The Rest of the First Birthday

We had to finish the first birthday celebrating at Grandma and Grandpa's with the cousins . We had more fun, more ducks, more presents. Thanks everyone for celebrating with and for us! You're good sports and generous gift-givers. Bryn and Sophie blowing out her cupcake.
Aunt Steph and Sophie opening gifts.
Sophie sporting one of her stylin' outfits from Aunt Steph.

One Big Year

I find that I always have such ambivalent feelings on my kids' birthdays. On one hand, I can't wait to be done nursing, waking up at all hours of the night, and trying to get a baby to drink a bottle. On the other hand, I don't want my baby to grow up so fast! It hardly seems like she can be one. She is still such a tiny little thing that I can treat her like a baby.She is most likely the last, and it makes me a little sad to have her already be one-year old! However, she is so cute and so fun! Despite her own stubborn little habits, she really is a great baby. She plays great by herself, she loves to go in the car and run errands, she naps well. She loves ducks and books. We swear she says, "Read it," when she brings us a book and crawls up to our laps. She will sit as long as we will read. She can say, "Duck," and quack like one too. (Hence the duck birthday cake.) She also loves Anna and Thys. They are the center of her world. (Okay, let's be honest, I am the center of her world--but Papa and the kids come next.) Soph loves to be carried, but always makes sure her little arm and elbow keep her from getting pulled in too closely. She doesn't want to miss anything that is going on. We love this sweet little girl and are so grateful to have such a healthy, happy, and cute little person in our family!Sophie loves her books--especially ones with touchy textures and flaps. As soon as this new birthday book was out of the bag, she was headed for Papa's lap to read.
Soph has been carrying around an old dirty doll of Anna's, so we got her her own for her birthday gift. I took her to the store with me to get it because I wasn't sure she would really go for it, but when I put it in front of her at the store, she giggled and gooed and kissed the box. Done deal. She was absolutely delighted again today--nothing likes squeals of joy from a baby to make you happy!
Birthday pics.

We felt like we had to "do" something for Soph's birthday. We went swimming during Christmas break, and she loved it, except I couldn't let her be where she wanted to be because I had to watch the other kids. We decided if Mel and I both went, Soph could play where she wanted to. I think she had a fun time, but the water was a bit cold, so she didn't last too long--thank goodness.



And then we came home for spaghetti (one of Soph's favorite foods) and cake. She definitely loved the ducks on the cake much more than the cake.
Happy Birthday, baby Sophie!

Playing Around

Daily life around our house includes a lot of toys! Sophie's favorite thing to do is unload the puzzles and books off the bookcase and play with the stacking blocks. I could clean up the mess three times a day, at least, but I usually don't. She also enjoys a little TV, but we try not to encourage that habit!
Joy of joys! Thys is FINALLY not afraid of the bouncy-bounce. This thing has instilled great fear and panic in Thys since Anna got it for her birthday two-and-a-half years ago. Even if it was rolled up in the bag behind the couch, he couldn't function. It had to be put away in the garage. We finally got him in, and now we can't get him out!
Brave T!
Sophie also got in for the first time. No fear here--except for when it was blowing up and all of a sudden the pillars popped up. (I think that is what scared T as well--the blowing up and letting out.) She was hilarious. She would lean her whole little body against the mesh and smash her face while she put her hands behind her back.
Fun for all, I think.

The First Try at Skiing

Anna has been wanting to try skiing, so I decided with the long weekend maybe we could give it a shot. I'm not in shape enough or rich enough to start the downhill experience with a five-year-old, so we started with a little cross-country--or Nordic, as the experts call it. Even Thys wanted to give it a try, so we rented skis on Friday afternoon, and while Thys and Sophie were napping, Anna and I ventured to the backyard to practice. I have to say, for a first-timer, she picked it up fairly quickly. By the end of the afternoon, she was skiing back and forth in the backyard. So Saturday we headed up the canyon to Mountain Dell Golf Course. It was a little too hilly, but Anna gave it her best shot. Thys, on the other hand, preferred the safety of the carpet, and opted to spend his afternoon with dad drinking soda in the van while Annie and I toured (if you could call it that) around. It gave me just enough of a taste to remember why I love it. I ready to go sans kids!

Christmas 2009

Christmas was fabulous--as usual. The kids are so fun and so excited, and apparently they have been very good. The whole family got a Wii from Santa.
Annie with her pink guitar. She is soooo into music and instruments.
Thys got a camera because we knew Anna was getting one later in the day from her cousin--trouble if they don't both have one. You parents understand, I'm sure.
Better than the camera and the Wii, was the little jet that Santa picked up for a couple of dollars and threw in Thys's stocking. He hasn't put it down in three days!
Santa also left Thys some too-big Spiderman underwear, hoping to instill the desire to wear them, perhaps, on a regular basis. Didn't work. He thinks they are shorts--and cool ones at that. In fact, talk about comfy--he wore them all day--even to Christmas dinner at grandma's. Dad put him in the car before I could get a hold of him. . . Here is his Wii action shot.And little Soph--she likes the Wii too. Lucky for her, because that's what she got from Santa--just like the rest of us. She did get some rubber duckies for the tub, but these days I don't think it's wise to post pictures of your kids naked in the tub, even if they are cute as can be! So just know Soph loves her duckies. She can even say "duck" according to Mel, and we have all heard her quack like a duck several times. It is quite a quack/grunt/scream from such a little girl.

More Holiday Entertainment

Becky's shows are always good entertainment. If you think Thys and Anna's outfits are entertaining, you should have seen Becky in her red union suit with a jingle-bell belt and full Santa beard and hat. She is a nut, and we love her and what she does for the kids. They sang so cute!

Sophie lucked out this year--no elf costume, but watch out next year, Soph!

Sophie and Anna dressed up for church in Christmas attire. Thys didn't dress up, if you are wondering where he is, nor did he want his picture taken. I've given up on some things--they aren't worth the fight.


Christmas Eve. As you can see, Sophie is the only one I dressed. Thys is into "comfy" and always wants pajamas, and Anna. . .well, she wears what she wants most days--including Christmas Eve. We were just lucky to get us all out the door to grandma's before it was time for bed!


Making cookies for Santa
These are the cookies Santa was hoping for. I have been wanting to try "royal icing," you know the kind the bakeries use, so I finally did it. Not bad for a first try. . .
These are the cookies Santa got--he especially loved the black star decorated by Thys (see far right of picture)

Traditions!

We love traditions, and the kid make sure we keep them. The Sinter Klaas, put up the tree, sleep under the tree day just about wears us out--maybe we have to rethink that one--but it is fun for the kids--and for us!?!? In any case, it is fun to be together as a family!
Anna accidentally decorated herself!

Mel and I decorated our first gingerbread house when we were dating--we've done it ever since, and of course, it is one of the kids' favorites!


We are big adventurers--all the way to Lowe's for a Christmas tree!

FINALLY, we get to open the long-awaited package from Mimi, Bupa, and Sinter Klaas! And it was worth the wait. We found so many fabulous things inside! Thanks Mimi, Buba, and Sinter Klaas! (The package came about 10 days before Sinter Klaas, and we made the kids wait to open it--pure torture!)
New PJ's from Sinter Klaas and chocolate coins from Holland. Thys loves chocolate--he was in heaven! (Don't tell anyone he ate his entire chocolate advent calendar in one day!)
New doll from Mimi, Bupa and Sinter Klaas
Pop's new Netherlands shirt, PJ's, and my cool new Dutch food book!
Sleeping under the tree reading the new Christmas books.

And finally, our very own Smarte Piet (also known as Swarte Piet in other parts of the world).