18 months

18 months! I can't believe it (I know I say that every month). She is just getting so big. Sorry this is so late too, I got a new computer and had to get settled in before editing more pictures.
Some of my favorite things:
- walking walking walking: it's crazy how good at walking she's become this last month. Everywhere, all the time. I love it! I love not having to carry her everywhere, and how much more fun she has exploring things now.
- lots of words: she says backpack and map (thanks to Dora the Explorer), itsy (per the Itsy Bitsy Spider), go (she always wants to go somewhere), blankie (actually says 'bee'), wee (going down slides, or just sliding across the floor), ball, book (favorite activity is to read), choo-choo (when she sees a train), monkey and elephant noises, and my favorite- love you (melts my heart)
- playing: she has just gotten so much personality and really plays. She loves to play with her little friends and at the park.
- walking the dog: some of her favorite things to take the doggie for a walk. She loves to go out in the back patio and point to her stroller and say go?
- rocks: she loves rocks, and moving them to secret places, then putting them back. She likes to sit in the rocks/dirt and kick her feet to make her impression in the dirt. It's very messy.
- OCD? I know this sounds crazy, but she always puts stuff back where it came from. We try and tell her to put things back before getting out a new toy, and she does it mostly on her own. It's cute and very helpful.

All in all, she is just getting more and more fun! I am loving this age, while she is getting more interactive and full of character.

struttin' her stuff

waa-hoo!

Hey daddy!

 

Singing Itsy Bitsy Spider with daddy

And she always says Yay! and claps at the end

going to the swings

mid-swing action shot

I love her so much!

Take me out...

We went to a historic baseball game at Greenfield Village with a bunch of friends. It was a blast and quite impressive.

The old-timey players. They don't even use gloves! Hard-core.

'

Sophia eating popcorn off of daddy

They play/dress by turn of the century standards. We cheered them on with "hip hip hurrahs!" and "good form gentlemen!"

 haha!

It was a beautiful and perfect afternoon

Age-based FHE (18 months)- Families

This week's lesson was on the importance of family. I got this idea from The Ensign this month, and just adapted it for Sophia a bit. She loves her blocks, specifically putting them in and out of their basket.

So first I had her put some blocks in the basket and lift it. She could lift it, and it was easy.

"Yay! I can lift the basket all by myself!"

Then we put a whole bunch of blocks in the basket, and had her try and lift it. She couldn't lift it by herself anymore. So Rick and I helped her lift it up. I explained that we can do lots of things on our own, but sometimes things get 'too heavy' for us, and we need help. That is when our families can help us lift our burdens.

We sang "We are a happy family" and celebrated Father's Day, so all in all is was just perfect.

Sophia's first pigtails

Afternoon at the lake

Did you know you are within 8 miles of a lake at all times anywhere in Michigan?

Here's one of them :)

Daddy enjoying the sun

Bathing beauty

The Lake!

And the bathing beauty thinking the lake is too cold :)

Age-based FHE (17 months) - Our Spirits

Sophia LOVES balloons (or as she calls them- "boons") and we happened to have some flying around this week due to a certain man's birthday (age undisclosed). So she had been playing with these for a few days and I wanted to incorporate that in to our lesson. So we learned about our spirits.

So the balloon = our spirit.  Before we came to Earth, we lived with God as spirits.

When we came to Earth, we got a body. Towel=body. We need to come a get a body so we could learn things and make good choices.

Then when we die, our Spirit leaves our body, so we can go be with God again.

Sophia got the hang of it and had fun :D

Kensington Park

We went for a little hike in one of the local metroparks on a beautiful day. It was especially fun to see Sophia walking around and so interested in all of the plants and animals.

Over looking the lake

Peering

We came across these adorable baby raccoons. They were not afraid of us at all and came right up to us. There were also a ton of chipmunks following us around.

We bought a pass for the year to all the metroparks, so hopefully we'll be back lots.

Age-based FHE (17 months) - The Liahona

Age-based FHE #3

Sophia has been walking a ton this last week, and really getting to be an expert. Thinking about lots of walking, I thought of Lehi and his family in the Book of Mormon. They wandered in the wilderness and followed the Liahona. So we had a lesson on the Liahona. 

Yellow ball = Liahona

We'd let Sophia toss the ball, and then walk after it across the Wilderness (our backyard)- we all followed the 'Liahona' where it led us.

As we played this little game of fetch, we talked about how Lehi and his family were in the wilderness and didn't know which way to go. Then God gave them this compass  of sorts (the Liahona) to direct them. It was dependent on their righteousness, it would only work when they were being good. 

We compared that to us and when we are good, we can feel the Holy Ghost more, and be directed in what we need to do. 

Another fun and simple activity. We celebrated by ringing the wind chimes.

Memorial Day

This week has been kind of crazy, so I know these pictures are a bit late- but better late than never, right?!
On Memorial Day we went with a bunch of friends to our towns parade (down Main St- how all American is that?) and had a fabulous BBQ.


My friends cute kiddos

Eden and Sophia

Kris, Annie, and Karson

Sophia was way in to the parade- she loved watching all the cars, and noises, and bands

Kids so cute- waving to the Veterans

 

 

 

 

 

Some hot mamas

 

We had 50+ people at our BBQ, it was awesome and so much fun! Tons of good people and good food.

 

 

Cooling off in the heat

 

Thankful for all the Veterans, and all of our good friends.