Cookies

Today, amongst other things, Sofia and I decided to bake some Afghans. So we set to, put our pinny's on and started to cook. Unfortunately, Miss S wasn't wearing any trousers but to be perfectly honest, if my tooshie looked as cute as this, I might cook more often in just my knickers. Okay, maybe not. At least she was colour co-ordinated.

Butter in.....there's my girl. Just like her Mum with a real weakness for the stuff. She refused to wash her hands after this rubbing the butter into her hands like lotion.

And of course, the best part. When she was done licking the spatula she said "I want some more chippies". I told her they were not chippies but Cornflakes to which she responded "I want some more snowflakes". There's the festive spirit.

A Family Outing

Our Thanksgiving weekend was such a blast this year. We enjoyed four days together as a family with very few committments. We got our Christmas tree up and another in Sofia's room. Clyde put the lights up on the outside of the house and we celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary.

On Friday evening we we out to watch the ice skaters. It was drizzeling slightly but not enough to dampen our fun. We got coffee and snacks and sat outside and listened to the Christmas Carols, enjoyed all of the lights and watched the kids do their thing on the ice rink.

What am I Thankful for?

The wonderful friends and family that we have.

And a beautiful daughter who will dance anywhere, anytime.

That Sofia has such adorable friends.

That I can walk 3 miles with a toddler on my shoulders.

And glorious weather to do it in.

This stunning profile.

And this cheeky grin.

That Sofia loves to help in the kitchen.

And that one of the first thing that she learns to cook is mashed potatoes.

That Sofia prefers Snoopy over any number of less desireable characters.

And that she decided that her holiday dress wasn't "too sparkley" to wear.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Grape Escape

Since Sofia came home, we have dragged her through winerys all over California and New Zealand for that matter. She has always been a good sport about it and in fact, even enjoys it I think.

We are lucky enough to have a family winery only fifteen minutes down the road from us where we like to picnic, and of course sample the product, and we visited on a beautiful autumn day.

The Ever Changing Face of Miss Sofia

Sometimes, I get home and download the snaps off my camera, and am completely caught off guard by how my girl is changing. I don't notice it in our everyday life and then whammo I am staring at a different girl.

Words of Wisdom

Now that Sofia is talking up a storm, she is coming up with all sorts of words of wisdom. Following is the converstaion that happened between myself and Sofia in the supermarket last Saturday at 7:15a.m.

Sofia: Mummy, I'm hungry (rubbing her stomach for added effect).
She had eaten breakfast by the way!
Mummy: You are, are you?
Sofia: A cookie would help.

Smart girl, I say.

I Gotcha

This was a super sweet moment between Sofia and Barclay John. They were sitting on the couch watching the Halloween episodes of Backyardigans. I think Sofia might have been a wee bit scared but she wrapped her arm around Barclay and kept saying "Don't worry Barclay, I gotcha! I gotcha!" Good thing Barclay has his girl to watch over him.

Happy Halloween

Last night we enjoyed an awesome Halloween evening with family, friends and quite possibly the cutest kiddos of all time. After last year's Halloween costume debarcle we went very simple, very easy this year and Sofia was a black kitty cat.

Sofia helping Papa blow up balloons.


The most amazing cupcakes thanks to Meg.


Daddy getting Sofia ready for her guests to arrive.


Beautiful little kitty.


Ta Dah!


Chief Jake and Sofia wasting no time at all getting stuck into the candy.


Peter, Andy, Sofia and Jake checking out all of their loot and they hadn't even been trick or treating yet.





Whiskers on and we headed out for some trick or treating. The kids handled it like pros.






Halloween was such an crazy, chaotic evening but oh so much fun. And what really made the evening was when all was said and done, and all of her friends had gone home, Sofia helped Papa hand candy out to the trick or treaters. She reached into the bowl and made sure that everyone received some with a little "there you go" as she dropped it into their bags. It was the most unbelievably cute thing you have ever seen.

Happy Halloween Sweet Kitty.

13.1

Back in April Clyde joined a Fleet Feet Couch Potato running group. Okay so it wasn't technically called the "Couch Potato" running group but basically that was who it was aimed at.....people who did not really do much physical activity with the end result to run a 5K. Well Clyde did the training but never actually ran the race. I think we were camping or something. So he kept the running up and Meg and Carrie suggested back in July that he should run a half marathon with them, and that is precisiouly what they did.

I know this post is supposed to be all about Clyde but who can resist photos of such cute kids. Trouble #1 and Miss Trouble #2 hanging out at the beginning of the race.



Runner #1271.


The start line.


Meg crossing the finish line. Official times aren't in yet but Meg and Clyde were in the second wave so you can take at least six minutes off the time showing on the clock. Meg knocked at least five minutes off her previous best and on a much hillier course. Superwoman right there.


And Clyde crossing the finish line. Way to go hon.....I am so proud of you. And it can't have been too bad......they're already talking about the next one.


The training buddies.


So we have to end with the cute kids as well. Double gold for Jake.

'tude

I have VERY little doubt that my girl's current "sassy i-can-do-it-myself-in-my-own- sweet-time" atitude will hold her in good stead as she grows older. In the mean time it is driving her mother CRAZY!!