We're going on a bear hunt

While visiting family in Richmond on Memorial Day weekend, we visited Maymont Park. There is a farm exhibit there with cows and goats and pigs. Sophie loved watching all of the animals. There is also a bear exhibit with two young bears. The bears were very active, and Sophie enjoyed watching them swim and try to climb a tree.

Trip to Hilton Head Island

Sophie at Shelter Cove marina

Well, it's been a little while since we've given an update on our lives. We've been staying busy with one thing or another. This past weekend, we got away to Hilton Head for a much needed relaxing trip. None of us had ever been and we really enjoyed it. We got to go for a nice long bike ride, spent some time on the beach, walked around, etc. Sophie loved playing in the sand and getting very messy! When we were at the beach, we saw dolphins swimming just a little bit out in the water. Sophie also enjoyed seeing an alligator, turtles and some interesting birds right outside the hotel where we were staying. I hope we can go back to Hilton Head sometime. Tomorrow, we are headed to Richmond, VA to spend Memorial Day weekend with Matt's parents, sister, and one of his aunt and uncles.

our family at Harbortown

Sophie playing on the beach

Last Party Photos

Sophie with her new tricycle and Aunt Martha

Sophie's 2 favorite (and only) aunts-Leia and Martha

OK, well I just thought that these pictures were really cute from the party and I hated it that they weren't included. I decided to sneak them in here. Sophie was very excited when she received her tricycle. Aunt Leia and Aunt Martha were demonstrating true dedication to wear these party hats (but at least they look like they are having fun!). On the day of the party, Sophie kept telling people to don their party hats and was quite bossy about it.

Uncle Phil visits

On Thursday, Uncle Phil came down for a little visit since he missed the birthday party last weekend. On Friday, we went to a local park and let Sophie play (and Uncle Phil) in the sand. We went to our local water park on Saturday for our first time this season. We all had a great time! Sophie enjoyed going down the smaller water slides with Mommy, Daddy, or Uncle Phil, playing in the water and riding on the big raft with Mommy and Daddy on the "lazy river" at the water park. We came home and took naps and then that evening we went out for dinner and to the beach (Folly Beach). Sophie had lots of fun filling up her bucket with sand.

For those of you who haven't been around Sophie in a long time, she is talking or singing all the time now. She can sing "Jesus Loves Me", the ABC's and "Old McDonald Had a Farm" among others. "Old McDonald" has been one of her favorites for a long time now. Sophie will also make up her own songs sometimes which is cute.

Elmo Party Pictures Continued...

After the party was over, we were all worn out. Sophie got in a little nap while the adults cleaned up and dozed a little. Later in the evening, we took advantage of the nice weather and headed to the beach for a little walk. To the right is Sophie with Nana, Aunt Leia and Mimi at Folly Beach.

Sophie loved all of her new toys and stuff, especially this new doll and a new bike. She was ready to stop and play with some of her gifts and got bored with opening new ones =). Notice, that Sophie has temporary Elmo and Cookie Monster tattoos on her arms. Sophie and a biker were comparing tattoos when we went out to eat that night =)!

Here's Sophie with her Elmo cake. She didn't quite get the concept of blowing out the candle and had to have some help. She loved her cake and ice cream though.

Here's Hannah, Spence and Sophie playing with the water toys. It was cute watching all of the kids playing together.

Birthday Party Part 1

Sophie turned 2 on May 1st and we had a BIG birthday party for her at our home. Both sets of Sophie's grandparents were able to come as well as Aunt Martha and Aunt Leia. To the left, you can see Matt, Sophie & Paula next to a pool filled with rice and lots of fun toys. We set up little stations with different things that the kids could play with and kept things kind of unstructured.

Sophie learns how to fish with little magnetic fishing poles!

We also had another "station" with water toys. All of the kids had lots of fun and we had a great turnout for the party! All together, there were 34 people and the party was a success. We had sandwiches, chips and sides. It was an Elmo party! Our prayers were answered and it didn't rain so that the kids could play outside. Plus, the weather was pretty nice for this time of the year in Charleston.

Fire Marshall Sophie

There is a new fire museum in North Charleston, and Matt took Sophie to the grand opening today. There were a few antique fire trucks there for the day on display that Sophie climbed up and pretended to drive. Sophie was so excited to see all the steam wagons, fire trucks, and firemen. She kept looking for her Great-Uncle Mike, who she got to visit earlier this month at the fire hall in Nashville where he is the fire captain. Sophie really is fascinated with trucks, buses, planes, and other large machines.