tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54958796826114922642012-01-04T13:55:15.293-08:00Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.comBlogger3581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-67319053563218221282011-12-24T13:43:00.000-08:002012-01-04T13:55:15.312-08:00

I have not given up on the blog and truly hope to catch up by the end of the year...yes, yes, this year not 2013. But, I wanted to take a moment to all who still may follow this and say...Merry Christmas from all of us to you and yours. Hope the new year brings you much peace, lots of creativity and always good health.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-68340462592484208882010-12-24T11:33:00.000-08:002010-12-24T11:35:32.394-08:00

I'm hoping over the holidays to play a little catch up on our Family Blog!! But until then, we wish you a safe, warm, happy holiday and we're looking forward to an exciting and adventurous 2011!

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-88353997741985257122010-11-30T11:40:00.000-08:002011-11-08T11:45:05.221-08:00

Kata had to write about a Holiday Family Tradition. We have many, many traditions. But our very own was started with a Pickle Ornament I found at Tarjay. I don't hang this ornament until late on Christmas Eve and the first kid to find it on Christmas morning gets to open their present first. You can imagine the frenzy associated with the search. Here's a link to the origin of the tradition.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-5044545890680579772010-11-25T11:36:00.000-08:002011-11-08T11:40:12.003-08:00

Love our traditions like Riggsby Blueberry pie for Thanksgiving. Can't let pumpkin pie be the runaway favorite. And family. We love having Baka and Djedo here to join us on this holiday and remind us of all the things that make us thankful this year.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-24673188405895325982010-11-22T11:34:00.000-08:002011-11-08T11:36:14.159-08:00

There are things that look gorgeous from far away...like snow.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-14515072627461947322010-11-18T11:21:00.000-08:002011-11-08T11:34:10.645-08:00

It was a relatively mild early afternoon and I thought, ohdearIhavetogetthedarnfamilychristmascardphotodone. This year, I wanted to take the photo myself. So 214 shots later, here are the better ones...kinda. When shooting three kids, you are almost always doomed because SOMEONE has to laugh... Or make an awkward face... Here's the card we sent out...the magic moment where all were looking

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-41371790251475120302010-11-14T11:16:00.000-08:002011-11-08T11:21:22.499-08:00

Alex and I are so excited to see Harry Potter 7.2. It's sad to think that this will be the very last one. But, before that we have "Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader". You all know how very much we're looking forward to that movie. Kata and I are also looking forward to Disney Channel's "Avalon High". It's based on Meg Cabot's book and hey, anything with the Arthur legend in

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-14567665322258878082010-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:002011-11-08T11:15:39.910-08:00

It's that time of year when amidst the golden colors of autumn, we begin to see white. And we put on those parkas for the very first time. That first snowfall is always so full of promise and hope. Promise that it won't stay long and hope that it'll be a mild winter.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-60128197045109422042010-11-06T11:06:00.000-07:002011-11-08T11:16:19.275-08:00

There are hairstyles that most women naturally default to. Oh, you know who you are. And let's face it, I'm one of you, too. I love my bob. I confess. It's practical and always looks good. I've worn variations of it since I was 19 years old. But today, my darling, artistic-souled hairstylist suggested layering it more. My fear of looking like Mrs. Brady was tempered when it actually turned out

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-47185029299546350692010-10-31T10:45:00.000-07:002011-11-08T11:06:04.476-08:00

Apparently our years of "What Disney princess would you like to be, sweetheart?" are gone. The girls are done with my favorite costumes of all time, and I'm absolutely heart-broken that NO ONE was Snow White. I had the perfect plans to create a deliciously wicked poison apple. *sighs* Instead, I present to you...a Zombie Princess. A Country Diva. Don't ask that's the description on the

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-55599569639008537132010-10-30T13:44:00.000-07:002011-11-03T13:49:17.637-07:00

Alex's Boy Scout Troop participated in the Nevada Day parade in Carson City and Ken being a good photog snapped a picture with Alex and Senator Harry Reid. As I told Alex it's a good thing that this mama wasn't there. The senator would've gotten an ear full from this liberal voting mom. But still, how cool is it to get a picture with one of only 100 elected officials who grace the Senate floor?

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-82138387519307386812010-10-28T13:38:00.000-07:002011-11-03T13:44:04.832-07:00

We all need a reminder on occassion, don't we? A reminder that after storms there are rainbows. I literally stop whenever I see a rainbow and snap a picture. I need that reminder on a rainy day. Speaking of reminders, I used up some of my fabric stash to make pillowcases for the kids. Who knows when I'll get to quilting again, but in the mean time, they can enjoy a fun pillowcase.  Sweet

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-44197885813080807302010-10-24T13:30:00.000-07:002011-11-03T13:38:27.687-07:00

The sheer size of the sixth grade band is impressive. I adore that music (band, chorus, strings) are a requirement in sixth grade. Music really does feed the soul. See? A soul being fed. Rock on, dude, rock on. Also, if you sit near our family, be warned...we are loud when it comes to cheering.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-72847229986435314862010-10-21T13:07:00.000-07:002011-11-03T13:29:51.162-07:00

Our family has certain rituals that we stick to, no matter what. Like a trip to a pumpkin farm. This year we chose Lattin Farms. Who doesn't love a hay ride?  Who doesn't love the chance to walk through muddy fields in search of the perfect pumpkin? Who doesn't love cheesy moments? Like a cow train? Or a posing for a picture when your mom cries out, "Just one more, over here?" And one

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-71273979434892855412010-10-07T13:05:00.000-07:002011-11-03T13:07:12.359-07:00

Alex's long hair was getting more than a little unmanagable and he'd worn it longer for a year. It was just time to...cut it all off. What emerged underneath all that hair, was a middle school boy that looked vaguely familar. Change is sometimes a good thing indeed. 

