Seven Trips Around the Sun.

Samuel Elliot

3.5.05

My Dad went grandchild crazy and used to take bazillion pictures of the kid.

We used this picture for his birth announcement.

First road trip! We took him on the ferry and went to Bremerton for fish and chips!

First smiles caught on camera! Little dude was getting fat!

Ivars in Downtown Seattle.

Easter 2007

Napping with Daddy!

Pacific Science Center - we went to see the Dinosaur exhibit. So cool!

Sam with Auntie's new puppy Rowan.

A book about Pirates, Mr. Lion, and his Papa = key to this little boy's heart - still!

Sam's humor emerged at 3. He's been keeping us laughing since!

Summer 2008

Fourth of July - soon to say good bye to Spokane!

First day of Kindergarten!

Sam shows amazing skillz in math!

Zoolights 2010 Portland OR.

Photo bombing - his new sport.

January 1st - Happy New Year Toompas Family!

Our new house - our new yard!

First day of Kindergarten in his new school - Orting Primary School.

Nervous about his new bus ride.

Easter 2011

Orting Fire Department 100th Anniversary!

Papa and Grandma came to visit!

A new little sister to love - he really loves her too!

Sam received an encyclopedia and is learning the flags of the countries.

Sam saved his allowance and bought himself a giant nerf gun!

Summer visit to Spokane! Official start to the summer!! August 2011.

Vacation Bible School. Just a couple of outlaws. :)

Sam and Joe went to stay with my parents this summer. Sam came back taller, smarter, funnier, skinnier, tanner, and wiser. It's amazing the difference a week can make.

First Mariners Game. The boys had a blast cheering for anyone who hit the ball, eating, eating, and eating.

First Grade open house at OPS.

First day of cub scouts.

First day of first grade! I can't believe my baby is old enough for first grade!

Off to school with his "cool kid" hair. Thank God that obsession has passed.

We started a new tradition - fresh homemade cookies on the first day of school!

Another new tradition - eating pizza at Route 66 on Halloween.

Sam got his library card!

The boys got their school "Spirit Wear" from school today, his name is on the back. COOLEST.THING.EVER!

Holiday party in town with the scouts!

Pinewood derby!

Scout Sunday! Doesn't he look so religious!?

Sam asked Joe to play catch in the backyard. Neither of them posses a lick of talent, but it was a first!

Valentines day. What a handsome boy.

My lovable Mr. Funny pants, Sam bones brown is seven years old today.

He is so smart, loving, cuddly, and kind. All of the kids are so special to me, but me and Sam have a special bond. We've been through some rough times together, even if he doesn't remember them - we were in it together. Seeing him grow into this wonderful young man brings joy and sadness to my heart. Joy because he is becoming this person with his own personality, and yet his kindness and loving nature shine through any issues he may have. Also, sadness; he is growing so fast. Yes, it's blink and he's bigger but it has been a very long road with him, I worry about him constantly and days like today, where I can look back at see the [bajillion!!] pictures I've taken over the years makes me aches for the days where I worried about what snack to feed him and not if someone is going to bully him at school. That's the hard part. Worrying about big kid stuff.

Sam got to wear his birthday medal to school, they sung him happy birthday and we had homemade chinese food (as requested by the boy) for dinner. He says on a scale of one to ten, ten being the highest - it was a 100% day.

Next weekend, we'll have his party. He's inviting ALL of his school friends... yes, all 24.

God Save the Toompi.