Prizes!

Sophia saw another lady walking around the fair grounds with a huge
white tiger prize from one of the booths. Soso went nuts over it.
Jabbering, kicking her legs, pointing. We then had a mission - win a
white tiger.
Al put money down. It was a game where you bet which month would pop
up on a roll of the dice. He covered all the ladies present birthdays
plus his. March was a winner!
The photo is of the BABY tiger that was on the larger tiger's back.
Sophia hugged the tiny tiger all night. Not sure how we are going to
get the big one home...!! (Soso is also sporting her new coat. Yes,
it's that cold up here!)
Thank you, thank you, thank you Al, Carolyn, & Rosie for a wonderful
night.
We are all hitting the pillow hard tonight!

Group Shot

Sophia, Steve, Carolyn, & Al in front of the ferris wheel. We didn't
ride any of the rides. Sophia loved all the people, noise, & lights.
Very fun time.

Duck Pluck

Soso pointed to the one she wanted. Wouldn't grab it herself. Probably
smarter than me...she won a pink little stuffed fish!

Big E

We went to a fair tonight! Attempt one to get a funnel cake...oddly,
despite the huge sign, they weren't serving any!?
Steve & Soso in line.

Hanging Out

Sophia started the day watching some TV and snacking with Al.

Lobsterfeast!

Al just got back from Maine...brought a few lobsters. Steve ate two
and a half plus the steamed clams! He was fat and happy after dinner.
Rosie made some pasta...I was taken care of too.
This is our first day...dress and suit may not fit by the end of the
week!

Looking Fly...

...in the Hyundai! On our way!

Philly

We have landed in Philadelphia for our layover...Sophia was a CHAMP on
first leg. We thought she would sleep through the flight...not! She
was busy keeping up with all the goings on!
But no crying!! Woohoo!
She did fall asleep during landing!? Steve and I just looked at each
other puzzled. Our guess, the drop in altitude may the eyelids drop
too. Did not move even while taxing to the gate!

Here we go!

Sophia's first flight...hope quiet one!

Packed

Sophia helped unpack as I packed for our trip to Al & Carolyn's
wedding. She thought it was the best game ever...
I put something in the suitcase, she'd throw it out. It was like she
were defending a goal!
We finally got it all together and zipped...during naptime!!

New

Sophia has figured out how to take off her pants. The first time was
while my mom babysat. After Mom left, Soso showed me her new trick!
Going to be interesting from here on out...

Belafonte Breakdance

Here's another song in the playlist she likes! Part 1...

Queen of the Dance

If you listen, at the very beginning...she says, "up". Turn it up.
We dance everyday in the kitchen or den, on the way to change a
diaper...to all different styles of music.
This song always gets her going though! I think everyone should dance,
even if only for a few seconds everyday. Celebrate, laugh with & at
each other, smile, rejoice.
Soso is getting where she dances by herself. Yesterday was the first
time she let go of the fridge...look at her today!
Love it.

Stand Up

This is getting to be norm around here...the free stand. This morning
she walked from the chest of drawers to the bed. It's a good three feet?
Any day now...

Game Day

We are going to sit this one out. Two hours to kick off-storming!
Hope cleans out for the actual game for all who made the drive. War
eagle!

Cool Cousins

My niece Catherine and Sophia shopping. They cracked each other and us
up while trying on sunglasses! I was scrolling back through photo file
on my phone, and found this one. Too cute!

New Hat

Bring on the cold our new hat is in! Auburn colors probably for a
boy...but don't care! War Eagle! Sophia models...and is sweating under
it.

Modifications

Steve fixed my car phone charger for me. With the otter case, it no
longer plugged in the phone. A little shave on each side and we are
back in business! Decorative plastic is so overrated. Glad I bought SK
the grinder for Christmas!

Shopping with daddy for sandpaper. Always fun! It's a great way to
spend a grey morning.

First Game

We left Georgia early Saturday morning...

Derek followed us to spend the night at our house.
We decided to take him out to campus

to experience the fun of tailgating.

Derek took almost all of the pictures...

he let me borrow them.

We walked in from our usual parking spot

when busless. On the way is our neighbor's gas station.

SHOCKER we stopped to show Derek

the ladies at the beer promotion.

Sophia looked around like I've seen you somewhere
before...last week?

They gave us football mardi gras beads.

The rickshaws that run on game day

Sophia catches a ride...
to the stadium

We took a shortcut through the new student center.

All a little warm outside, we stopped to have

a drink out of the water fountain.

Another first for Sophia!

She picked it up really quickly!

Big crowds outside the stadium

Steve, Sophia and Derek

(I took this one)

First view of the field...

always a wonderful sight.