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-15435489203822492272010-10-06T12:59:00.000-07:002011-11-03T13:04:41.215-07:00

Fall, for us, signals the start of swim lessons. The girls swim during the school year and I, frankly, look forward to a relatively peaceful 30 minutes of reading time. After the hot, hurried days of summer, it feels good to be back in our routine and swim lessons always signals the start of that.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-72203015483864124962010-09-30T12:02:00.000-07:002011-11-03T12:58:37.658-07:00

Such a fun moment to see Bella with our very favorite Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Kirch. Yes, the saintly teacher who taught all three of our kids. And it was so fun to see Bella reading in front of everyone. An aproppriate moment to focus on how very quickly kids grow -- the theme of their little show was just that, growing and changing. As a mom, I'll will concur that growing up happens way

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-34800552272021200622010-09-18T22:50:00.000-07:002011-10-29T23:05:24.978-07:00

Alex's boy scout troop does a family camp every year and although the girls and I elected not to stay overnight, I think next year we just may. Look at their sweet faces when Ken and Alex put up the tent. My resistence to NOT CAMPING EVER may be caving in. Boy Scouts are handy creatures. They set up things like swings so little sisters and brothers will have something to do. Bella didn't want 

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-30701647180362860412010-09-17T22:40:00.000-07:002011-10-29T22:46:09.149-07:00

Such a fun day for Alex and Ken -- they got to see Cal play UNR. And Alex wore his Cal shirt proudly when the band called him over to get a pic. Gotta love my alum mater's band. Everyone remember The Play? Yeah, I was there. Coming back home to the dorm after getting my haircut in San Francisco and wondering what all the hubbub was about. No, Ken cannot forgive me for that. Well, not entirely.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-80202319590467753712010-09-11T21:22:00.000-07:002011-10-29T22:24:36.483-07:00

It's that time of year when we level up in ballet. Always an exciting time mostly because of the new color of leotard that signifies the next level. Remember when you moved up? That glow of excitement always says it all, doesn't it? 

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-7412111220379724552010-09-09T20:59:00.000-07:002011-10-29T22:25:49.703-07:00

He's really not shoving this alto sax up his nose; he's just excited to learn how to play it. We went through a long list of potential instruments, some of which I negated  based on their Migraine Trigger Factor. Violin or strings in general -- no. Tuba -- nope. Drums -- yeah, no, no, a thousand times no. At some point, he mentioned a sax and I thought, huh, yeah that could work. Many thanks to

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-27675558904146480142010-09-05T19:37:00.000-07:002011-10-29T22:26:11.718-07:00

Party of five, please. It's an odd number, but one that works well for us. We never quite fit into that family package for vacations, hotel room bookings or even a booth in a restaurant (now that Bella doesn't fit into a high chair). And yet, look at us, we make sense. Don't we? Well, at least we do to us.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-50798372780628160522010-09-04T19:35:00.000-07:002011-10-29T22:26:38.756-07:00

Seventeen years ago, we didn't even dream about these three smiling faces. We were too busy enjoying our honeymoon in Walt Disney World. Ah, that beach in front of the Grand Floridian is so gorgeous, but I wouldn't trade it for those three smiling faces. Or for that frosty margarita pictured below. On every one of our wedding anniversaries I reflect back on the past year as well as the

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-37042121655385848682010-08-26T14:40:00.000-07:002011-10-29T22:27:08.133-07:00

At the start of summer, Alex struggled with his swimming skills. The truth was that Ken and I enrolled him in all these sports but we never had time to pick up swimming again and it had been a few years. Last year at Boy Scout camp, Alex didn't pass the Water Safety Test and he was devastated. I mean truly shattered and scared. This year, we enrolled him in a summer-long swimming curriculum.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-92036465252516891282010-08-24T19:27:00.000-07:002011-10-29T22:27:44.127-07:00

Another milestone for our family. The oldest kid is starting middle school. WOW. Look at all the supplies he needed. It's just massive compared to the crayons and one folder of years past.  But he's ready. Kinda. And so are we. Kinda. His one request was for us to NOT drop him off on his first day. Nope, this kid was going to ride his bike. I didn't shed a tear. I shed many. Fortunately Ken

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-6087204550091725672010-08-18T13:40:00.000-07:002010-11-06T13:47:20.276-07:00

As a mom, you never quite know when you're going to have to teach a Life Lesson. They spring up at you and take you completely by surprise. Kata is now 7.5 years old and I'm trying to teach her the refined etiquette points in life. For example on this beautiful, clear Northern Nevada morning, we experienced a naughty little zephyr. You know the kind that likes to lift your skirt at the most

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-20658516645050725562010-08-08T13:35:00.000-07:002010-11-06T13:39:38.020-07:00

