Beach Baby

Okay, so I’ve redated many of these. What can I say, a lot has happened. At the end of April I was in Chicago for a week long business trip. It was grand, but I missed everyone terribly. Luckily, the week following, Joe, Sophia and I flew down to Florida to spend time with the Refermats. It was lovely. The hotel was right across the street from the beach and there was a 24 pharmacy/convenience store right on the first floor, plus lots of bars with live music. What else could you want.

Unfortunately, I only got a few pictures snapped off. Besides playing at the beach (which Sophia loved as long as someone held her out of the waves), Sophia got to experience the old adage, “What goes up, must come down.” That’s her on the sofa. She fell asleep while eating a banana.

Our favorite place for a night time drink became a bar called Lulu’s. So totally fun, and with the best NA Pina Colada’s anywhere in North America (so Joe says). It had live music almost every night. Sophia even started dancing to it, dazzling the people who were there to eat and listen. It was the cutest thing…but of course, I didn’t have my camera. When we came back to Wisconsin, reality was a tough transition. Luckily, we had friends and family to help get us through.

Chillin In The Kitchen

On a lazy day of playing and watching Sophia decided a good place to relax would be on the kitchen floor right by the dog bowl. I'm not sure at all what the logic behind this was...perhaps to be near me in the kitchen...or maybe she's two and doesn't need logic. It's cute anyway.

Fun In Snow

Remember the days when everything was fun. Snow especially. Well, today I was reminded of that. The snow has been falling steadily from before my alarm. Joe went out before lunch to clear it from the driveway and sidewalk. I bundled Miss Sophie and set her out with him. It was wonderful. I just had to snap a picture.

Sleeping Beauty

Kids, especially toddlers are so cute when they sleep. In this one, Sophie is taking an early nap, having fallen asleep on the floor at 10am.

There must have been too much fun that morning.

Our Little Princess

I never thought I'd raise a princess. And while Sophia certainly isn't a prissy, pink ogling princess, she does enjoy mom and dad's full attention - and likes it that way. We discovered that when Odin arrived. (He's almost 30 pounds now and nearly house trained - thank goodness.)


Well, if a Tinkerbell throne...I mean chair wasn't enough for our little princess Sophie, she decided to put her chair on top of the recently purchased box of diapers. Why the diaper box was in the living room, I'm not going to discuss here, but I walk into the room and I see Sophie climbing into her chair two feet in the air. I didn't know whether to be nervous she'd fall or take a picture. I guess you can figure what I did.

However, two days later, while Skyping with video to Grandma and Grandpa, Sophia climbed into that chair and tipped a little too far back. Boom - and we all fall down. Now the diapers are safely put away upstairs and the chair has returned to it's position on the floor.

New House Tour

As many of you know, we've been in a new house since October 2009. I finally got some pictures together of the rooms we've done. The whole house was white and definitely had a little old lady feel. We've worked hard to make it our own. We're not completely done, but we've painted four rooms, added pictures, medicine cabinets, curtains, etc. and are planning much more.

I put together a short video tour with before and after shots. I hope you enjoy it.



If the video doesn't work, try this one on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbFb-jQ6600

Cowgirl Sophie

Before lunch, it was fun time at the Refermat house.

It makes you miss lazy weekends playing horsey with your own father doesn't it. :) Unfortunately, Sophia is developing her 'happy scream,' which pierces adult eardrums within a five mile radius.