Steve said Sophia lit up when she saw it.

The seats were a little wet,

so I used a spare diaper to dry it off.

(This is BEFORE the 3.75 inches that was to come.

A little wasted effort...)

Clapping to the band

Shakers are always must have.

Of course, she had already shaken

one...we have a few on the bus.

Mark gave me a warning call on this storm.

We were already down in the tunnel

when it opened up.

We were amazed to see the storm move in!

It got a little old standing for an hour...

it was crowded muggy hot.

Delayed kickoff and the eagle didn't fly.

But we we stayed dry!

Did you read the 3.75 inches?

It rained on and off for the first quarter...

we stayed in our seats with rain gear on.

Hug for mommy

Here come the Tigers!

Sophia had a blast! She loves the band.

She cheered with the crowd.

No clue about the game...but

Helped take Auburn to the win!

(Well, between power naps.)

And a few snacks, here's dinner time

Photo of one power nap

Final score!

Auburn won!

Tradition here: Roll Toomer's Corner after a win.

We took Derek over there to see it. It was a pretty good crowd

for a midnight rolling. Technically, Sophia's second rolling of Toomer's.

She was taking it all in!

Steve can't stand it, always gets in a throw.

Here's what Toomer looked like

in the daylight the next morning.

Derek and Sophia right before he left this morning.

Thanks for stopping over to hang out!

Derek's First Game

Derek is in town from the west. Hanging out after Clarks Hill. We
decided it would be fun to show him the tailgate tradition at Auburn.
Bonus, actually bought tickets to take him into the Auburn vs. West
Virginia football game!
So, um, I have to make a huge public "sorry" about the HOUR of
STANDING sardine style in the muggy sweltering Alabama heat during
possibly the worst rain storm pregame I have ever seen!! And then the
rain in the stadium...
I'm just glad the game was stressfully fabulous. I think it might have
made up for the delay. It was horrible. Maybe not!
He said "war eagle" at Toomer's after...so maybe?

Busted!

Steve and Sophia play in the rain puddles after he weighed in. I was
holding her raincoat(thank you JB) because it got muggy hot quickly!
I had her splashing around in them earlier. She loved it!
Steve pulled in an amazing bag today that moved him up into 20th place
for this event! Woohoo Steve! Something to take to the bank. And we
get to go home! Maybe catch the Auburn game!

Hmm

I was going to the ramp to back down, get Steve. Kept hearing a weird
noise from the backseat. It was Soso! I thought she wasn't paying
attention when I tried to teach her this! Check another off the list!

Thanks

To my sister who gave me a sewing machine for Christmas YEARS
ago...and a mother who taught me how to use it.
I just made 26 tiger tails for Sophia's birthday party!
(The ones in the store were $7.00 a piece. I don't mind spending a few
dollars...but I knew that was a rip! Got the fabric 52% off of $9.99 a
yard. Elastic 3 packages were $0.97 each. Took me maybe few hours.
Made all out of one yard too. Spent same amount for one retail to make
these!)
Thank you.
You made part of the party plan happen.
Sneak preview of party favors for Soso's party Tiger-rific extravaganza!

Tournament Day Shots

Today is day 3, Steve heads into it

with a little catch up to do.

He's currently in 47th place

after only weighing in 3 fish yesterday.

He likes to keep it interesting!

Sophia after blast off...

counting to 138 is exhausting.

Day one, she waved at everyone going out.

Day two fish story swap by the boat.
Steve and Wesley
Day two
Sophia and Daddy discuss days'
catch over some chips.

She feels his pain...

as long as chips keep coming.

Day one, Derek bagging his fish.

Still Standing

Sophia is officially starting the standing process...

everyday she is getting braver with letting go

of whatever it was she pulled up on.

(She is starting to remind me of the butler

in Mr. Deeds that just shows up standing beside

Adam Sandler without making a sound.

That's Sophia now.

You turn and boom.

She's standing beside you.)

This morning in her PJs still.

Wanting to know what I was doing

at the table...if food was involved.

She's furniture surfing in this shot.
I put the Coke box in front of the door
so she could watch the birds, boats, and squirrels.
She can just barely see over when she's flat footed.
She likes to wave at the lake too!

This was an unbelievable moment...
she was playing with Derek.
With help crawled up into the seat, got her

Barbie fishing rod...and stood there...

for forever! Then sat down, like "what?"

"Why is everybody staring?"

I actually had the camera

in my hand at the time...

She stood furniture free for several seconds

several different times while playing with Steve.
I didn't want her to see the camera.

On the boat.
She's big into driving the boat too!
Again, can't sit-gotta stand now.