he isn't allowed to run around with the hoodlums unless they stay in our yard.

lucky for sam, capture the flag is the game of choice lately.

our yard has been choosen as the best to play this particular game in.

he loves it.

he knows the rules.

he usually does quite a bit of chasing...

not so much catching.

they all watch out for him.

they slow down for him...

but don't let him win.

he is everyone's little...

they are all his bigs.

the bliss of the hood.

 

he has perfected it.

slumped shoulders.

pushed out lips.

tears in his eyes.

when he doesn't get his way,

this is the sad face that goes along with it.

i told him he couldn't lay on the sand and make sand angles with his friends.

i know,

mean momma.

he quickly recovered when i offered to help him climb a tree.

sam do you want a piece of candy?

yes!

what's on your shirt?

wheyya?

is that lollipop?

~silence~

did you already have a piece of candy?

that was before.

then he picks the sticky pieces off his shirt.

eats them,

then starts digging for a now piece of candy.

sweet tooth or too sweet?

he researched,

designed,

glued,

& glittered.

i showed tremendous restraint by not

picking colors,

switching the layout,

or straightening the letters.

it is just like him.

colorful,

sparkly,

a little askew...

perfect.

that's how many pictures i took tonight at the beach.

there were 8 of us.

3 adults.

5 children.

you would think we could get them all to look at the camera...

just once.

plenty of great candids.

the only decent group shot didn't require eye contact.

this is what most of our attempts looked like...

clearly outnumbered...

we didn't stand a chance.