Is the Tooth Fairy Real?

Sammy lost his first tooth today after mass. He spent this last week wiggling it and his work finally paid off. He was sooo excited to loose a tooth. After church Abuelito gave him $20 and he was excited...he said that he would have double money since the tooth fairy would come at night. I think he is already making plans on how to spend his money. He keeps talking to his brother about how much things cost, but has not asked me yet.
As he was getting ready to go to bed tonight, he asked if the tooth fairy was real. Of course I replied yes, and told him who else would bring him money. He then quickly replied "well if the tooth fairy is smaller that a dollar how can it carry it...it is way to heavy for them to carry." First of all I blame this comment on Tinker Bell and her friends. Obviously my son has watched the movies were it shows that they can not carry heavy stuff on their own. I told him then maybe he would get a quarter, and he said that was "still too heavy, and that even a penny is too heavy for a little fairy. Then I asked him, why the fairy is small, and he said "duh, how else is it going to get under my pillow." You know I had to keep myself from busting out laughing, and keep my serious face on.
The older brother, said he had an idea that maybe the parents give the money. I said why would parents do that. He said to make kids happy. Sammy then said, "what would mom do with the tooth?" John David said that "parents keep them in a special, secret place." Of course I told them to stop being silly, and told him that if he didn't believe in the tooth fairy then next time he wouldn't get any money. He then replied that he was just kidding. Mental note, must make sure my secret hiding spot has not been found, or better yet just in case must find new spot.
John David keep being himself and kept pushing the same issue but with Santa Claus. Really he is only 8....I thought I still had another couple of years. If he knows then Sammy will too. My boys are to young to stop believing...sniff, sniff. Hopefully we will be able to have another round of Santa in our house this year. I just love watching them set out the milk and cookies, and then watching them find their presents in the morning. Not ready for this tradition to end. Once again another sign that kids grow up way too quick, must remember to savor every minute with my little ones.

When are we going home?

This is the question Sammy asked me several times this morning when we were home. I told him we are home, and he looked at me and said "no...I am pretending we are at the playground." He even pretended to be on a swing and slide...he is definitely one to imagine and pretend. Last week he even told me he wanted to be a "space alien." I asked what is that, and he said..."a person who explores space." Eventhough he is no longer visiting his friends from Africa he has other things to keep him creative.

I'm not a magician

John David was playing with Sammy. John David was magically hiding items and Sammy had to find them. Sammy would ask for clues, and John David would say that a magician doesn't tell his secrets. Then they traded places, and it was Sammy's turn to hide the things. When John David was looking he walked right past were Sammy had hidden something. Sammy was quick to tell John David he had missed it, and John David reminded him that a magician doesn't tell his secrets. Sammy responded "I'm not a magician." I must say that was the end of that game.

Look at me, I can swim

This past sunday we took the older boys to Fiesta Texas. My in-laws were awesome and watched Carlos and Emma so we could have some quality time with John David and Sammy. The day was really about them. When we first got there, they both wanted their maps, so they could see what rides they wanted to do. They also got to see Scooby and Scrappy first thing in the morning. It was awesome to see them get excited. We actually got to see Scooby like three times, and each time the boys took pictures with him. Scooby was even out dancing in the street party with Mr. Six and John David went out there to do the chicken dance, la macarena, and a couple more dances.
We knew it was going to be hot...so our plan was to head to the water park and chill there for awhile. The water park had a rocky start. As soon as we got to the play area Sammy says he needs to go potty. I take Sammy who is saying "I can' t hold it," to find a potty. When I come back I see JP without John David. Then I see a boy who I think is John David coming down the water slide. I had just taken Sammy's shoes off...so I pick up Sammy to see where the slides come to an end. I see it is a 3 foot area....but as soon as I getting there John David is entering the pool. I had to place Sammy at the entrance ands tell him not to move, so I can get in the pool to rescue John David. The lifeguard is helping him walk, but he has that sad I'm scared, but I am not going to cry look on his face. As soon as he sees me walk into the pool towards the lifeguard he starts crying, and then I have to carry him out. After that he didn't want to play at the water park anymore. We went to another pool area with less water and it took him awhile to warm up.
Finally we decide to go to the wave pool. I got life vests for both of them so it would be easier on us. Sammy quickly learned he could doggie paddle and get around. He was so excited at his new skill, that he told John David he would help him. John David was not wanting to try, so that limited the fun a bit, but for the most part Sammy had a blast. He was the saddest boy when we had to leave the pool for the safety break. He was upset with us for awhile...but nothing we could do.
I really think that if we can get Sammy in the pool at least once every week...we can definitely make some progress with his swimming. John David still needs more work, but we will keep trying with him as well.

lunch with John David

The tuesday before John David finished school his class had a pizza party. So me and the kiddos headed up there to join the festivities. Mrs. Gottschalk got two extra chairs and put them at John David's table so his brothers could sit with him. Sammy was all excited to sit and eat with the big kids. He asked for pizza and triangle chips, and talked with the other kids at the table. By looking at him you would have thought he was part of the class...he looked like such a big boy. He even asked for chocolate ice cream with sprinkles, and ate it with a tongue depressor since we ran out of spoons. I know he is ready for kindergarten, but he will have to wait another year at home with mommy.