The Boy Scouts celebrated 100 Years of Scouting with a huge Jamboree which included Mud Volleyball. I truly have no words left to describe how I would so NOT do this, but both of my boys loved every minute of it. Yes, even Ken jumped in after snapping the picture. The small, pale kid in the middle there is Alex. At some point, yes, I did stop chuckling.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-38786227590624997252010-08-07T14:39:00.000-07:002011-10-29T19:15:36.342-07:00

The most magical times in our house are when grandparents visit. Here are Baka and Djedo who stopped by at a very important time of year. Per contractual agreement with my father, I'm not allowed to release his actual age. Trust me, I get it. ;D Happy Birthday to our darling Djedo. The best father, father-in-law and grandfather in the world. No, we're not biased at all. Not one bit. Okay,

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-9818955063460842962010-08-01T14:38:00.000-07:002010-11-06T13:08:54.928-07:00

Bella was thrilled because she brought home a coloring page with what she said was my favorite lion character of all time, Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia. Note her happiness. I should've snapped a picture of my own smile.   

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-53356620570562191882010-07-26T14:37:00.000-07:002010-11-06T12:37:08.738-07:00

Ah, the loss of that first front tooth...Kata's literally slid out as she was eating a banana. And now the other one has joined in and perhaps that's what she'll want for Christmas this year -- her two front teeth. Remember the toothless moments in your life?? How proud you were. She was just thrilled. And the Tooth Fairy showed up creating havoc with glitter all over her pillow and sheets. Messy

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-8106699641832600452010-07-23T12:31:00.000-07:002010-11-06T12:32:11.806-07:00

So one day after picking up the girls, Alex nudges me and says, "Look Mama, a werewolf..." I turn and spot a jogger, dressed in denim cut-offs and I laugh out loud. Clearly, my kids are as supernaturally obsessed as I am. No, I couldn't resist snapping this photo with my phone because, well you know, I found it funny. I actually stopped my car to let him cross the street but was laughing too

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-44724735856139525592010-07-19T14:37:00.000-07:002010-11-06T12:17:52.776-07:00

It never gets old...that first BIG STEP into real school. Not preschool or daycare but a real school. The same one your brother and sister went to. And finally, Bella's Big Day was here. She was so ready. A hug from her big brother who was still on Summer Vacation and a pat on the shoulder from Daddy and off she went. The best part of the day? Well, getting picked up by your brother. And a

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-71999345370391451972010-07-12T16:26:00.000-07:002010-11-06T11:53:36.281-07:00

Such an exciting moment when our Bubby leaves for Boy Scout Camp. This year, he and Ken were going to be gone for an entire week and the girls and I were going to be all alone...can you see their excitement?? I promised lots of Girl Sleepover Moments! In the mean time, the boys settled into their surroundings...Troop 15's sign is proudly posted. And they settled into their routine, which

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-91867720823880207962010-07-06T14:33:00.000-07:002010-09-09T17:16:55.482-07:00

We knew this day was coming and sure enough, it's here. Kata has braces!! She has an expander up top and a retainer on the bottom. And I have to give her credit because she has adapted to them very quickly.Here she is drinking her morning shake with all that stuff in her mouth!Now with two out of three in orthodontic appliances, I have to admit that I'm ready to go and work for Orthodontic

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-69062626735848163502010-07-03T14:32:00.000-07:002010-09-09T17:06:30.003-07:00

So as I play catch up on my posts, I know that the Number One question on your mind is...did I go and see Eclipse at the Midnight Show??Of course, I did. Silly Rabbits. I did. Not only did I see Eclipse. I saw Twilight and New Moon, too. You see my friend, Miss Snarky Blogs, and I went to a triple feature. I know you're in shock but listen, it was hot and stuffy and we didn't want to wait in line

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-81184939383210860702010-06-16T14:07:00.000-07:002010-07-11T14:58:08.897-07:00

The day of the big recital is here and as usual, I breathe a sigh of relief that this only occurs once a year. This year Maka and Baka were both here and that was quite a treat for all of us.Backstage reaches a level of organized chaos that I have only seen in well orchestrated military invasions on CNN. Truly, there's a hum and an excitement and by that time everyone knows their roles. And then

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-31476793179636148042010-06-15T13:13:00.000-07:002010-07-11T15:20:55.524-07:00

At Nevada Dance Academy, there are strict rules. For example, there is always but always a Dress Rehearsal the day before the annual recital. Hair and costumes must be in place but no make up is necessary.It reminds me of all those wonderful skating competitions and shows I participated in and loved. But now, my role has changed. I'm the stressed out mom, gluing and fixing things at the very last

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-33825336141960351302010-06-11T10:39:00.000-07:002010-07-11T15:23:46.727-07:00

Bella is done with preschool which means Ken and I are done with preschool as well. Don't get me wrong, we loved our years at Sunflower Preschool but, we're ready for more Big Kid pursuits. Or are we?So as we made the journey across town, from Sunflower to home, for what was surely the last time, I realized I was sad to leave the wonderful teachers and that creative, nurturing environment. Both

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-38291909551739188452010-06-10T10:40:00.000-07:002010-07-11T13:13:20.730-07:00

Ah, the time for Father's Day Pizza party at preschool had arrived. While it's similar to the Mother's Day Tea Party, it's not. You see all these dads/grandfathers/uncles/godfathers show up on a weekday afternoon to eat pizza and watch a show put on by the very excited students. Do you guys see Bella? Her excitement is well palatable, isn't it? Especially when she was all done singing and got to

