Sophia's actual birthday

Soph had a great birthday. I took the day off to spend some 1:1 time with my favorite girl. We had a jammed packed day with all her favorite things.

First, she wanted to open her presents. Elliott got mandated so he wasn't home in the morning. I told her she could open all her presents except her big present - that would have to wait until El got home that night.

 She let Eli help her:

 Loving her presents:

 Then we had her favorite donuts:

 Then we baked a chocolate cake (her favorite):

 Then she wanted to go to Chuck -E- Cheese:

 She wanted Cane's Chicken for lunch:

 Then we went to the zoo:

 Since it was her birthday, I told her she could ride the camel. She was super excited:

 After the zoo we got her hair cut, picked up Eli from his sitters and waited for El to get home from working 16 hours. Then we took her to Spaghetti Warehouse and she got to sit in the train. In this picture they're singing happy birthday to her:

 After dinner we went home, had cake and gave her the BIG gift...a new bike:

 Eli LOVED the chocolate cake:

Oh Sophia how you've grown soo much over the past five years. I'll never forget how sweet you were when you were a baby. Your sweet voice when you spelled "pie" when you were only one. How you'd always say "my turn" when you were two. When you were three and your attitude started but you could also still be sweet as pie. When you were four - you gave us a run for our money. I've been told that five is the best so I'm excited. You are our little sour patch girl as you're sour and then sweet most of the time but we love you so much. You are the smartest five year old I know. You have a passion for animals and stuffed animals. You love your daddy so much and he is your number one. You love going to school and learning new things - especially about animals. You are a hoarder and don't like to get rid of anything (including trash). You have the wildest imagination and are so creative. Your favorite place to go is the zoo. Your favorite animal is a cat. Your favorite color is all the colors. Your favorite food is a lunchable (I just asked you this). Happy Birthday, Sophia! Mommy and Daddy love you so much!

Sophia's birthday party

Sophia had a great birthday party. A big thanks to all our friends and family who helped her celebrate and a big thanks to my parents for helping us with everything again.

While we were out running around getting stuff for her party we noticed Kroger was having a festival - the kid got to go through a fire truck and get hats lol:

 The birthday girl:

 Soph wanted to have her party at GymXtreme again.

 Hugs for her cousin Addie:

 Pictures like this remind me SOO much of myself and my sister at their age:

 Soph and her friends listening to the rules:

 Eli had a blast:

 All the kids had fun:

 So was a sweaty mess so she kept running up to this big fan to cool off lol:

 Eli and his buddy, Nolan:

 My little monkey climbing the rope:

 Eli loved the rings:

 The tables set up and ready for the kids:

 Soph and all her friends:

 She wanted a princess cake this year:

 All the goodie bags and Soph signed her name to every one of them:

Soph had a blast at her party!

Recent random pics

A few weeks ago we took the kiddos for a hike:

Then to the park:

 One night El put Soph to bed before he left for work. I was on the couch working and watching TV. I got up to go to the bathroom and saw this:

 Eli loves playing with sissy's stuff:

 Eli playing with some of his birthday presents:

 Taking the baby's paci:

 We literally take off all his clothes before dinner each night because he's ALWAYS this messy:

We went to the toy store and Eli was excited to ride the Pooh ride:

 Elliott taught Soph how to ride her bike WITHOUT training wheels:

 Never a dull moment with these two:

 We typically go on a walk each night after dinner. This night Soph wanted Maya to join us:

 El took the kids to Build-A-Bear:

 Eli riding the horse at Meijer:

 We went to Jaxon's baseball game. Eli was excited to sit on Uncle Ricky's lap:

 I mean how cute is Annie:

 Annie spent the night with us and my mom gave both babes a bath in the kitchen sink. It was hilarious:

 Addie and Jax also spent the night. I gave all three kiddos a bath together. They had a blast.

 They had a sleepover in the basement:

 Breakfast pic:

 I think Eli misses his bottle. He found one of his old nipples (I gave Soph his old bottles for her babies):

 This boy loves his corn on the cob:

 Soph had her six month check up and did great:

 One day I took the kids to "touch a truck" and Soph was excited to see the SWAT car:

 And the ghostbusters:

 No cavities:

 Love these two:

 Soph had her old pig costume out and Eli had the hat on:

 Soph had her first soccer practice for the Fall season:

 Soph has been in swim lessons all summer and I can tell a HUGE difference. She used to only stay on the steps at the pool - now she's jumping off the side ALL BY HERSELF. I am soo proud of her. I'm planning on keeping her in lessons all year.

 Eli loves the pool:

 And especially snack time: