Will's Birthday Party

Cousin Will's birthday party was this past Fri. and we celebrated at Chuck E. Cheese. It would be Sophia's first time there and we weren't sure how she'd handle seeing the Big Cheese.

It was a little overstimulating at first. She was a little hesitant to go play the games.

 I was so excited for her to get to play this game. It was always my favorite growing up. But she wasn't a big fan.

Her favorites were all the mechanical rides.

And the games where you get to hit something.

All was going fine until she spotted Chuck E Cheese out on the games floor handing out free tickets.

She was not a big fan. But as soon as the coast was clear of him, she was back to playing.

Then it was time for pizza. Sophia's favorite!

She did cooperate enough to have a group shot with Chuck.

It was funny. About half way through the party, Sophia looked at me and said, "Mom, I love Chuck E. Cheese". I think she meant the games and rides. Not the costumed Chuck. :)

Happy birthday Will!!!

Great party!

May Birthdays

What a difference a year makes!

This was Sophia last year for May birthdays, unable to share her golf clubs.

And look at her now! She wants to sit at the kid table...no longer right next to mama.

Here's cousin Will, one of the May birthdays we're celebrating.

Uncle Jay, one of the other May birthdays

There's Uncle Tim! The other May birthday. We've already decided. No more May birthdays. So Aunt Amy and Aunt Robin...we're all in agreement? No more May babies right? We could use a March or July baby. :)

Sophia was trying to help Will with his card we got him. It plays music. It plays " We Will Rock You" by Queen and says "You Rock!".

In fact, Jack was very interested in that card.

Father and Son....Aren't they cute??!!

And then some of the fam went into the hot tub. It was like 50  degrees in May. Windy and COLD!!! And did I mention MISTY???? Sophia was one of them. I couldn't even sit outside to watch, it was so cold. I'm a cold weather wimp. Thanks family for helping me out by chasing around my almost 3 year old. And letting me nap.

Check out the steam!!!

And of course there was ice cream!!!

Then she went back in for more.

On a sidenote, my back is killing me. The only thing I can think of to cause this is sitting a lot on Saturday at our garage sale. Heating pads and ice packs are my new best friends. I'm only hoping that being on my feet for the next week will be a good thing.

Daddy's Little Helper

On Friday night, Sophia helped her daddy make some signs for the garage sale I was planning to have the following day. What a great little helper!

No pics of the actual garage sale. I mean, who wants to see our junk?? But can you say cha-ching? It was well worth the time and effort. Our total was $338. Now I get to buy the new pot/pan set I found on Amazon. We're at that point in our marriage where we're having to replace the items like pots, pans, appliances that we received as wedding presents...13 years in August.

The Art of the Matter

Funny story. Sophia has been making a lot of art/craft projects at school over the year.

This is just one weeks worth.

So you can imagine, if I saved everything since she's been there since August, I'd have a huge pile. And you must know how I feel about clutter/disorganization. So weekly, I pare down....recycle....part of her creations.

Unfortunately for me, she helped Russell with the recycling on Wednesday. She came in saying, "I found my art Mama". And I said "How did that get in there"?

Followed by her saying she didn't know. I suggested maybe it was our cat Mona, cause I couldn't bear to tell her I did it.

And she replied, "That's not nice. I want a dog".

Russell overheard the exchange and made me tell her I did it. I explained that there was so much art, we couldn't possibly save it all. She informed me that "That's not nice. That hurts my feelings. I'm not happy". I told her it wouldn't happen again. next time, she'll go through her projects with me and decide what to save.

So here are a few items I did save. Her mini- Sophia.

Her first attempt at a sunshine and sky.

Her first attempt at figurative art.....stick people.

I just love the different types of line she uses here. And this was her first day of pre-school.

More stick figures. She made about 20 pages of them.

Here, she told me a story that was going on. There was a dragon that was trying to get the princess and the queen. Can you see the dragon? It's the green blob. The queen and princess are the pink blobs.

More sun and sky.

Her scribbles get looser in some ways, but tighter in other sections. She's using different colors intentionally.

A dot painting she did...love how she fills her space and all the colors she used.

As an art teacher, I've seen a million scribbles, but there's something so intentional and planned with Sophia's.

And this one just makes my heart happy. Her use of color and space is very unique for a almost 3 year old. I have some kindergartners who barely draw a stick figure, much less fill an entire page and with multiple layers/colors.

so glad she's in a full-time PK, with such sweet kids, in such a small group atmosphere with a fabulous teacher! We LOVE her teacher, Ms. Melanie.

Yes, I'm probably a little subjective when it comes to Sophia's art but I really have to say, I'm really impressed. She loves making things. She puts her whole heart into it. She can draw for hours, literally. I think I have an artist on my hands and I'll try to help nurture that as long as she's interested. I love this age!!!! And I love my Sophia. And no, we're not getting a dog any time soon.