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-79700501217199177642010-06-08T13:39:00.000-07:002010-07-11T14:01:31.824-07:00

It's the sixteenth anniversary of the movie, "Hoop Dreams". I remember when it came out, Ken was still coaching High School Basketball and I thought that every parent of every player should see the movie. Promise me that if you haven't seen it that you will, especially if you're a coach or if you have a kid playing a competitive sport.The movie is about dreams and talent and the reality of life.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-23693229197784163802010-06-06T10:41:00.000-07:002010-07-02T18:04:34.557-07:00

I cannot believe our youngest turned five. It's been an interesting five years to say the least. When I think back to the summer six years ago and our decision to move out of the Bay Area and here to Reno, all I remember is stress. Then to add to it, we found out that we were expecting Bella. It couldn't have happened at a more "magical time" (yes, that's sarcasm). I mean, we hit most of the

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-33257188554299137612010-06-05T19:32:00.000-07:002010-06-30T21:01:03.156-07:00

In the Fall, Alex is going to not play soccer for the first time since he was four years old. There are lots of fun and new activities to look forward to in Middle School and we want him to try those out first.So it was a bittersweet moment to watch his last soccer game this season. The girls sat in their chairs, patiently, cheering him on. Okay, well, they were eating their snacks. And Alex (red

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-88852853628462884182010-05-27T13:53:00.000-07:002010-06-30T19:27:14.001-07:00

I remember, only eight years ago, walking Alex to his first preschool class. I wanted to stay there all day with him. He didn't even cry. He walked over to the train table and started playing with the train and redesigning a track. I walked back to my car and sat there with the car idling, tears rolling down my face. When I got to work, all red eyed from my Ugly Cry Moment, my friends had a

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-2626426928441069702010-05-25T16:27:00.000-07:002010-06-30T17:39:16.892-07:00

As June approached, we were down to Bella's last days at Sunflower Preschool and we thoroughly enjoyed their annual Bring Your Pets to School Day.As Bella and Becks walked around the circle and chatted with all the other students, I was reminded of the nursery rhyme, "He followed her to school one day which was against the rules..."There is nothing in life quite like a loyal canine companion.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-36267955367267098022010-05-16T16:20:00.000-07:002010-06-30T16:25:50.066-07:00

Remember your first slumber party? Well, Kata's been dying for one and we finally managed to schedule it in. Elyse joined Kata and, of course, Bella for a night of festivities which included manicures, doll tea parties, movies and lots of snacks.I still can recall mine. Lots of whispering of secrets and giggles into the night. Do you remember yours?

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-91398134540171861622010-05-13T08:43:00.001-07:002010-06-30T15:43:43.465-07:00

Seriously, who couldn't wake up with these people staring at them from the foot of their bed?Most of you know that I Hate Morning with a Passion, but on this morning, I woke up and laughed. The fact that they made a lot of noise gathering their surprises wasn't lost on me but as a good mama, I waited and pretended to be asleep so they could shout, "Happy Mother's Day, Mama!" in a fit of

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-1152308467452445442010-05-10T11:47:00.000-07:002010-06-30T14:46:42.557-07:00

At the end of the year, the Fifth Graders at our elementary school get to go on a 4-day, 3-night camping trip at Sierra Nevada Journeys.The entire experience is designed for the kids to experience fun, hands-on style learning in a natural environment. It's really a wonderful way to prepare them for the independence required in Middle School.But...did you feel the "but" coming?But, it was the

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-80682489469900286572010-05-06T08:42:00.000-07:002010-06-04T15:24:41.589-07:00

[Bella is in the middle and those are her teachers. How we luv them!]This Spring is full of milestones for us and here's another one to add to our list: our last Mother's Day Tea at Sunflower Preschool. It's my very favorite event there perhaps because they ask only the Pre-Kers and their mothers, grandmothers, aunts or godmothers to attend. Can you see all the frothy delights?? It's like a

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-91542998097455604842010-04-29T11:46:00.000-07:002010-06-04T14:15:18.584-07:00

We attended Sixth Grade Orientation at the newly opened Kenedi Depaoli Middle School and wow, what an eye-opener. The facility is gorgeous. Fresh. New. Green. We were very excited, can you tell? Alex was excited and perhaps a little nervous. Either way, he didn't want to pose for his Paparazzi Mama. Do you see that Class of 2017 sign??? That's in SEVEN years, people, only seven years. I am

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-31293284693431263412010-04-25T08:41:00.000-07:002010-06-02T19:55:49.973-07:00

Alex has been busy this year reading through all of the Percy Jackson books. Have you read them yet? They're truly wonderful and magical explorations of Greek Mythology in a modern day world. If you haven't seen the movie, yet, it's being released on DVD on June 29th. Here comes the endorsement: if you liked Harry Potter, be sure to check out Percy. For some of you, that's all I have to say.This

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-62422232364937128672010-04-18T08:42:00.000-07:002010-06-02T16:41:49.610-07:00

It's been such a cold Spring. Lots of freakish snowstorms making me remember another Spring, eleven years ago when a certain little boy was born just when the primroses on our patio began to blossom.Happy Eleventh Birthday, Alex!! Yes, that is our Traditional Birthday Number pancake breakfast made just for a big kid. I know, I can't believe he's ELEVEN.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-12600366912645167012010-04-06T08:40:00.000-07:002010-06-02T14:50:48.827-07:00

When you're an Altar Boy in an Eastern Orthodox church, you get to pass out hundreds of dyed eggs on Easter Sunday. Hundreds. Did I mention that they're all dyed red??Yes, it does come off, eventually. Love our traditions and how they're passed on down to new generations. Take a moment to think of your favorite family traditions. It's worth observing them, isn't it??

