Catch up

Life has been so busy around our house these last several months! With me and Nick back in school, life has provided some challenges to say the very least.  Raising a rambunctious toddler while tackling homework is a rough combination! Nick and I always try and have some fun in between school nights. 

One of the things Nick has been doing to get rid of his stress is experimenting with BBQ and making his own BBQ sauce.  Ribs have been his first challenge; he's found his meat market, he's almost perfected his sauce recipe and he has his preferred method of cooking down.

Saint Louis style ribs

This is just one ingredient in his secret spice rub

 

I think he's gonna take over my chef position!

Rubbed and ready for the HEAT!!

Ready for the BBQ

Smoaked to perfection!

Here is Sofia and her Uncle Ryan playing blocks.  Its too cute hearing Sofia call for Uncle Ryan- When Sofie was a baby, Ryan was affraid to hold her.  He would just look at her! And now he really enjoys spending time with her.

It was Nick's birthday a while ago and the one thing he wanted to do, was go to the Renaissance Festival. 

The Renaissance Festival is always fun..people watching, turkey leg eating and joust cheering- FUN!

We took Ryan with us and he really enjoyed himself too! He thought it was funny that the sign was in Spanish!

These are the people that roam the dusty pathways of Renaissance Festivals all over the place.  Too funny!

Perfect birthday lunch! All he was missing was his beer!

Our Knight won the battle! YAY!!!

All in all, it was a really fun day!

As another birthday gift for the birthday boy, I took Nick to a really cool Comic book store in downtown Phoenix.  He loved to show Sofie all the different comics and share his passion with her.  Nick bought some really cool vintage comics and a few to add to his collection.  And, Daddy bought a few "books" for his Sofie-girl!

For his birthday dinner, Nick's parents took us out to dinner at one of Nick's favorite restaurants. Here is Sofie with her "Ba-Pa" and her Daddy.

Happy Birthday to the best Daddy!

She's becoming a total Daddy's girl!

I love my family!

This month was also time to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Being parents, the meaning of this holiday like many other holidays takes on a new meaning.  Nick and I still found time for ourselves but were thrilled to do new little things like attend Sofie's Valentine's Day cookie party at her daycare. 

 

I baked some yummy cookies and cupcakes for her and her class and made some frosting for decorating.  It was too cute seeing Sofia and all her friends.

She enjoyed her sweets!

I love seeing Sofie hang out with all her little friends!

This is one of Sofie's friend, Catcher.

 

We've been preparing for Sofia's upcoming birthday.  We are planning a small party in the park that is going to be themed about her favorite show...YO GABBA GABBA!  So we decided to have some pictures taken for her big 2nd birthday! We've found a photographer who has done an AMAZING job in the past and LOVE her work.  Here are few samples.

This Nick's FAVORITE!!!

Here is Sofie trying on one of her birthday gifts.  Nick and I are planning on getting her one of many bikes...horn and streamers and all! We could not get her to take this helmet off! She is gonna love her birthday gift~!

Stay tuned for pictures of the big day!