Little Green Monster

I make a green smoothie every morning for breakfast, and she's a fan.

I also drink it from a large mason jar, whose mouth is about the size of her face.

(hence the juice on the forehead)

Drink your veggies!

What a real Super Hero looks like.

I've never loved Rick more than seeing him as the amazing father he is.

He's her hero.

He's my hero.

Hand holdin'

Sophia and her little buddy Finn. They hug every time they meet. Have kissed! (Whoa there tiger!) And walk around holding hands. Too cute.

My little yoda

My best friend gave us this when Sophia was little, and she is just now starting to appreciate how awesome it is.
We are her parents. She will be a nerd and love Star Wars, and be awesome because of it.

It's okay...

Feeling angry/betrayed/depressed by more snow this morning. 

Then I saw this happy little girl- despite the snow.

Maybe she just doesn't know better (she has yet to live in California for a Winter), but it made me feel like it will be okay.

The Book of Mormon

We've been wanting to see this for sooo long! And it toured through Detroit!

It was crude, rude, hilarious (what else would you expect from the creators of South Park?) and actually quite touching in some ways.

I don't know why non-Mormons would even be interested in it- I don't think you'd get half of the jokes! I don't know the last time I laughed so hard.

Just from the point of view of a Mormon- it has absolutely nothing against Mormons. In fact, it portrays them as overly nice and naive people, who are just trying to help- and in fact do. I think that is kind of spot on. It pokes fun at a lot of our peculiar doctrine (umm, can you blame them?), but in the end the message is- who cares what the 'story' is, or if it's true- if it makes people happier, then it is good.

I really loved it.

Not to mention, the music is just plain catchy.

The ONE picture I have of us with some of our very best friends/ kindred spirits here in Michigan. Loved that we didn't even have to ask each other if we were going to see "The Book of Mormon" - it was a given.

Cousins

One more reason FaceTime is so great.

Peek-a-boo!

Rick and Sophia playing Peek-a-boo on FaceTime.

We usually FaceTime with Rick every morning (he leaves at 5am)- she loves it!

And she's kind of addicted to the iPad. 

At least we try and do smart things on it?

Kid crack, I tell you.

I know I could have just left her in the apple store, gone shopping, and she'd be there still when I got back.

I don't like vacuuming...

Sophia doesn't like it when I vacuum. She says it's "too loud". So in non-violent protest, she lays there and clings to her blanket.

Jumping!

This seemed easier than going to a gymnastics place.

St. Patrick's Day

For not drinking, and not being Catholic- we sure do know how to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!
Saturday started out with a surprise couple of inches of snow!
We were not deterred in going to the St Patrick's Day parade.

The bagpipers

 

 

 

I love the Irish dancers

So much green!

 

Making rainbows with Daddy.

She was mostly interesting in eating the skittles.

Aren't we crafty?

Rainbow Pancakes with a bacon rainbow on top!

Toxins from food coloring you say?
Not on St Patrick's Day!

Daddy dancing to Celtic music in the kitchen

Join in the Jig!

Watch out for the 'wee people

My 'wee little lass in her green 'fairy' dress

Corned beef, potatoes, carrots...

...and cabbage (with bacon).
Delicious!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Abra Kadabra!

Sophia chasing Rick with her wand, saying "abra Kadabra" and getting him to freeze. Squeals of laughter.

Mommy & Me

The older Sophia gets, the more personality she has.

And she's quickly becoming my best buddy and side-kick. 

She is so much fun, and we just love to talk and play all day.

Here we are cuddling on the couch after her nap on a rainy day.

Taking pictures is a favorite past time of ours.

I always do Sophia's hair while she eats breakfast.

So she decided she needed to do mine as well.

Only fair, I suppose.

Us at the butterfly exhibit at the mall.

We got to hold the butterflies- so fun!

Sophia and Esley examining closely the butterfly.

Side note: this is as close to the Easter bunny as this girl would get.

So much for Easter pictures!

Haha!

Henry Ford - 2nd Monday

Every 2nd Monday at the Henry Ford is Pre-Schooler day basically.

Crafts and fun times.

Here's Sophie with her crown testing out a Ford.

Nicole and I perusing the gift shop.

Definitely buying these.

She loves airplanes.

So much, she wants to be one!

Driving the combine- now that's 'big girl's' work

Maple Sugaring

We went to the Kensington Metropark Farm to learn about one of Michigan's trades...

...Maple Sugaring!!

(and yes, that is really how you say it)

A "sugar bush"
aka- a bunch of maple trees all together

Sophia learning about how to recognize a maple tree in the winter

Grrr..
It's cold out here.

Spiking the tree
Drill, baby, drill!

We got to taste the fresh sap coming out.
Basically sugar water with a 'maple-y' hint to it.

And the bucket to catch that juicy gold.
You may be thinking- "that doesn't look so hard. I bet I can make my own syrup"

Well, first look at this.
Then decide it's much easier to go buy some at the store.

Watching them boil down the syrup.

In the "Evaporator" (actual name).

And we got to taste some!

Mmmmm!
So good!

Learning about how people in Olden Times made Maple Sugar.
They didn't make syrup because they couldn't store it.
So they would make sugar bricks and eat basically only sugar during the winter months.
Talk about awesome!

This little re-enactor collecting the sap.
So cute.

Old school maple tap.

Playing around in the barn house.

Rick carting the milk pails.
He just needs some long braids and wooden clogs. No?

And we came at the best time to the farm, because all of the baby animals were just born this last week.
3 day old lamb!

Sophia was so happy.

2 day old piglets!!
Oh my gosh- I wanted to take one home.

Bunny!

More lambs.

Fun day down at the farm!