Because every lab needs a plastic, Cincinnati Reds, hat-shaped, ice-cream-bowl hat.
“The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.” —Samuel Butler
The weekend before Easter my dad’s side of the family met at my uncle Mark’s and aunt Tammy’s house. Aunt Tammy put together Easter baskets for all the kids, which Sophie loved. (Thanks again, Aunt Tammy!)
We ate delicious (and beautiful!) cake and cookies from Sandra and Uncle Roger brought homemade ice cream—a Gebhart family staple.
Sophie spent a lot of time playing with Greg.
Here’s Josh showing off his latest model.
The kids loved Aunt Tammy’s new bird.
It was so good to see everyone.
“Well pleaseth me the sweet time of Easter
That maketh the leaf and the flower come out.” —Bertran de Born
After Connor’s party we stopped by Zoey’s family birthday party (I love that my friends now have parties). Check out her cake, which Angel and Marty made!
I spent a lot of time playing with Zoey and her cousins, Joshua, Hayden and Nina.
After a delicious dinner, cake! (This wasn’t all mine. I had to share with Mom.)
Mom said I should sit with her while Zoey opened her presents, but she let me help when Zoey was opening the gift I got her. I think she liked it!
Thanks, Zoey, for inviting me to your party!
“How far that little candle throws his beams!” —William Shakespeare
Several weeks ago Mom took me to Connor’s 1st birthday party. We got to wear masks (although I held mine) while we looked for Easter eggs filled with candy!
Like this one!
Connor can do so much now—look at him walking down the hill!
I also got to meet Molly, Susan and Nate’s new baby girl (William was there, too!).
And then Connor got to eat cake. And he didn’t even cry when everyone sang to him! I was so impressed—he’s so brave.
Thanks, Connor, for inviting me to your party!
“All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.” —George Harrison
“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” —Gwyneth Paltrow
Several weeks ago Sophie, Andy, my dad and I took a trip to the zoo on an unseasonably warm March Saturday. Sophie liked the elephants and giraffes best (well, aside from the ice cream), and after every new animal requested we go back and see the elephants and giraffes. (We, of course, did before leaving.)
“Life is a zoo in a jungle.” —Peter De Vries
Sophie takes Doll Baby most everywhere now—walks around the neighborhood, errands, trips to the park. It’s imperative Doll Baby’s stroller gets loaded into the van whenever we leave, and Sophie is well-versed in feeding, burping and changing Doll Baby’s diaper (which, of course, requires way more wipes than necessary). Sophie often throws Doll Baby on her head, though, when frustrated, which makes us think she isn’t quite ready to babysit the babies to come on her own—at least yet.
“A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.” —Allan Beck
Thanks David, Jessica and John, for letting me play with your old tunnel tent toy. I love it!
“I’d rather be in a tent than in a house.” —Mary Leakey
Now that the weather’s nice, Sophie feeds our backyard birds almost every day.
Her great grandpa Mangan would be proud.
“In order to see birds it is necessary to become part of the silence.” —Robert Lynd
Sophie loves lining up objects. And if you walk by and casually move something out of the line, she notices—immediately—and puts it back. Andy has expressed concern over this. But I’ve read that at this age it’s normal (and, as someone whose clothes are arranged by color and sleeve length, I empathize with her desire—and apologize if this is my fault).
“Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.” —Flaubert
