Happy 5th Birthday Honey Girl

My Sophia Lou

This past year, from four to five, went by in such a hurry. I still find it hard to believe that the little, beautiful baby I held in my arms, bright eyes wide open, is now five years old. And what I knew about you in those first few days, that you were a smart, determined, amazing and wonderful little girl is still true. You constantly amaze us with your bold, shining personality that is immediately the center of attention no matter where you go. In the past year you took on your first dance class and did beautifully at your first performance, became a more confident swimmer. bravely entered school and started on your way to reading and writing. Daddy and I are so very proud to call you our little girl. 

Happy Birthday Sophia

we love you from age five until forever.

Family Photos 2010

Photos By Visionyard Photography
Click here to view these pictures larger

Finally a little summer afternoon rain

And a whole lotta fun.

What every Mama wonders..

Can someone please tell me how we went from this:

to this:

So quickly?

Sigh.

But before sending our baby off to her first day of preschool we took a few of the requisite first day pics.

Little brothers weren't really sure what was going on but they did know that big Sis was excited and in a good mood about something. So they got excited too!

And of course I wanted one of me and my baby girl. 

Then it was Daddy's turn.

One of the reasons she had no hesitation about going was that she knows several of the kids in her small class of 10 including her best buddy Charlie.  I think at the point we snapped this picture she was ready for us to gather up the brothers, the camera and be on our way!

Luckily she was very excited at both the start and end of her first day. I only hope she loves school and goes on to remember it as fondly as I do.

One baby turned preschooler.

Three more to go.

Creeping ever so closer to the BIG 3 0. But not just yet!

A little help blowing out the candles

Mama Koala

And this one is not related to my birthday except that it captures just how excited our brown eyed girl is at any birthday party, even if it's not hers.

Six weeks

give or take since the last "letter". Hard to believe. Although in my defense half of that time was spent traveling 4000 miles, through eight states with more than ten nightly stops between hotels and family and friends' homes. All of that with 2 two year olds who didn't adjust to late bedtimes, sparse nap schedules and going non stop as effortlessly as Sophia did at their age. While we had a wonderful time and were glad the boys were able to see friends and family they'd yet to meet, we will not be taking a trip that far or that long for at least another couple of years. And did I mention this pregnancy is kicking my arse? Well it is. I alternate between exhausted and zombie creature most days.  For a few weeks I even picked up a daily hour long work out routine in the hopes that it would give me more energy.  That plan was laughable at best.  Living life with three littles (two of them potty training) is workout enough these days.

Enough with the chit chat. Here's what you really want to see. Family vacation pictures! Come on.  Who doesn't love pouring over someone else's summer vacay pics? Isn't that what Mommy centric blogs are all about?

We missed taking pictures at the borders of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska either because we entirely missed the sign, it was too hot and humid to stop, or one or all of the kids were sleeping and no way was our van stopping during a much needed nap!

We spent the Fourth of July in small town South Dakota, complete with charming Main St. parade

Let me add a word on parades in South Dakota. Not only do they feature endless tractors, countless marching bands, dozens of campaigning politicians and a group called The Sons of Norway, they are also hot beds of candy, toys and popsicles. Yes popsicles! What a great idea right? Between three kids we collected enough candy to fill an entire grocery bag, an odd assortment of little green toy solidiers, multiple frisbees, flags, and plastering of stickers and a few notepads from the Republican party of Such and such county. Score!

Next up: parks, zoos and pools. Oh my.

Like any other family traveling with small children we were obligated to pay a visit to each of these institutions of childhood summer vacation. And did we ever. I will spare the details and endless pictures and post a few representative shots.

Among the highlights of the trip for Sophia was riding a horse for the first time. She was excited, eager and fearless which is more than I can say about the first time I rode a horse at 23.

Next up:  An overabundace of pictures from The Minnesota Children's Musuem (And one of the only pictures of me from the entire trip)

Waiting for dance class to start

And go!

Discovering a DIY face paint station

 Water room

Painting Room

Music Room
This was by far Max's favorite. It involved a stage, some faux musical instruments, a tv screen that projected the "band's" image into some type of cheesy music video and a large parental audience.  Max rocked it out. He stayed on stage through several groups of kids and worked that guitar like he was born to be an 80s rockstar. Rock on Little Max!

Replica Korean Restraunt

Shopping the neighborhood bodega

The kids had a great time playing at the Children's Museum and there are frankly too many exhibits, rooms and play areas to include pictures of.

Lastly pictures of all the family and friends we visited along the way.

Celebrating Patrick's birthday at Grandpa and Grandma N's home in Minnesota

With the Rothrocks in Sioux Falls

Sophia and Beckett were the only ones willing to cooperate

While visiting with the Fransen and Devos families in Fergus Falls the boys made themselves right at home. Luckily Christian was a good sport!

Sophia finally had some girls to play with!

Max was immediate buddies with cousin Sol.

Patrick and the kids with the Liebermans in Minneapolis.

Chris Burgers and his daughter Maggie with Kyle Norton and Sophia at the "Norton Ranch"

Sophia and Maggie

Ah ha! There was one more picture of me!
Me and my friend Shannon in Minneapolis

 Party crashing at the Jelen's house.

And because it'll be a long time before our kids see another snowmobile, the obligatory picture.

I was trying to include a few other pictures of yet more friends we visited on our journey but blogger has not been my friend of late.

Yes, this is an admittedly curt way to end but frankly I'd been avoiding doing this post because there is so much to include.  So there. Got it over and now I can move on!