The Nutcracker at Macys

First, we got some hot chocolate and coffee from starbucks.

Then we saw the "Nutcracker" show.

I am mesmerized by the Nutcracker story.

The dancing sugar plum fairies and marzipan pigs were magical.

We finished our morning eating at the salad buffet for lunch on the 12th floor of Macys.

We have a tradition where we go to the Christmas display on the Eighth floor of Macy's in downtown Minneapolis every year. This year the theme was the nutcracker. We saw the show today and it was fabulous! It was a magical morning.

A Few Christmas Photos

Grandpa and me at Bachmans.

Grandma and me snuggling one morning.

Me and my new tiger that I named "Baby Abu" playing in a big box.

Merry Christmas 2007!

What a great Christmas! It was a fun party all week long. First, we went to White Bear Lake Grandma and Grandpa's house on Christmas Eve. We started off our evening going to church. I do not go to church very often, but I think that I like it. The music is pretty, it is fun being with my family, and I enjoy the plethora of snacks that mommy and daddy bring for me. I ate cheerios, 1/2 of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a candy cane. Mommy said that she thought it would take me the entire hour of church to eat all of that food. Instead, it took about 13 minutes. She did not count on the fact that I would chew my candy cane rather than suck on it like a sucker. I also did not like whispering in church. Here is one of the conversations that mommy and I had at church:

Sophia (loudly): BRETT. BRETT. BRETT. HERE IS A CHEERIO FOR YOU. BRETT. BRETT.

Mommy (quietly): Sophia, you have to whisper.

Sophia (loudly): MOMMY. DON'T WHISPER. SCOTT. SCOTT. SCOTT. YOU WANT A CHEERIO?

Mommy (quietly): Sophia, "shhhhshhhh."

Sophia (loudly): MOMMY, STOP SAYING "SHHHSHHH." GRANDMA, HERE IS A CHEERIO FOR YOU.

Mommy (quietly): Sophia, you really have to whisper.

Sophia (loudly): MOMMY, I DO NOT WANT TO WHISPER. DADDY, WHAT YOU DOING?

Needless to say, daddy brought me out into the lobby a short while later where I nearly fell into the life-sized baby Jesus laying in the manger. I was having fun, but still happy to get to Grandma's and Grandpa's for some yummy food. On Christmas day, we went back to Grandma and Grandpa's house for brunch and to open up presents. I loved opening presents, but it took forever. I would open a present and immediately want to play with it right away, forgetting all of the other presents. Mommy and daddy still have presents at home for me waiting to be opened!

On Christmas day, my Green Bay grandparents came to visit, too. More food, more presents and more fun! We played with all of my toys, went on a walk in the snow, had lunch at Bachmans and just had a great time. Every morning, I would go downstairs and shout "wake-up, Grandma and Grandpa!" Then we would start our fun day! I was sad to see them go back to their home. What a great Christmas.

Mr. Turtle

Daddy and me doing "Mr. Turtle."

First Real Haircut

Here is my really long hair before the hair cut. When it was wet, it almost reached my butt!

My hair cut has started! DeLores at Kids Hair made sure that I was having a good time watching Dora the Explorer and eating a sucker.

I wasn't totally sure about this whole hair-cutting thing. Can you see my nervous smile?

The hair cut is done! I had about four inches cut off. The first thing that I said was, "My hair cut is so pretty." I love it! I feel like such a big kid.

Fun Games

I really enjoy playing "pretend" games. I like to pretend to have tea parties, pretend that my stuffed animals are babies, and pretend that I am sleeping. In these pictures, I am "pretending" to sleep and snuggle with Bunny Bun. The best part of the game is when mommy or daddy tickles me and says "wake-up!" at which point I scream and giggle. Please note my excellent acting skills in the pictures. I bet that I fooled you into thinking that I was sleeping for real! Another one of my favorite pretend games is "Mr. Turtle." It is a difficult game to describe. To play the game, all you need is your hand---moving like it is talking---and a funny voice. That hand is called "Mr. Turtle." If I get bored, I will often say, "Where is Mr. Turtle?" Sometimes, my hand is Mr. Turtle, but most of the time Daddy or Mommy's hand is Mr. Turtle. We are all pretty goofy over here.

Snowy Day

This weekend we had our first snow storm of the season. It was pretty exciting. Today, we went outside and shoveled. I enjoyed shoveling the snow. (And, yes, that is a fireplace shovel that I am using). The last picture is a funny one of Mommy---doesn't she look like a Christmas elf!!!

On another note, I have not really been napping lately. I know that my sleep issues have been a frequent topic of the blog. Mommy will put me in the crib, and I have to stay there for an hour and "rest," even if I do not actually nap. I really do not rest. In fact, I have a grand ol' time in the crib. I will often sing, say my ABC's, count, read or play with my stuffed animals. This week, I also learned how to "paint" the wall next to my crib. Here is what I do, I take my metal barrette out of my hair and scratch little drawings into the paint. I often tell Mommy that I painted a little bunny or a little bird. I am pretty excited about it. Sometimes, if I get bored in the crib, I start to say, "Mommy, when you coming back?" over and over until she does. I am so happy when I get to be done with my "nap" for the day.

The problem with not napping is that I am usually pretty tired by about 5:00, but I obviously do not want to go to bed that early. A few days ago, I was really yawning at about 5:00 and Mommy asked if I was tired. I said, "Yes. I want to sleep." Mommy said, "Okay. Let's have a quick dinner and bath, and we can go to sleep." I thought about this for a minute and said, "No, I do not want to sleep." Mommy asked, "Well...when do you want to sleep?" I said, "In five years." I have to do a much better job of hiding it when I am sleepy or I am going to get a really early bedtime!

Those are my latest bedtime battle stories. More later.