Good Times with Gigi

We've been loving every minute of our visit with Gigi. Its been so special for the girls and me to have this time with her - we only wish we'd planned for a longer visit! I think Gigi is enjoying the girls and probably doesn't mind the gorgeous weather either (60's and 70's are pretty nice after a brutal upstate NY winter...) Here are some of our highlights...

Gigi and Emma taking a morning "coffee break" on the front porch

Gigi grabbing a snack at McDonald's (we couldn't tear Emma away from the play space for the photo!)

Emma and Gigi after their "big girl" day at the beauty school

Emma and her friend, Braylee at Braylee's 4th birthday party..sharing a little secret

Princess Sophie (still undeniably Mark's daughter!)

Emma and Braylee

Emma and Gigi rolling grape leaves...Sophie is taking notes...

Sophie in the "on deck" chair - ready to roll...

Sophie rolling her first grapeleave (at 18 months!), daddy, I'll be you are so proud...

Emma loves being the big sister!

Gigi and the girls getting some Bar-B-Q!

No visit with Gigi is complete for my girls without a visit to the Dollar Store...Nothing to worry about daddy (except Emma is preparing to get married and Sophie has five babies - she'd have more if she could've carried them....)

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!

A New Year of Adventures

It's been a great start to 2009 - and it's only going to get better. Before we know it, daddy is going to be home! We're getting lots done in the house to get ready for daddy and we've got lots of special visitors coming to see us. Here of some of the highlights of the last couple of weeks...

Emma and Sophie in the daddy chair in Emma's newly painted pink room

Sisterly love...blowing bubbles together on the front lawn

On Sunday, January 10, we took a trip to Killeen to see Aunt Susan, daddy's sister. We had such a great time. We can't wait for the next trip.

Looking for Aunt Susan's kitties, Jack, Ruby and Molly under the bed...can't imagine why they'd run when we arrived!

Sharing a laugh on Aunt Susan's rocker

Aunt Susan and Sophie coloring together

Someone's knocking at the door...

Sophie and Susan

Sophie and Miss Irene reading a book while we waited for our table at the Olive Garden

The ladies day out...

This past weekend, Aunt Tory took a little trip out to San Antonio to see the Stromberg girls...Emma and Soph were so excited.

"I can't BELIEVE the book really says that"

Soph and Aunt Tor

A little snack after a LONG workout!

Aunt Tory getting ready to indulge in some County Line bar-b-que...nothing better than a lazy afternoon of bar-b-que, beer, friends and fun on the Riverwalk...

Aunt Tor digs in...

YOOOOOOOOOOOOO....

The girls on the river...just before Sophie's shoe ended up in the river (don't ask!)

Hanging out in LaVillita with the Hemisphere in the background

We took a little visit to Brackenridge Park in Alamo Heights on our way to the airport...I think an afternoon at the playground with Emma and Sophie is a GREAT workout...

Aunt Tor's all ready to catch Sophie

Just hanging out

Higher, HIGHER!

Monday, MLK Day, was a big day...Emma had her gymnastics recital and GiGi came into town. Life is good...

Our gymnast

Dinner with GiGi

Emma and GiGi share some popcorn and a movie (Lady and the Tramp)

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!!!!!

New Year's Week

Some higlights of our New Year's week...

I can't believe mommy really took the reindeer down...


What an adventure we had at the McKenna Children's Museum with Emma's good friend, Chloe, from school.
Emma and Chloe watching the ducks race

Sophie trying to climb in and take a swim with the ducks

Come on Mr. Elephant, enough resting...

Mommy, painting cars is VERY serious business...

Giddy UP!

Umm, a little hand here, please? I don't know why they make these baby carts so BIG! What's a doctor to do?

Oh my goodness, I forgot my grocery list...

Big sister Emma saves the day!

Hmmm, is Sophie napping or do I need to perform CPR?


After the museum, we were all REALLY hungry so we headed to Gruene, an adorable little town up HWY 35.

The Gruene Dance Hall, where George Strait and other country greats were discovered. The girls stood outside and boogied down to the good old country music!

Emma, Sophie and Chloe at the Gristmill - an awesome restaurant in Gruene that overlooks the Guadalupe River

Emma ringing in the new year (east coast time) with mommyt in mommy and daddy's bed after a night of Disney shows...love the party hat Emma made at school!


A day at the zoo...

Just hanging around

A great catch


I don't want to work, I just want to bang on my drum all day...

Catching a ride

One for the ducks, one for me (yum...duck food)

Psst...can you keep a secret?

Taking a ride on the wild side

A little ice cream on the River Walk after a long day at the zoo

The River Walk in lights

The Alamo in lights


Taking a ride on the Brackenridge Express

Our Fancy Nancy Tea Party at Madhatters - a day of pure bliss - I've rarely seen Emma happier!

We spent Saturday at the Alamodome for the High School All American football game...

Soph, look at ALL those people in uniforms like daddy's...Soph, could you tear your eyes away from your hot dog?

The first baby in space...Sophia Grace Stromberg

Sophie and her new friend, Mr. Jones, watching the game together (they even cuddled for the national anthem)

Whew, this cheerleading stuff sure takes a lot out of me!

Nothing like homemade banana bread after a long day of cheerleading!

Our two princesses and their babies...

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!