Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in the Kansas City area with Erick's family as we typically do. Wednesday night, we stayed with Andy, Julie and Alexis. She's about three months older than Sophia and they had some fun together. Most of this fun was had while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Like most little girls, they loved the opportunity to dance and twirl for an audience.

They got along pretty well, but they were mostly just two cute little blonds who were used to having their turf alone, so they did have their challenges.

As always, Sophia was comfortable in the big crowd of family Thanksgiving. She had lots of fun by herself,

and playing with her cousins.

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was as happy!

Our Nativity

Yesterday I was feeling particularly Christmasy, so we got down all of our Christmas stuff and put out everything but the tree. We'll save that for the big reveal on Friday. Sophia was very happy to see the Nativity set. She loved it last year, and this one appears to be no different. She's not as keen on kissing the Baby Jesus this year, but she has lots of fun with him.

Something I didn't realize about the Savior. He loves to slide.

Once I moved the scene to the window, she was particularly keen on rearranging the characters. There were some pretty interesting situations taking place throughout the day, and a great deal of sleeping.

It didn't take long until her favorite ornament, the Frog Prince, took over Joseph's role in the Nativity. Pretty soon, Joseph was just an observer and the Frog Prince was standing guard with Mary.

Something for Now

With all the illness in the house this week, there hasn't been much that we'd want on the internet. So...I thought I'd share a random thought. It seems I've been having a lot of those lately. Maybe I'll share a few more another day.

When Sophia was a baby like this,

I used to hate it when she got passed around. I was never nervous about germs or anything (big shock). I just hated it that she didn't smell like us any more. I remember thinking at the time that it must be some sort of weird bonding thing. Even writing now sounds pretty strange. But when you hold your tiny baby and they smell like someone else's cologne or perfume or body wash, it just doesn't seem right. Now I can never slow her down enough to smell her. Back then, it would always end like this

Indeed

Well, after Erick and I fell victim to whatever illness attacked Sophia, we are very grateful to see this week come to an end. Sophia slept the full night last night for the first time in weeks, and I actually feel better today.

Sophia, on the other hand, is still battling something. I can't quite figure it out. All I know is that her voice has not left that whiny octave only a parent can fully appreciate. Without anything planned for the weekend, we should be able to all bounce back with reasonable certainty in the next couple of days.

Just wish us luck making it through the first and hopefully worst sickness of our season.

"It will be the best winter ever!" I'm really working on getting that one down. It just never comes out without a giggle - or sarcastic sneer.

Booooooooooooo

We've been relegated to a day of Shrek and Madagascar today because Sophia is recovering from some sort of stomach flu. She was sick six times in two hours last night, then slept fitfully in our bed.

I'm tired.

Trying not to be grumpy.

She's feeling better today, but I can't get very far.

Hoping this isn't indicative of our winter.

Leaves

This afternoon, we enjoyed a few minutes outside in the chilly fall air. After a trying trip to Walmart, where I ended up buying a package of whole wheat pitas for no other reason than that Sophia bit the package open (yes, she is a wild animal), I was glad for the chance to blow off some steam outside. I got a little (very little, actually) work done in the garage while Sophia played outside.

Then I glanced over and noticed the look on her face. She may have still been an animal, but at least she was free.

No longer caged in the house or the cart, she was just ecstatic to be outside. It is going to be a long winter, but maybe we'll get these little reprieves now and then.

Anyway, the point is, I was grateful for a breath of fresh air in the midst of a . . . Monday.

Sweet and/or Sassy

Yesterday was another one of those days with a toddler. You just never know what's going to come out of that mouth. Sweet or sassy. One moment, she told me, "I love you, too, Mama," even when I hadn't told her first. The next minute, she was yelling with her angry face about who knows what. Probably that I wasn't doing precisely what she wanted.

Here are a couple of captured moments from our day. One moment with a scary pirate and another with a sweet great-granddaughter. She was calling my grandma, Momo. I'm not exactly sure what she's talking about, but I think she's asking about a present or something. . . it's still sweet, right?