The Fair

No summer would be complete without a trip to the State Fair. 

Sofia and I pass by the fairgrounds every morning on our daily commute and she was gutted when they pulled it down and hauled it out of town last year. Trying to explain to a 3 1/2 year old that it will come back again, and just how long a year is, is no easy task. 

So, you can imagine her utter delight when the Ferris Wheel reappeared again this year.

There was no holding her back!!

Of course, Sof had to find the one little critter in the petting zoo who looked sad and lonely.  She had to fend off a hoard of hungry goats just to see if this little guy was hungry.  He wasn't.

And the monster bunny was a hit.

This was the closest we got to a pony ride this year.

Sofia played the carnival games. 

Not quite sure who had the brilliant idea to put a dart in the hands of a four year old.

But she did great, 

and won her pillow pet fair and square on her own.

This ride was a hit again this year.....

...but she also was a little more daring.

Lunch in the wine garden, of course.

Mama and Daddy have to get a treat too.

And what a difference a year makes.

Last year Sofia wouldn't have dreamed about petting sturgeon.

This year, she couldn't get enough of them.

And some classics just can't be missed.

The garden area was particularly beautiful this year.

And Sofia got to hold "Snowball".

We saved the best for last......the back seat in the Rollercoaster.

Bye Fair!

We'll see you again next year.

RP's BEWARE

This is a word of warning

to the humble Rolly Polly Bug....

BEWARE!!

If you choose to step your wee rolly polly body into our yard,

prepare to be poked, and prodded,

and kissed and loved.

Sofia thinks you are the coolest thing that ever rolled.

Beach Baby

I have been neglectful of this blog now for quite some time,

but intend to make good on all of the activities that have been keeping our summer days full.

Recently, that was a trip back down to Southern California

to visit with some very dear friends

We went to the beach.

Sofia is a girl after my own heart.

She loved the sand.

She loved the wind.

She loved the waves.

She loved the treasures she found along the way.

Then she dug herself a big old hole in the sand,

planted her behind,

and relaxed.

Triathlon....check!

1/2 mile swim

16 miles on the bike

and a 3 mile run

This weekend I became a triathlete

and it was a blast!

I got to train with some great people,

and under the guidance of the most amazing and inspirational woman.

This whole thing has been such a gift for me this summer.

I loved it so much that I have signed up for another.

With Nicole prior to the start.

The start of the swim.

Red caps are for the "old ducks".

We started last, but just as enthusiastically as the young kids up front.

Besides, red caps make you swim faster, right?

The end of the swim.

Glad to have that done and I only swallowed about 1/2 of the lake.

Off on the bike.

While I was out on the bike my cheerleeding team took a dip themselves.

And made me a sign.

Back again.......

.......and off on the run.

How can you not love a send off like this?

Coach Jamie finishing strong.



and me......#2102

crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 1 minute and 7 seconds.

Not too shabby for a first time.

Jamie and me, post race.

And some of my training buddies.

Can't wait to get out in the water, on the bike

and on foot with them again for the next race.

Beauty

The Structure

It arrived

in a whole stack of boxes

on the hottest day of the year.

Took many, many, MANY

man and women hours to construct, and finally,

after three full on days......

DONE!!

The cutest playhouse ever. 

Sofia calls it "the structure".

Sofia and Jake have been playing to their little heart's content

late into these beautiful summer evenings.

And look at this girlie.

Never been on a swing in her life......she flat out has always refused to.

We were even going to leave the swings off 

but decided that in the end her friends would like them.

WELL, just to prove us wrong,

she got on (sideways at first)

and has been swinging ever since.

Thanks Clyde, Papa, Meg and Dan

for assembling "the structure".

These kiddos are going to have a great summer.

Noodilicious

Summer has arrived

full force,

and with it

our little fish has also reappeared.

Sofia spends more time under the water

than she does on top of it.

She plays on the steps until her feet go raw.

And of course,

she noodles about.

Who doesn't like a good old noodle??

She loves just sitting and visiting with 

the little mermaid.

And just to prove that it is not all mucking about

take a look at this diving form.

Toes are pointed and all.

Daddy

Four years ago

we spent Father's Day

in Guatemala

getting to know our baby girl.

This was one of the few moments she slept......

at breakfast, Father's Day morning,

and we sat at that table

for as long as humanly possible

to get every last moment of sleep.

Father's Day weekend 2011,

camping and star gazing.

We have come to realize that sleep is not our girlies strong point.

But one thing is for sure....

Sofia is perfectly comfortable in her Daddy's arms.

Happy Father's Day

to the best Daddy a little girl could dream of.

Or so the story goes.....

Last night we had a lovely evening together with some friends.

Sofia and Peter were playing all evening long really well together.

  No tears, no fighting.

At one point, Sofia pointed out to me a small scratch on her ankle.

We put a band aid on it, and all was good.

This morning when I dropped her off at Geema and Papa's 

this is how the conversation went....

To Geema:

Sofia: Look Geema.......I have an owie (pointing to the small scratch on her ankle)

Geema: Oh no!! How did that happen?

Sofia:  Peter bit me!!

(I can assure you that no teeth were involved in the acquisition of said scratch)

To Papa (like one minute later):

Sofia: Look Papa......I have an owie (pointing to the same small scratch on her ankle)

Papa:  How did you get that?

Sofia:  Peter tried to kill me!!

This girl has a bit of a flair for the dramatic!