Go, SoccerTot, Go!

After a crazy Fall, our girl is back in the game as a SoccerTot!

This is her first time playing soccer, and it is a big hit!

As suspected, she dribbles the ball as fast as her lightening

quick daddio. 

The pics stink, but the parents are proud!

One of THOSE Days

It was one of THOSE days.  A January heat wave.  A snowstorm so fresh in your memory that you wear a jacket in 67 degree weather.  Momma's been busy all morning interacting with other people.  Doing good things, but distracted none the less.  While other kids played outside, you played inside, unaware of the warmth just beyond the window. 

Finally sitting aside her tasks, momma makes a plan.  As you start to wake from your afternoon nap, she whispers a question,
"Playground and an ice cream picnic?" 
You nod and smile. 

Before long, you are visiting an old friend that you haven't seen in a few months.  The playground. 

You run,  you jump and you concentrate so hard on climbing that you have to stick your tongue out.  

The gift of sunshine makes you bold, climbing much higher than you did just a few months before. 

Soon, the ice cream you picked up at 31 Flavors starts
calling your name. 

You take a break to lick chocolate and sprinkles from a spoon.
Your face bathed in the last of the day's sunlight.


Little hands spoon lots of melty sweetness into chubby cheeks.

The ice cream is good, but you just can't sit for long.  There are slides to slide, new friends to make, and rocks to collect.

Ice cream for dinner.  It was one of THOSE days. 

Discovering Ourselves

Mark's hometown has a really great children's museum called the Discovery Center.  In just a few hours inside, you can find yourself taken to new heights in a hot air balloon,

flying at warp speed in a jet,

sauntering along in a boat,

putting out fires in a fire truck, or

riding a hot dog cart.  Wait.  What?

You can cook, serve and eat in a diner.

Most fun of all, you can squeeze fruits and veggies for freshness at a grocery store.

I'm talking fully loaded market with carts, an ATM and recyclable bags.

 

Be still my grocery store loving heart.
I couldn't resist adding a few things to a cart of my own.

Claire made some healthful choices, and even remembered that we are trying lactose milk with her.  Impressive. 

The good news is that they were having a big sale, so we got some great deals. 

Sophie was so pleased with her choices that we had to unpack her bags when she wasn't looking.  She hadn't forgotten though.  When we got home, she asked Mark to bring in "her bags", so we could "make the brownies that she got for Christmas"!

The girls even got to ride this little baby over and over and over again.  Sophia declared that it was "perfect for three sisters".  She's right, we can't wait to fill it up!

We had such a good time that the girls had sore cheeks from all the giggles...until we had to peel their little booties off this lovely piece of machinery. 

Unfortunately for Mark, we had to make a pit stop at the dentist on our way out. 

“I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things... I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind.”

~Leo F. Buscaglia

Halloweening

We Halloweened a little here, a little there, and a little everywhere this past weekend.

  We made our hair stand on end jumping like crazy people,

experienced the thrill of the treat,

gobbled up good eats,

carved it up,

made "mummy dogs",

hung out with friends we don't see often,

and friends we see once a month,

went skeletal,

bobbed for apples,

had a late night glow jump,

felt blessed to be a family of four,

laughed like crazy people,

cheesed for the cameras,

giggled it up with our costumed BFFs,

let it all hang out,

spread fairy dust,

checked and rechecked our buckets

(planning which 3 pieces would be eaten!),

rang and then begged for treats,

celebrated those families that distributed Snickers,

and rode along contentedly munching on one tiny pack of Skittles. 

Halloween was good.  Real good. 

Apple Picking, Post Tres (from Sophia's Perpective)

Apple picking was one of my very favorite memories last year.  I've talked about it ever since, because it was one of the most fun times I have ever had.  I couldn't wait to go again this year!  We went again last weekend, and had a super day.  Everywhere we went, I munched on apples and acted crazy.   My friends did too. 

 My sister, Claire, LOVES animals.  She looks at them with a big smile, and then points at them over and over.  I am a little scared of them this year. 

 Last year I milked Buttercup and got a sticker!   On the way up to the orchard this year, I asked all the cows that I saw if they knew Buttercup.  (Most didn't.) When I saw that she was there again, I was so happy!  (Not happy enough to milk her though...) 

 We celebrated NC Granny's birthday with cupcakes.  My pal, Laney, thought they were delicious, and hoped for a second one.   

 Meron and I went down the slides over and over, giggling the whole time. 

 Since we are big kiddos this year, we got to go down the BIG slide.  We rode down with our mommas and daddies,

 by ourselves,

 flat on our backs,

 and even on our bellies.  We were very brave, and extra silly. 

 NC Granny pulled out all the stops and made us fall cowboy hats. We thought they were really funny.  Just the way we like them.  While we waited for all the other kiddos to be wrangled, my pals, Nate, Meron and I waited, munched on our apples, and made weird faces. 

 The mommas and daddies ALWAYS want to take our picture.  They think it is special that there is always a new kid joining the group. 

 We think it is cool too, but it is really hard to stand still and smile for the camera.  Don't they know we are toddlers?!  The new kid didn't even end up in the photos.  She was too wiggly and ready for a snooze. 

We all tried really hard, but it didn't work very well.  Our mommas and daddies kept laughing and telling us to say words like, "Buttercup!"   


Eventually, they gave up and we headed home.  I talked about apples, slides and Buttercup all the way to the car.  By the time daddy pulled out of the parking lot though, my sister and I were fast asleep.  I hope we go again next year!