Sophie is 6 months old!

Sophie's favorite thing is our cat, Mohini.

Sporting Event

Neal and Keri were invited to a Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild hockey game as a Christmas gift from our friends, the Garvins. We attended Wednesday, the day after Christmas. It was a lot of fun and a high scoring game. Wild 3, Stars 8. Go Stars! Thank you, Carter and Kari!

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas to all! We had a nice Christmas Eve with our friends, the Garvins. We had Christmas dinner, watched a bit of football, listened to the Christmas story in Luke, and watched National Lampoons Christmas Vacation before calling it a night.

Unfortunately, Sophie got her first cold on Christmas Day and was not quite herself. However, we did end up having a great day, overall. Neal and Keri prepared a yummy brunch (okay, who are we kidding--the cooking was all Neal! But Keri did set the table) and enjoyed it with Rudy and Becky, Sophie's Opa and Oma.
After our meal we opened presents and Sophie toughed it out with us until about half way through when she decided a nap was an excellent idea. Afterwards we played games and just enjoyed each other's company while periodically connecting with our more distant family by phone. A big thank you to all that gave us gifts. Sophie's favorite gift was the wrapping paper and she voted the jiggling Elmo/Cookie Monster ball as "scariest gift" by crying in fear the couple of times we tried to get her warmed up to it (It's okay Jolene. You certainly meant well and she may think it's the coolest ever once she's feeling better). We hope all of our family and friends enjoyed celebrating as well. We love you!

Yuletide Happenings!

Christmas Lights Show

Neal and Keri went to go see the Christmas lights in a near-by neighborhood for one of our dates this month. We really enjoyed one house where the lights and music were synchronized. We turned up our radio to the station posted on a sign next to the house.

Previous Quote of the Blog

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But the half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor. - NeilGaiman

Firsts for Sophie

Last week Sophie got her first owie or boo boo or what ever you want to call it. It happened right before mom and dad decided it was a good idea to strap her into the infant swing. She got a light bruise on her forehead when she, well, landed. Don't worry. No need to call CPS. Keri and Neal have both repented and are using the safety belt faithfully now.

The other first is that today Neal and Keri both witnessed Sophie turning from her tummy to her back. Hopefully she will more frequently remember that she has this skill, as she likes to fuss loudly when she doesn't want to be on her tummy anymore.

Santa Pictures, Plus

Christmas Cheer from Ear to Ear!

The family enjoyed Thanksgiving with Opa Rudy and Oma Becky this year. The turkey and all the trimmings were delicious. We welcomed in the month of December by enjoying a broadcast of the Christmas Devotional given by the prophet, President Hinckley and his counselors from the Conference Center in Salt Lake. The messages helped keep us focused on the Christ in Christmas and the chior sang beautifully.

We also attended the fifth annual Nativity Exhibit at our Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on December 1st. Families donate their nativities and Christmas decorations every year and the event is open to the community for everyone to enjoy. Some nativities are homemade, others are fine materials. The range is vast. There are many from around the world. It also includes a live nativity and musical groups throughout the community provide wonderful numbers. It is really neat.

Our Christmas shopping is finished and packages and cards are out. Decorations are up inside and outside of the house. We already attended Neal's work party at the South Fork Ranch, where Dallas the 80s TV show as taped. Keri was able to meet Neal's boss and co-workers who were all very freindly and easy to chat with.

The rest of the month we will be enjoying the season and the Christmas holiday and trying to stay warm. Here is a picture of Sophie in her Christmas finery sent to her by her Grandma Susan. What an angel!

Christmas Cutie!

Sophie is 5 Months Old!

Per Grandma Susan's Request--More Sophie!

Previous Quote of the Blog

The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't. - Douglas Adams

Other Douglas Adams Quotes (Just because I think the guy was a mad genius)

He attacked everything in life with a mix of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which.

Humans are not proud of their ancestors, and rarely invite them round to dinner.

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.

In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear.

There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

The Dallas Arboretum

Grandma Judy and Grandpa Dennis Visit

Keri's parents, Judy and Dennis, came for a visit from California this past weekend. They enjoyed catching up, touring the Dallas Arboretum, and shopping. Of course their favorite part was seeing their granddaughter, Sophie and fussing over her. Sophie loves her Grandma Judy and Grandpa Dennis.

Happy Hauntings

The family had fun celebrating Halloween this year. Neal and Keri put out their fake jack o' lantern and scary cat decoration, hung a witch and vampire in one of their trees and handed out candy for a little while. Then Sophie got in her costume and Neal and Keri took their "kid" to a trunk-or-treat at their local church. Sophie got to see her friends decked out in fabulous costumes. She did not go around to all the trunks for candy because, well, she's still formula fed. After visiting with their friends, the family was off to Sophie's first trick-or-treat at Oma Becky and Opa Rudy's (Dutch for Grandma and Grandpa) house, where she was greeted with hugs and kisses. Bedtime soon approached for Sophie and parents alike. After a yummy bottle of witch-brewed formula, Sophie snuggled into her Halloween jammies from her Grandma Susan and settled down for the night. A happy Halloween for all!

Doctor Appointment

Recently Sophie had her 4 month appointment. As much as her parents love her, carrying Sophie around has become rather laborious. Neal and Keri made guesses as to how much she weighed and both overshot by a few pounds! She now weighs 14 lbs. 11 oz. and is 26 1/2 inches. That puts her in the 71st percentile for her weight and 98th percentile for her length. She is a big, healthy girl. Sophie took her immunization shots pretty well and mom was able to keep herself pulled together enough to comfort her little one. Caring, yet mean, nurses! Okay, okay, they were just doing their job.

Sophie is 4 months old!

Disclosure

Our endless photos, slide shows, and video clips of Sophie are primarily for Sophie's grandparents, aunts, and uncles. A big thank you to our friends, that don't think they can stomach another picture of our cutie pie, for their tolerance.

Yet More Photos of Sophie

Dallas Mavs Game

Last night Neal and Keri were able to go to a Mavs vs Bulls game at the American Airlines Center, thanks to a kind co-worker of Neal's. They took the train into Dallas, had some good Bar-B-Q, and walked over to the game. They sat pretty high up but had a good time watching the guys play their pre-season game. Mavs won!

Previous Quote of the Blog

The most important conversation you will ever have is the one you have with yourself. - Anonymous

Neal Enjoys Air Show

Neal attended the Forth Worth Alliance Air Show yesterday. The weather was perfect for the event except it was a bit windy so the parachuters did not do their show. He and his dad, Rudy, really enjoyed watching the Blue Angels and the B-2 Stealth Bomber. They also visited the ground displays which included the B-52 Bomber, P-51 Mustang, and a WWII B-25 Bomber. Neal and Rudy also played a battlefield virtual reality video game. The fact that Neal did not get sunburned to a crisp this event, made it a perfect day all round!

Visiting the Pumpkin Patch

MORE pictures for the Grandparents

Sophie is 3 months old!