This week was Sofia's Spring Break (as well as for all kids in Texas) and I tried to come up with a fun activity every day, however, one that didn't involve the aquarium, zoo, or museums since every other kid from North Texas would already be there. When I picked Sofia up from school on Wednesday, I told her that she wouldn't be going to school the following week and tried to explain Spring Break. She got really sad and nearly started to cry saying that she'd "miss Ms. Christina's too much." Needless to say, she had a very fun and busy week and didn't miss school or Ms. Christina.
On Monday we met our friends Mya and Grady for lunch at Central Market and let the kiddos play in Central Market's playground for nearly three hours while Mya and I caught up. It was a blustery cool day, but Sofia didn't mind and ended up getting coated from head to toe from the broken up tire pieces that are the base of the playground.
Climbing on the Central Market Dragon with Grady
Taking a snack break together
Drawing in the afternoon while wearing her swimsuit. She's gotten into the habit the past few weeks of changing into one of her swim suits (usually this one) after we get home and wearing it around the house.
Adding faces...
The final product
On Tuesday morning we visited one of her closest friends, Isabella, who she always plays dress up with and another friend Milani, while Thelma and Michelle and I caught up. The three girls ran around playing dress up, played with trains and puzzles and chased each other around the house. Needless to say, Sofia took a nap as soon as we got home. Later we visited our neighbors so Sofia could meet their four-day old son, Antonio. She loved rubbing Antonio's hair and kept saying "He's so cute."
Lunching with Isabella and Milani
On Wednesday we had plans to meet CK for lunch and see his new office and decided to take the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) from DFW to downtown Dallas and then switch to DART for two stops before walking a few blocks to his office. Sofia slept in until after 9am and when I reminded her of our planned TRE trip, she got dressed and ready faster than I've ever seen her move. The trip was really fun and Sofia loved how fast the TRE went between stops. We met CK at his new office and got the grand tour.....what a view from the 27th floor! We walked to El Fenix for some tasty Mexican food before returning to CK's office and saying our goodbyes. From there, Sofia and I headed to catch the McKinney Street Trolley. While waiting for the trolley to arrive, Sofia immediately made friends with an adorable 5-year old named Sydney and they were holding hands and sitting next to each other as soon as the trolley arrived. I chatted with Sydney's Dad while we rode and we compared stories of being rather new transplants to the area. They were heading to get gelato at Paciugo's and invited us along. We all enjoyed some delicious gelato and the girls continued to play together. We then all headed back onto the trolley and returned to where we'd gotten on before saying our goodbyes and switching contact information. It was such fun to watch Sofia and Sydney play so well together and hopefully we'll all see each other again. Sofia was shot and climbed into her stroller while we headed back to catch the DART followed by the TRE home. She fell fast asleep shortly after we got onto the TRE.
Waiting at the station for the TRE train to arrive
First sighting of the train - pure joy!
Ready to leave the station
Passing by Dealy Plaza on our way to our stop
Waiting for the DART
The building where Papa's new office is located
With Papa in his office
The trolley
Sofia's new friend, Sydney
Standing next to the TRE before heading home
On Thursday Sofia wanted to play with her trains (what a surprise), so we had a lazy morning, checked on and watered our garden and talked to Grandma on the phone before we headed out. We decided to visit the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, which we've visited before and which has fantastic kid's activities throughout. We arrived after 2pm, thinking the mass of Spring Breakers might be less, but that wasn't the case. The museum was crazy! All Sofia wanted to do was play with the train track in the Kid's Museum section, but given the line to get into the area, we decided to visit the Dino Dig first (it too had a line, but much shorter). It felt great to sit outside in the warm weather while Sofia "found" dinosaur bones. Mainly she liked walking in the small river and burying her brush and finding it... After awhile, we brushed off the sand from Sofia's feet and headed for the trains! I think we ended up spending nearly two hours there, despite my suggestions of all the other exhibits to visit (including an outdoor water area). I did convince her to go outside to see the water playground and we spent a short amount of time there before heading back to the trains. We ended up leaving shortly before the museum closed. On our way out we decided to stop at the Imax theater and pick up some waters and popcorn. Once outside we decided to sit on the grass and enjoy our popcorn before heading back to our car. Once on our way home Sofia quickly fell asleep.
Watching her strawberry ripen.
Talking to Grandma
Walking through the little river
Playing in the Dino Dig
Trains! I think we spent at nearly two hours here!
Playing on the train bridge
Tucking in one of the babies
Sitting on the turtle outside of the museum...she named him "Hootie"
Our popcorn party before heading home
On Friday, we met Isabella and Thelma at Jump for Fun for a few hours of bounce house fun. Sofia loves going to the bounce house and she and I have gone nearly every Thursday since the week after Christmas. It's usually very empty with just three or four other kids, but given that it is Spring Break, it was pretty crazy. Sofia and Isabella had a great time and were completely exhausted. We went to lunch and Sofia was asleep less than five minutes after we drove off for home. After her nap, she spent the rest of the afternoon playing with her trains. We ended up going to Central Market to pick up a few things for dinner and both enjoyed a gelato since it was so warm out. As usual, she had a few bites and was done. It was a good ending to a very fun week.
On the big slide - one of her favorites. She usually goes down head first, which is fun to watch.
A happy girl
Doing her "balance beam" in the Central Market parking lot - she has to do this every time we go
What's Spring Break without a little gelato?
