December Update

What a month it has been.  Every month is busy yet this seemed even busier.  We had a month full of fun.

In the beginning of December we got together with Katlyn.  Sophia and Katlyn have been friends all their lives and we used to see each other more often before the kids went to school.  It is harder now but when the girls get together it is like they didn't miss a beat.  They have so much fun.

We decided to cut down our Christmas tree again.  We figured it would be heavier and perhaps it would survive Mr. Twinkletoes and it did.  White Mr. Twinkletoes was interested he never did try to climb it.  We had fun picking out the perfect tree and cutting it down.  We also had a blast decorating the tree.  Sophia and I both love to decorate inside and out.  It helps us get into the Christmas spirit.

Sophia was a huge help shopping and wrapping gifts.  She loves giving people gifts.  She also loves making them.  She made gifts for her teachers.  Soap and Snowmen mittens.  She loved bringing them in and giving them to her teachers.

Nick was able to join us for Christmas.  It was so nice having him down.  We had a wonderful surf and turf dinner at home.  We then played a game that Sophia created.  She used the Clue game board and we tried to figure out which reindeer, hid what gift in what room.  It was fun.

Sophia and I made red velvet fudge and sugar cookies.  We gave some for Santa but we also had some ourselves.  They were yummy.

Christmas morning was full of excitement as Sophia opened her gifts.  Sophia got the Skylanders trap team she had been hoping for.  Santa brought her a Breyer horse trailer.

Sophia bought gifts for Mr. Twinkletoes and the dogs.  She did an awesome job picking out gifts.  They all loved their new toys.

We then had a lovely dinner at Grandma Bev's house.  I made enough lasagna to feed an army, with Sophia's help of course.  I also made an antipasto salad.  It was nice to spend the day with family.

This was the first Christmas without my mother.  It was very hard.  One of Linda's friends made my mother a wreath with some of my mother's Christmas ornament collection.  It was beautiful.  Linda put roses on my mother and fathers grave for me.  Christmas was hard but New Years Eve was harder.  It was so sad not calling her at midnight.

 Mr. Twinkletoes loves Sophia.  You can often find him at the dinner table on Sophia's chair and sometimes sleeping with her at night.

Sophia and Steve had many adventures over vacation while I worked.  They were out every day, parks, Dave and Busters, etc.  Steve is such an awesome father.

We spend a quiet New Years Eve at home.  We had dinner and then made a fondue.  This is our second year making a fondue so I guess it is becoming a tradition.  We watched some of the Carol Burnett videos Steve got me for Christmas and made it till the ball dropped.  Sophia was asleep second after the ball fell and we rang in 2015.

November 2014

November went by super quick.  We had a busy month.  It started off with Sophia's birthday on November 1st.  She opened her gifts on Halloween because Steve was away on Saturday.  Sophia and I made lasagna on Saturday and enjoyed it with our neighbors.  On Sunday we went out to Olive Garden for a family dinner.

I brought her a cupcake, balloon and her gift from China to her when she woke up.  This is a tradition we have been doing since she was a baby.

Sophia wanted a Wild Kratts themed birthday party.  We made animals out of pipe cleaners, played animal games and charades.  It was a blast.

Sophia was in the final Fall Series Schooling show.  She rode Oreo.  Oreo is new to showing, which we didn't realize until all was said and done.  Oreo was very agitated during the show.  The whole day was hard.  The show was delayed due to the cold.  The outdoor ring was frozen so they had to move things inside.  Tensions were high.  Oreo wasn't so bad during the first two events but the waiting outside in a small space with lots of horses she got anxious.  She started pulling her head and dancing around.  When she entered the ring for the poles, she went over the first two sets  okay but then outright refused the last two.  Sophia was so determined,  she tried to get the horse over the poles for what seemed like eternity.  The horse pulled her forward and avoided the poles at all costs.  Sophia did not give up.  The judge finally helped her get the horse back on course.  Later the judge told everyone  how Sophia was so determined.  Evidently, she even came looking for me to tell me how impressed she was.  She told Sophia's coach that if she could give a ribbon for determination,  Sophia would win first place.  Sophia is a very determined girl.  Her coach has mentioned this to Sophia before.  Her coach enjoys working with her because she always tries her hardest.  This is a quality which will hopefully get Sophia far in life.

Sophia ended up winning Grand Champion for the Fall Series based on her scores from the September and October shows.

We ran into Sophia's first riding instructor and she asked if Sophia wanted to ride her horse.  Sophia has ridden him twice.  He is a beautiful and big (16.4 hands) thoroughbred.

Sophia is a huge help around the house.  She helped decorate for Christmas and even made a cake.

Aiden came down to visit from Ithaca the weekend before Thanksgiving.  He brought a friend, Olivia who lives too far away to go home for the holiday.  We had fun visiting Grama Bev's and showing Olivia around DC.  The two new college students even did some homework by visiting Steve's school and observing the music teachers. Unfortunately we don't have any pictures.

We got some snow the day before Thanksgiving.  Sophia did not waste anytime.  She got dressed and began sledding in the little snow we got.  She loves to sled.  I love her zest for life.

We spent Thanksgiving with Steve's family.  We had a great dinner.  We have so much to be thankful for but the most touching was a note that Sophia gave Steve and I on Thanksgiving morning.

 Our pets are all getting along.  Mr. Twinkletoes comes downstairs and hangs out with us.  He is getting into all sorts of trouble.

 Sophia and I during a school visit.