Stoney Creek

Spring has finally come, and we are busting out!

We went to Stoney Creek- hiked around the lake, had lunch, and a great time.

Favorite things

We had a fun couple of days- and Sophia's favorite things were all over the place.

First- putting bobby pins in her hair.

No limits. 

We got a trip to the zoo with daddy

Sophia saying hello to the Mr Turtle.

Rainy time at the zoo

Then we got some delicious Indian food.

Sophia LOVES Indian food- and especially the fancy platter it came on.

And her favorite spot?

Squished between mommy and daddy!

She always puts her arms around both of us, and pulls us in for kisses and hugs in a Sophie sandwich.

Spring Festival!

It's finally looking like Spring around here!
We went to the metro park for the Spring Festival, down at the farm.
Watching some wool thread getting made.

Carding

Baby animals!

 

Sophia petting the baby piggies. She kept yelling 'wake up!'

 

Cutie.

 

 

 

Driving the tractor.

prime the pump...

Blacksmithing

Yay!

All my babies, who independent...

Sophia got, and peeled, her banana and orange all by herself this morning.

Fantasies of the day I can set cereal on the table the night before, and sleep in, dance through my head.

Earth Day!

We love the Earth!

Yes- in a hippy sort of way even.

So we throughly support the celebration of our wonderful planet- Earth Day!

Sophia is a tree hugger.

No, seriously- she literally hugs trees all the time (see above).

We started out the sunny morning on a nature hike through the (still dead) woods. 

Still fun without much green. 

All these cute little guys.

That afternoon we got to tour the local recycling plant!

So cool! It was smelly (yep, garbage smells), but it was amazing the bulk of materials here.

Huge dump trucks piling it all around.

Conveyer belts transporting the goods.

Us posing in front of the finished 'bales' of recycled material. 

Really really interesting.

I would totally recommend this as an educational outing to anyone.

Finishing off with some daddy-daughter bubble blowing in the grass.

Part of Earth Day is just enjoying Earth itself.

Happy Earth Day!

Family of nerds.

Spent Saturday afternoon at the Science museum.

Rick and Sophia had way too much fun.

Nerds.

Hotdogs

This girl LOVES Costco hotdogs. It's an unhealthy obsession.

And she won't leave without one (cue tantrum).

So now we have to time all of our trips around lunch time.

Geez.

Spring at Greenfield Village

Oh, beautiful day of sunshine!

Went to Greenfield Village a few days after it opened.

Sophia and her buddy looking so cool.

Changing diapers. Taking names.

Changing monkey's diaper.

Her idea.

Sophie and the Chocolate Factory

We got to tour a chocolate factory the other day, and it was as amazing as it sounds.

The best part? The free samples at the end.

One of my friends commented on Sophia looking like Augustus Gloop (no offense kid) - haha!

Martian Half Marathon

I did it! I ran my second half marathon!

And it was fantastic!

Compared to last time, I felt so good- I felt like I could keep running.

It was such a cool experience to have trained through all the winter, and reap the results.

Here's us at the Expo the day before. It is called the Martian Marathon. (I have no idea why.)

And it happens to be in the city with the largest Arab population in the whole country!

Result? Carb loading with schwarma and baklava. Nom, nom, nom.

And race results?

I cut about 1/2 hour off my time! Amazing!

All those early morning sprints paid off.

I'm still not the fastest runner, but I have gotten so much better, and learned so much.

I have learned about proper gear, and proper nutrition, and how important they are for long distance running. I was a big 'ole dunce before! It has made a WORLD of difference.

And I better keep learning because I felt so good running, I fooled myself in to doing twice as much! That's right- I signed up to do a full MARATHON in September!

Ahhh- crazy!

I am running at least 3 more half marathons before then, so I should be nice and ready.

The biggest thing running has taught me- we are so much stronger than we think.

Running has changed me in every positive way possible- physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Who would have thunk?

The dentist

Sophia's first trip to the dentist.

She loved it! Mostly because they had Mickey Mouse on.

Now she asks to go back all the time.

Rainy Museum Day

The Spring rains and gloom have been here.

We couldn't take another afternoon indoors, so we escaped to some fun museums.

The Michigan Science Museum- so cool! 

Sophia loved the diabetes display the most- she's so sweet (haha-nerd joke)

And just across the street is the Detroit Institute for the Arts.

Our go to favorite. Sophia knows her exact favorite location. She went straight to the elevator, and asked for the 3rd floor. Maybe we come too much? Nah.

I love the picture of her staring at the big painting. 

She's so cute and little.

I've always loved going to museums. I'm glad I have a little buddy who loves them too.

Little foot

Sophia's new favorite movie.

A Classic.

She goes around quoting Ducky all the time

"Oh, Petrie" and "Yep, yep, yep!"

Serious 80s flashbacks coming on.

Birthday parties

Kids birthday parties are so much fun!

Bubbles!

Sophia has learned to blow bubbles in the water, and loves to do it as long as you'll let her.

My little fishy.

Undies!

We went to pick out Sophia's first pair of undies.

She chose boy underpants, because she wanted the choo-choo trains.

No gender stereotypes for this girl!

Just playin'

We went to this cool library- they had so much to do.

Sophia's favorite part was the music room.

She loved pushing the babies in the stroller, and also dunking the basketball.

Eventually the baby doll got dunked as well.

Photo Crazy continues.

She LOVES this cute little tea set from Oma. When I get home from work, she whips it out and serves me play dough cookies.

She's so much fun.