Sophie the Explorer's Party

Last year, we had a small birthday party to celebrate Sophie's 2nd birthday and to be honest, I was a little nervous to throw one for her 3rd birthday but all her little friends were having birthday parties and this year, she actually understood what was happening, practiced singing "Happy Birthday" and blowing out her birthday candle for weeks before. She talked about it and just couldn't wait ... and it was totally worth it. Just to see Sophie feel so celebrated and have her know that she is special, made it worth it.

So for her 3rd Birthday, Sophie had a "Dowa dee Explowa" (or Dora the Explorer) party. In the weeks before, I tried hard to convince her that a Princess party was the way to go ... but she was not to be convinced so we went Dora all the way ... starting with the invite.


We decided this year to go to an indoor playground (Joey's Gym) where we had been 2 times before for different friends' birthday party. It was great because it was a contained space and all the parents felt safe enough to let the kids party and the parents got to socialize.

I desperately tried to convince Sophie that a Princess party was the way to go but she insisted that for her third birthday, she wanted a "Dowa dee Explowa" (or Dora the Explorer) party. And this year, we decided to try out an indoor playroom (Joey's Gym) instead of having the party at our house ... it just seemed easier that way.

And thankfully, this mama has AMAZING friends who are SO creative. My dear friend, Cora, made an amazing Dora cake (thank you, thank you Cora!) that never, ever in my life could I create something so fabulous and friends like Sarah (thank you, thank you) who brought a super yummy fruity treat. For weeks before, I'd ask Sophie who was bringing her cake and she'd respond, "Auntie Cowa is making Sophie a Dowa cake". She was so excited. And she practiced over and over and over again blowing out the candles so how could I resist, giving her everything she wanted ... just for one day! My friend Paige (thank you, thank you!) has this amazing business (called Buggy's Basement) and she created Dora magic ... "Backpack" Favor Bags, a Dora Centerpiece and a Sophie Birthday Banner.

Dora "Backpack" Favor Bags
Are they not the sweetest things you've ever seen?

Sophie's Dora Centerpiece
At a glance, Sophie thought Dora was me ...
It's true, I have been mistaken for Dora ... what an honor! :)

Sophie's Birthday Banner

Sophie has some pretty amazing friends ...
Kylie, Kylie's mommy
(my good friend, Christine) and baby brother, Brady
drove all the way from Orange County just to come to
help celebrate ... Sophie was so excited to see her long-
lost best friend!

It may have been a few months since they last saw each other
but they'll always be best friends!

Ollie!!!!

Playtime!
Rhiannon, Kylie, Sophie, Desmond, Brileigh,
Meredith, Vesta and Anabelle

Who's birthday is it ...
SOPHIE'S!!!!

Birthday FUN!

Lift your leg up!!!

The BIRTHDAY girl!!!

Climbing, climbing ...
my brave Birthday girl!

Hanging!
Kylie, Rhiannon and Sophie

Climbing!

While the kiddos play ...
the parents EAT!
We had Chinese Chicken Salad from Feast from the East.
Chicken nuggets from Chick fila
Cheese Popcorn
Sarah's Fruit Yumminess!

Blake's little girlfriend, Eloise, pulled up to standing
for the first time while we were there ... isn't she so cute!

Little Brother, Blake, was loved on by
Grand Auntie Elaine and Pau Pau during the party ...
he was in heaven!

Blocks!!!

Cora made Dora cupcakes for the kiddos ...
they were SO good!

I love this photo ...
I told Sophie weeks beforehand that Cora was making her birthday cake ....
but when she saw it, I think she could hardly believe it was all for her!
And how beautiful of a cake it was!

Sophie practiced for weeks for this very moment ...

Blowin' the candles out ...
Love Vesta in this one!!!

What a thrill this moment was for her!

The most gorgeous cake ever ...
My friend, Cora, is so very amazing!

All the friends

I can't believe Sophie is 3!!!!
How quickly time flies by ...
Happy Birthday my sweet girl!!!

Happy THREE Years Sophie!

My sweet Sophie,

You are three years old ... wow.
It's hard to believe that I am a (very lucky) mommy of a three year old.
But my oh my ... what an incredible year this has been for you.
It has been life changing.

You started school this year ... well, preschool.
And literally, you've become a different person.
Since you've started school,
you've made good friends,
learned to sing songs,
you've learned to talk in sentences,
and how to be social.

I guess the biggest change is you really started to talk.
Like I said, you talk in sentences
I can tell you to do something for me,
or to get something, and you'll actually listen to instructions.
We can have conversation.
I am amazed.

The funny thing is if I ask you to do something
and you don't want to do it,
I'll ask you why and you'll respond,
"No more!" or "...because Swiper is coming"
Swiper is the fox in "Dora the Explorer".

This year, you became
the BEST Big Sister ever ...
to Baby Bake ... or as I've recently heard you call him,
Baby Bwake. It's so cute because you say it so slowly
so you can try to say it correctly.
But to be honest, I love when you call him Baby Bake more.
Baby Bwake will always be Baby Bake to me ...
You are so kind and loving to your little brother.
And he adores you in return.
He is the first person you ask for in the morning,
and the last person you give goodnight kisses to.
Baby Bake is a lucky little brother to have you!

