D - E - F - E - N - S - E ! !

Since Spenser's first flag football season started our Saturdays have been filled juggling football games and music lessons.  Spenser's team, the Black Hawks, started strong with three wins but then lost the next two.  Spenser is always bummed when the team loses, even if he did something personally contributive, which he normally does.  Whether on offense or defense, he seems to make some big plays that include receptions, interceptions, and touchdowns.  Today the Black Hawks were victorious thanks to Spenser's game winning interception and run back for a touchdown.  Check it out.....

Too bad he was out of the camera shot when he caught the ball, but you can see him zooming toward the end zone and I'm the one screaming "Go Buddy! Go!" in the background.  I will confess I'm no 'tiger mother' and I would rather be doing something else than watching his football games.  It's not because I don't support his athletic endeavors but I find myself highly anxious at athletic events that I have a personal stake in.  I want him to have fun, do well, compete, and learn something from both winning and losing.  What I don't enjoy is the people - the loud, opinionated parents and spectators who coach from the sidelines and think every game is the championship.  Obviously you heard me in the video rooting on my son, but that was the only peep you heard from me.  I was so anonymous that after Spenser made the touchdown one lady said, "Who is number 19, the one that just scored?"  Another gentleman replied, "Oh, that's Spenser, he just got a haircut and he looks three years older."  They didn't even know that his mom was standing right next to them.  Tee hee!  If I was a pushy parent I probably would have spoke up right then and there, bragged a bit that he was my son, and gushed that they noticed his haircut that he had gotten only two days before.  But not me.  I let those comments ride, my anonymity intact.  Shortly thereafter, Spenser ran across the field toward me, wearing the 'MVP' medal that the coach awarded him for the game.  So I guess the jig is up, the mystery solved.  Oh well, that was fun while it lasted.  At least I'm the mom of the MVP.  And speaking of player of the game......here he is!

  

If You Want To Be Happy, Go SLO!

One of the things most people want in life, I think, is to be happy.  I bet health, wealth, and a life fulfilled are up there too.  Well wouldn't you know it that I grew up in the happiest place on earth?!  No, I'm not talking about Disneyland.  I'm talking about San Luis Obispo, California.  Okay, so it's not the happiest place on earth, but supposedly it is the happiest place in America.  I'll settle for that because unless you've traveled across the globe, how would you ever know?

According to Dan Buettner in the National Geographic book Thrive, San Luis Obispo is the happiest place in America for overall emotional health.  He says that "the residents here are more likely to smile and experience joy and less likely to experience pain and depression."  Of course beautiful scenery, beaches, hiking trails, a historic downtown, and other landmarks only add to the serenity. That must be why I'm so calm, laid back, flexible, and easygoing!  (That's a joke)  But I can say that growing up there was a gorgeous gift that has perhaps allowed me to carry that 'calmness' from the 'happiest' to the 'hottest' place in America.  What can I say, I'm extreme like that!

You know your town has made it big when Oprah visits.  This was actually her second visit.  On her first visit she introduced the world to the best sandwich in America, made in SLO, at some sandwich shop now out of business.  On this trip she sent Jenny McCarthy to further elate the residents.  Check it out -

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Happiest-City-in-America-San-Luis-Obispo-Video

All the places Jenny covered in the video are our haunts too.  Here is Spenser at the Mission -

and Sienna and Spenser at Mission Creek,

you can't forget Gum Alley!

So don't worry, be happy, and get to SLO as fast as you can!

First Foray into Flag Football

Spenser is spreading his athletic ability wings by starting flag football after a season of basketball.  Saturday was his first game and his team, the Black Hawks, was victorious.  It didn't look good at first, but after meeting your team and practicing once, they throw you right into the games, so what do you expect?  Spenser played offense the first half and defense the second.  He was often open on offense, but the quarterback wasn't able to get the ball to him.  Here is one pass that was a bit out of reach.

Here is Spenser getting ready at the line of scrimmage. The boy in front of him to his left is his good buddy Kyle.  They spend many weekends at each other's houses. 

  
While on defense, Spenser had a great play when he intercepted the ball and ran it for a couple yards.  Here is the proof!

So I guess Spenser's first game was a success.  Now every Saturday for the next 6 weeks Rob or Mony will be on the sideline cheering on their little guy.  Hopefully they'll be a highlight each week worthy of being posted. 

The Top 10 of 2010

It's January 2nd and before we get too far into 2011, I thought we should reflect on 2010 and all the joy that it brought us.  Top 10 lists are very popular this time of year,  so I thought it would be appropriate if the family compiled their own Top 10 list of 2010.  I asked each member of the family to pick their top three or four events of the year to create the Samour Top 10 of 2010.  So here they are in no particular order.

1.  Christmas 2010


2.  Central Park


3.  the AMA's (American Music Awards)


4.  BNP Paribas Open


5.  Treximet and Imitrex


6.  Performance of 'All or Nothing'


7.  Performance of 'Heaven's on Fire'


8.  Late Show with David Letterman


9.  Recording in the studio at Modern Music Academy


10.  Camping

As you can probably tell, the list mainly consists of vacations and music achievements.  So as we usher in a new year, we're wondering what vacation spots we'll visit and are hoping that we continue to grow musically.   Of course health and happiness is essential as well and we wish you that and more. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!      

