and Samuel had alot of fun. Liana asked to go to a party for the following three days. I think the kids officially have more friends than Paul and I.


Three babies hanging in a pen. They were not too pleased about being contained, however. They didn't even acknowledge each other, instead they cried to get out of it.


This was our fireworks. The jolly jumper re-visited. Liana spent more time in it than Samuel even though when she sat in it she sank to the floor.


Sammy patiently waiting his turn. I am in my pajamas behind him. I think it was seven o'clock. Paul passed out shortly after while I watched some of the fireworks on tv. I think we're getting old.


Sammy has followed suit with Liana's cheesing it up for the camera.


Everybody look!! Only Mama looked, LiLi and Sammy were too concerned with the candy being thrown out by the passing cars.


Liana did her classic cheese face. We can't get her to take a picture with a simple smile.




Some pics of the parade.


Daddy and Sammy enjoying the parade together.

DANCE MANIA
Liana and Samuel didn't quite know what to do with all the So You Think You Can Dance moves at the party. Sammy was slightly frightened by it all. Liana joined in occasionally until she noticed one of the other kids. The other little baby actually knocked himself over while dancing so emphatically to the turkish dance music. It was quite the site, one of the funniest things I've seen.

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z276/paulandshannonflood/?action=view&current=MOV02384.flv