An August Wedding

Matt, me, Dad & Mom, Martha & Matt Riley

the flower girls before the processional

our best attempt at a cousins' picture (minus Harper)

This past weekend, my cousin, Amy, was married on Friday, August 13 in the plaza right in front of the War Memorial auditorium. I left our girls behind with my cousin, Keri (from the other side of our family), because the wedding was late at night. The wedding was lovely and it was great to see family but it was so HOT even for that late in the evening. It was very pretty as the sun went down during the wedding since the wedding was outdoors in the plaza with candlelight. Amy and Chris looked so happy and Amy looked just beautiful. Most of their nieces and nephews were in the wedding so that was sweet! I know that my Aunt Ann was smiling down from heaven. I was thankful that the wedding reception was inside the old War Memorial auditorium. There was wonderful food and a great band. The next morning, we were able to get together with all of the family who was still around. It's always fun when some of the first cousins can get together and our kids can play! Congratulations to Amy & Chris!

Chef Mickey's

Minnie Mouse & Sophie

Pluto and Sophie

me, Minnie Mouse, Sophie, Martha, & Abbie

Goofy and Sophie

Do you notice who is not in many of the pictures of the characters? That's right. Abbie. She didn't really want much to do with them. She usually got really scared when a character started approaching our table. Sophie, on the other hand, loved all of the characters! We had a really nice meal at Chef Mickey's and enjoyed meeting the characters there. Sophie asked if Mickey was cooking our meal since it was called Chef Mickey's so we had to try to explain. =) Minnie Mouse was the sweetest of the characters, I thought. She came over to our table and signed Sophie's book, took pictures, etc. Then, she knew that Abbie was scared so she pulled out a chair at our table and sat down a safe distance from Abbie so that she could see her better but wouldn't be as frightened. Sophie kept wanting to meet Daisy Duck but she's not at Chef Mickey's. Sophie finally met her later in the week!

Matching Mama

Paula & the girls

After we went to the zoo on Monday, we also went to Nana & Paw-paw's to hang out for a while and then have dinner for Paula & Uncle Jowie's birthdays. Sophie & Abbie wore their matching shirts which was planned and then Paula's sweater ended up matching too (not totally planned but good for pictures). We had to get some pictures with Nana's daffodils! Tuesday was Paula's actual birthday but Monday was lots of fun and the weather was prettier. When we left Nana's house, it was storming and all of us were pretty tired that night and the next day from all of our outings! Considering that we've mostly been homebound since Abbie's been born, Abbie did pretty well and we all survived.

Zoo trip

Sophie running and jumping in one of the kids' play areas.

Matt and Sophie with an elephant

After a couple of months of being in Nashville, we followed up on our promise to take Sophie to the zoo. Nana was able to go along with us. The weather was great and we had a nice time. There was a big crowd there but it wasn't too bad. We bought an annual pass so we didn't feel pressured to try and see everything. Sophie has always loved seeing giraffes and she also got to see some farm animals. She said that her favorite thing though was the Gibbon monkeys that are really loud and were swinging around up in the trees. Sophie also had a blast in the kids play area.

Outdoor Fun

Our family returned home from Nashville on Monday after Easter. On Wednesday afternoon, Matt's parents rolled into Charleston for a visit during Matt's mom's Spring Break.

Sophie gets ready to help Mimi and Paw Paw Tom do some heavy duty yard work while they are visiting.

Sophie takes gardening very seriously and she doesn't stay clean doing it either. Here, as you can see she's very wet from watering herself as she waters the plants. Later, she's covered in dirt as well and loving every minute of it. This was Sophie's first experience with planting flowers. Our yard looks much better thanks to everyone's help-especially Paw Paw Tom and Mimi's.

On Saturday, we all visited the Middleton Place plantation and walked around the gardens and visited the farm animals. Everything was so beautiful! Sophie really enjoyed seeing all of the animals!
A monumental occasion occured at our house this week-Sophie used the potty for the 1st time. Yay, Sophie! It's just the beginning but it's still exciting. She gets a couple of M & M's when she's successful.

Easter weekend

Paula's dad's siblings-Uncle Mike with Sophie, Paw-paw, Uncle Bobby,
Aunt Patti (front), Aunt Mary Tom, Uncle JoWie at Mary Tom's party

Sophie with her Easter goodies

Paula & Sophie-Easter Sunday

Sophie with Uncle Phil and Aunt Martha

There was a lot going on over Easter weekend this year. My great aunt, Mary Tom, turned 100 on April 7. Almost all of my 1st cousins (Paula's) and their families were able to come and celebrate her birthday and we had a big party for Mary Tom. Many of her old friends, relatives, neighbors, etc were able to come and celebrate with Mary Tom. She was well remembered because her church also held a large party in her honor and the assisted living facility where she lives honored her. We were glad that we could be with her to celebrate! I wish that one of us had taken more pictures of us cousins together but maybe someone got some pictures.

Sophie enjoyed spending time with her cousins. On Sunday, many of them had to head for home but we stayed in Nashville and went to church with Paula's family. On Saturday, even though it was very cold we had an Easter egg hunt for all of the kids. We had lunch together, we all went to the party for Mary Tom that afternoon and then that night we got together. Needless to say, by Sunday after church, Sophie was exhausted and took a 3 hour nap.

Gobble Gobble!!!!!!!

I helped everyone get packed and ready to go for our trip to Richmond.
I made this beautiful Indian headdress in my Parents and Children Together class.

The turkey frying crew of Grandpa, Me, Daddy, and Great-Uncle Gary

Happy Turkey Day!!!
At this time every year, I think of things I am thankful for. Currently, I am thankful for Pepperidge Farms Goldfish, Fisher-Price Little People Farm and Zoo playsets, Little Tikes playground equipment, and the Wiggles and VeggieTales DVDs. I also am thankful for Mommy, Daddy, friends, and family.

We went to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Richmond for Thanksgiving. I am going to get my first taste of deep-fried turkey (Just like the Pilgrims and Indians did at the first T-giving in 1622). It has been cold and rainy here, but hopefully it will warm for us to go shopping tomorrow at the doorbusters' sale at Macy's tomorrow at 5AM.

XOXO Sophie