Happy Birthday to Sam.

We celebrated Sam's birthday in style by going to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
Sam's request was to get a tiger stuffie to be his Tigery's brother. 
We got there and explored.  When we re-grouped in the front lobby, we were all standing with a map trying to figure out where we were going next.  A police officer came up to us and asked us if we were okay.
We told him we were and Sam added "We're here to see dinosaurs for my birthday!"
The officer then asked Jim and Sam to come with him.  He took them to the gift shop and told Sam to pick out a stuffie.  Sam found Snowy the Tiger and the officer bought it for him.
We were floored by his generosity. 

The kids enjoy the "Human Origins" exhibit. 

The obligatory Herkimer Diamond photo.

Sam and his new tiger "Snowy".  The smile says it all. 

The dino exhibit is much smaller and will be for a few years until they finish the new wing for the new T Rex.

But fun tends to follow Nate - especially when hand dryers are involved.

No way we could get all four looking at the same thing at the same time. 

Sam got to pick out cupcakes on his actual birthday.  It was a weird mix of Christmas and Hanukkah decorations - but they tasted good. 

Hard to believe the little bugger that looked like this 7 years ago

Looks like this now. 
Did you know the Tooth Fairy pays double when she visits on birthdays?

It has been quite the ride, Sammy-Lammy-Ding-Dong. 
We love you so much and are proud of the young man you are becoming. 
Keep up the good work, Buddy.