Trucks!

On one of the beautiful days we had in April Sophia had Nicholas over to play trucks. The trucks that they used were Mike’s old trucks from when he was a little boy. His trucks are the real metal Tonka Construction trucks from the 80's. He had brought them home weeks before and Sophia waited with baited breath to use them.

Our little "Tomboy Princess" having a blast playing with the trucks.

Nicholas enjoyed figuring out how each of the trucks worked. He especially loved the back hoe.

Nicholas taking a break from playing to watch the planes in the sky.

Airplanes and Revere Beach

Father's Day this year was an adventure. We let Daddy choose what he wanted to do since it was his day. So he decided that he wanted to show Sophia some of the places that we would spend time before we were married. So after a quick trip for Father's Day muchkins and chocolate milk...we were off.

We ended up at what Daddy has always called, "The Landing" in Winthrop. Daddy and I used to go there all the time to watch descend into Logan Airport. It is also a quiet place to sit and watch the boats come in and out.

While we were there a kind man offered to take our picture. Since we had not had a family picture in awhile I took him up on his offer. Granted it was 7:30am and none if us were "camera ready."

After spending sometime on the docks and walking the paths along the water watching the planes we headed to Revere Beach. Sophia was so excited to go to the beach and dig in the sand. I was excited to go back to the beach that holds so many wonderful memories for Mike and me.

"Most of us have had moments in childhood when we touched the divine presence. We did not think it extraordinary because it wasn't; it was just a beautiful moment filled with love. In those simple moments our hearts were alive, and we saw the poignant beauty of life vividly with wonder and appreciation."

~David McArthur and Bruce McArthur, The Intelligent Heart

Strawberry Picking with Eli and Jillian

We had a great time strawberry picking with Eli and his cousin Jillian at Smolack Farms. Rachel and I reserved the fields for just our children. Just Kidding! Apparently they were having a strawberry festival that weekend so the strawberry field were closed. Not knowing this we showed up with the kids ready to pick. Luckily, there was a very nice young man who allowed us to pick in a far off field. Rachel and I were happy that a crisis was adverted!

Sophia and Jillian are exactly one year apart in age so they spent a lot of time together in the fields.


Eli was a great strawberry picker. Getting them into the bucket and not his mouth wasn't that easy. He loved trying to eat the strawberries right off the plant!

I remember last year I had to help Sophia find the ripe strawberries to pick and she would only stay in one area of the patch. This year she wasn't afraid to search out an area to pick in and didn't need me to tell her which ones were ready.

Nothing like pictures in a strawberry patch.

Showing their treasures!

Sock Puppets

Sophia got a lot of great gifts for her 3rd birthday. She is the type of child that likes to take her time opening gifts and using them. So one Saturday when Mike was working Sophia and I went to work on making sock puppets. It was a lot of fun and kept us busy for over an hour making them and then another few hours playing make believe with them.

Sophia made a dog.

Mommy made a silly dragon.

Sophia's First Horseback Riding Lesson

Sophia has finally started her horseback riding lessons. This is something that Mike and I have been so excited for her to start. She has always had a love for horses and she finally gets to foster that love.

The program that she participates in is for 3-5 year old children called, "Ponies for Peanuts." She takes her lessons with one other little girl on Friday afternoons.

Mike and I went to the first lesson so that we could both attend the lessons with her since we needed to learn how to led the pony with her on it. Sophia loves to tell the story that goes with this picture. Mike led the horse up this path and once he was at the top of this path the horse decided it was hungry. So, the horse used his head and moved Mike out of the way. Of course he did this next to a ditch that, yes, Mike landed in!

Sophia has a blast riding the ponies. She also loves spending time with the 3 donkeys that roam the farm!