Christmas Favorites

After the thrill of christmas morning passes, the bulk of the rest of the day is spent enjoying the gifts.  As I already posted, Spenser began immediately bonding with his new laptop.  Since then, he's spent some late nights playing on-line video games with his godfather, my brother Ken, and they can even talk to each other vocally through their laptops.  Ain't technology grand? 

As for Sienna, she went right to her new Just Dance game for the Wii.  Not only is it a fun game to play, it also is quite a workout!  Here she is with Spenser dancing to Wham's big hit, "Wake Me up Before You Go Go"

Another favorite of Sienna's was the Harry Potter Legos.  She already had two sets built that we bought when they first came out,  Hagrid's Hut and Freeing Dobby.  Now thanks to Grandma and Grandpa,  she can add Hogwart's Castle, the Hogwart's Express, and the Burrow to her collection.  

She's already begun building them and I'll post pictures of the final product. 

As for Rob, he got normal type of gifts like a tie, new belts, and some cd's.  Perhaps his favorite was a bottle of Belvedere, a fine vodka that he loves to combine with Ruby Red for a drink Pat calls a 'Stoli Greyhound.'  I guess in Rob's case it's a 'Belvedere Greyhound.'  That was one of my gifts to him this year, in lieu of the Patron pack he usually gets this time of year.  Unfortunately, Costco wasn't selling them.  

As for Mony, she received cd's, dvd's, and gift cards.  Perhaps her favorite gift was one she received before christmas and according to Rob, doesn't count as a christmas gift.  But I'll just call it an early christmas gift , because that's what it was.  Rob won a Kindle in a raffle at a conference LAST JULY and it sat unopened and lonely on his desk for months.  Sure I let him know that I would gladly take it off his hands and put it to good use but Rob stuck to his guns (guns being EXTREME ethical code).  He was planning on donating it to the state charity fund as he didn't want his accepting it to be misconstrued as a 'gift.'  But hey, he won it fair and square and that's what everyone in his office told him.  So they convinced him that his wife should have the Kindle and OMG, he brought it home to me.  Here it is in all its magnificence!

  The Kindle is fantastic.  Sure I love the appeal of real books, and certainly already own my favorites (Twilight Saga, Harry Potter 1-7).  But instead of lugging a book around with you, the Kindle allows you to carry a whole library!  It's compact, light, fits in your purse, and is easy to read and use.  It also has global wireless, so you don't need internet to buy books.  You can buy them directly from the device with the push of one button, and it appears in seconds.  You can also sample books for free, and there are many free books available too.  The Kindle came with an Amazon gift card, so I was able to buy some books right away for free!  I purchased Unbroken, a WWII survival story currently on the NY Times Bestseller List.  I also purchased Russell Brand's autobiography, My Booky Wook.  (I'm a sucker for Englishmen).  Both books are great!  So yeah, I guess I like the Kindle a little bit.   

This Christmas was Kindle-tastic!

The Reason for the Season

Our Christmas eve started with food preparation, (sans Mom), as Rob again led the troops in the kitchen for a meal selected by Spenser, ever the food critic.  Spenser recently made a list of the foods he would prefer to eat at dinner, since Mom's selections are so mundane.  Highlights on his list were salmon, caesar salad, alfredo, homemade pizza, turkey, and lasagna.  So the decision was made to make lasagna as the Christmas eve meal.  Here's what that looked like..

Sienna and Spenser each made their own tray.  Once the preparation was complete, it was time to get ready for church.  We decided on attending Christmas Eve mass this year, so that Christmas day could be reserved for 'play' - according to Spenser.  Finding a seat at church on Christmas eve is quite an undertaking and involves arriving early and waiting.....and waiting........but really, is that much of a sacrifice or hardship when you think of what and who you're celebrating in the first place?  I think not.  So we go to church, even though it's probably easier not to, because it's Jesus's birthday, and we want the kids to know how important that is.  I also liked Father John's sermon that reminded us that while we all get gifts on Jesus's birthday, what gifts do we have for him?  Father John's answer was that we should keep him in our sights,  and remember his presence and influence in our lives.  So while Spenser fidgeted through mass, I knew it was worth it because he was reminded of the true reason for the season.   Here we are after mass....

and Miss Sienna Rose

and Mr. Spenser Allan

After the twilight photo shoot it was time for dinner, and kudos to the chefs, it was yummy!  Before heading to bed, we all opened one gift, checked Santa's progress on NORAD, and waited for morning to come.  Thankfully the kids let us sleep until 7:30 a.m., then it was time for the gift unveiling to commence.  Our family and Santa were very generous as usual.  It sure does pay to stay off the naughty list!  Here is Buddy with one of his favorites - 

A    L  A  P  T  O  P ! (Just what every 10 year old boy needs?!)

And here is the entire family on Christmas morning, after the opening of the gifts.  Thank you all for another happy holiday!

 



Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Elf Style

Did you know that in a few short days, Santa Claus is coming to town?  Well I hope that you have been good this year because you do NOT want to be on the naughty list.  In Buddy the Elf's world, this is the ultimate sin.  So I hope you're getting pumped for this joyous occasion, although I don't recommend quite the level of Buddy's excitement.  That may result in the onset of a heart attack, and you don't want to spend Christmas in the ER.

If you haven't yet, indulge your inner child and watch Elf.  If Buddy can't get you into the christmas spirit, then bah - humbug, no one can.