Ralph Rocks the House for Kenna and Michal's Birthday

Its not every day that you get a private concert with Ralph of Ralph's World. When Kristi broke the news that she was going to have Ralph perform for Kenna & Michal's birthday, you can imagine that Sophie couldn't contain herself. Actually, she didn't really "get" the whole Idea of Ralph being at someone's birthday but she put on her new dress, daddy coerced her into wearing tights, and she seemed excited and ready to go. I was pretty damn excited too - can't you tell.

The performance was great - Ralph was very good with the kids (obviously) and oddly enough, though it was in the middle of nap time for most, this was the most well-behaved I have seen this bunch since... ...ever.
Pay close attention to Sophie in the photos and you can see how she reacted to the event. She started with her typical hour on mommy's lap and then at about the time Ralph started playing "Shake Your Booty", she got it - OH MY GOD, THAT"S RALPH PLAYING IN KENNA AND MICHAL"S LIVING ROOM!!! She and the other girls got a little nutty. Ralph tried to get the girls to sing along and they did (the older girls, that is). It seems like the moms know every word of his songs by heart. Now we know who the real fans are.

Everything was great from until the running game when Ralph asked Sophie to run counter-clockwise in the circle so she wouldn't bump into anyone. Well, that was it. Sophie? Addressed by a stranger? Yeah, it was Ralph but he's still pretty much a stranger. Well, that was it for her. Ileana and I chuckled - the fun couldn't last forever. Sophie then refused to take her couch-picture with Ralph, refused autographs, and wouldn't chat with him in the kitchen afterward.
Though it didn't end so well, Sophie had a good time and I am sure she will remember this in a good way for a while to come. Me? Well, I still haven't washed the hand that Ralph shook. How cool, Ralph actually shook my hand - ha ha.

I've heard of fussy eaters but this...

Maybe the Paynes will find this funnier than most.

Lately, Sophie has turned into a very picky eater. Food items need to be separated, things are too spicy, things need to be served in the correct cup or on the correct plate. Its all pretty predictable behavior for a 3 year old, right?

This week, we were dishing out Sophie's food for dinner. As we were dishing it out, she screamed, "no, not on the leaves!!!". Needless to say, she refused dinner that night. We should have seen this coming since she refuses to eat off of any dishes with pictures on them and should just toss our Wiggles, Winnie the Pooh, and Dora plates and bowls in the trash. We can now add eating off the "white part" only on grandma's plates as her latest idiosyncracy.

Lesson Learned - Part 2

Sophie has been very chatty lately. She runs around the house reciting stories, usually laced with all sorts of non sequiturs. She usually wants us to engage her in this play so we oblige as much as we can. Yesterday she picked up her doodle pad (one of those white boards with magnetic dust in them that you draw with) and asked Ileana and I if we could pay her for the groceries.

"6 dollars", she says. We were then each asked to sign the pad. She first went to Ileana and had her sign it. She then came over to me and explained where I had to sign: "Daddy, sign right there at the bottom", "O.K., here you go", after signing my name. "NOOOO, SIGN IT". "But Sophie, that IS how I sign it." While walking off in dismay: "AT THE BOTTOM!!!"

She returned to the room after erasing the signatures. Very calmly, she says, "Now sign it daddy, at the bottom" and points to the bottom of the screen. I proceed to sign my name at the very bottom. "Now mommy's name." "Well, go have mommy sign it", I say. "No, I want YOU to sign it." I oblige by signing Ileana's name just above mine. "NOOOOOOO! AT THE BOTTOM!!!" "Sophie, I'm sorry, I don't understand". Again walking away from me, in an exasperated voice: "I don't understand you daddy!"

The Snow Dragon!

Last night Daddy & Sophie decided to go out to shovel the sidewalk and to make a snowman. They decided upon a Snow Dragon instead! Did I mention that she has watched the new Dragon Boat episode of Ni Hao Kai Lan 3 times already!!
Enjoy the photos.....

Daddy's little helper

Maybe I should have waited a few years before starting work on the house. I think by then, Sophie will have gotten the whole painting thing down pat. I'll have to try her out on the jig saw next week.