Trains!

On Monday November 22nd, Sofia and I headed to North Park Mall in Dallas to visit the yearly train exhibit. We'd never been before and have been told numerous times that it is well worth seeing (especially given Sofia's love of trains). Plus, I needed to get one more gift before we headed to Santa Fe for our "Thanksmas" celebration with Aunt and Uncle. The train exhibit was incredible and Sofia loved it! We ended up spending nearly two hours watching trains, and she was completely captivated with the Thomas train and watching the "Metro" run under Grand Central Station. At one point a boy came up behind us and said "Look Mom, the Subway." and Sofia turned and said "It's the Metro." I had to explain to her that the "Metro" is called the "Subway" in New York....

She also liked to watch the train go into the tunnel under the Texas State Fair. It was a great exhibit and I'm pretty sure Sofia could have stayed all day watching trains. Instead, we headed to lunch and then finished up our shopping for Aunt and Uncle. In the process, Sofia found some adorable shoes, which she now wears everywhere.

The entrance to the train exhibit - it was amazing!


The exhibit included Washington DC, San Francisco, New York City, Dallas, Fort Worth and Amarillo (for some reason). I had to take a picture of Washington DC.


Watching a train go by...


Grand Central Station


Watching "the Metro" under Grand Central Station


Sofia's favorite place.....watching trains and the Metro


Watching Thomas Train. This was a very popular place, so I was lucky to get a picture of her without the swarm of kids trying to watch Thomas at the same time.


Sofia and the new shoes she picked out at Nordstrom's.


How cute are those shoes?!


The weekend before we all went to Southlake for the Christmas tree lighting.


Our little reindeer before Santa threw the switch to light it up.


Lights!!


Merry Christmas!

With Gavin

Here's Sofia and her little California cousin, Gavin.

Visiting University of Redlands

On Tuesday November 16th, Sian, Sofia and I visited the University of Redlands, which I hadn't been to in years (the last time was with Sian, as well) and Sofia had never visited before. Of course, no visit to the U of R is complete without a visit to Cuca's for a burrito. We picked up burritos and a cheese quesadilla for Sofia and drove to the university to eat on campus. We enjoyed our meal in a new outdoor classroom among a group of buildings which were just a grassy field when we were students. Then, we walked around campus (and endured the looks of students wondering who the 'old folks' were, I'm sure). It was great to enjoy the beautiful campus (significantly more beautiful since we were attending classes), and reminisce about our college days. I think Sofia mainly enjoyed walking around the outdoor classroom, running through the fountain and playing with a tennis ball that someone at the courts gave her. She loved walking on the maze, which was donated by a graduating class a few years after we left. I did buy her a toy bulldog stuffed animal with an 'R' sweater on, which she toted around everywhere too.

At Cuca's


Cuca's burritos and quesadilla - yum!


Just before she ran through the fountain


The beautiful view from the Admin building to the Chapel


Walking along Hunsaker Center


At the tennis courts - where Sian and I spent so much of our time


Walking along the maze - which was donated after we graduated.


Sofia LOVED it - she stayed within the lines and walked it a few times.


Rossmont Drive - We drove up this instead of running it (something we had to do during tennis to 'get into shape' which we dreaded)


It doesn't look like much, but that hill is nearly a 10% grade and was a tough run.

Hanging out with the Rockwells

On Monday afternoon, Sofia and I drove out to stay two nights with Sian and family. We had a great time visiting and Sofia loved playing with Danielle and Holland, once again. Now, Sofia names any new toy or stuffed animal either "Danielle" or "Holland."

Relaxing with Holland


The gang!


Playing with her buddy

Hanging out with Kris

Sofia and I flew to Orange County on November 14th and stayed with Mom's best friend Kris and her husband Jim. I hadn't been to their house in years, even though Kris was a staple in my Mom's hobby room every time I visited (or called home). Kris and Mom were always cooking up some sort of amazingly creative project or gift and they really completed each other's creative ideas. While staying at their house, she helped me package up a miniature room that Mom made and gave to Sofia. It's such a work of art and I was afraid of how best to ship it home, but Kris came up with the best idea of how to get it to Texas safely. Sofia loved looking at all the little toys and Kris told her about each piece, focusing on those that Sofia's Mimi had made. It was a great visit with both Kris and Jim, and we can't wait to visit them again (or host them in Texas!).

Kris showing Sofia Mimi's miniature toy store





Inside the toy store - such a wonderful piece of art!


Hanging out with Kris and Jim

Green Beup-Beup and his city cousin

Last Thanksgiving we "lost" Green Beup Beup at CK's cousin's Thanksgiving family reunion and I hastily ordered a "replacement" on Ebay just as he was returned to us. Once the "new" Green Beup Beup arrived, we realized that we could probably never really replace the original because they looked so different with Green Beup Beup being very well loved and the new one looking brand new, fluffy and clean. So, we hid the new one and referred to him as Green Beup Beup's city cousin whenever we talked of him. On one of my outings with a girlfriend who has a boy Sofia's age and a little girl, Eden, who is just over one, I discovered a solution to our city cousin dilemma. Eden fell completely in love with Green Beup Beup so I resolved to give Eden the new frog!

We had plans to see Jen and Eden, so I put Green Beup Beup's city cousin in a bag before heading out. Of course, Sofia wanted to see what was in the bag so I finally let her look and it was great to see her reaction! First, she thought it was a bear, then when she removed GB's city cousin, she recognized that he was a frog who looked an awful lot like her big buddy! She immediately grabbed Green Beup Beup and played with, hugged and examined both of them together. It was great to watch. I decided to take a few pictures of GB and his city cousin since it was so cute to see them together. After playing with the new friend for awhile, we put him back in the bag and took him to our friend. Last time I talked to Jen, she said Eden was completely in love with her new lovely and took him to bed with her every night. Maybe he'll be named Green Beup Beup, too!

City Cousin (on left) and Green Beup Beup with Sofia









Kissing her new buddy and Green Beup Beup

Isabella's Birthday Party

On November 13th, we helped celebrate Sofia's friend's 3rd birthday! The party was held at Paradise Pond, which is a great indoor play area and it was limited to just the kids and parents of the party, which was great (usually they have up to 150 kids in the play area!). The kids ran around and played for about an hour or so, then we had a group picture - I'm still not sure how all those kids sat still for so long, then we sang to Isabella while she blew out her candle on a cupcake. After, the kids had snacks and a cupcake before we headed home. It was a fun celebration!

All the birthday party kids


Happy Birthday, isabella!


Snack time!


Sofia and Isabella, who are good friends now. Before I knew Thelma, Isabella and Sofia had to be separated at the gym play area, since they would fight so much! Now, they play well together and love hanging out with each other.


The gals from my Mom's group