Various Farm Pics

Riding in the wagon out to the strawberry fields.

Maddie playing on the wooden train.

Chillin

Sophie smiling and saying "cheeeeese."

My Mother's Day Morning

Mother's Day morning started off with donuts. Notice how carefully Sophie ate only the rim of chocolate frosting and sprinkles. Then Maddie wanted to decorate herself and Sophie with happy face stickers.

Maddie gave me this beautiful necklace she made at school. She took this picture herself, too.

Wednesday Evening With Maddie

Wednesday Morning With Sophie

I think she says "what's that" to the camera.  What do you think?  If so,  I believe this was the first time that she put two words together.

Maddie's Update

Kent says the blog is getting "crusty," so I guess it's time for an update. We really haven't been up to too much, just hanging out, counting the days until summer vacation, and enjoying the warm evenings . . .

Last weekend we spent an afternoon at Andrew's for a little pool time. Maddie has outgrown her water wings because she is too heavy for them. She'll be taking some swim lessons this summer since it looks like it's time for her to either sink or swim . . .

Little Maddie was enrolled in kindergarten this week!!! Shocking, isn't it? She'll be five in just a few months, and in LA, the Kinder cut off isn't until December, so she should have a few kids older than her in her class. It is a HUGE relief for me to have her enrolled in a school with good test scores and a good reputation that isn't too far from our house.


After much whining about their cousins' toys and playrooms, Kent and I decided to purchase the kids a jumper for the yard. It should keep them entertained this summer, and since it cost less than two jumper rentals, it's not a bad investment either.

Update: Sophie

And now a little update on the baby, who's not much of a baby anymore! Little Sophie will be 19 months old this week!  She is signed up to start preschool when she turns two in the fall. I am not sure she'll be ready to leave Betty's, but we'll wait and see when October rolls along.


I think I'll just rest a bit here. Making everyone dote on me is sure tiring.

Sophie loves playing with her babies: feeding them, holding them, and doctoring them. She can say over 30 words now and can point to 15 body parts including her neck, knees, and thumb. She can identify by naming her neck, eyes, and poo-poo (her butt, so cute). She can also jump up, she learned how watching Maddie play hop-scotch.

18 Month Stats

Sophie had her check up with her doctor Monday morning. Here are her official 18 (+2 weeks) stats: 26 pounds, 3 ounces (70th percentile) and 33 inches (90th percentile).

Since I took the day off work for the appointment, we were able to spend the afternoon at the park with good friends Andrew, Alexis, and Natalie.


Andrew and Maddie had a fantastic time running around with these masks on.

Blast Off!!!

Ethan turned four today with a fun-filled space-themed party.  The kids had a blast!!  Even Sophie loved the moon bounce and cake.

Go Ethan!!  Happy Birthday!!

Sophie investigates the adorable party favors:

Maddie and the moon bounce:

Moon Rocks

In addition to the moon bounce and moon pies, the kids went on a hunt for moon rocks with these soooo cute personalized jet packs.

Zoo Day

We spent the morning at the LA Zoo with our good friends Carrie, Milo, Theresa, and Liam. It was a cool and overcast day, perfect weather for the zoo. Maddie loved the train best, as usual, and she enjoyed the roly-poly bug she found as much as any other animal there.


Sophie was really good about being in her stroller during the trip. Here she is watching Maddie ride the LA Choo Choo. She seemed to like watching the seals and giraffes, too.

Sophie's Signature Smile

Sophie and the Hat

Spring Has Sprung

Sophie and the Swing

Post-Cookie Grins

Maddie said she wanted to make chocolate chip cookies one day this week. So, of course, we did. Baking is one of our favorite things to do together. She loves cracking the eggs and is really good at putting the dough on the cookie sheets, too.

Making A Splash

The warm weather has returned and so has our little pool.

18 Months!!

Look who's 18 months old today!!!! Our little baby is turning into a little girl.

Milestones:
For about a month now, she has been telling us not only when she needs a diaper change, but she even tells us when she's about to have a dirty diaper. So she may have been a late walker, and perhaps a little late on talking, but I think we just might have an early potty trainer on our hands!! So far, we have only had luck in getting her dolls and stuffed animals onto the little potty, but we'll see . . .

Her next appointment isn't for another two weeks, so I have no official stats to report. On our home scale, she's 25 pounds. She can run and climb now and loves getting onto the couch and chairs. She also says around 20 words. Her newest ones are "purple" and "more." She seems to add a new word everyday now.

Material Girls

I love matching outfits on my girls!! These came from Grandma Shirley, Thanks Grandma! I keep telling Kent the eighties are back, but he doesn't believe me.

Camping Trip

We took a little camping trip in our backyard last weekend. Maddie said she wanted to put one of her little tents up, so Kent decided to put up our real tent. He even made a fire and went out and got smores ingredients. He even agreed to spend the night in the tent, but luckily, Maddie decided she wanted to come in the house around 10 pm. Thanks Daddy!!! You're the best!!!

Before:
After:

Sophie's first roasted marshmallow:

Sophie Gives a Tour