The start of spring break and a bridesmaid's weekend

We are back from Switzerland and I am busy organizing videos and photos from our trip. I will be posting a Switzerland entry soon, but Spring Break started with another wonderful trip to NYC/NJ with my best friends in the whole world...

Annie, Kate, and I at the Hoboken, NJ St. Patrick's Day parade.

As soon as WFS's Spring Break started, I took a train with my best friend Kate to visit our other best friend Annie in the Big Apple. On a quest for bridesmaid's dresses for Annie's upcoming wedding, we had several appointments at various bridal salons and it didn't take us too long to find the perfect dresses. After dress shopping it was off to Hoboken for the St. Patrick's celebration of the century. Seriously, these folks don't mess around. We saw a parade and met lots of Neil's friends. Anytime the three of us are all together we have a ridiculously fun time! We are so excited about Annie and Neil's wedding this July!


When I got home from NYC, it was great to see Raph and Sophia. This was only the second time I had ever left Sophia and the first time I left her for more than one night. She, of course, was fine, after all, Daddy, Grammy, and Pop had taken good care of her all weekend. When I saw her though I couldn't believe how much she had grown in only two days. A true reminder of how much little ones grow and change everyday.

Happy Valentine's Day

Pop giving Sophia her special Valentine's flowers.

Em made the cute sugar cookies and Lorae made the pink, heart shaped play dough as special treats for the girls.

"Did you say cookies? We are soo there!"

Getting ready to decorate.

Decorating...

and eating! The cookies were delicious!

Pop and his girls.

Grammy and Sophia with her new singing and dancing dog. Thanks Mom! ;)

Our little sweetheart.

Mom and Dad were so sweet to offer to babysit so Raph and I could enjoy an impromptu dinner at Sparks. It was a wonderful treat.

Another day, another snow...

What a winter! We have had our fair share of the white stuff this year but we have weathered the storms by...

reading books...

baking cookies...

(and eating them!)

going for walks..

playing with toys..

wearing funny hats..

checking Facebook...

reading more books...

building forts...

and going sledding.

Daddy getting Sophia bundled up and...

heading out!

This last storm was really something. Everything looked so beautiful!

Grammy and Pop braved the storm to come visit. They gave us a much needed break from being indoors by giving us a tour around campus.

Going for a ride!

playing in the snow...

eating the snow...

My family

She's GRRReat!

Here's a small sampling of the tiger mania in the Sydnor house! Sophia is ALL about tigers these days! Thanks goes to our friend Jaime for passing along the cute tiger jacket.

Our growing girl...

Trying out the Sweet Briar chair...

Sophia loves books...and making messes.

Sophia in her wheels with Grammy and Pop at the mall in Fredericksburg.

Driving the taxi...

All bundled up and ready to go!

"This hat has got to go!"

Sophia watching a sign language DVD...

coloring...

Meet the newest addition to the Sydnor household, a life-sized stuffed tiger, given to us by a dear friend. Sophia can't believe her eyes!

Sophia reminding me to take my reusable shopping bags...

Sophia loves to play with my dance bag. That's a good sign, right?

Hanging out with Daddy.

Aunt Kate came over for a slumber party...and brought presents!

"Aunt Kate, you're crazy!"

So sophisticated...a mini skirt and a cell phone.

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in awhile...it seems like it's been a challenge to get back in the swing of things after the holidays. I am also busy with my dance classes and choreographing The Producers at WFS. I am having such a great time teaching and I love being able to dance. There is something to be said about being in the theater and preparing for a show...really, there's nothing like it.

We have also been planning a trip to Switzerland and we look forward to introducing Sophia to her extended European family. We leave March 11th and will stay for 7 days. While we are there we will celebrate Raph's 32nd birthday!

And now, onto Sophia...our little pint-sized wonder. She really amazes us these days with all that she can understand and communicate. Sophia is signing over 30 words and that count grows by the day. She can say "Mama", "Dada", "Pop" (my Dad loves that one!) and "Boo". Sophia studies all that's around her and is so observant. She can point to her body parts and is working on her animal sounds. So far, she can "moo", "meow", and click her tongue for a squirrel. She points, waves, blows kisses, and is really starting to imitate what we do. For instance, every time the phone rings she holds her hand to her ear and tilts her head. She is so much fun!