First Crush

Meet Mr. Craig, Gabby and Sophie's swim instructor. Gabby is absolutely smitten by this young man. Gary and I really could not have asked for a better swim coach. He is wonderful with our girls and they truly adore him. Miss Gabby shows off whenever he is near... it really is cute to watch.

A Message for Pop Pop

Pop Pop loves to play golf and the girls will tell you if Pop Pop is not home then he is probably out on the golf course!

We found this hat to honor Pop Pop and his second once in a lifetime shot! Way to go Pop Pop.We love you to the moon and back and we are so proud of you!!

Beauty and the Beast

Grammie and I took the girls and Jack to see Beauty and the Beast on Friday. The girls loved dressing up as Belle and they really enjoyed their experience at the theater.

Not only were they able to have some special time with Belle after the show but they also saw many familiar faces among the audience! Gabby was tickled to see school friends and Anthem friends but she was overjoyed when she met her new pen pal, Miss Gracie.

Gracie and Gabby spent play dates together when they were babies but have not seen each other since Gary and I left Estrella Mountain in December of 2004. Gabby and Gracie are pen pals and the mommies were planning a reunion before the new school year, but thanks to some Disney magic, we were sitting in the same row at the show. Gabby was so excited to meet Gracie and she cannot wait to have a play date! It really was a wonderful surprise.

My Beantown Boys

Back in the day Gary had a B hat that he wore almost daily. I can still picture him walking the halls of Cal High... he made my heart flutter. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be taking a picture of my high school sweetheart and our son wearing matching B hats. He still makes my heart flutter and that little boy is magical.

I am one lucky girl.

Soph Soph

Sophie informed us today that she no longer wants us to call her Soph. Her name is Sophie.

I love this little girl. She grew up too fast, sometimes I forget she is alreay 3, a preschooler and no longer my baby girl. I hate how fast she is growing up but I cannot wait to see who this little angel will become.

Sometimes I feel like she is getting lost in the shuffle of being the middle child. I hate that. But she seems to love being in the middle of our silly family. She adores her big sister and her baby brother is one of her favorite things.

My favorite things about my Sophie (aka Soph Soph):

1. Her serious face (daddy and mommy see right through it)

2. Her ability to pop out of bed with a song in her heart and a smile on her face

3. Her daily cuddles

4. Her constant request for special juice (chocolate milk)

5. Her latest obsession with wardrobe changes

6. Her gentle nature

7. Her love for her sister and brother (and for Pop Pop too)

8. Her obsession with Critters

9. Her silly new dance

10. Her little hand in my own

Crowned Crane

We took the family to the Phoenix Zoo over the Memorial Day weekend and Gabby discovered a new favorite, the Crowned Crane. She loved looking at them and she continued to talk about them after we came home.

On the following Tuesday she decided to create her own. She asked if we could google Crowned Crane, she needed a picture, and then she went through the house collecting and requesting her supplies. An hour later, here is Ella, the Crowned Crane.