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-34040926573029238652010-04-04T10:32:00.000-07:002010-06-02T16:44:32.902-07:00

Egg dyeing, it's a Process in our family. And I have to admit that Ken coached the kids through it this year. Note how, he was a Smart Daddy and used Alex's old baseball shirts?? That was due to the Red Dye Incident a few years ago, when he dropped a bowl of Greek Red Egg Dye which stains beyond permanently. They say the mark of a good man is his ability to learn from mistakes. See, I knew I

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-54212580610427595952010-03-31T10:31:00.000-07:002010-06-02T14:02:11.096-07:00

Our love of All Things Basketball is well documented. Ken played it. Coached it. Watched it. I sat back and enjoyed it all from the bleachers.So when we found out that the WAC Tourney was going to be hosted here in town, a certain Dad and his Son had to go get tickets.It's fun when you first go...and you're cheering on the home team, our fabulous UNR Wolf Pack. But the days are many and the

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-48677242388026935012010-03-24T14:34:00.000-07:002010-06-02T14:41:33.183-07:00

I know, I haven't documented All Things Twilight for a while. But yes, I did get New Moon, on Blu-ray, of course. And my favorite Little Helper was there. Seriously, not only is she NOT named after the Main Character but notice how she can take on the Head Volturi (i.e. the Bad Guy) on her left?? Watch out Fictional Bella, the Real Life one is in da house.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-9400928916216086792010-03-23T10:29:00.000-07:002010-04-11T15:04:17.424-07:00

We keep trying to see new places around our city and imagine our delight when we saw that the Nevada Museum of Art was exhibiting a Raphael painting. I know right? Yup, here in Reno. The kids had never seen anything quite like it, so using our Be Prepared motto, we had Alex read about Raphael from wikipedia and well, we were on our way.Note their excitement? It's genuine. We didn't bribe them

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-66420264974985536422010-03-19T15:31:00.000-07:002010-04-11T13:50:50.272-07:00

Chalk this up to another valuable life lesson.You see, at Double Diamond Elementary School children are given either Howls or Growls (the school mascot is a coyote, thus the theme) as part of their Encourage Good Behavior Incentive Program. I'm sure you remember those from your own school days. Mine involved a negative focus -- detention.But, things have changed and now you can collect your Howls

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-64746565233708908742010-03-17T10:30:00.000-07:002010-04-06T11:29:10.250-07:00

Kata's First Grade teacher gave the family a fabulous assignment : to build a Leprechaun Trap. Now, some of you have probably gone through this ritual. We haven't and we're so glad that with three kids, we are sure to hit every possible holiday celebration out there!I started by googling "leprechaun trap". Who knew that this was quite the Thing To Do? We were informed that they like shiny things,

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-88439009240104487112010-03-16T14:58:00.000-07:002010-04-05T15:04:21.171-07:00

It was one of those blustery, snowy, freeeeeeezing mornings when I didn't want to take my car out and drive them to school. Seriously, it was an ice rink out there.So I glanced outside and declared that we're walking to school.They were all excited. And hey, it's fodder for those stories they'll tell when they're grandparents. You know the ones..."my mother made me walk to school when it was

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-19459990277691848012010-03-15T14:51:00.000-07:002010-04-06T11:34:43.433-07:00

I admit that I just love Tim Burton so imagine my delight when I saw that he was doing a version of "Alice in Wonderland"??Kata, as you know, adores everything that's dark fantasy (remember how much she loves Coraline?) and for months, she was begging me to take her to the movie. Well, I did and you know what?? We loved it. Absolutely LOVED it.It paid perfect homage to the Disney original

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-35068337590423826822010-03-10T16:10:00.000-08:002010-06-04T15:34:15.303-07:00

The last week of February when the grandparents were all here, Alex and Djedo went skiing. I have to admit that as a kid, I hated the sport. Let's face it, anything cold, wet and damp is just not my friend. But watching Alex enjoy the sport with my Dad is certainly satisfying.Here's to shussing!

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-79285912303209503702010-02-23T13:31:00.000-08:002010-03-10T13:52:42.121-08:00

Oh, the Olympics. How we love them. Especially the Winter Olympics. There's Snowman Building. Bobsledding. And Hot Chocolate Consuming.What??!!??Those categories don't exist in the Winter Olympics?? Really?? They did in ours.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-28713971384192981912010-02-17T11:12:00.000-08:002010-03-10T13:31:33.784-08:00

Sometimes in real life, you just need to hit the Pause Button. And we did in February. The kids were Off Track from school and the weather was in turns perfect and miserable. We took advantage of it and just kicked back. We enjoyed the little moments -- the Vancouver Olympics. Hugs. And even laundry was fun when you have a Silly Moment.Oh, and we made scones. Sconeapalooza. Blueberry.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-27145669338933654152010-02-15T15:16:00.000-08:002010-02-15T15:37:07.176-08:00

