Sophie's Announcement~

After both of the boys were born, we sent out a birth announcement several months later. It was easy to get a newborn photo and put the card together. This time around proved to be a little more challenging! This picture involved a toddler on the move, in a traditional Chinese dress, in the heat of the Phoenix summer...

But with the help of some very talented friends, Sophie's announcement turned out beautiful! It was just how I imagined it, so pretty, just like Sophie. Thank you, Abby Alsafi for taking the picture and Sarah Ortaldo for designing the card. You both are awesome ;)

We love this little girl to pieces. I cannot imagine our lives without her!

Off to the Windy City~

From Cincinnati we headed up to Chicago to visit more family. We rented a swag-wag and drove the 5 hour drive to see Scott's parents and siblings. The day we arrived, his mom had a picnic for all the family for us to see, which was perfect! We packed alot into these 2 days, just as we did in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, we did not eat any Chicago food ;( Boo! We did go to Sky Zone to bounce, had dinner with the Gallagher's ( Scott's college buddy and his family ), and went to the Chicago Bear's training camp. Lots of fun in a short amount of time!

Sky Zone~

Dinner with the Gallagher kiddos~

Meeting their 2nd cousin, Tegan~

Bears Training Camp~

Let There Be Music~

When I was in the 3rd grade, my parents bought a Baby Grand piano for me to play and take lessons. I took lessons all the way from 3rd grade into high school.  I practiced each day, but not as many times as I was supposed to, and memorized lots of music to play in recitals. Sophie just may inherit this piano...I think she really liked it, and she looked like a concert pianist at only 22 months old!

Cousins, Galore!

Growing up, I spent lots of time with my cousins. Some of my cousins lived right behind us, so they were like siblings to me. Being the oldest of 4, and my mom one of 10 kids...there are LOTS of cousins and now 2nd cousins around! When we were in town, my mom and everyone over. Like 80 or so people ;) We had a picnic in my mom's huge yard, and the kids eventually started filling water balloons and playing with the hose, as you can see! Oh.What.Fun!

                                       

                              

                

           

To Cincinnati We Go~

This past week, we traveled to both Cincinnati and Chicago for Sophie to meet her family. This was an exhausting, but a much needed trip. Our week started in Cincinnati where we fished, played with cousins ( LOTS of cousins ), went to the Children's Museum, visited Mimi and Papa's new house, visited great grandma and grandpa Holtmeier, and we ate lots of our Cincinnati favorites!

Fishing and Playing at Swaim Park in Montgomery~

 Visiting with Mimi and Papa and Great Grandma and Grandpa~

We did so much stuff in Cincinnati in just two and a half days! Since this post was so picture heavy, the next post will be on Sophie with all her Cincinnati cousins..