Growing Up

While I was away in Chicago last weekend Sophia went through a major growing spurt in her feet! I could hardly believe that in the short time I was gone she basically outgrew all of her shoes. It was quite the sight to try and cram her shoes on her feet and see her toes right at the ends.

Later this week we decided it was time for some new shoes. I wish I had a video camera that I could always carry with me, because watching her in the shoe store was the funniest thing ever. She is a total mommy's girl as she just LOVES shoes!! She wanted to try on every single pair.

We finally found two pair of shoes that fit just great and were quite cute too. I am still in awe that they make Nike Shox for little kids! Ha!

Posing in pair #1 of new shoes Nike Shox (yep of course they're pink)

Pair #2 Fancy princess shoes that are silver and pink glitter that light up

Princess Tea Party

Today we had a Princess Tea Party with Peyton and Rana. It was so much fun! To start the party we had tea at the little table. The girls fed several different friends too.

After feeding friends, we put water in the tea set. It didn't last very long though. It was pretty darn cute to watch the girls with their tea.


After having tea we made princess crowns out of construction paper. The girls decorated their crown with crayons, stickers, and glitter. They turned out adorable.


Then the girls had a princess lunch complete with peanut butter sandwiches cut into the shape of princess crowns.

After lunch the girls watched Cinderella and had their fingernails painted. This was the first time that Sophia has had her fingernails painted and she did fantastic. I was so shocked that she didn't mess them up.

All in all, it was the best party ever! The girls had a great time and so did their hip mommies!

Sophia's new dresses from Grandma Jayne

Grandma Jayne made Sophia two new adorable dresses. Sophia just loves them as she likes to twirl and spin in them. It is so funny to see how much she enjoys dresses.

This first dress has kitties and doggies on it along with bones and paw prints. She also made it reversible!

The second dress has little apple prints on it. It is equally as adorable as the first!

We love that Grandma Jayne can sew. She has made some of the cutest things ever for Sophia and we are extremely grateful for that!

This week will be a busy one. Sophia and I spent the day at the Y and the swimming pool. Tonight Grandma Jayne joined us for dance. Tomorrow we will find something to keep us busy along with Wednesday. Then Thursday Hal leaves and I have an open house at school.

A day at the park and a little Tie-Dye

Today we went to the Puppet Wagon and met Corey and Sophia's daycare friends. They were so excited to see her that they were fighting over who could sit next to her. It was quite funny. After the show, the kids played at the park. It was so great for Sophia to see her friends. She was thrilled to play with them at the park.

Sophia and Jenna going down the slide

Getting hugs from Mason

After the park we went back home and had a tea party together. Then it was time for a nap. She was completely exhausted. When she got up we had a quick dinner and then it was off to work. When I got done teaching my class Sophia got to tie-dye a t-shirt with one of her favorite girls in Kidstuff Ms. Katherine. She just adores her so much. Ms. Katherine helped her put on the rubber bands.

Then she helped her dip the t-shirt into the colors. Sophia picked orange and blue.

The t-shirt turned out adorable! Thanks a bunch Ms. Katherine you made Sophia's day!!

We got back home just in time for Sophia to have a bath. Then it was off to bed. Tomorrow will be a busy day. I'm off to Chicago for a long weekend with my best friend Becca. I can barely wait to hang out with her. Until Monday!

A Girls Day In Stillwater

This morning we went to breakfast with my mom at Fresh Fields in Stillwater. It is this wonderful bakery and we loved our breakfast! After eating we went downtown and looked at all of the shops and walked down by the river. Sophia loved picking items up in the stores and saying, "Oh this is cute!" It is quite hilarious to hear how she talks like such a grown-up.

When we got home Sophia wasn't too tired to my surprise, but we did find a surprise....daddy came home sick. We're hoping he will start feeling better soon.

Tonight we went to the Y and Sophia put on this Mickey Mouse Costume. It was about the cutest thing ever. Luckily the Y let us use the camera so I could get a picture of her. I will post it as soon as it gets sent to me.

We're off to Archivers in a bit so that I can get supplies to make baby shower invites for a shower that I'm throwing for a girlfriend from school. I can't wait to see how they turn out.

Tomorrow we're headed to the Puppet Wagon and a picnic with Corey and Sophia's daycare friends. I'm sure it will be a blast.

What a busy weekend

This weekend proved to be one of the busiest in our family, but everyone pulled together and stuck it out until the bitter end on Sunday at 8pm.

Friday morning we got some really bad storms in Woodbury and in MN in general. It hailed quite a bit at our house and looked like someone had dumped a monsoon in our yard. Sophia didn't really enjoy the storm until it started to hail. So I went outside and gathered some up for her so she could put it in a cup, examine it, and shake it around.

Sophia examining the hail in her cup

Holding the cup with the hail
When the stormed died down I was extremely glad because we had so many things to get done before Sophia went down for a nap. We were off and out the door to meet my mom for some errand running. We got some shoes for the wedding, the wedding present, jewelry, and some other items needed from Target.

Later afternoon, I got the laundry done and got dinner ready. Hal's parents came over for dinner that evening and we had a wonderful dinner on the grill. After eating, we went outside and Hal and his dad flew the kites. The weather was perfect and the whole neighborhood was out for the evening. Sophia didn't want to go inside to bed.

Saturday morning I got up bright and early to run the Lumberjack Days race in Stillwater MN. It was a 10 mile race and I finished in 1:38:26. I was quite proud of my time because I don't normally finish a longer race with under 10 minute miles.

My neighbor and I headed home after the race and I got home to find my smiling family waiting for me. They congratulated me on the run and then we played toys/play dough for a while. Sophia had a bath and then my parents came to pick her up.

Hal and I got ready to head to Cottage Grove to a friend's wedding. Congrats Stacy and Matt! The wedding was a really fun time!

Hal and I outside on the deck that overlooked the river

Hanging with Sarah and Nate

Our adorable niece Abby

Sunday we got up and read the paper out on the deck. It was a gorgeous morning. Then we went over to my parents to pick up Sophia. We went to the grocery store and Sophia and I went to the park when we got home. After lunch we got ready to head back over to my parents for our family picnic. My dad's side of the family all came over. It's quite fun with all 16 of us together.

Sophia floating in the pool with Hal

Hanging with the kids

Will, Thomas, and Elizabeth
Once we got home last night everyone completely crashed. We were all in bed at 8! It was a wonderful weekend, but I think I might need the week to recover. Today we have lunch with Jayne, Abby, and Sarah and then dance this evening. Hopefully the weather will be beautiful this week!

I love the beach!

Today I took Sophia to the beach for the first time ever. We had a great time playing in the water and the sand. We also ran into our neighbors at the beach so it couldn't have gotten any better. They have a little girl who is almost 3. Sophia had a wonderful time playing and being silly with Emmerson.

The girls being silly together wearing the goggles


When it got cloudy outside and began to ran, it didn't stop us. We got under the big umbrella and ate lunch and made sticky wet sandcastles. Sophia was such a trooper. I don't think she even realized that it was raining.


Then the weather got nice and sunny outside and we were able to play in the water more.

When it was time to go Sophia was very upset. She said goodbye to the beach at least 3 times. She was just covered in sand, but has the best time. I can't wait to take her back now knowing she loved it.

I had to teach at the Y tonight and of course it stormed just as we had to get there. The weather passed quickly which was nice and Sophia wanted to play outside again when we got home.

Tomorrow we will head up to the pool if the weather is nice during the day. In the evening we're meeting our friends the Gutts at Marketfest in White Bear Lake. Should be a great time!