bkg: http://www.beanmom.com/pix/Sanriostars.jpg a001.jpg Ballerina Alice's yearly ballet pic (age 9) a002.jpg Speaking of ballerinas... Sammy drew this one a003.jpg The kids call this sport... ..."Bob" surfing a004.jpg She's got a buzz Don't harsh it, man a005.jpg "How's the ice cream?" Apparently, it is adequate. a006.jpg Skippy skippy skip Here comes summer!! a007.jpg Peekaboo Rhapsody in blue a008.jpg Getting started on her tan It's never too early a009.jpg Memento mori Daddy takes the coolest pictures a010.jpg Sooooo relaxed There's nothing as comfy as a hammock on a warm breezy day a011.jpg Top o'the roof, ma!! Oops, you caught her a012.jpg Makeover in progress Sammy went to a birthday party at Libby Lu's and got the "rockstar" treatment a013.jpg Cool 'do These cute little bunnish hair things only lasted about 20 minutes before she pulled them out a014.jpg The "Couch Potato" A piece of Alice art a015.jpg Fifth grader First day of school, Sept '07 a016.jpg Kersplat When Sammy crashes, she crashes hard. a017.jpg Pinky nails She's got the faaaaancy mitts! a018.jpg Frisbeeee doodle!! I have no idea what that means. I'm just free-associating, man! a019.jpg Ta-daaahhh!! Ohhh, you just got here? You missed a GREAT magic trick!! a020.jpg She... Um... Well, she sort of...? There's nothing really to say here, except that she made this lovely hat herself. a021.jpg Power failure The lights went out, so we had candlelight and ghost stories on the deck. a022.jpg Horizontals Daddy took this dramatic picture, of course a023.jpg Who's sittin' pink and pretty? Sammy is!! a024.jpg Bike ride Don't mind us, just a family out for an innocent ride in the country, nothing suspicious at alllll a025.jpg She's not buying it I think she may be a spy a026.jpg Wait, which side am I on? The life of a double agent can be confusing at times a027.jpg Goofiness Okay, I admit it, we're not spies. We're having fun, though! a028.jpg Fuzzy halo This is an absolutely epic hat a029.jpg More cheeeez Again with the shmaltzy family poses! a030.jpg Waiting for pancakes She is SO HUNGRY right now a031.jpg Cousins L-R: Alice, Alpha, Sammy, Sheep a032.jpg Illumination Sammy gets a brilliant idea about slides a033.jpg All dressed up This is Mommy, back from her friend Heather's wedding a034.jpg Frisbee catch Look at her streeeetch for it! a035.jpg Frisbee throw It's coming right for us!! a036.jpg Victorious Sammy is the champion... OF THE WORLD!!! a037.jpg Fifth grader Alice's school picture '07 a038.jpg Ghosts of home We went for a nice walk on a sunny fall day a039.jpg Speaking of ghosts... Eeek! It's a vampire girl!! a040.jpg Lurking She's good at it a041.jpg Winning the doughnut contest She needs to gain some weight -- you can see all of her ribs!! a042.jpg Undead girl Check out that professional makeup job! a043.jpg Ready to shuffle forth... ...and seek candy (at the mall)!! a044.jpg Another view Aren't they the cutest pair of undeads you ever did see? a045.jpg Punkins Designs, L-R: Sammy's, Mommy's, Alice's. (All carving by Mommy.) a046.jpg Slouching towards the candy Zombie girl and friend are ready to head off for the T'n'T a047.jpg All alone Sammy was sick with a high fever and couldn't go around the neighborhood, so the big girls went by themselves a048.jpg Ghoul power A lovely post-Halloween ensemble a049.jpg Running for it She's headed to the library a050.jpg Speaking of running... She's ticked off at us, and she's running away from home. She's got her pink kitty rainboots, and that's ALL SHE NEEDS. a051.jpg At the movies Documented: A rare all-family movie trip a052.jpg Just her size Sammy enjoys the tiny furniture in the Baby Loves Disco play room a053.jpg Hula hula A special-effects shot from Baby Loves Disco a054.jpg Moody Mommy super-LOVES this shot a055.jpg Pardon me, is that a frog on your head? Or are you just happy to see me? a056.jpg Not to be outdone Sammy adorns her cranium with a graceful curve of pink plastic a057.jpg Shakin' it The girls levitate with joy a058.jpg Dancer at rest One more Baby Loves Disco shot for good measure a059.jpg Just a little bit ahead Sammy's body got tired of waiting for her food and went somewhere else. a060.jpg Cuteness This picture has it. a061.jpg Holiday card picture for 2007 At last it can be shown! a062.jpg Piling