Polly, Din, and Deedlebug

First visit to the Farmers' Market

Molly's special job before any outdoor trip is to put the ice cubes in the Nalgene bottles.  She takes it very seriously.

Cozy in the morning

You know you're in the south... (part 8)

...when your (obviously well-educated) dentist tells you he "might could"* put some sealant on your back molars.  And when your pest control man named Bubba (yes!) tells you he "might could" make it over sometime before 9 on Monday morning, and when the gaggle of ladies walking in the neighborhood are overheard to say, "There's a sale on those over at Winn-Dixie but you might should get over there today because it's gonna end." 

* pronounced Maht cuud.

This is actually not a dig.  "Might could" happens to be my very favorite regional colloquialism.  I plan on incorporating it into my own casual lexicon. 

Turning Six

For the second time in your life, your birthday fell on a Friday the 13th.  (The last time was on your first birthday.) But the day was anything but unlucky; you had a great day at school - complete with curly locks - and daddy had the day off so we could go for frozen yogurt before opening your presents. 

The day after you turned six, a friend asked me, "Wow - didn't that six years just fly by?"  And it took me a moment to think out my answer.  In some ways, yes: the six years have flown.  In your face I still see the baby you were at two.  I can remember like yesterday some of our outings and projects.  And now that Molly is wearing some of your old clothes, I sometimes catch myself sorting those clean hand-me-downs into the "Sophie" pile, thinking you're still wearing them!  And while you are huge when compared to Molly, when I watch you getting off that enormous school bus and trotting down the street toward home, you still look very, very small.  Yes, six years is hard to believe.

But in other ways, your birth seems like a lifetime ago (which for you, it is!).  So much has happened while you've been a branch on our family tree: three out of state moves and a new baby sister, not to mention those major milestones of preschool and Kindergarten. 

As with every family there have been high points and not-so-high points, but we are so fortunate to have more of the former than the latter.  Daddy and I have enjoyed watching you grow into the exuberant, silly, head-strong, sharp-as-a-tack, and yes, contrary! girl that you are.  You love people and have become so comfortable being with other children since having been in school.  You still love my adult friends, too - you get so excited when they come over and you want to talk to them and tell them all your news.  Sometimes you're like a little puppy prancing around for attention.  You're being considered for the gifted program at school because of your aptitude for reading and writing, which falls directly in line with your life-long forte of all things related to communicating.  So, no surprises there.  You still balk at physical challenges (another life-long characteristic of yours) and sometimes need to be reminded that to master anything takes practice, practice, practice.  But you're less intimidated now and are willing to get back on after falling off (your bike, for example) and this summer you'll be taking swim lessons which will be another hurdle for you to conquer.  We can't wait to watch you blossom as a physical being. 

You are incredible, Sophie Kate, and we are so proud of you.  I hope you will always continue to be head-strong, because that can be a trait which can be very beneficial, if you hone your skills at using it.  I hope you will always continue to want to see the best in people and be willing to overlook their shortcomings, but know when to say "enough" if someone is hurting or disrespecting you.  I hope you will always continue to be confident in your writing and artistic skills - you do have something special that no one can take away from you.  And I hope you will always continue to see the beauty of you, because it is certainly there, inside and out. 

Here's to a wonderful sixth year.  I love you!

 

stay with me, folks!

I know, I know... I have a lot of catching up to do! I have some nice pictures of Sophie's 6th birthday and I promise to upload them as soon as I can! 

Pink Towels

Actually, one is a bath towel, the other is a hand towel.

Celebrating Spring

 

Season Firsts

First swim in the pool, while at a cookout at Kippy and Avery's:

First outdoor bubble blowing:

First car wash (ever for Molly), in Sophie's first bikini bathing suit. 

First ice cream cones (ever for Molly) - in pink and purple cones!

First corn on the cob and watermelon:

 

 

More Sophie Gems

Our Packing List:

Food: Deeka (one of Sophie's numerous nicknames) sausage, fruit for mother (trained her well), crackers and bananas.

Clothes: My lucky shirts and pairs of pants,

And my CD player and my baggage and  pajamas and my bunny club (stuffed animals and dolls).

 

While I was at banjo camp...

Something tells me the girls and Matt did fine without me.  JUST fine. 

(Coincidentally, Grammy and Pops stopped over for the weekend on their way up north.  So there was a 3:2 adult/child ratio. I have Grammy to thank for these wonderful pictures.