I almost hate to mention this bit,
but you discovered the iPad this year.
And I think you love it ...
and though you've never just picked it up to watch it
without permission, I recently put a passcode on it ... just in case.
The other day, you left the iPad for just a minute so it went to the passcode.
And when you tried go back to the iPad, I heard this:
"I don't like that"
"Please don't do that"
"That is not acceptable"
"I'm going to count to 3 and if you do not stop that,
Sophie will put you in time out"
"One, two, three ... time out iPad, Sophie doesn't like that"
I had to smile ... and help you out.
It was just too cute.

Besides the iPad, you love to read, do puzzles, paint and imagine.
You love to sing and dance ... and run in circles.
You love to be outdoors whenever you can -
riding your bike or going up "big mountain"
(which is the hill closest to our house)
You enjoy hanging out with your friends ...
it's so much fun to watch you grow up.

You have two imaginary friends.
Dano and Sego.
We think Dano is very small,
he seems to fit in the palm of your hand.
And always seems to be sleeping.
We're not entirely sure about Sego ...
except you talk about him.

Booms, you amaze me every day.
You are one of the best things that I've ever been blessed with.
I wish I could bottle up these very moments
or press pause and repeat on the life button.
You are an incredible little girl and I thank God daily for you.
How lucky I am to be your mommy ...

I love you more than the stars in the sky.
I'll love you forever and ever ... and then some.

Yours for always,
Mommy

December's BIG update

2 kiddos ... one frazzled mom and a traveling dad.

There never seems to be enough time in the day and not enough
hands to accomplish everything I want, including updating this blog.
So in an effort to get caught up, here is my one massive update.
That should catch us up through the holidays and beyond ...
and then, we can start off fresh again ...
It is a new year after all right?

It's always a struggle for us to figure out when to get our Christmas tree ...
yes, we are still talking Christmas.
The year before last, we got our tree too early
so by the time Christmas came, the tree had lost its luster.
Then last year, we got our tree too late ... and hardly got a chance to enjoy it.
Now this year, we planned to get our tree a week into December -
hoping it was just enough time to enjoy it but not enough time for the kids
to get themselves and our tree into trouble.
What we didn't count on was Blake's skull fracture accident.
So our tree got to sit outside and breathe fresh air for a few days.
And then, sat inside our house for a few more days - undecorated.
But by Christmas Eve, our tree was decorated - with all the bells and whistles.

Andrew checking for the best tree ...

Our family photo
We picked the first tree that looked pretty good ...
and took a not-so-nice photo for memory sake.

Tree headed home

Every year since Sophie's first time with a Santa encounter,
it's my goal to hunt out where Santa will be so I can get a crying photo
(mean mommy, mean mommy ...).
I figure it'll be a good memory to have down the road.
This year, I was prepared to have a good photo - two crying kids.
It was going to be classic.
And we found Santa ... twice.
But to my disappointment, neither Sophie nor Blake
were scared or cried.
In fact, I think they might have even smiled.
I was so disappointed.

Our first encounter with Santa came at our friends the Clausen's house.
Dana, Dave and Alexa (otherwise known as the Clausens) just added baby Elizabeth
to the family a few days prior so going out to meet Santa was not really an option.
Instead, they invited the big man to their house ...
and they invited us too!

Sophie and her buddy, Alexa, waiting on Santa

Look at that ... a smile.
How very disappointing!!! :)

The reindeer got lost picking up Santa ...
so the poor man had to walk.

And then several nights later,
we went to Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo ...
to check out the decorated block of houses and of course,
meet Santa again.
Sophie loved the lights and enjoyed meeting her friend again.
She even stopped to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.

Pretty amazing isn't it?

With Santa ...

No tears ...

Sophie even told Santa what she wanted for Christmas.

This year, I can say I officially went overboard.
That's the problem when you buy Christmas gifts all year long ...
and don't take into account what you've already got.
You learn something new every day ...

This year, it wasn't until Christmas Eve that we actually
put ornaments on the tree ... and set the gifts under the tree.
I was afraid that Sophie wouldn't be able to resist the urge to all
the brightly colored presents if we set up beforehand ...

And you remember how I told you I went overboard with the gifts?
Well, lets just say it was a late night after Christmas Eve service
... decorating and wrapping.
But watching Sophie and Blake's (especially Sophie's) expression
the next day ... made it all worth it!

The decorated tree ....
with all the gifts under the tree.

Being silly with Daddy ...

Our little Santa Claus

Opening Gifts

SO excited!!!

Blake was far more interested in chewing his gifts
than actually opening them ...

He was quite sad when we told him how opening gifts actually worked ...

But then he cheered up ...
when he figure out it involved presents ...

And so rarely seen
... here I am.
I do exist.
with my glasses on.

Andrew, the kiddos ... and all those gifts ...

Sophie asked for presents for a days afterwards ...
Girlfriend, that's not how it works!!!!

Then we went to my parents' house ...
and guess what ...
we opened MORE gifts!!!

I LOVE this photo of Blake ...

This year, we decided to host Christmas Dinner.
When we first moved into our house in 2009, I hosted Thanksgiving dinner ...
but let's be honest, I didn't cook anything. I just opened up my home,
and the family brought everything else.
But this year, I cooked all the side dishes and bought the ham and turkey.
I thought it was safer this way ... if anything, we would have something to eat.

All the sides -
salad, bread pudding, roasted pepers,
roasted squash and brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes

Along with our family, our dear friends, Ann and Norman,
and cousin, Jake, joined us ...

So now, you're caught up through December ...
2012 ... ready. set. GOOOOOOO .....