Tomatoes!

During Mimi's visit we picked our four ripe tomatoes and made a caprese salad! I must confess that I didn't think our homegrown tomatoes tasted any different than those we pick up in the store, but maybe my expectations were too high.

Our first tomatoes! Yum!


Looking at the other ripe tomatoes (we have two different containers of tomatoes)


Are there any more to pick??


Flashback to Sofia checking on the progress of our tomatoes a few weeks before...


Trying the ripe tomatoes


Yum!

Mimi!!

Sofia's Mimi visited for a few days, while CK was off on a work trip and fishing with some buddies. They had a fabulous time together (and I actually got a few things done!). We mainly hung out around the house, went swimming, and played or read with Sofia. Mimi brought Sofia an adorable outfit (which I forgot to take a photo of, but will) as well as two bunny books. I think Mimi read the books to Sofia approximately 10 times each, and was told "Again, again" as soon as she finished!

Mimi reads Sofia's new book just after arriving


Cozying up!


We steamed artichokes and ate them with butter - something new to Sofia, but she LOVED it!


Yum!!


Cheers! Mimi and Sofia clink glasses of "milkshake" (yogurt with fruit and honey)


Reading and snuggling just before nap time


Watching a very humorous "Pop goes the Weasel" video on YouTube

Sofia at 23 months.....

Sofia turned 23 months yesterday and we spent the day visiting my nephew Robert, who is currently in the Air Force at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX. Sofia had fun meeting her cousin and we survived the horrid heat! Sofia is becoming an absolutely fearless swimmer, even though she's still short on the swimming part. She holds her breath while sliding down the slid or jumping into the water like a pro, but the kicking and pulling part are still being learned. She is making progress though.

Sofia continues to talk up a storm! She has some favorites that she continues to say regularly, including: "Oh boy!", "Let's do it!", "Mommy hold her!" (which really means "Mommy hold me"), and many others. She still loves trains and we say "Hi" to the train tracks each time we drive over them. She continues to love "reading" her books and especially likes when someone will read to her. Her Green Beup-Beup is still her very favorite buddy and she has a crib full of stuffed animal friends. She continually surprises us with her comments and seems so much older than she is!

With Robert (aka Tony) and Mimi at Sheppard AFB


Brushing her teeth before her photo shoot - she loves having her teeth brushed


Close up of our cutie!


Look at our big girl


Playing with her monkeys


With her Mimi-made birthday hat from last year! It still fits!

Father's Day 2009

We had a very relaxing Father's Day on Sunday, and despite the fact that I'm the queen of photos, I didn't take a single picture of Sofia and CK! CK slept in a little Sunday morning while I got up when Sofia awoke around 730 and we made coffee. We took Papa a cup of coffee while he was getting ready and told him to come into the living room with his eyes closed. Then, Sofia presented him with his gifts (with a little help from me) - a yellow bike trailer for Sofia to ride in on bike rides and an owl kite! Two fun activities that we can all enjoy together. After Meeting we planned on going to a fancy brunch in Ft. Worth but CK decided he wanted to stay home with us, enjoy a low key brunch at home and relax before leaving for a work trip in the mid-afternoon. So, while Sofia took her nap I made pancakes and eggs and we enjoyed our time together. All too soon he was heading out the door, but it was a very relaxing Father's Day and we can't wait to use his new gifts!!

Hanging out with Papa the day before


Still my favorite picture of Sofia and her Papa....

Corn eater....

Last weekend we had a few of CK's pilot buddies and their wives over for a bbq in the backyard, and Sofia finally tasted her first real ear of corn! I've been giving her frozen veggies over the winter, which she has liked well (especially the baby corns and peas) and have always cut off the kernals from the corn cob. But, tonight she got hold of an entire ear of corn and snuck off to the lounge chair to enjoy it. She LOVED it and the pictures are adorable of her eating...

On the lounge chair


YUM!

Heading to Santa Fe

On Saturday morning May 30th we dropped Mimi off at DFW and drove out to Addison for our trip to Santa Fe! Sofia was a little confused as to why we left Mimi off then drove to the Baron.... We decided to leave our computers at home so we could read, relax, and enjoy Santa Fe rather than get lost in the internet. It was a beautiful flight, especially closer to Santa Fe when the ground just creeps up closer and closer to the plane. Sofia had a good long nap in my arms and I was able to read and take in the scenery. We arrived around noon and drove our rental car to Uncle and Aunt's casita and were excited to overlap with them for the weekend.

All set to go, Papa!


Sofia stretches her legs at the airport in Santa Fe


Aunt Shirl waters their casita garden - one of the most relaxing place ever!


Inaugurating Sofia's backpack


There they go


With Uncle Steve and Papa in downtown Santa Fe


The whole gang (Aunt Shirl behind Uncle Steve)

Santa Fe with Aunt and Uncle

We started our first full day in Santa Fe by eating at the Plaza Cafe - delicious! We walked around a little bit before heading back to the casita for a little relaxation time (and a nap for Sofia). Aunt Shirl and I then went to on a garden tour of homes in Santa Fe, which was very interesting given the desert landscaping techniques. While we were walking around, Uncle Steve and CK took Sofia to the Santa Fe Children's Museum, which she fully enjoyed! CK painted hearts on her cheeks and she went off exploring from there. She played in the sand lot, played on the huge outdoor musical instruments, and later played inside the museum. Uncle Steve and CK had about as much fun, too!

Our first full day in Santa Fe - Sofia is all set!


Hanging out with the "kitty" on the way to breakfast


With Uncle Steve


The whole crew!


At the Santa Fe Children's Museum


Playing on the outdoor musical instruments


Playing in the pond


......while Papa and Uncle Steve blow HUGE bubbles


Trying to catch the bubbles


Dinner - the best pizza ever!


Our cutie


With Papa

Around Santa Fe

On Monday June 1st, we spent the day exploring Santa Fe, which was very fun. We first went to Cafe Pasqual's for their outstanding whole wheat pancakes, then we walked around the Plaza, visited the St. Francis Cathedral and explored some of the shops.

With Papa at Cafe Pasqual's


Hanging out by the St. Francis Cathedral


Papa, Sofia and the Cathedral


In the afternoon we drove out to the funky and fun Jackalope, which has a little of everything. Sofia fell in love with all the sun faces - she loves pointing out the sun in all of her books, so this was very exciting!


We bought her a cowgirl hat at Jackalope which looks really cute on her


My two cow pokes


Visiting the donkeys at Jackalope


And the peacocks


Walking in the nearby arroyo, heading to dinner