That's not Ariel it is Wendy

Last night Sophia and I met the my two friends Becca and Michelle for dinner at Chilis. On the way driving down White Bear Avenue, we stopped at the stoplight in front of Wendy's restaurant.

Sophia got all excited and said in her cute little voice, "Mommy look it." I asked her what she wanted me to look at and she said, "Mommy look it it's Ariel." I asked her where she was seeing Ariel as she can always spot anything and sometime I have no clue where she sees it. Then she pointed to the Wendy's sign and said, "right there." It was the cutest thing ever!

I had to explain to her that this girl's name was Wendy not Ariel and she was a tad bit confused. I love the connection she is making with the fact that it is a girl with red hair. Super funny kid moment!

Sophia's 2 year pictures

Yesterday Sophia had her pictures taken to celebrate turning 2. We had the most amazing photographer come right to our house. She spent the majority of the morning hanging out and taking photos. I loved the way she made Sophia feel comfortable. This was probably the most amazing experience that I have had with Sophia getting her pictures taken. I could hardly believe when she e-mailed me on Saturday night just hours after leaving our house to show me the pictures she had posted on her blog. Now it's my turn to share them with you:

www.andrealarsonphotography.blogspot.com

If you need an absolutely amazing photographer, I would HIGHLY recommend her to anyone. Thank you so much Andrea for making this such a special time for Sophia. I can't wait until we see the proofs!

Very busy day

Today we were off to a very busy start. Sophia got up and ate her breakfast. After breakfast, it was up to the bath to get ready for her pictures. Then Andrea came over to take her picture. I couldn't believe how much fun we had getting her pictures taken. I am so thrilled with how the session went and am super eager to see how they turn out.

After the photo session, Sophia needed to eat lunch and get to a nap before we went to our first of two parties. She took a great nap while I got ready and then we headed to Logan's birthday. It was so fun to see his Thomas the Train party. I can hardly believe he is 2! Here are a couple of cute pictures from the party:

Sophia playing cars and trucks with the boys (yes she even made the noises too!)

Logan and Sophia eating at the "kids" table

Logan with his Thomas the Train cake (it was adorable!)

Sophia, Jenna, and Mike O'Keefe

After we left Farmington, then we headed back to our neck of the woods to attend our second party of the day. My girlfriend from the 3rd grade Erin's 30th birthday party. It was a surprise party and oh so fun!

Erin coming in with her boyfriend Noah to the party

Sophia wearing Erin's birthday girl crown

It was fun to hang with Courtney and her husband Darrin. Sophia had a great time playing with them both. Then we said our good-byes and wished Erin another happy birthday before we headed home. Sophia totally crashed when we got home. She had a very busy day!

The Teddy Bear Park

Last night we had a play date with Sophia's friends Peyton and Gavin. We met them downtown Stillwater for a bite to eat at the new Dairy Queen. Sophia had a small dish of ice cream for the first time ever and absolutely loved it! After eating dinner, we went up to the Teddy Bear Park. What a gorgeous night it was to play outside.

The kids had a great time going down the slides and chasing each other around the park. Rana and I had a great time chatting and catching up. Then it was time to head home and get ready for bed. Sophia chatted with me on the way home, but looked utterly exhausted as I knew that they had also gone to the park yesterday with Corey. We got home and had a bath and then it was off to bed.

She woke up cheery this morning and was ready to start the day. Tonight we're going to Target and getting ready for the busy weekend. Tomorrow Sophia will attend her second and third birthday parties in two weeks time. She is quite eager. She is also having her 2 year pictures taken tomorrow. I really hope that the weather holds out. We can't wait to see how they turn out!

Gizimoto

At Corey's house where Sophia goes to daycare, they got a new puppy after the holidays. The new puppy's name was Gizmo. Thanks to Sophia, they have officially registered the dog though as Gizimoto. Sophia was adding her own unique touch to the name of the dog mostly because I think she couldn't say it at first.