on Sissy gives the best piggyback rides EVAR. a063.jpg Camouflage Sammy's slowly grasping the concept. a064.jpg A peek inside the brain Now you know what she's thinking. a065.jpg Play ball! It's your turn to throw. She'll catch. a066.jpg Cripes, it's cold! Daddy, take the dang picture already!! a067.jpg Fairy princess She'll grant you one wish, as long as you wish for a chance to look at a picture of a cute little girl. Ta-dah!! a068.jpg Hangin' She's in line to see Santa a069.jpg Not for riding These Santa-line decorations are non-functional, darn the luck!! a070.jpg Poinsettia blossom She is very much in the spirit of the season a071.jpg Bored at the DMV We found new uses for our finger puppets a072.jpg Through the lens Alice likes to borrow the camera at parties and playdates a073.jpg Cool chick One of the little kids at the party took this shot of Alice, and I love it!! a074.jpg Moody Don't let the lighting fool you -- she's at McDonald's, and she's very happy. a075.jpg Dragging me down Baby Dante retards Sammy's progress a076.jpg I'd like to phone a friend She's calling the neighbor kids to come over and play a077.jpg I suppose you're wondering why I've called you all here today Sammy and Alice meet in the meeting room at Daddy's work a078.jpg Disco Another cool Baby Loves Disco event a079.jpg Disco-ed out Sammy rests in an alcove in the BLD chill-out room a080.jpg First salon haircut Turns out she was upset for an unrelated reason. a081.jpg Alice got a haircut, too! Ain't she sweet?? a082.jpg Park day Alice says, "uh durrr" a083.jpg Rodeo Sammy caught herself a playgroundosaurus a084.jpg Vantage point Alice enjoys climbing on things that aren't intended to be clamb upon a085.jpg Perfect form Sammy tries out the zip line thingy a086.jpg Ghoul power Cute shirt, cute kid, cute pose, cute day!! a087.jpg Aftermath There was a bit of trouble with the dismount a088.jpg Princess Party I Snow White has arrived a089.jpg Princess Party II It was a princess party luau doll dressup tea and ice cream extravaganza! a090.jpg Nature lover Alice communes with the wildlife a091.jpg Sucker! She can't believe you fell for that! a092.jpg Story time A quiet moment at the local library a093.jpg How she got so tall Alice demonstrates her stretching machine a094.jpg A peak moment Sammy loves this shopping cart SO MUCH a095.jpg Still This picture is lovely a096.jpg First day of school, sorta Sammy's departs for a day visiting the school she'll attend in the fall a097.jpg Cinderella's friend Dress rehearsal for the recital. Her character for this costume: one of Cinderella's friends a098.jpg Damn paparazzi!! Apparently I should go sit in my seat and stop taking pictures a099.jpg If I pose for you, will you go away? In full costume, too! a100.jpg Next costume! Can-can girl a101.jpg Check out the detailing She had a blast with this dance a102.jpg Real ostrich Nice hat, huh? a103.jpg Cuddlepuppies Matching nighties. Nice touch. a104.jpg Snake princess Ommmmmmm...ssssssss... a105.jpg Dino-mites A new lizard friend for us! a106.jpg Sammy from a great height The tiny monkey, in the monkey house a107.jpg The traditional gorilla Gotta pose with Massa! a108.jpg More gorilla Equal time for equal monkeys a109.jpg Monkey on the rocks Okay, I'll stop with the monkey thing now a110.jpg This picture's so cute... ...I can't bear it! (Ha ha sorry.) a111.jpg We're almost finished... ...even though we've bearly begun!! (Okay, seriously, that's it.) a112.jpg Frond queen Too bad her crown probably has bugs on it. Ick. a113.jpg Too grown-up Seriously, doesn't she look, like, old enough to drive here? a114.jpg Love the hat Is that not an adorable hat?? a115.jpg Cuteness Cute shirt, cute hair, cute girl, just cute!!! a116.jpg Not to be outdone This cute girl may be #2, but she tries harder! a117.jpg Flowers 1 Posing in front of Daddy's old office a118.jpg Flowers 2 Who turned up the gravity?? a119.jpg A fambly shot It's a nice day to pose together a120.jpg The artist and her work It's a little house guy!! a121.jpg Ta-dah!!! There was no trick before this. There's just the Ta dah!!! a122.jpg A new friend Hello there, little caterpillar dude! a123.jpg Lower School graduate She got roses and chocolates and a special sash at the ceremony a124.jpg Does Sammy like this picture? Ehh, she's