The Wish List.

Connor was telling me tonight about the requirements of his future wife.

Here is his working list:

• She needs to be a Lutheran. 
• She doesn't need to like to read....she HAS to LOVE to read. 
• She doesn't have to be a good cook, and if she doesn't like to cook that is okay. He is fine with doing all the cooking, but they are going to eat ravioli all the time. 
• She has to like kids, because they are going to have at least five kids. 
• She doesn't have to be really funny or really smart, but she does have to be really nice. 
• She has to like kids a lot and she needs to be really gentle with kids. 
• She has to LOVE water, because they are going to live in Hawaii. 
• It is okay if she thinks that his sisters are a little bit crazy, but she has to like his mom. 
• He would like her hair to be golden or at least yellow because that is his favorite color. 
• It would be good if she had a job, but if she is going to take care of the kids she doesn't have to get a job. 
• They will have to live close to a school because he is probably going to be a teacher. He thinks that might be the best job to have if you want the holidays off. He needs those off so they can come visit his family. 

I love what his priorities are at this point. 

He is a pretty handsome kid, so surely he can snag a nice, Lutheran, baby wearing, water loving, girl who also loves to read.  

Who wore it best?

Three first birthdays, three cake in the face mug shots. 

Cake Time!

Here are some pictures from Elinor's 1st Birthday celebration

Happy Birthday, Elinor!

Today is Elinor's first birthday and it true Ockree fashion, we have way to much going on tonight to do any sort of celebration. We've got tumbling, dance, and a class at church. It seems like we would just be squeezing in a quick bite of cake and her present.

Instead, we are going to celebrate on Saturday when Ben's schedule is more open and when we can take our time and have a more relaxing day. I think she'll forgive us.

Elinor might be the sweetest little Ockree yet and she is definitely the one of our kids with the biggest temper yet. And, if you've meet our kids, you realize that is really saying something.

A sweet little baby!

And a sweet little girl!

Watch out Mom and Dad!

Elinor showing off her new superpower: walking.

A Very Contrary Zoo

I was telling Sophia about the zoo today and how you could go there to see animals. *Disclaimer: I've taken Sophia to the zoo many times, even as recently as last summer. She just evidently doesn't remember it at all.*

Here is a list of the animals that Sophia does NOT want to see in the zoo and the reasons why she doesn't want to see them.

• Tiger - because they live in houses in their neighborhood
• Snake - they will try to bite me
• Fish - they don't have feet or legs, they just have tails, so they can't be in the zoo 
• Penguin - they are supposed to live on the ice 
• Bat - no, they are way too scary 
• Spiders - nobody likes spiders 
• Polar Bears - they want to eat the kids so I don't want to see them
• Other bears - no, I am afraid of bears
• Elephants - no, because they might try to grow too big 
• Crocodile - they go in the Nile and chase the Little Einsteins
• Giraffes - their necks are too long
• Lions - no way
• Hippos - they might try to step on me
• Rhinos - they are too noisy
• Lizards - nope, I scared of lizards too
• Sharks - no, they have lots of teeth and swim around too much
• Dolphins - they are supposed to live in the ocean
• Donkeys - too scary
• Pigs - too muddy
• Cows - too big and they live on farms
• Horses - they are just a little bit too big for kids
• Sheep - no, there are no sheep

The only animal she would agree to see in a zoo...ever....Monkeys. When I mentioned that we could see monkeys she said "oh yeah, that would be fun."

Luckily, as Sophia's mom, I recognize that this list of unacceptable zoo animals is 98% Sophia trying out her new super power of being contrary. Except the snakes and lizards. If our last trip to the pet store is any indication, she really is afraid of them. 

Three is cool.

If you took a princess, a diva, a sweetheart, a pair of beautiful brown eyes, and a massive whiner and then bundled them up into a little girl you would end up with Sophia Jane.

Three years ago we were blessed with this bundle of little girl wonderfulness.

When I ask Sophia what she thinks about being three, she says "yeah, it's cool."

It is pretty cool. It is pretty cool how much my little baby girl has grown and changed through the years.

*Yawn* Being born is pretty hard work.

 Bright eyed and checking out the world around her. 

Growing big

 Chubby cheeks and big smiles.

 What? Doesn't everyone just stand like this naturally?

 There are those big brown eyes.

Our sweet windblown girl. 

Happy Birthday Sophia Jane! May you always be as sweet and silly as you are now. (You don't always have to be as ornery and whiny though....)