Tell me what you want me to do...

you can be my master. I don't really know where this game came from, but I heard Sammy tell John David this twice. John David never told him to do anything, but Sammy would even call him master. Sammy is still in his pretend world every now and then...I just don't like him being subservient and calling his brother master. I guess we will have to wait and see what happens with this.

Goodbye Nelly

So on friday we took Sammy to the pediatrician to have his stiches removed. He was a excited about no more wound cleaning, but a bit anxious about haveng the stitched removed. He did fabulous, and that was over in a about one minute. His cut has comletely closed and looks like any other cut now. The doctor asked if he wanted a band-aid and was very excited to receive a snoopy one. When he got him and looked in the mirror he said...look at all my snoopys. The snoopy band aid was remove don friday night, and he has been without one since. He has been good about wearing a cap, and about letting me put sunscreen on his face.

Be careful in the shower

So today was a fun filled day with a church picnic, and swimming at my brother's house. We came home to take showers and baths so we could go to bed. As I was putting Emma and Carlos in the bath, John David comes to tell me that Sammy fell. SO I get John David to stay with the babies. Go and check on Sammy and see that he has a cut on his cheek...looked deeper than a traditional cut, so my hunch was that it would need stitches. I called our friend Rusty who is a PA...he says send me some pics and I'll give you a call back. I tell John David and Sammy to get their jammies on, while I finish bathing the babies. Put the babies down for bed and then get a call back from Rusty. He said to take him in. I already had Mama Schneider on alert...so she comes over to have an adult in the house while I take Sammy to the ER. Rusty's concern was whether Seton Southwest would do the stiches or if I would have to go the children's hospital. Well let me tell you that Seton was awesome. The nurse made sure to explain everything to Sammy and let him touch some items to get him comfortable in his new environment. They used a topical numbing cream...so it took longer than lidocaine to kick in, but it didn't hurt or sting him. The only needle used was the one used to apply two stitches after having the cream on for an hour. We were back home in around two hours. Sammy was great while we waited and he lots of questions, but never cried...not even when he first fell. On the way home we stopped to purchase some bandaids and neosporin. In order he picked out Spiderman, Trans Formers, and Scooby Doo. We need to change out his bandaid twice a day...so we needed to stock up.
Downside of this is obviously minimal water to his wound...of course this comes after I mentioned to the boys that we could get the waterslide out this week....I guess maybe next week. Then we need to limit his sun exposure the next four months to minimize scarring...great summer is just about to start. I guess we will have to let him pick out a cool hat or cap for him to wear.
I must say that Sammy was awesome throughout all of this, and I am very proud of him! For example at the hospital he saw some cookies in the vending machine., and he asked if we could get them for John David. I told him we already had some of those at home, and he said John David likes those and that way he would have more when he runs out. He is such a sweet guy...thinking of others during his moment.

My mistake

So John David is no longer saying what the heck...but Sammy has taken over that department. I caught him twice today. When I brought it to his attention...he very politely said "my mistake, I meant to say what do you mean?" I had to hold back the laughter since I was in disciplining mode...but just add Sammy's voice to that and who wouldn't laugh at a four year old saying that. I'm sure if he wasn't my kid I would have been laughing my head off.

Can we get that?

Sammy is definitely paying more attention to things. The other he was watching the disney channel and ask me if we could buy something he saw on an infomercial. It was some kind of toothpaste dispenser. I ask what for, and he almost recited back to me the whole commercial. It was quite funny to see his little brain thinking and discovering that this was a good product for our house. Sammy still enjoys being the silly one, and loves to laugh and try two make people laugh. He is a great helper and and knows that it is best to remain impartial. When JP and I ask him who is his favorite...he says both of us.
A couple of weeks ago he even told me that Emma's favorite color is pink. I asked how he knew, and he said that all girls like pink. I said what about purple, and he said "silly mommy, purple is a boy color"...I had to hold in the laughter.

