More fun times in 2012

"Reading" with mommy

Sam's birthday (in May). Hmm, what type of mischief is Sam making a wish for?

At home

Year 2012 was fun!

It has been a great year! Below are some Sam's pics from different times in 2012 that we haven't gotten around to posting earlier. Happy New Year!

Out on a hike

 

Staten Island

Spain, playing with cousin Artur:
Barcelona, Gaudi Park:
 

Art is tiring! After a walk with mom through Hoboken's art galleries
Staten Island Festival

Post-Hurricane Sandy, trying to stay warm at home

Hiking

Thanksgiving with family

The weather outside is frightful!

Christmas



We had a Christmas family get-together at Sam's aunt Yulia's place in New Jersey. From left to right, Sam's cousin Jake, Yulia, grandma Galya, Vic, Elena and Sam.

Presents!

Sam's favorite presents: the electric railroad...

and..

Russian school concert & Christmas

Sam has been going to a Russian school on Saturdays to maintain his Russian. At the end of the semester, there was a performance of his class.

Singing a New Year's song

Musical performance with spoons:

Newark Museum

 

One of the hand-on exhibits was about Tibet. Here Sam is exploring a Tibetan tent (which could fit both him and Elena at the same time).

 

Trouble is brewing (in the Tibetan tea pot)

 

Getting a bit winded...

 

This device (which makes electricity to power a light bulb from Sam's turning the wheel) would have been SO handy a few weeks ago after hurricane Sandy!

 

Nano-technology was confusing to Sam (but only just a little bit)

 

Of course Sam could not leave the museum without stopping by the fire truck exhibit.

Swing Voter

Today Sam changed his vote (see yesterday's post). He is voting for....
Fireman!

Sammy is voting for...

Sam kept telling his parents that they need to vote (it was his homework assignment from school - to remind his parents to vote).
Sam's mom: "So Sam, who are you going to vote for?"
Sam: "Halloween!"

Blackout Indoor Camping

 

After 6 days without electricity or heat (due to Hurricane Sandy), Sammy got really good at camping indoors. Sam is now a pro at operating a flashlight, and asked when Bob the Builder was going to fix the lights. Today we finally got the power back!!!

Vacation in Spain (August 2012)

On this trip Sam went with mom and daid, and saw his cousins Artur (age 3) and Albert (age 1), as well as his grandpa Yura, grandma Vera, uncle Sasha and aunt Karina. Everyone met in Cap Salou, Spain, a beach town near Barcelona.

With Cousin Artur


Here taking a rest from exploring the mountains.


Sam and cousins also went to Dali Museum. Their favorite part: the water fountain outside!



Sam and Artur also loved splashing in the sea and throwing sand around. Here, with grandpa Yura.



A vacation is a not vacation without running around in circles!

Synchronized eating?

Sam was helping put away the food into the fridge. When he saw this yogurt, he asked: "Is this a leaf yogurt?" Then he thought some more and developed this thought: "Is this a fall yogurt"?

Check out Sam singing!

Elena: "Sam, are you a brown bear?"
Sam: "No"
Elena: "Sam, are you a write bear?"
Sam: "No! I'm a beige bear!!!"

Sam as an art critic

Sam looked at this Richter painting (which hangs in the lobby of Elena's office building) and declared:
"Someone made a mess!"

Sam turns 4!

Sammy started celebrating his birthday by bringing a cake to school. His dad called a local bakery to order a cake and asked them to make one in the appropriate size for twenty 4-year olds. This is what they came up with...

Maybe they thought we meant twenty 4-year old Tyrannosauruses?

Zappos - Delivering Happiness

Natural history museum in New York

Sam especially liked the big whale, giant turtles and the mammals.

That dinosaur looks like he could have used a chiropractor

Planetarium the Natural History Museum

NYC subway beats any natural history museum in opportunities to see weird life forms and specimens... although unfortunately they are in no danger of growing extinct.