on the fence about it. a125.jpg Distelfinking That's what they're doing. Yup. a126.jpg Trail-a-bike This is the over-Daddy's-shoulder view a127.jpg All together now The family that bikes together, um, hikes together...? a128.jpg Face painting This series of pictures is from our visit to the Hands-On-House a129.jpg Fishing for compliments She's angling for a good time a130.jpg Hook, Line and Sinker These two are quite a catch! a131.jpg Take your pick Sammy offers a selection of lures a132.jpg So much to think about! Nature is complicated!!! a133.jpg This is the limit Yup, this one's okay to catch! a134.jpg Diva This is the big high note a135.jpg Cowgirl chic "Thank yew! Thank yew!!" a136.jpg Secret They're talking about you a137.jpg Mischief Peek-a-boo! a138.jpg Backyard flight Sammy's a swinger a139.jpg Hey there Alice greets you at the Gateway to Fun a140.jpg I love you Sammy has a message a141.jpg Tangled up in blue red There's nothing like a nice sunset climb a142.jpg Sittin' pretty She found the perfect roost a143.jpg Drama Queen That sweetie? Never!! a144.jpg Shy Will you be her friend? a145.jpg Iron cross Sammy exhibits excellent form a146.jpg La de dah A toss of her head and you are dismissed a147.jpg Slip 'n' slide That's what she's gonna do a148.jpg Lookin for the super breakfast Hint: the formula's on her shirt a149.jpg Thinking about it Will she jump? You'll never find out! a150.jpg Where do they want to go now? Over there!!! a151.jpg This is what's over there Giant inflatable slide! a152.jpg Alice's turn Nice hair a153.jpg Considering Does she want to go just one more time? a154.jpg Why yes, yes she does But head-first!! a155.jpg Act II Bouncy castle! a156.jpg So sad Too bad they're not having ANY fun at all!! a157.jpg Aloha Sammy is a breath of tropical something or other a158.jpg Professional meeting? Nope, going out to eat with the kids. The "briefcase" is full of toys. a159.jpg Strategery Eat at Cracker Barrel, play checkers. It's the law. a160.jpg The many faces of Sammy I Ecstasy a161.jpg The many faces of Sammy II Weasel a162.jpg The many faces of Sammy III Accusation a163.jpg The many faces of Sammy IV Inspiration a164.jpg The many faces of Sammy V Repudiation a165.jpg The many faces of Sammy VI Bloodlust a166.jpg Bubble fu Alice blows 'em, Sammy blows 'em away a167.jpg Super bubbles The Bubble BBQ makes some good ones! a168.jpg Going in for the kill She's got one in her sights a169.jpg Hat...? The Bubble BBQ is handy in so many ways! a170.jpg I beg your pardon She's looking down her nose at you. What did you do? a171.jpg Monkey bar monkey Monkey bars are easy when you're 28 pounds of solid muscle!! a172.jpg This picture is correctly oriented She's having a kip on a park bench after all of that monkeying. a173.jpg Pink flowers Okay, so this is not a candid shot. a174.jpg Oh hey, there's Alice! Remember Alice? Not many pictures of Alice lately... a175.jpg Happy meal Sammy's onion rings are delighted to be her dinner a176.jpg Water play All parks should have randomly-firing water jets embedded in the pavement! a177.jpg A fuzzy She is catching it. a178.jpg Mommy-daughter They're lookalikes, you know! a179.jpg Hanging around That's summer for ya a180.jpg Sunshine Sammy's Sunny Summer Smile a181.jpg Restful moment Enjoying a breeze in the breezeway a182.jpg The seat of honor Alice gives her sister a spin a183.jpg Diva This couch is the best. Wish it hadn't moved to Massachusetts, along with its owners. a184.jpg Habitrail Chuck E. Cheese-ing it a185.jpg Thrillseeker Sammy takes a ride a186.jpg Check your oil, sir? Cutest service station ever a187.jpg She's got balls Have we done that joke before? a188.jpg Fast-fast It's all a blur a189.jpg Again with the summer A sunset ride by the berry patch a190.jpg Ready for a magic trick? She hasn't lost her marbles! They're right here! a191.jpg Ready... Aaaannnd... a192.jpg SHOOT!!! Look at that form!!! a193.jpg Presented for your enjoyment... Some tigerlilies! a194.jpg How does it look? Trying on some beads a195.jpg Downcast It can be hard to wait your turn a196.jpg Static Big plastic inflatable slide + low humidity = crazy hair a197.jpg Girls Here's a gazebo shot for ya a198.jpg Summer That's what this is a picture of, yup. a199.jpg Little Miss Cupcake She's comin' your