This dog is her favorite. She also loves Tucker their other dog who is a German Shepard. It's quite funny to see the two dogs together as you can see from the size difference below.

I had to take a picture of Sophia with the dog as she is constantly talking about it and some of you have never seen the dog. Notice that I couldn't get Sophia's attention, but the dog posed perfectly!

Sophia with Gizimoto

Kicked Out

Well, Sophia has been kicked out for the third time in a row from the "big kid" nap area. Corey likes to transition the kids when they're almost 2 to the "big kid" nap area. Normally the younger kids sleep in their own rooms and the big kids all sleep on their own cots in the same big room. Sophia thinks it is play time with her friends and therefore hasn't had very good naps so far.

Corey said she would pop her head up and say, "Hi Corey!" with tons of enthusiasm. I was giggling about it, as I can totally picture this happening in my head. We're hoping she will figure it out soon. Otherwise she is going to be one tired girl.

Over the weekend Grandma Jayne finished Sophia's new dress. I found this adorable pattern online for a really cute dress. Well, fast Grandma Jayne already has it done. Sophia fits into right now, but it is big and long. I couldn't resist taking some pictures of her in it tonight. We just love it!! Thanks Grandma Jayne we love you!!

Rain, rain, go away

Today it was a rainy day. I actually didn't mind it which is a switch. Normally I hate rainy days, but today was a great day to hang outside and spend some time playing.

This morning Sophia and I read tons of books. Hal was packing and getting ready to leave. I did one last load of laundry for the week and he got all of his things together. After reading books, Sophia decided we would have a race with the cars which was really fun. Her car had the bunnies in it and mine had the baby in it. We had such a good time pushing them and racing upstairs.

Then we took out the new play dough she got for Easter. Also notice in the pictures she finally has just enough hair for a hair clippie.

New Play Dough from the Easter Bunny

Cute hair cippie

Tonight I'm sure Sophia will have a bath and we will get ready for the week. We miss you already daddy!

Cousin Abby's Birthday

Today we attended cousin Abby's first birthday. Sophia had a great time running around outside and playing with Mackenzie this other little girl from the party. Abby had fun opening her presents and kicking off her shoes. Sophia got to spend some more time with Grandma Jayne before she leaves tomorrow for Utah. We will be excited to have her back soon! Here are a couple of cute pictures from the party:

Sophia hanging with the birthday girl


All the girls together


The LaFleurs and the Wickmans

Sophia's New Saying

Sophia has a new favorite saying that she picked up from Barney and it is quite funny. Here's a quick glimpse of her saying the line.

Going down the slide big girl style

Tonight Sophia went down the twisty slide at the Colby Lake Park Big Girl Style! She was thrilled to be able to go down by herself. After our 3 mile run to the lake and around, she was excited to get out and play at the park.

When we got home, she wanted to run down to the end of the street and back. This seems to be her new favorite thing. We stopped on the way and talked with all of the neighbors.

I can hardly believe how fast the nights go when the weather is nice. I can barely get her inside to eat dinner.

Can't wait for the weekend!

Happy Easter!

This weekend went by so quickly I barely had time to blink! On Saturday, we took Sophia to the egg hunt for our community. It was so incredibly packed that they ran out of eggs and treat bags. I haven't seen that many kids in a long time. Luckily, Sophia found 3 eggs. After searching for eggs, we went inside to check out the baby animals. They had them all in a little basket. Sophia loved touching the baby duck and baby bunny. She wasn't too crazy about the baby chicks though.

After all of the fun, we went home and Sophia went down for a nap. Then Hal went out for the evening and Sophia and I went on a walk. We did a couple of errands and then it was off to bed for her.

Yesterday we got up bright and early to see if the easter bunny came. It left one egg in her room with a treat in it which she ate right away while sitting on the potty. It was pretty funny! Then we went downstairs and she found the rest of the eggs and her basket. She got some coloring books, Play Dough, some new pjs, and a Mrs. Potato Head. She just loves it! She took it out right away and played with it until church.

