*****YAMBER ALERT**********

Sam the Yam was yamnapped out of the backyard of the Ames Residence in Peoria AZ, on the night of October 31, 2008. A group of youth were over for post game party and Sam came up missing. A ransom note was found where Sam's habitat once stood. We suspect known yamnapper, Julio DeYamnoso and his sidekicks. Full prosecution of yamnapping will be charged as well as possible prison sentence. Should you see Sam please contact police at special web address: http://www.wewantsamtheyamback.com/, or contact silent witness at 888-SAM-BACK

New York New York!

Our friend, Connie, creatively changed the words of this famous song to coincide with Jordan's mission.Great job Connie!

Centennial Homecoming Spirit Week

Cruella De'Jacie is at it again. Today is Disney Character Day

Centennial Homecoming Spirit Week

The pirate Jacie is off to school for another day of spirit week.

Havasupai Jordan

Here is a fun video of Jordan on a rope swing on our Havasupai trip this summer. Check it out.

Sam the YAM Spotlight: Tessa

Tessa performed in a program recently. Isn't she a cute girl!?

Centennial High Homecoming Spirit Week

She's off again, this time it is Career Day. She is a homemaker/chef. Go Jacie!

He's off!

Well, we was able to talk to him this morning. It was kind of like a Christmas morning. We all gathered in our bedroom and had him on speaker phone. He sounded great and he is ready to go. We will post his first area assignment as soon as we know it.

Elder Ames Flies out of SLC to the Big Apple

Jordan will be flying to NY in the morning. We will get to talk to him and hear his voice. He has had a great experience in the MTC. Here is an excerpt from his email to us today:

"The MTC has been incredible. I have never felt so close to the Spirit in my life. Sometimes you get so used to it, that it feels like you not. It is always a continual upward progression. My testimony of the gospel has been strengthened in so many ways. I tried making an outbound Spanish call the other day, with the help of my teacher, but the man just told me to speak English. I ended up talking with him for a while though and he accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon. We have had many awesome experiences here, I wish that I had enough time to share them all."

Spirit Week at Centennial High

Our little girl Jacie goes off to school. It's little kid day at Centennial High. This is homecoming week.

Family Fun Summer 2008

Gathered at the park after floating down the river

Elder Jordan Ames

You can write to Jordan at:
Elder Jordan Ames
New York New York North Mission
700 White Plains Rd Ste 315
Scarsdale, NY 10583

We Love Our NY Missionary

Tuesday, Oct 28th, Elder Ames flies out to NYC. His family is proud of him and the great work that he is doing.

Sam Announcement: New Baby on the way!

McKelle & Casey are expecting their first child in April 09

Coming soon to Sam the Yam Blog

Sam's Tub! Sam will educate you with trivia, news, and wholesome humor

Top Ten Signs You Have Gone Over the Garden Edge.....

10. Your favorite poem is "Roses are Red, Violets are Blue.

9. Your kids are named Rose, Violet, Daisy and Zucchini.

8. You have 8 X 10 family pictures of your Tomatoes and Peppers on your office shelf.

7. Your idea of Saturday Date Night is going out in the garden and hand pollinating the plants.

6. You think a cocktail is liquid fertilizer.

5. You rush home from work and go straight to the garden and hug your roses. (Ouch!) Then, you go in to your house and see your family.

4. On Christmas Eve, visions of "Sugar Peas" dance in your head.

3. After the first frost, you are seen holding funeral services in your garden.

2. You take your kids multiple vitamins from them to use as a supplement to your plants fertilizer.

And, the number one sign that you have gone over the garden edge is..

1. You create a Sam the Yam Blog

Today, Saturday, Oct 25 2008, I noticed that there were small tomatoes on the vine. They should have some by now as healthy as the vines are. They are the variety called "Celebrity".

How to grow a Sweet Potato Vine

If you would like to see how Sam the Yam got started and try it on your own, check out this on Google: Great Plant Escape: Grow a Sweet Potato Vine

Sam's Friend Elder Ames goes to NYC

Our son, Jordan, reported to the Missionary Training Center in Provo UT on Aug 27th, and has been there the last couple months learning Spanish and preparing to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of the New York New York North Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He will be leaving on Tuesday, October 28th for the Big Apple. We look forward to hearing many great experiences from him. He has had a great experience already in the MTC and has truly dedicated himself to the work he has been called to do. Keep up the great work Elder Ames

Sam's Garden

The Ferocious Frog guards the garden

Sam's Friends

Sam's Introduction

Sam's Habitat and Garden

Sam, is a very, very fine yam!
Sam is a sweet potato that I started to grow in a pot of water. He rooted and started to sprout and eventually I put him outside in this pot, however it did not have the protective fence or tomato cage. I found Sam twice on the ground as he had been pulled out of the pot by a predator(it must have been Allie, our dog). So, I had to rescue Sam and brought him back into the house, putting him back into his pot of water so that he could be revived after having survived the uprooting. Eventually he began to thrive, and sprouting was rampant. I had to put dowels in the pot to support his growing vines, and last Saturday I felt it was time for him to venture outside again. However, this time was different. Sam would have a real yam habitat. So, the tomato cage and garden wire I had laying around came to good use, and as you can see, Sam has a predator proof habitat. Everyone needs a yam for a pet.

Sunday is a day to get dressed up and sit in your garden. I have planted beans, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, swiss chard, radishes, cabbage, lettuce, egg plant, peas, cilantro, and I threw in some pumpkin seeds. The tomato plants are most healthy, however they are not producing any tomatoes. Do you know a good recipe for tomato vine soup?

The rock border I recently added, had to have something for the ferocious frog to sit on as he guards the garden from the predators of the yard.

Sam the Yam!

Hi my name is Sam, Sam the Yam. I am a very, very, very fine yam!