NINE

NINE.  Only one more year in the single digits.  Where did the time go?

Too bad that this sweet girl had to sport a huge bandaid across her forehead for her birthday after an accidental falling out of her bed the week before:(  But she is still pretty as a princess!  She was so excited for this birthday.  Her only two requests....to get her ears pierced and an i-touch.  Both of which I was a little skeptical to do.  

We started the morning with a trip out for donuts...since she chose a donut themed party!  This little thing can eat donuts like they are going out of style.

Lots of pink requested for her decorations!

And a little loving from her brothers on her BIG day.  It couldn't have been a more beautiful day...just like the day she was born!

Here she is at Claires....scared to death!

She opted to do both ears at once and barely even flinched!  That's my brave little girl!

She chose some pretty little blue earrings and was pleased as punch with the result!

Here is the NINE year old beauty!

It was supposed to be a "girl's" trip...but J insisted on being in on the fun...and he was so excited to pick out some earrings for his big sister.  He.simply.adores.her.

Our sweet neighbors came for extra support and helped Sophia add to her earring collection!

Sophia and her BFF.

The rest of the crew!!

Back at home for cake and presents!

I know she made a great wish!

And here's a picture of her the night before when she opened her iTouch at dinner!

Nine years and this little thing has done nothing but make me proud.  Oh she has her moments...her tantrums, her headstrong personality.  But she also has a sensitive soul and a built in motherly nature.  She takes such good care of her little brothers.  She has HUGE imagination and aspires to be all things great.  She is a reader...a writer....an artist.... a soccer player...a drama queen and much much more.  She colors my world in so many ways.  Don't know what this Mama would do without her!  Hope all of your wishes came true Sophie P:)

Easter 2013

The Easter Bunny made his sneaky pre-Easter visit and left magical jelly beans at our door on Easter Eve.  The kids were anxious to plant them to see what would grow in their place on Easter Morning.  

After our Easter Egg hunt and finding our magical pinwheels that grew overnight (oops forgot to get a picture of these) I coaxed the kids into another round of picture taking before Mass.  

Then we headed to Yiayias for Easter lunch!

And of course we had our Easter "Toka" tradition where we go around the table with our colored Easter eggs and try to crack our opponent's egg!  Some people get pretty competitive!! Haha!

Even little Sammy learned the ropes this year!

And just a few of my Easter cookies this year!

Spring Break 2013

We didn't take any big trips this spring break, but opted rather for a little "stay cation."  We tried to hit a few fun spots around town and have a little fun at home.  

Science City was one of our first stops.

Here they are learning about what a potty on a space shuttle might be like:)

Magic...where did their other halves go?

Helicopters and airplanes and Sammy was in heaven.

Bowling is always something fun to do on a cold and snowy day.  And I am going to admit that my 8 year old did beat me!!!

We had some snow over spring break this year...so we thought if we grew some grass seeds inside....we could pretend we were really having spring like weather! We decorated a few cups and made our own grass men.

And Paint Glaze and Fire for my little artists was too much fun.  You can imagine the amount of paint all over Mr. Sammy when he was finished.  He even painted his hair!

A dinner date with some sweet friends at our favorite spot to eat!!!

Maybe I do have a green thumb after all??? Naaaahhh

Sophia's Third Grade Wax Museum

It's tradition in the third grade for the students to have a Wax Museum project.  They are to pick someone who has greatly influenced society, research about their lives and present a presentation to their classmates.  The fun part of this project is that the students get to dress as the person they choose to present.

When Sophia and I were trying to choose a person.... I was thinking of people like Clara Barton or Amelia Earhart.  But Sophia's heart was set on Princess Diana. Pretty apropos for the little girl who has always admired princesses and fashion.  Thea (who also idolizes Diana) helped us find a good research book about her life and we gave Sophia our hard back book of Princess Diana that Thea and I used to ooohhh and ahhhh over as little girls.

Here is Sophia on the day of her presentation!  Definitely a Princess at heart!

Sam's TWO year well check

Sam had his two year well check today....but unfortunately he had to share his appointment with a sick brother:(  Poor J....has not been feeling too hot today.

Sam, however, was healthy today which doesn't happen too frequently!! But he wasn't able to escape without having to get 3 shots....ugggghhhhh.  He still screams just when the doctor checks his ears....so you can imagine the crying that ensues when shots are involved.

I talked at length with the doctor about Sam's sleep habits and how he wakes so frequently at night even at TWO.  Lately  he will sleep until about 12:30 and then have very restless sleep periods until about 3 or 4.  He cries hard and often is standing in his bed sometimes even with his eyes closed.  Other times I will sit by his door and try to let him cry it out....until I eventually hear him climb out of his bed....oh dear.   This has been a new routine for him during naptime as well.  I have found him in J's bed on many occasions during nap time.  He's quite the stinker!

Sam's speech and language has also been a HUGE concern of mine for quite some time and the doctor finally agreed today that a more formal speech eval may be in order at this point.  He definitely is receptive to what we say....but expressively....the words are slow to come.  He has made great gains, I think, though in his expressive language skills as of late.... Some of the words he can say...
Mama, Daddy, Yiayia, Pappou, Papa, Willie, attempts at both Sophia and Joseph, car, bye bye, choo chop, quack quack, lollipop, football, cheese, water, please, thank you, shoe, coat, night night, vacuum, sorry.

Sam is definitely a busy busy little guy.  He is into absolutely everything.  He draws on walls, he empties sugar containers, he climbs in dryers, ovens, anything his little self can fit into.  He opens doors and goes outside.  He hides toothbrushes.  He takes off his shoes and socks immediately after I put them on.  He is sneaky, he hides, and jumps out and says BOO!  To say he keeps me on my toes is definitely an understatement. He smiles so much more now than he did as a baby.  He still loves to be held and patted.  He loves to hear "Twinkle Twinkle"  He loves to touch anyone's hair.  I love that he still loves to be picked up at times... I love how he falls asleep when I talk or read...probably because I talk way too much.  He exhausts me to no end...but what a personality he has.  He is strong willed and determined....He will teach me something new or prepare me for something different each and every day.....Though I can't remember what my life was like before him....it's still hard to believe that TWO WHOLE years have already passed.  He may not stay little in size for long...but I sure hope he can stay a baby for a little while longer!

TWO YEAR stats:

Height:  38 3/4 inches   greater than 95th %

Weight:  36 lbs (ONLY one pound less than his five year old brother...WOW)  greater than 95%

Head Circumference:  20 1/2  greater than 95%