way! a200.jpg Hairflippy Alice airs out her 'do a201.jpg Top o' the world, ma! Alice is a bad influence on the playground a202.jpg A determined chin She's decided to do it, by golly!! a203.jpg Amused Apparently she is a204.jpg Just a head Bobbin' along a205.jpg The need for speed She's a trick rider a206.jpg The day's haul Sammy displays her catch a207.jpg Alice loves you! Well, actually, she loves me, since I'm the one taking the picture. I mean, she's fond of you, but she doesn't really know you. No offense. a208.jpg Album cover A semi-failed self-portrait that turned out kind of interestingly a209.jpg This is how you do it! A much more successful self-portrait, with only a little bit of face shmutz a210.jpg Train in vain No one can resist the lure of the train table a211.jpg Smoochies Sulky Sammy has the sun in her armpit. a212.jpg A hat kinda girl I This is Sammy's maroon corduroy hat 'n' dress ensemble a213.jpg A hat kinda girl II This is Sammy's ridiculously extravagant bed head a214.jpg A hat kinda girl III Let's just keep that hair under control, mmkay? a215.jpg A hat kinda girl IV Hydration break! Something about the perspective and the pose makes her look about 3 years old here. a216.jpg A hat kinda girl V Froggy smile a217.jpg Little sprout, big tree That sums it up a218.jpg Got the shivers A goose walked over her grave. Whatever the heck that means. a219.jpg Butterfly house I Cool, huh? a220.jpg Butterfly house II "Hey, how's it goin'?" a221.jpg Butterfly house III Passing the joy a222.jpg Butterfly house IV Gettin' artsy with the focus a223.jpg Butterfly house V This guy loved her. a224.jpg Butterfly house VI Sammy had to wait a very long time for a butterfly to come to her without anyone else's help, so she is very happy here. a225.jpg Boundary between two worlds One world is significantly shaggier a226.jpg Awkward Family Photos They can't all be candids a227.jpg Graceful Family Photos I like this pose a228.jpg This might take a while Sammy's not yet over the clover a229.jpg Tea par-TAY She's all tea-and-doughnutted up a230.jpg Squeee This is the official SQUEE! posture a231.jpg Erm I don't actually know WHAT this is. a232.jpg Friends Last chance to pose with a friend who's moving away a233.jpg Funny bone I think she hit it a234.jpg Flushed When it's hot, Sammy's pink a235.jpg Ground control to Major Tom (Cat) Going to moon, BRB a236.jpg Oh come off it They're not fooled a237.jpg Fairy girls Posing under a giant mushroom in the woods somewhere a238.jpg Let's go see the tree! The girls strike off for a shady bench a239.jpg Teeny castle Uneasy lies the butt that doesn't fit entirely into the seat a240.jpg Miss Fallen Log 2008 Alice strikes a pose a241.jpg Froggy girl and froggy friend Sammy feels a kinship with this fountain a242.jpg Cool toes Nothing like a nice rinse after a long hike a243.jpg Balance Arch you glad you saw this picture? a244.jpg You may bow Princess Sammy on her summer throne a245.jpg To where does her rule extend? "To the horizon!!" a246.jpg Post-dip When you have no body fat, you get chilly in the pool a247.jpg Water wings Sammy clings to the side for a bit a248.jpg Pool pro Alice looks refreshed and ready for more! a249.jpg Fourth of July Yay, one of the fifty pictures I took that night turned out!!! a250.jpg Sunshiney There's no better place for a nap than right on the slide a251.jpg Little kid feet I'm a sucker for them a252.jpg Rock 'n' girl Don't worry! She's wearing her helmet! a253.jpg Well, hello there! Someone's resting on the floor! a254.jpg Abject misery That's what that looks like a255.jpg Dandelion clock This is a great shot, if I do say so myself a256.jpg First day of school I *sniff* She's a first grader!! a257.jpg First day of school II *sniff* She's a middle schooler!! a258.jpg First day of school III *sniff* I can't find their shoes!! a259.jpg Headshot The light did a cool thing here a260.jpg Lunch time Sammy is ready for a bite a261.jpg High flyer Alice's yearly ride on the giant rubber bands. Sammy tried it this year, but she was too small for the harness. a262.jpg The BIG swings That's Sammy in front, Alice behind a263.jpg Roller coaster It's the bitty baby coaster a264.jpg Funhouse slide I It's so exciting!! a265.jpg Funhouse slide II *splat* a266.jpg Cherry girl She's