Sophie’s bat mitzvah montage

It was a tough job, but we finally culled the best photos from Sophie's first 13 years for this montage, which we showed during the party following the Shabbat service where she became a bat mitzvah. Enjoy!

Twinkle, Twinkle little girl

Things they don't warn you about when you become a parent, No. 863: Under the right circumstances, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" could make you weepy. Sophie and her fourth-grade classmates at Tioga Hills Elementary School gave their very first concert tonight. And the first time I heard their bows hit the strings, I really did tear …

The Girl Who Grew a Mustash

A short story by Sophie Coker age 8 One day a vary long time ago thar was a girl named Anna. She lived on a vary steep hill. No other girl lived near her exsept her sister Alana. Alana liked to play video games. Anna was eating chocolet one day and it melted in her …

Harry Potter on the brain

Journal entry by Sophie, Sept. 30, 2012 (creative 8-year-old spelling preserved for posterity and your amusement): Hello. I am Hermione. My two best friends are Harry Potter and Ron Wesely. I go to school at Hogwarts School of Wichcraft and Wizrdry. I love to read. Harry and Ron think I read a little to much. …

How to Be the Moon

How to Be the Moon, a poem Sophie wrote last year, is included in a class anthology she brought home from school the other day. Here it is: How to Be the Moon Shine Only come out at night Go around the Earth Be the enemy of the sun Have huge craters Be a friend …

An interview with Sophie the (gasp!) third-grader

Sophie started third grade today. We're so proud of this smart, beautiful and curious young lady! Here's a snapshot of her current likes and dislikes, as well as a few photos from the bus stop. My favorite food is: strawberries My favorite sport to play is: kickball The best show on television is: "Phineas and …

Olympic Antics

We've had such fun watching the London Olympics with Sophie and Charlotte that it almost makes up for the terrible, disjointed way in which they're being covered here in the States. Eric and I know most of the big results by the time we tune in for the evening broadcast on NBC, but the kids …

An Exciting Adventure at Sea

I'm proud to present Sophie's latest short story, An Exciting Adventure at Sea. She put this together for a contest run by our local public radio and television station, WSKG. Enjoy! Click here for a PDF of Sophie's story.

We love dinosaurs

I guess it happens in every family. One day your kids have many interests, and the next there's just one passion: dinosaurs. We're living through that era now, with frequent viewings of "Dinosaur Train" on TV, discussions of paleontologists and so on. Today, Charlotte even had a dinosaur-related art project at school. The girls were …

Theories about the Tooth Fairy

Sophie has a loose tooth for the first time in more than a year. She talks about the Tooth Fairy on and off, but things kicked into high gear last night. That's when Sophie decided to write the Tooth Fairy a letter and began expounding on her theories related to how the Tooth Fairy knows …