As we move through Track Break, there are many creative opportunities. We have a gazillion art supplies but I have to admit that some of my favorite moments are when I see them huddled over a notebook with a pen in hand, writing something that's oh-so-very-important.So here's a sampling of Kata's latest musings in her Writing Journal:What The Girls Wrote When They Grow UpWhen I grow up, I'm going

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-42316675076988443672010-02-13T09:32:00.001-08:002010-02-13T10:51:43.286-08:00

We're half way through our Off Track break and I'm here to report that, I think we've hit the Official Stage of Oh, Not Another Day of Park Play Wall.Trust me, there are still activities abound. Alex has scouts and has actually achieved the first rank, of...that's right...Scout. Yes, they crossover and then achieve the rank. I'm confused, too. Girl Scouts do it differently. And much like the Dark

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-40821852008695633302010-02-02T12:41:00.000-08:002010-02-07T12:48:37.688-08:00

The older two kids have Track Break in February which means they are out of school for the entire month. So we're subjected to a lot of indoor activities but every once in a while there's a day that's not too cold and we venture out into a park.I had my nose buried in a book and when I looked up I saw this sight -- four-year-old Bella on the rock climbing structure way up high with Big Brother

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-89091907203886796412010-01-01T22:40:00.000-08:002010-02-07T12:39:21.794-08:00

I wanted to do one post for January, because our December was So Chock Full O' Stuff. And what better post than to focus on the one thing I despise about January. I'm sure you can guess. It's true, I hate the snow, the ice, the tediousness of school starting and then stopping so we can enjoy a plethora of Early Release Days.But really, the thing that I Hate the Most is taking down all those

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-62210917978621917952009-12-31T11:49:00.000-08:002010-01-30T16:28:42.974-08:00

Our New Year's Eve Baby turned SEVEN. We can't believe it either. Seven years of having our intelligent, book loving, ballerina around. She loved her nano from all three of her grandparents. And the Coraline doll, lunchbox and shirt from the rest of us.After the lunch of her choice, Port Of Subs, we stopped by Build-A-Bear Workshop because Bella was determined to get Kata a bear for her birthday

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-62356802532943371332009-12-26T11:49:00.000-08:002010-01-30T16:20:31.579-08:00

Christmas Morning. Kata was the first one up and she's usually our last to rise.She was quickly followed by Alex. Note the blue light coming through the windows. That's called "dawn". I'm usually not familiar with its lovely colorful tones because I don't greet it.The kids were told they couldn't "touch anything". I'm sure that's a mantra repeated in many households on this particular morning.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-22300002392893412102009-12-22T11:46:00.000-08:002010-01-29T20:00:25.540-08:00

Oh, it's Christmas Pageant Time. Our fifth one and hey, my second one as eh gads, (informal) Director. There's truly not too much to direct when you have talent like this at your fingertips. Note the expressions, yeah, method acting for sure. Kata and Bella are on the far left (above picture). But, look at all the angels and stars. They are the youngest ones in the Pageant and truly my favorites

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-31354945887556338362009-12-21T11:29:00.000-08:002010-01-20T16:21:47.373-08:00

"Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there. " ~Amy LiAs an Only Child Mom who watches her children interact with each other every day, I find myself assisting in the negotiations of hourly battles and I have to admit that yes, I do grow tired of proposing treaty suggestions. But then there are moments like these, where I

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-9356437324566151112009-12-19T11:46:00.000-08:002010-01-20T16:22:16.101-08:00

Nevada Dance Academy puts on only one recital a year and that's in the summer. But, Ms. Diane likes parents to see the progress their children have made by mid-year so a Holiday Show is held in one of the dance studios during their regularly scheduled class time. And yes, Bella's class dressed like little snowflakes. They're the youngest and the cutest in their attempts to follow the student

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-20173570441066205222009-12-13T22:18:00.000-08:002010-01-18T12:43:26.409-08:00

It was time for Holiday Open House at Sunflower Preschool. And I have to admit that this and their wonderful Mother's Day Teas are my very favorite moments at Sunflower.Bella's class wrote their letters to Santa. And the teachers transcribe exactly what the children say...yes, none of us missed the "today" at the end of Bella's letter. Sometimes, it's good to make short-term goals. We stopped

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-62446512626166203902009-12-12T11:28:00.000-08:002010-01-18T12:21:34.349-08:00

As most of you know, our middle child was born on New Year's Eve. While we love the celebratory nature of our Party Girl, it's always a little tricky to schedule her actual party with all the other holiday events not to mention school break.This year she wanted nothing more than a party at Ballocity. See that structure? That's it. That is Ballocity. It's a great place for kids to burn up excess

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-54049812049470483322009-12-11T11:48:00.000-08:002010-01-13T20:19:51.261-08:00

I'm slowly (okay, not really) catching up on our December posts. And as they unfold, you will wonder (I promise, you will) how did we survive it all?!? I'm still wondering myself.Crossover from Cub Scouts usually occurs in the Spring but for various reasons, our Den decided to perform this time honored ceremony in December. Why not?? We're not doing much so hey, what's one more event?See those

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-74702112597657590082009-12-10T11:15:00.000-08:002010-01-03T16:41:49.101-08:00

We had so much snow the first few weeks of December (because I'm writing this post in, yes, January) that these fantastic icicles formed just as the snow was starting to melt.Alex decided to use his as what else?? A sword. Lightsaber. He is a boy, after all, weapons of mass destruction are inevitable conclusions for his thought patterns. Kata went for the hey-it's-edible concept. And Bella, well