Church was really fun with all of the great music. Sophia was super excited and danced in the aisles with the other little girls. After church we came home for a bit and then went to brunch with Hal's parents at Tartan Park. The brunch was lovely and we had a great time!

When we got home, Sophia got to find the eggs that the bunny hid outside. She thought that this was so much fun. Then we hung out for a bit and Sophia took a nap. I went to the gym and Hal watched some golf. Last night we headed up to the park and then it was bath and bed for Sophia.

Hal and I couldn't believe how fast the weekend went or how tired we were yesterday from all of the fun over the weekend.

Happy Easter!

My new lawn mower

Sophia got a brand new lawn mower from Papa and Nana for Easter along with a great Winnie the Pooh Easter book. She wanted to put the mower together right then and there. It was quite funny how thrilled she was with it.

When we got home from their house Hal put her mower together. She pushed it around the house for a bit until it was time to go to bed. Of course the bubbles are not in it yet. Hopefully we can take it outside some time soon.

Coloring Easter Eggs

Last night Sophia colored Easter Eggs for the first time ever. She was quite eager to get started, but we had to put the plastic tarp down on the table and under her chair in case of spillage. Good thing we did as one of the cups got quite full and spilled almost immediately after we started.

Mommy with Sophia

We tried to get creative by using the three colors that we were given and mixed colors. We also has the special white crayon. Sophia was excited to stir the eggs.


Hal's mom came over for chili dinner too. She also got to join in the fun!


All in all, it was a very fun evening! Tonight we're headed over to my parents house as we say bon voyage to them again. They are on their way out for their last warm weather vacation of the year. Thank the lord as we miss them tons.

Sophia and the bunny

On Saturday, we took Sophia to an Easter party at the mall and to see the bunny. I had been prepping her all week about how to smile and such. When it was our turn she was fine until......I placed her next to the bunny. See example A below:


After I picked her up she was all smiles and waving to the bunny. My favorite quote of the day is, "Bye-Bye Mr. Bunny!" So needless to say, my cute pictures are quite funny instead!

Then we went what I felt like was trick-or-treating to all of the different stores gathering treats. Sophia loved this part!


She also got to make some fun Easter crafts and get a flower balloon!




All in all, the day was quite fun!!

Yesterday we went to a going away dinner for my best friend's husband who will deploy next month. We are very sad to have him leave and are praying for his safe return home! This also means that I will have tons of best friend Becca time!!

The gang after dinner at Sunsets

After dinner we came home and crashed! I was quite tired from going out on Saturday night and waking up to an early riser at ten to seven on Sunday morning! Why oh why don't kids sleep in when you want them to??!!

Tonight we're having Hal's parents over for chili and to color Easter eggs. More pictures coming your way!

Getting ready with teddy and reading Panda Bear, Panda Bear

Last night I got Sophia singing the most adorable song she learned at Corey's house yesterday. Also I have been meaning to post this video too of her reading the book Panda Bear Panda Bear. Her reading is normally much better, but as you can see that little plastic bottle was a large distraction. I am impressed as she can actually read the book. I can skip pages around in the book and she can still tell me what it says on them and she knows the order of the animals even if I skip around on the last page. Enjoy!

Dry girl and dancing shoes

Two new exciting facts in Sophia's life:

1. Yesterday she was officially signed up and will be taking dance classes this summer. For those of you who see her regularly, you know she absolutely loves to dance and twirl around. She is quite thrilled and I am equally excited. I can't wait to see her in a baby tutu/leotard and baby ballet shoes!

2. Sophia woke up completely dry this morning. I think we have hit a major milestone in our potty training. I'm hoping she can do it again tomorrow!

Tonight we are taking my grandma and her sister out for dinner so that should be quite fun. They just love seeing Sophia. My parents come home tomorrow from Mexico and Sophia is thrilled to see her Papa and Nana. We missed you daddy and mommy! Welcome back to wintery MN.