Gianna

November 21, 2015

Florida

Dave had his annual sales meeting in Florida again, this time in Clearwater, so we made a mini-vacation of it and the whole family went down for 5 days. The weather was beautiful! We had 2 days with the whole family, and then 2 days with just me and the girls while Dave was in his meetings. We hit the pool early and stayed the entire day – it was lovely.

Carl, who works with Dave, brought his wife, Amanda, and their kids, Gianna and Ella. Sophie and Gianna get along famously, which was really nice.

Sophie, Gianna, Ella & Lauren in an chair perfect for 4 friends

We took a boat trip to a little island where the girls found shells (you can see Sophie and Gianna’s skirts are full of them). We also saw dolphins on our way back, and a bunch of cool birds.

The best shot I was able to get of the girls. Beautiful morning walk on the beach before hitting the pool.

December 15, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013

We headed down to Virginia again this year for Thanksgiving. We had a big crew at my parent’s house. Dave cooked the entire dinner for 15 (well… I made a cake and Doug was the one who actually did the turkey frying). It was a great few days, filled with leaf luging, hiking, visits with friends and of course lots and lots of eating.

Our friends Carl, Amanda and their daughter Gianna came up from North Carolina. Sophie was in heaven hanging out with Gianna. Here they are getting ready to luge down the hill in front of the house. Who needs snow when you have leaves!

Doug brought the deep fryer and did the turkey in the driveway. It was cooked to perfection, of course.

The men and the grill.

The whole crew (almost) at the Thanksgiving table. It was a feast!

June 2, 2013

NC VA Vacation

We just got home from a weeks vacation down south. Our good friends Carl & Amanda moved to Winston Salem, NC last year and we finally got down to visit them. Sophie had a fabulous time with their daughter Gianna, who is older and therefore much more fun than any of us to hang out with.

The very first thing they did when we arrived was to pull out the fancy dress clothes. Perfect for swinging… white gloves and all.

We went for a “walk in the woods” (not quite a hike with the little ones), and Gianna was sure to show Sophie the way. Of course, she couldn’t do everything that big kids can do – like stream jumping. One day…

Before and after NC we stopped into Charlottesville to break up the ride. My dad hung the swing that was his, mine & Becky’s and now Sophie & Lauren’s in the backyard. Sophie enjoyed it very much.

This was a week of many firsts for Sophie. Here she is tasting her first honeysuckle.

Group shot with Grandma.

After the second swing through of Charlottesville we headed to Shenandoah, Va. where we rented a cabin for a few days with my parents. They had a canoe at the house that Dave and Sophie went out in it a few times…. her first canoe ride.

Dad, Mom & Lauren

Another first… Sophie’s first fish! And the only fish caught the whole weekend. With a stick, fishing hook and dental floss no less!

And the last – and probably most enjoyable first – Sophie’s first s’mores experience (which was actually on the deck at Carl & Amanda’s house). Here’s a shot of Pap Pap giving her some instruction at the cabin.