Have a holly jolly Christmas...it's the best time of the year!

I've said it before and I'll say it again...this Christmas is gonna be so SPECIAL! We are going away for the first year up north the Flagstaff.  Spending time in the snow and seeing all the festivities- lights, snowmen, decorations and most of all SANTA!!!  Yes, Sofie is going to have a personal sitting session with her very own Santa Claus!

Nick is planning on surprising Sofia Christmas Eve night.  Christmas Eve Nick is planning on coming down to the lobby of the hotel we are staying at and surprising all the kids.  He is really looking foward to playing Santa for the first year! 

This year, Sofie was really excited to get her tree.  I love the smell of fresh pine as soon as you come in the house.  This year we continued our tradition and picked out one ornament for the each of us.  Nick and I have been doing this since we shared our first Christmas together in Minnesota back in 1999.  This year was special because Sofie was able to pick her own..

Here is the ornament I chose- When we traveled to Europe we found an ornament for each country we visited but never found one for England.  This year I found this and fell in love with it.  Plus, it's an omage to my prediction for the 2010 World Cup! Go Team England!

Here is the ornament Sofia chose. She is obsessed with Santa this year. It really is too cute!

And this is Nick's pick! He chose a really cute Chef making some holiday treats!

Looks like we need to make an addition to our snowman family!

This is my favorite tree topper!

Also, here is a preview of some of the pictures we took with a local photographer.  She did an amazing job!

As soon as we have the rest of the pictures we'll post them. 

Gingerbread fun!

Last week when we were picking our Christmas ornaments, we found this really cute gingerbread house kit.  We had to buy it and I thought it would be fun to decorate with Sofie. 

The kit was far from professional...but Sofie found it to be a blast! She really enjoyed getting creative with the sprinkles and candy decorations.

Sofie let me pipe the icing while she was in charge of placing the gum drops.

Sofie and Daddy putting the final touches!

Here is the finished product! Each time Sofia walks by the house, she points and says "My house"...it's too cute!

Thanksgiving 2009

This year was really special for Nick, Sofie and I. It was our first Thanksgiving dinner we hosted in our home. It was so nice preparing for such a special meal. It was a small gathering, just my parents, my brother, my sister and her family and a few other friends we love to have to dinner often. I planned the menu weeks in advanced and I was so excited to roast our 23 pound bird. This year I did a Riesling and butter basted bird, slow cooked for about 5 hours.

I made some kick butt homemade pumpkin pies with a traditonal Pate Brisee crust and spiced whipped cream!

We made some of the more familiar dishes like mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and some more unique dishes like a butternut squash soup served with spiced cream and caramelized apples. We also had some cinnamon glazed maple bacon wrapped lil' smokies and curry roasted cauliflower. The food was absolutely delicious! It was nice to get out the nice table linens and open up our home to have a wonderful day.

This year was special because Sofie is no longer the little baby she was this time last year. It's so exciting and yet heart breaking at the same time. She's not our little baby any more...she's in total toddler mode and showing all the signs of the "terrible two's".

It's so cute, when I asked her how she was going to eat her turkey, she shoved her hand in her face and made a little snort!

Thanksgiving day was such a daze, we did not even take pictures of "our little piggy". :o(

With Thanksgiving done, we welcomed the Christmas season! Keeping with tradition, we busted out the holiday decor and strung up excessive amounts of twinkle lights. Sofie was so excited to see all the little lights and her blow up snowman Daddy bought.

Nick and my brother-in-law did a great job putting up the lights. This year is going to be a great year! Sofie knows about Santa Claus and even knows how to say "Merry Christmas". Tonight we got started on decorating the inside of the house too! Sofie helped me set up our Nativity set, this set is special cause it's the one that Nick and his family used when he has a kid.

This year it was nice telling Sofie about the wise men and telling her about baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This year is the year we start all the funny as well as meaningful traditions. WE CAN'T WAIT~!

Sofies first trip to the Arcade!

This weekend we headed to the arcade with her Nana and Papa, Auntie Lani, Uncle Bryan and the girls- Katie and Arianna.  Sofie had such a great time! Here is a picture of Sofie running wild...she had no idea where to start!

Sofie loves spending time with her cousins.  Katie really enjoys watching out for her. 

Arianna had a great time!

I was glad to see that there were a lot of games that she could have fun with.  Nick and I really enjoy seeing her explore new things and try things on her own. 

Daddy and his girl! He can't wait to take her to the comic book store next.  He's already thinking of the first collection he's going to start~

BEST DADDY EVER!

She found the Sponge Bob Square Pants ride and would not move!

It's funny, each morning when we wake Sofie up there are three things she demands...before even opening her eyes-

1. Milk

2. Blank (blanket)

3. Bom Bom (Sponge Bob)

She wanted more!

This weekend, we also went to Old Towne Cowboy Days in Mesa.  We all had fun!

There were some actual iron workers- it was interesting to see them use all the old methods and create some beautiful pieces.

Sofie and I on the kiddie train.

All down main stree there are these beautiful bronze statues.  They are random and yet unique in their own way.

WE LOVE HER!!!

Blog update...

Hey blog buddies...

Just wanted to give a thanks to everyone who has been reading the blog over the years.  It's so funny, reading some of the earlier posts and seeing the pictures of Sofie growing up. 

It's nice to see all of our friends and family looking at the blog each day and to those checking the blog several times daily...sorry we can't update that frequently. 

Sofie is really growing up to be such a unique individual and a real character!  Her baby days are long gone and for those of you fortunate enough to be a part of those years, you know how special they were.  Now it's time to look forward to her toddler years and beyond. 

Nick and I are really looking forward to her 2nd birthday! We've already started to brainstorm some ideas. Any suggestions?

I will post some pictures later of our weekend adventures.  She really had fun!

Tina and Nick

2nd Halloween for Sofie!

Well this year was so much fun!  Last year was special, we loved having our little girl in our arms and experiencing the first halloween as a family.  This year was a totally different story! 

She is getting so big and really showing off her personality.  She is so independent! She loves being able to do things on her own and showing us that she can.  It's a little hard for us, we want to protect her but don't want to prevent her from becoming independent at the same time. 

This year Sofie dressed up as a "snuggle bug" a.k.a. Lady Bug and TOTALLY pulled it off!  Her costume was puffy and kept her warm all night.  We were invited to Jodi and Tims home in Gilbert for a "chocolate and chili" party.  Jodie made some of her delicious chili and served some yummy hot chocolate.  We also had a chance to take all the kids "trick or treating" around the neighborhood.  Sofie spent time with her cousins Arianna, Katie and Austin. 

Sofie was such a trooper, she did so well the entire night!  She walked at least 5 blocks and she was in such a great mood the whole night.  Nick and I let her enjoy a few pieces of candy and she LOVED IT!

Here is Sofie and Austin sharing some carrots

Me and my baby girl!

This girl loves her veggies!

Here is Nick as an "aircraft carrier"...get it!

This weekend we also went to the local Mesa "Dia de los Muertos" festival.  It was a nice day to be outside and spend time with the family!

I LOVE HIM!

local vendor

This weekend was fun!  The weather outside is perfect and we are already looking forward to next weekend! Next weekend is the "Old West Days" festival.