Mobius Kid's Museum

We just got back from taking Sophia to the Mobius Kid's Interactive Museum where we played, played, and played some more. We are all spent but, Sophie is the only one taking a nap. We had a great time at this learning/science/fun center in River Park Square (downtown Spokane). Sophia enjoyed many hands-on activities, and I've tried to capture her visiting the many stations of fun.

Here is Sophie 'acting out' on the mini stage where there are a few costumes provided for dressing up. She is exiting stage-right wearing a purple tutu.

DaDa and Sophie are making beautiful music on the giant xylophone.

She found the green boa to compliment her purple tutu.

The water and rocks stations were real fun for all of us. Dada (the geologist) is working with Sophie at the 'rock quarry'. She got to shovel the rocks/sand and fill her bucket. The spraying water was to teach them about erosion...or just to get parents wet.

This was so fun! Momma (the hydrogeologist) was teaching Sophie about water diversions. You got to move the blue and yellow plates around to create different water dams and rivers. Here we are measuring a hydraulic jump :)...hhmmmm what would Froudes number be?

Lluckily they provided the waterproof smocks. I could have used one too.

Dada is watching as Sophie climbs into the big treehouse in the toddler area. The treehouse was full of ladders, steps, and tunnels.

Here she is popping out of the 'rabbit's hole' from within the treehouse. Well, we had so much fun and can't wait to come back. I'm sure she'll be asleep for hours...

General Update

We have been in our new place for about 3 weeks now. It is taking some time to get used to the house and city. We love not having upstairs neighbors with heavy feet, and I can't get over how much clothing a domestic-sized washer/dryer can hold. I find myself looking around the house for stuff to wash. The fenced yard will be nice for Sophia in the Spring.

We are also learning our way around the city. My sister has come over during a couple of Sophia's naps so John and I can run errands and navigate the city. We try to get to the YMCA to workout and take Sophia swimming. She still screams when I try to drop her at the YMCA daycare. We'll keep trying. She is also enrolled in Soccer Tots and we have gone 3 weeks already. At this age they really just run around with balls and try to navigate hoops, cones, and noodles. They practice chasing Mom or Dad and kicking balloons. I figure we might get to meet a few neat families. Sophia is starting to climb on anything that will get her higher than the ground. She observed a little time-out the other day when I caught her standing on the second tier of the coffee table (~3ft-high). She is also refusing to eat anything that looks, tastes, or smells like a vegetable. I have been sneaking 'Super Green Juice' into her apple juice. SHHHHH! Don't tell her. On the other hand she loves mango and just about all other fruits. We are severely missing Trader Joe's grocery store. There were so many favorites I grew to depend on there and certain things that Sophia eats. We are having a tough time trying to replace our favorites. We have found a combination of 2-3 stores that will supply us with the organic meats and dairy products.

I am happy to say that we had our first playdate for Sophia (and us) when the Hendrick family joined us for a day last weekend. John and I went to school with Ross and Molly at CWU. They have two boys, Kyle (3) and Travis (13mo). We sat Sophia and Travis together in the shopping cart at Costco and Sophie fed Travis her chicken breast sample. Too cute. The kids had a blast at our house while the adults picked through pizza and tried to talk over all the screaming. We hope to do it again soon.

John has been applying for work and I am working with my local contacts to get employment soon. We have been looking at real estate and the outlying areas, dreaming about when we can get a home. Although it has been nice getting to unpack and explore, John is anxious to start working. Anyway, just wanted to send out a general update. I miss my Reno friends.

Bathtime

We are slowly getting settled into our new house. Only a few drawbacks...no bathtub. For now Sophia fits into a tub Gamma bought at Home Depot. She doesn't like to stay in too long. At least we can scrub off the dirt. I don't think the YMCA would allow me to take her bubble bath/shampoo and scrubie into the toddler pool every evening.

Baths are always more fun when you can scrub a buddy. Thanks for Bathtime Elmo Mike and Leta!

Sophia's New Puppy

It's not what you think...okay maybe it is. Yes, she is wearing a harness. Her new puppy 'Patches' is a backpack/harness. Now, before you judge...hear me out. We recently joined the YMCA, and the event that prompted the harness purchase plays out something like this -
After John and I worked out we planned on taking Sophia to the pool. She came into the women's locker room with me to get ready. I needed to use the restroom so, I took her into the stall with me. Well, with my pants down around my ankles Sophia tucked and rolled right under the stall door and was gone. Yes, yes, I pleaded with her to stay and not go under the door but, you know the look. The after-pool antics were no better. A YMCA employee nabbed her just before she bolted out of the locker room as I was chasing her with only my underwear on. So, for her safety and my sanity we will try her harness. I am not too sure why she won't listen...mmmmm, could it be that she is a willful toddler, or a product of Barson-Johnson lineage?

By the way, she loved the pool. The YMCA has a toddler pool with a sloping entrance and a large 2-story water slide (that Sophia went down with momma). She said a big "WOW" when we reached the pool at the bottom of the slide. She also had fun throwing a beach ball back and forth to Daddy.

Weary Traveler

Okay, still trying to catch up on the past week or so. These couple photos were taken at SeaTac airport last Monday when Gamma, Sophia, Cootie, Missy, BooBoo, and myself flew in from Reno.

Yes, I actually had the cats stacked three-high with bags hanging all over while I made my way out of baggage claim to wait on the curb. Gamma was picking up her car and coming back for us. Sophia was so tired she fell asleep in my arms. Not a peep out of the cats. They were just a bit too upset (they are doing well now).

Last Night in Reno

Just wanted to post a few photos from my last night out in Reno. My sister (Kim) and I joined a few UNR grads for drinks (fancy martinis) at the Roxy. This is Jena and Brooke.


Kim and I. Everyone thought we sounded too much alike. Kim flew into Reno to help with driving the caravan of vehicles into WA. And she was a big help watching over Sophia with all the moving issues.


DeEtta and myself. I will miss many of my Nevadan friends. I grew to love so many people and places...I miss them already.

Reno Catch-up

Just wanted to catch-up on a few last minute Reno happenings before we moved...

I just thought this was funny. I was in the kitchen when I turned around and saw Sophia 'working' on the computer. I took this photo before telling her this 'climbing onto the chairs unassisted' type of behavior was unacceptable.

Sara and I took the girls to Starz gymnastics the Wednesday before we moved. Sophia loved the giant pools of foam squares. It was very difficult for us parents to move around since we sunk up to our waists. Sophia really enjoyed all the bouncing, jumping, and running.

Here is Sara, Audrey and Sophia jumping into the foam pools. This was a serious workout for me. Sophia was so tired afterwards that she had a breakdown afterwards. That part was not fun!