Thanksgiving 2009

We spent our Thanksgiving the exact way the Pilgrims and Indians did on the First Thanksgiving...at Busch Gardens, riding rides and eating Funnel Cake!! I may have some facts a little off but over all the exact same! We had a great day, the weather was perfect and the crowds were down. Sophia's favorite part of the day, was looking at the elephants from the Gondola Lift Cars. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, no matter how you spent it.

Like mother, like daughter!

Just like her mommy, Sophia loves cash registers. When I was a child all I wanted was a cash register and received a real one for my first communion. She loves playing with the fake money, the microphone, the buttons and scans anyone and anything.

Too Young...

I realized Sophia is way too young for threats! Every night before bed we sing a song about cleaning up our toys. She actually enjoys cleaning up and typically doesn't mind it. She was over tired and not helping clean up, I jokingly suggested I was going to throw out her toys if she didn't help. She said "OK." I cleaned up the toys myself and got her to bed. Later that night after she was in bed, I saw her baby's stroller in the garbage. Not only did she not care about what I said, she went and did it herself. I got a very good laugh out of it, she entertains me everyday!


Luckily I just changed the garbage and didn't
get a chance to put a new bag in!

Sophia's Big Girl Bed

Another Big Milestone in the Caruso household. We converted Sophia's crib into a toddler bed. She has been climbing out for a few weeks now. We realized enough with the crib when she was climbing out and hurt her wrist. She is very excited to have her big girl bed. I have been trying to get a picture of her in the morning waking up but she is in my room before I have a chance.


Sophia with Grandma



Daddy taking apart her crib

It's official she is a BIG girl

Showing us how she is going to sleep in her bed.

A Yabba Dabba Doo Halloween

Happy Halloween! This year, we dressed up as The Flintstones. My friend Amy and her family dressed up as the Rubbles. The husbands had costumes but decided not to participate at the last minute. Too manly to wear dresses, I guess! We had a difficult time finding costumes for the kids. The stores only had Pebbles and Bam Bam fleece costumes. The Halloween costume makers do not think about Southerners who have 85 degree weather. We ended up buying Sophia's costume on Ebay and Amy had to make Julian's.





This was Sophia's first year trick or treating. We went out a little early, at first she thought we were just going for a walk. Then we went to our first house and she had a sweet does of what was in store, it was full speed ahead. She loved the scary decorations and examining the candy.


First candy of the night!


Taking a water break.

I have a confession, I did not allow her to eat any of her candy. I bought two identical bags. She took one with her trick or treating and I had the other one at home filled with raisins & crackers. I swapped the bags without her noticing. I underestimated her intelligence,though. She opened the new bag, looked at me very funny and told me this was not her candy. I did not realize she was going to examine every piece of candy along our route. After about 15 seconds of pondering if it was her candy or not she accepted the new bag.

Dave's New Baby!!

Dave has had his heart set on a boat since the moment we knew we were moving back to FL. He has been looking for about three months (yes, that is right two months before we even arrived!) We found a great deal and couldn't pass it up. However, it was bittersweet. The man we bought it from lived on the water, with the boat docked right in front of his house, about 100 plus fishing rods, needless to say die hard fisherman. He needed to sell and sell fast, his work transferred him to Denver, Colorado. He was not a very happy man, I felt awful. But one man's loss is another man's gain, and we sure did gain!

We can not wait for visitors!



Alafia River (Off Tampa Bay)


Sophia - First Mate


She was tired of being first mate, she wanted to
be Captain Sophia


*NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART*


This was a very rare sight, so I had to post the
picture. Poor little guy

Florida here we come!

On September 18, 2009 we moved back to Tampa, Florida, after living in Buffalo for two years. That means two looong winters, enough snow for us. The trip didn't go so well. Dave did the trip down with a friend in a Uhual and Sophia and I flew. The Uhual we rented had some issues, it would only go 40 MPH and if you turned it off you had to jump start it. When we got to the Condo, we are temporarily renting til we find a house, the keys were missing and no one knew where they were. Many other problems arose that we are trying to forget. The important thing is everyone arrived safe and we are officially moved back to The Sunshine State.

