Thanksgiving highlights...

As I was sitting down to finally update the blog with Christmas pictures I realized I hadn't even put up our Thanksgiving photos yet! With all the wonderful holiday happenings in the Sydnor household it has been hard to keep up. Here are a few of the highlights of our Thanksgiving with friends and family...

We always put up our tree the weekend of Thanksgiving but this year we got an earlier start by putting up our tree the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Sophia helping Grammy put up one of her ornaments.

Sophia helped out with the tree for a little bit and then she retreated to her owl bag.

It was so great seeing Aunt Annie and Uncle Neil while they were home from New Jersey. We traveled to Richmond for a short but wonderful visit the day before Thanksgiving.

Sophia was a little too busy making a call to pose for the photo. :)

Annie teaching Sophia how to play a tune on the piano.

The girls! We are just missing Aunt Kate!

Later that night, Sophia getting the royal treatment with Grammy and Pop. This girl isn't loved much!

Getting ready to head to Richmond (Round 2) for Thanksgiving day lunch.

Ready to ride!

Posing with Emmie.

Sophia loved playing out in the front yard collecting sticks and acorns.

Thanksgiving evening with cousins in Barboursville. It was a busy day!

That weekend, Grammy and Pop watched Sophia so Raph and I could travel to Lynchburg for Raph's Tpa's 90th birthday party. While at G and P's Sophia enjoyed a yummy spaghetti dinner...

and, helped "DD" decorate Grammy and Pop's Christmas tree.

Sophia admiring some of Grammy's decorations.

big girl bed!

"I'm a big girl!"

Sophia's new bed!

Ready to be tucked in for her afternoon nap...

a bedtime story and...

our girl is fast asleep!

For the past few weeks we have been debating on when to move Sophia out of her crib and into a "big girl bed". Sophia sleeps so well in her crib so we were a little hesitant to disrupt her nap and nighttime routines. But, she is getting bigger and climbs like a monkey so we knew making the switch was inevitable. Today Raph had a little break between classes and athletics so we thought let's just make the switch now. Sophia "helped" us during the entire process and we talked a lot about what it meant to sleep in a big bed. When we finished she was super excited! She climbed in and asked to hear a story. We kissed her good-night and left the room. She made a few noises but stayed in her bed and when I just checked on her she was sound asleep. Let's hope tonight goes just as well...

Adventures with a two-year-old

Mom and I took Sophia to Portrait Innovations last night to get her 2 year portraits taken. It was quite the challenge trying to keep Miss Sophia in one place long enough to capture that "magic moment". Sophia stayed on the run pretty much the entire session and gave the photographers a great work out. But, that's what we do a lot of these days - run!

Sophia's 2nd birthday bash!

The invites were sent...

The cookies were baked...

The decorations went up...

Let's have a party!
The birthday girl in her apple outfit waiting for the guests to arrive.

The kiddos getting the party started...

Sierra and Sophia putting their names up on the apple tree.

Getting a squeeze from Teddy.

Tommy and Spencer provide the musical entertainment!

Reading some apple stories...

Playing apple games.

Singing to the birthday girl.

Sweet Harper waiting for apple butter doughnuts.

The birthday girl enjoying one of many doughnuts that day!

Posing with Emmie who helped take lots of great pictures during the party.

7 doughnuts and a three hour nap later...Sophia woke up to birthday flowers from Daddy.

Later that evening, we had some family over for ice cream and cupcakes. We are all set for party #2!

Sophia with her Grammy and Pop.

The girls in our apple attire!

Four generations.

(I love that "DD" is holding one of Sophia's wooden ice cream cones in this picture!)

Time for cupcakes!

Yum!

The next morning...Sophia taking her brand new wheels from Grammy and Pop for a spin!

Sophia's "Apple Birthday" was a huge success and we are still shaking our heads wondering where two years have gone! A big thanks to Mom and Dad for helping us with so many party details and to all our friends and family who sent cards, presents, Facebook messages and well wishes for Sophia's big day. We loved celebrating with our WFS buddies and family last Wednesday. We are excited to see what year #2 has in store for Miss Sophia!