First Cooking Class

Sophia took her first cooking class, as part of her membership at the South Shore Children's Museum.

The menu included cucumber & cream cheese sandwiches:

And fruit & vegetable skewers:

She practiced her knife skills:

And like any good Chef, tasted for flavor as she cooked:

The final activity was learning to make butter, which involved shaking cream and salt in a plastic bag.

Maggie & Sophia

Maggie is a few months older than Sophia, in a way that feels significant now, but won't at all as they grow older.  

They live about twenty minutes from each other, but get to spend a few hours together just about every week. Maggie was the first female name Sophia said (after Mama).

As soon as the girls see each other, loud giggles ensue.

The majority of Sophia's cousins and acquaintances are boys, so Maggie is one of her few female friends.

Maggie's Mama and I have learned not to tell the girls that they will see each other in advance if we don't want to be asked about it on five minute intervals.

As toddlers tend to do, the ladies often want to eat what is on the other's plate. However, they will also ask that some of their own food is put on the other one's tray.

Until I saw these two together, I didn't realize it was possible to have such a deep friendship at the age of 1. I don't know where Maggie and Sophia's paths will take them, but it is incredible to have the potential to be known by a friend starting with your first year of life.  

Picnics

On one of the first truly warm days of 2015, we found ourselves at two picnics. The first was actually indoors, but we enjoyed the weather by walking to it. 

Sophia being escorted in her carriage with her date to the Teddy Bear Picnic

The picnic attendees were encouraged to draw a springtime mural. Sophia's contribution of black scribbles (abstract depiction of "April showers bring May Flowers"?) can be seen on the left.

Enjoying picnic refreshments.

While we were at the Teddy Bear Picnic, we got a message from North Shore friends, the Wegryzns, that they were making an impromptu trip into Boston. With about an hour between our home on the South Shore and theirs, Boston is an ideal meeting spot. We enjoyed a multi-course food truck lunch, wonderful conversation, and a playground.

Sophia ate most of the fruit off of Charlie's waffle, so we got them both a second one.

The Dads teaching the art of the bean bag toss.

Clapping for themselves.

Louisiana

Sophia completed her two year tour of 19 States and 2 Countries with Louisiana for a very special reason, to meet Benjamin Luis, her new cousin.

In addition to Benjamin, Sophia was meeting her cousin Emilie (directly behind Sophia in photo below) and cousin-in-law Lulu (holding her son). Benjamin's Grandmother is my Mom's sister, and her son Jesse, is Benjamin's Dad.

Since so many of us were together, we decided to have an April Thanksgiving dinner:

The lettuce and rosemary came from the family garden and green beans were picked up at the local St.Roch Market:

The New Orleans French Quarter Fest was also taking place while we were there and Sophia loved hearing all of the different performers:

We went to hear my Aunt Jan where she has been a piano bar singer at Pat O'Briens on Bourbon St. for over twenty five years:

And my cousin Jesse is an organist at St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continuously operating Catholic Cathedral in the country:

We had the opportunity to hear him play during the Saturday Vigil.

Lulu is also a professional Violinist and music teacher.

Sophia and Benjamin are almost exactly the same difference in age as my cousin Emilie and I. 

Despite the fact that they live on opposite ends of the East Coast, we hope that they get to enjoy many cousin adventures together! 

Easter 2015

                  

Easter in New Hampshire this year came with snow still on the ground:

               

We spent the warmest day playing outside, and the rest of the weekend enjoying family.

Making Blueberry Coffee Cake with Grammie

Hockey with an Oatmeal Packet Puck

Sophia slept through the actual egg dying, but was ready to decorate them with stickers when she woke up:

                

After church on Easter morning, the 13 of us shared a wonderful meal and an egg hunt.

Receiving Egg Hunt Instructions

When Sophia opened the eggs, she would say "crackers" for animal crackers, and "stickers" for stickers, but would say "those" for the foil covered chocolate eggs since she hadn't seen them before and wasn't quite sure what they were.

Singing with Sophia

The other day I realized Sophia was singing the "La,La-la,La-la-la's" along with Janis Joplin while "Me & Bobby McGee" played on the radio.

A couple of her favorite numbers can be heard below:

You are my Sunshine:

Row, Row, Row Your Boat:

Not featured here is her original composition of the "Mama Song". 
It has one lyric, which goes: "Mommy-o, Mommy-o, Mommy-o".