Our last day in our house...in the moving van!

Sophia and Julian, my friend Amy's baby, are quickly becoming best friends. Sophia is 11 months older than Julian so needless to say she is teaching him many "fun" activites.

Maine Vacation 2009

August 8-15. Every year the Caruso's enjoy a nice week in Maine. We had so much fun building sand castle, hanging out with the family, sitting by the fire making smores, shopping, kayaking, fishing, fun, fun, and more fun.





Dave and the Caruso cousins


Sophia enjoying a smores


Way too bright outside.


Look at these beautiful little ladies in their
matching watermelon dresses.

Where to begin...

It has been a crazy couple of months...Potty training, trips, moving, life moving too fast, etc.

POTTY TRAINING!

We went cold turkey! Starting Friday July 31, 2009. The morning began much like any other day but minus one significant thing, A Diaper! Lets first start by saying on Thursday night after she went to bed I knew the next day was the big day. I covered the couch with plastic and sheets and had the carpet spray in hand ready for our big adventure.

When she woke up in the morning, I immediately put Big girl Undies on her. I told her to sit on the potty and she did. She sat there for a minute or two and did it!! Dave and I were flipping out, screaming, cheering High fiving. She did not know what to think. We called Grandma and Nana. The first day she only had four accidents, the second two and by the third and fourth day she was down to one or less a day. By August 5, 2009, she was fully potty trained during the day. She liked calling people after she went, we were running out of people by week2.

Sophia showing off her Dora Potty Training Sticker Book

SOLD!

We sold our house, with out using a Realtor in two and a half days! Who says there is a economic crisis!?!? Only in Buffalo! In about 30 to 60 days all of my blogs will be coming from the Sunshine State. I am pulling pictures to post from our previous days in Florida! Sorry about the over use of exclamation points, I am just very excited!!


Sophia at 3 weeks old



Our Fish Tank


Sophia sleeping in her stroller while mommy
was packing for our move to Buffalo.
3months

Russ and Sonia's Wedding Weekend

This past weekend we celebrated the Marriage of Russ (Dave's brother) and Sonia in Boston, Ma.
Sophia looked adorable in her Flower Girl dress but after all the festivities the two nights before must have been too tired and decided she was not going to walk down the aisle. Instead Dave had to carry her, but it turned out perfect.


Chase, Taylor and Sophia at the Rehearsal



Baby Julia posing for a picture right before her dive.


Taylor and Sophia during the Ceremony.
Aunt Sara was betting she was going to find her
way over to the water fountain, thank goodness she didn't.


Taylor and Chase...AWESOME!



The Caruso Family








Men getting ready to jump



The Caruso "children"



John and Sara dancing






We took over 200 pictures at the wedding. I am going to post the link once I put them on shutterfly.

Fourth of July

Last year on the Fourth of July Sophia was so afraid of the fireworks, I was hoping this year was going to be better...NOPE! We went to Lake Erie, found a gorgeous spot, set out our blankets and chairs. She was having a ball, saying "hi" to the boats and people passing. Then it all went wrong when she heard the fireworks. She was crying and screaming, we had to take her in the car. She climbed in her carseat and watched from there. She loved it and was asking for more when they ended. They were too loud for her but once the car muffled the sound she was fine.

June 2009

We bought Sophia a very nice inflatable pool but this 20 Gallon Bucket is what she wanted to "swim" in...Go figure!




~FATHER'S DAY~
We went to a Carnival on Father's Day. Sophia only wanted to go in the Bounce House. We spent all of our tickets on it expect one for the Train.






"Mommy enough with the pictures"


Daddy opening his Father's Day gifts

~SOPHIA'S FIRST DENTIST APPOINTMENT~


Sophia had her first Dentist appt.
She did not do so well. I would have continued
taking pictures, but it is some what hard when you are
holding a screaming child. Everything looks good!



Sophia's Godfather Paul bought her a Basketball
Hoop for her Birthday and she loves it. She can dunk,
watch out Shaq!