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-37991662516375641972009-12-09T14:10:00.000-08:002009-12-16T17:02:09.355-08:00

This is what are street looks like after snowfall after snowfall. It's pretty, if you're on the inside. I mean, it's picture postcard perfect, isn't it?But, let's face it, I'm all about keeping my toesies warm, so on a day when the temp was barely in the low double digits, I decided to drop the kids off in the Pull Through Lane at school. I had complete faith that they would figure out how to

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-31961378120053190942009-12-08T14:17:00.000-08:002009-12-09T15:58:57.492-08:00

Our first snow of the season. It's always a little magical as it falls softly during the night. And it's always a little awe inspiring when you look it from the morning glow of a newly christened Snow Day. But by late afternoon, when you're out shoveling the driveway for the second time, it's not so fun. Fortunately, we employ child labor. They sometimes work hard. Sometimes, they goof

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-53713027971159000382009-12-07T14:56:00.000-08:002009-12-07T15:16:53.853-08:00

We're were lucky to run into the Big Man, himself at Dillards last week. And as Santa told Alex, you are truly never too old to sit in his lap. Bella was in her element. Santa asked her what she would like for Christmas. Her answer? Baby Alive. Anything else, Santa said. Bella just stared at him. I guess not. Phew. Kata was specific. Lots of small items. She knows her stuff. Down to the bar

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-68801968400837965282009-11-26T18:10:00.000-08:002009-12-07T14:54:47.905-08:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Baka and Djedo stopping by. It reminded us all of how much we love being surrounded by family and friends during the holidays. There's nothing quite like having three generations at the table. Because, there is always someone there to finish your sweet potatoes, if you're not digging them.Or someone to take a second helping so there are less leftovers. Or

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-78460415140399868062009-11-20T08:22:00.000-08:002009-12-07T14:40:59.397-08:00

Oh you, expected this post, right? Yes, for all of you who know, I am by all means "one of those" Twilight obsessed people. And well, because I have kids, I take it to a whole other extreme.For example, on the day of New Moon's Premiere, Bella (no, she's not named after the main character, I solemnly swear!) and I ventured into Burger King for lunch. And well, look who we, literally, ran into.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-86920889224299415002009-11-12T08:21:00.000-08:002009-12-07T14:17:43.365-08:00

Alex's School Choir was asked to sing the National Anthem at the Wolf Pack's Men's Basketball Opening Day game.Alex loved standing at center court and singing. And you know, they were actually on pitch.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-85283014347925268062009-11-11T08:20:00.000-08:002009-12-07T14:14:16.701-08:00

On Veterans Day, Alex's Den was asked to march with one of the Boy Scout Troops in the parade.I, as usual, wasn't completely thinking and dressed the girls in Peace Sign shirts instead of a more traditional red, white and blue. Honest mistake. Imagine my surprise when as we're standing there, waiting for the parade to start, none other than the Silver State's very own, Governor Jim Gibbons was

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-69011671291317738862009-11-08T10:46:00.001-08:002009-11-08T15:38:06.290-08:00

Halloween. It's the beginning of the holiday frenzy for us. And sure enough, this year, we had a gazillion things to do - Halloween Parties, Pumpkin Carving, Pumpkin Seed Roasting, Costume Decisions to be made. The list was never ending.But the costumes were chosen, at last. A Death Eater. A Witch. And for the second year in a row, A Sleeping Princess. Yes, Bella was determined to be Princess

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-9026865310714105472009-10-26T20:32:00.000-07:002009-10-30T20:52:52.539-07:00

I knew the day would come, when requests for Disney/Cartoon themed pumpkins and costumes would end. And so it has, for at least, Alex.This year instead of a Disney Prince or a Knight, he wanted to be a Death Eater from Harry Potter. Okay, it's Harry Potter so I wasn't too sad.Then he made the request for the pumpkin he took to his Cub Scout Pack meeting. He wanted it to look like The Headless

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-51458811683533379062009-10-25T20:16:00.000-07:002009-10-30T20:29:16.011-07:00

Multi-generational photo shoots can prove exhausting but because my parents were in town we thought, hey why not. It's been a while. So we matched up our clothing fairly well. And posed and posed for the better half of ninety minutes.Do you like the results?I love this picture of My Boys. So tall, blonde and blue eyed. Of course, the girls, light in complexion but dark in eye color and mood.We do

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-46283756011144066372009-10-23T20:02:00.000-07:002009-10-30T20:13:33.184-07:00

At Double Diamond Elementary School there are a number of ways you can become Student of the Month. But mostly it has to do to sticking to the core principles that every student needs to be Respectful, Responsible and Safe.Right before she went Off Track (we're in Year Round school), Kata received a Student of the Month Award for exemplary achievement in the area of Responsibility. She came home

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-89113306693950419012009-10-22T18:47:00.000-07:002009-10-30T20:00:29.748-07:00

Bella's preschool took their annual field trip to Ferrari's Farm here in town. And while we go way out of the way to Bishop's Pumpkin Farm, I've got to admit that Ferrari has a nice selection and hey, they're so close. The best part of the trip? Bella got to be bossy. She excels at that. Especially because Alex and Kata, who are Off Track from school, got to tag along.We also got to see Bella