above all those silly funhouse games. a267.jpg Silhouette Sammy takes another run on the elevated walkway thingy a268.jpg Bad year for pumpkins This was the prize pumpkin for 2008?!? a269.jpg Goosey girl Why she posed here I cannot explain a270.jpg Face painting I Sammy gets done a271.jpg Face painting II The finished product. Not bad for $0.00. a272.jpg Not amused She's not, anyway. I am. a273.jpg Candygram! View through a hotel room door a274.jpg I blogged it A family-on-vacation shot a275.jpg Commuter Sammy found a seat just for her on the 'T'. a276.jpg Get it?!? She's here! Take the picture!! a277.jpg Tuckered out It's a long way to Wonderland a278.jpg Li'l orange buddy She's got big plans for you, dude a279.jpg Sun-dappled girls Posing in NAY-chah! a280.jpg Caught mid-hike This was one of two(!) pictures we sent out with our cards this year a281.jpg Me Oh look, it's me! a282.jpg Still together, still hiking What a picturesque spot! a283.jpg Autumn fairy This picture is very sunset-y and Fall-ish, isn't it? a284.jpg Again with the posing Daddy just can't stop a285.jpg Forget what I said before This one's the sunsettiest and the most Falltastic!! a286.jpg Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl... See? a287.jpg ...But she doesn't have a lot to say (Except with her body language) a288.jpg *ahem* Meow. Guess what Sammy was for Halloween?!? a289.jpg The cat, the guy, the witch We're ready for the school party! a290.jpg Blustery Those autumn winds can take you for a ride if you're not careful a291.jpg Red, green and gold Uh-oh, she's got that faraway look in her eyes a292.jpg High-contrast Off for a late-afternoon drive a293.jpg And in the other seat... ...Alice is casting on a294.jpg Trick or what?!? The kitty found a little something a295.jpg Threat level: low She's decided she's safe a296.jpg Fall colors Little Miss Cupcake gathered some pretty leaves a297.jpg Copycat Whose idea was it, originally?!? a298.jpg Fall! She approves! a299.jpg New hairdo Daddy caught a little something on his head there a300.jpg Protective No, you can't see her doggy a301.jpg Fur collar This sweater rocks a302.jpg Emo She's being all dramatic a303.jpg O HAI Sammy has time for you when no one else does a304.jpg Mitten view Some Sammy to warm you up a305.jpg Cabin fever It's not the cold weather that's got her climbing the walls; she's always like this a306.jpg Restful moment Football puts her right to sleep a307.jpg Zombie attack I Sammy waits to see Santa, unaware of the threat that lurks a308.jpg Zombie attack II Oh no, she's infected! Run, Santa, run!!! a309.jpg Can we have these for Christmas? No. a310.jpg Coming in for a landing A favorite game. Mommy tries not to envision the head injury potential involved, particularly when the "turbulence" kicks in (not shown). a311.jpg Under the weather We swear, this is not a head injury due to "turbulence". a312.jpg He's so sweeeeeet Sammy made this marshmallow snowman guy at school a313.jpg Is this the one? Time to cut a tree! a314.jpg Laundry time Man, this hamper is getting full! a315.jpg Um. Yeah. Indian food gets her all riled up! a316.jpg Yeah boyeee! East sah-eed, y'all! a317.jpg Candy smile Christmas is coming! a318.jpg Time to pose I New dress, freshly decorated tree, let's do this thing! a319.jpg Time to pose II Face it: she's fierce. a320.jpg Guess who's here! It's tiny manic Santa!! a321.jpg The most wonderful time of the year Sammy and Daddy are doing their last-minute shopping. On December 24th. At Sam's Club. Nice!! a322.jpg Fuel for the effort Still shopping -- time for a hot cuppa break at Barnes & Noble. a323.jpg And just like that... ...It's CHRISTMAS!!! a324.jpg Best gift? It's so hard to choose, but maybe it was these EVIL ROBOT CLAWS OF DOOM!!! a325.jpg Motorcycle Mama A neighbor Daddy offered to take her for a spin on his bike a326.jpg Let's roll She loved it! a327.jpg Surprise Encounter I "Doo de doo doo, just puttin' away my toys..." a328.jpg Surprise Encounter II "But wait, what's this??" a329.jpg Surprise Encounter III "OMG, it's a HAND!!!" a330.jpg Surprise Encounter IV "I am scared now!!!!" a331.jpg Gimme a hug She's allllll bundled up a332.jpg Alice had a baby His name is Shumai Wonton. Don't ask. a333.jpg Let it snow Let's say goodbye to 2008 in a dramatic fashion!