Last weekend we also celebrated my cousin’s daughter’s 4th birthday. Here she is showing off her beautiful new birthday sandals (and pretty party dress!).
Sophie got to play in a sandbox for the first time.
And while Amanda opened her presents, Sophie was beside herself with excitement—so many toys! And kids! And balloons! At one point Sophie sat up on her knees, clenched her little fists in front of her, arched her back and smiled the hugest smile, she was so happy.
After cake with pink frosting …
… Sophie watched Grandpa play some cornhole.
Here’s Amanda’s sister, Autumn, taking her turn at the pinata.
Sophie slept well on the way home.
“Very early, I knew that the only object in life was to grow.” —Margaret Fuller
![The kiddos at First Unitarian Church are collecting books for students at South Avondale School to help fill the free bookstore our church sets up at the school regularly. If you have gently used or new books you'd like to donate, please let me know and I’ll come by and pick them up! We mostly need Pre-K/K (board books, concept books [ABCs, shapes], not lots of large hardcover picture books), early readers, early chapter books and blank journals. Because of the importance of children seeing mirrors of themselves in these books, diversity is key. Thanks!!](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/vp/1b0de463b3b6651ce328e04c69eefb61/5DAF8772/t51.2885-15/e35/p320x320/65600510_490323258372040_2015424398939439067_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com "The kiddos at First Unitarian Church are collecting books for students at South Avondale School to help fill the free bookstore our church sets up at the school regularly. If you have gently used or new books you'd like to donate, please let me know and I’ll come by and pick them up! We mostly need Pre-K/K (board books, concept books [ABCs, shapes], not lots of large hardcover picture books), early readers, early chapter books and blank journals. Because of the importance of children seeing mirrors of themselves in these books, diversity is key. Thanks!!")