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-41962343914782602742009-10-20T09:40:00.000-07:002009-10-20T10:40:14.135-07:00

We celebrated 16 years of marriage on September 4th but we postponed our anniversary present until October 17th for a very good reason. You see my all time favorite singer/composer/rock star, Rob Thomas, was coming to Reno. Yeah. I know, imagine my joy upon reading this information on his blog.But, Ken did something special. I mean you guys know he can't be like my favorite fictional characters

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-34395167626804794142009-10-14T10:46:00.001-07:002009-10-14T12:05:09.082-07:00

Alex is on a soccer team that he helped name - The Anacondas. They have a pretty even record this year and his skills continue to improve. There he is in the bottom row, second from the left. He's squinting against the wind and the sun.The best part of watching Alex play these last five and a half years is that he really has improved. He may not be the best player on the field but each year he

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-74588624836012969632009-10-13T11:27:00.001-07:002010-07-11T16:13:39.944-07:00

I posted the review over at Keep Reading To Your Child but had to mention it here as well.I'm often asked what books inspired my strong love of fantasy fiction. And while I point to The Chronicles of Narnia most often, the truth is there was a little book found in the recesses of Stow, MA public library that truly started All Things Fantasy.Half Magic by Edward Eager was published in 1954 and

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-42967739792950443422009-09-30T09:51:00.001-07:002009-10-08T13:03:03.682-07:00

September has been quite a month. All three kids are now back in the swing of school. And our rhythm of extra curricular activities started as well. So I was a little busy. I apologize for the lack of posts.I'm also helping out on the Mundie Moms' and Page Turner's blogs. Check them out. As most of you know, I love doing book reviews. All those delicious plots and fictional characters - such fun.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-40845750958519509402009-09-26T10:09:00.000-07:002009-10-08T11:42:50.723-07:00

Last year, for various reasons, we didn't go to Bishop's Pumpkin Farm. But, this year we were determined not to miss it. So what if it's a 2+ hour drive, one way, from our house? I brought along a certain audiobook (which will be mentioned in a separate post) and we packed the kiddies up to go and get this year's batch of pumpy-kins. But road trips for us are often filled with moments of

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-7695090373613046562009-09-18T09:26:00.001-07:002009-10-08T12:51:57.410-07:00

One random Saturday, Ken took the kids and their bikes to our closest shopping center. They were having one of those Sidewalk Saturday Sales and were advertising fun things to do with kids.Being a great hubs and daddy, he sent these pics from his iPhone. And I emailed him back - "Nice to have brunch with Daddy when it involves sprinkles, frosting and cookies." So he made up for it by taking them

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-61486333317453088142009-09-12T13:21:00.001-07:002009-10-08T13:10:31.112-07:00

This year's Great Reno Balloon Race was it's usual colorful cacophony of visual goodness. We woke up at 3:30 am in time for Dawn Patrol and yes, it was worth it. The heated balloons against the cold, black sky were incredible. Yes, that is the moon above the lit balloon. It was very very early and for once not so very cold, at all. For someone who rarely sees the colors of dawn without staying

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-6314892329602163922009-08-30T12:37:00.000-07:002009-08-30T12:42:38.290-07:00

With much wiggling and a little flossing with Daddy, Kata's First Ever Loose Tooth came out. It only took about three days. She was so persistent. And with the help of an equally persistent Daddy and a sourdough bagel, it fell out. Preparations are now underway for the imminent arrival of the Tooth Fairy this evening. Please let us know if you see her. Be sure to send her over our way.Wishing you

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-48827320652026644392009-08-29T10:26:00.001-07:002009-08-29T12:51:11.220-07:00

Sometimes, I'm all about grabbing my camera, any camera that's handy even my iPhone's, and capturing that Fleeting Moment.Our morning's are so very hurried and frantic but on occasion, we're kinda sorta on time. One day this week, Kata was supposed to be brushing her hair and something distracted her on TV. I'm sure it was a Jonas Brothers or Selena Gomez video so she sat down. And Bella picked

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-79813677281830280402009-08-26T20:50:00.001-07:002009-08-29T12:26:41.415-07:00

A few weekends ago, Ken and Alex went off on yet another camping trip. This time it was just the Cub Scouts in Alex's Den. And it was only an overnight trip. To a gorgeous campground right on Lake Tahoe.I mean even a sunrise can look good there right??The obligatory s'mores. And frolicking in the lake.So you're asking what did the girls and I do?? Well, we stayed up late. So late that they got

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-21539465558688317592009-08-17T14:14:00.000-07:002009-08-17T14:23:04.407-07:00

I just finished the first book in this series, Lament by Maggie Stiefvater. And I posted my review over on goodreads.com . But it bears repeating here - "Let's just say that Lament hooked me from the beginning. And that's a littlehard because these days I look for a really well written fairy story not just aformulaic retelling of folk lore. So I started Lament and was immediately intrigued by the

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495879682611492264.post-33912949276407979782009-08-10T09:49:00.001-07:002009-08-11T19:10:27.788-07:00

I've blogged about our appreciation for the Biggest Little City in the World before, but we do love living here in Reno. And we do love certain events that happen during the summer - like Hot August Nights.What's better than watching classic cars cruising by on a hot summer evening? Well, except this was an unexpectedly cool summer evening. In fact, the previous day our temperatures plunged

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906613969439987030noreply@blogger.com2