I don't think so

Sammy and John David watched Aladdin a couple of weeks ago. Apparently some lines stuck in Sammy's head. Every once in awhile he repeats some of the Genie's lines. He quotes the lines from when Aladdin questioned the Genie's power about getting them out of the cave. I don't know the whole line...but it is the part where the Genie says "did you rub my lamp, did you bring me here, now you are getting your wishes." The genie somehow incorporates "I don't think so" in that line, but I am not sure where it goes. SAmmy gets the biggest grin and laugh when he says the lines, so it hard to understand him.

knock knock jokes

Sammy has been trying to make his own jokes. However they don't really make sense, but it is funny to see him laugh at his own jokes. John David will try to make his own as well, but Sammy is the one that just keeps going.
He has been a great little trooper this week. He has an infection on his right thumb and his been great about taking his not so great tasting medicine. He has also let me soak his finger and apply his antibiotic cream three times a day. His finger has gotten significantly better, and despite what was happening with his finger, he was still in his usual easy going Sammy mood.

I've always wanted to do that

Sammy was finishing his lunch, as I was feeding Emma. When I was finished with her food her in her bowl, she made it known that she was not full. Sammy turned to me and said, "she can have my last nugget, I'm really good at sharing." I asked if he was sure, and he said "it's okay, I've always wanted to do that." As soon as I cut the nugget and place it on Emma's tray she was eating right away. She also made sure to smile at her brother in appreciation for her yummy nugget.
This confirms that Sammy is so kind-hearted and giving. He will give anything to anyone, even his last piece of candy. I hope he continues to be this way, but at the same time I hope that he doesn't get taken advantage of.

the chupacabra might come

Sammy watched a Scooby Doo movie yesterday...they went down to Veracruz, Mexico to vacation. Of course the meddling kids had to solve the mystery of the chupacabra. During the day Sammy had not said anything about the episode, but once it was time to go to bed...Sammy told me the chupacabra might come, with almost perfect pronunciation. JP asked him what that was and he responded that it was a big scary monster. I was afraid that it might keep him up, but it didn't. I guess he was just stalling to keep from going to bed.

No one told me, my friends didn't tell me

For the past two days Sammy has had a scab on his face, a sign of brotherly love from Carlos. Tonight as he was getting in the tub, I noticed that it was red. I asked him if he scratched himself, he said "no, Carlos did remember?" Then I told him it was red and it was not like that before. He then tells me that there was something stuck on his face so he pulled it off. I told him that he pulled off the scab, which then lead me to explain that the scab helps heal his face, and then I had to define heal. At the end of all the explanations, and definitions he told me "no one told me, my friends didn't tell me. I didn't know."
As far as I can remember this is the first time Sammy's friends didn't know something...they usually know everything. His friends are taking very realistic personas.

What do you mean

This is Sammy's new phrase. He uses the phrase when he wants an explanation or when he doesn't get what he wants. He is easy going as usual...but everyone once in a while he wants to do what he wants, and doesn't want to give in to pressure from John David or anyone else. He is definitely adjusting to being a middle child.
At Christmas he also enjoyed his crocs, but his favorite present was his Power Ranger undies. He was all grins to receive a last minute request from his grandma. I think this is just another way to be like his big brother.

That's a nice shirt

Today I dressed up my little boy and girl for lunch with my family. Emma was wearing a cute dress, and Carlos was in a button down. Sammy came in the room and saw Carlos...he said "Carlos that's a nice shirt." I found it cute that he would compliment his baby brother on his clothes.

Sammy loves the Bob

I am soooo excited! This last week I got a new stroller...it is a Bob Revolution Duallie...or in common terms a double jogging stroller. All of you know that I will not be doing too much jogging, but it is a great outdoor stroller. I try to go for a walk everyday. In the past Sammy has not been too excited about our walks because he has to walk. When GG is here, Nene and GG ride in the stroller, Emma is in the baby bjorn so Sammy walks next to me. With the new stroller he has figured out that he can sit in the front. So the double stroller is functioning as a triple stroller...I know that sounds ghetto but hey it works. When he hears that we are going to take a stroller he is quick to ask which one. Make sure to look at the recent picture to see all three boys in the stroller.

That is exactly what I wanted

Everyday Sammy reminds me how easy going he is...relatively speaking. On two days last week he told me to pick out his clothes and both times he was excited about the shirts I picked for him to wear and he let me know by saying "that is exactly what I wanted." What is funny is that one of them was a new shirt and therefore he didn't even know he had it. I don't think that would work with John David he would have been whinning away. The only day that he lets me poick his clothes is Sunday for church. Carlos will sometimes not want to wear something. How do I know you ask...well he tries to run away or pushes shirts out of my hand and tries to reach for another one out of the drawer. Sometimes Sammy does have his rough moments, but I have to say that for the most part he is very easy going.

Me and my friends have little feet

Sammy of course had a different reaction to the news. He was not excited either, but he didn't whine. He just told me that he and his friends have little feet and that is why they can't swim. He said that you need big feet like mommy and daddy to swim. I didn't consider myself, nor JP to be in the "big foot" category, but I guess to a four year old it is all relative.