Sophie is a sweet, happy little girl. This year she will be spending Christmas with her dad (Theo) and his girlfriend Esti for the first time. She is excited about Christmas and all the fun they will have together. Esti and Theo loves her very much and want to make it super special for her. She loves her dogs Harley and Riley. Harley is naughty and chews Esti's socks. Riley is super sweet and loves hugs. Theo and Sophie love swimming in their big pool and Sophie loves building lego and playing with friends. It is a summer Christmas because they live in Cape Town South Africa.

Sophie's Christmas Story 2024

Sophie sitting in a cozy living room, looking excited with Christmas decorations around

Sophie was a little girl who loved Christmas more than anything. This year, Christmas was going to be different. She was spending it with her dad, Theo, and his new girlfriend, Esti. Sophie was excited about the holiday season and the presents Santa would bring her. 

Theo and Esti wanted to make Christmas special for Sophie. They had planned many fun activities. Sophie hoped her dogs, Harley and Riley, would behave.

A New Christmas Plan

Harley was a playful dog with a naughty streak. He loved to chew on Esti’s socks, which made everyone laugh. Riley, on the other hand, was calm and loved giving hugs. Sophie adored both her dogs and they were like her best friends. They always made her feel happy and loved. Esti was getting used to having the dogs around. She was learning to keep her socks out of Harley’s reach. Sophie thought this Christmas would be fun with her furry friends.

Meet Harley and Riley

Sophie and Theo decorating the Christmas tree

One afternoon, Esti brought home a big Christmas tree. Sophie, her friend Sophia and her dad were thrilled to decorate it with shiny ornaments and twinkling lights. Esti and dad helped by putting little strings through star ornaments. 

Sophie felt a little strange that Christmas looked different this year, but she knew that her dad and Esti loved her very much and that everyone wanted her to have a wonderful time. 

That night she even saw Elf on the Shelf dash across the living room to climb onto the top of the tree!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Esti and Sophie baking brownies in the kitchen

Sophie loved baking brownies and pancakes with Esti. 

Esti once tried to freeze some of her pancakes, but Sophie knew that they tasted much better when you make them fresh. 

Esti bought some snowflake brownie molds so that they could make special brownies for Christmas. Sophie was always the best little helper in the kitchen and Esti was so lucky to have her help.

Dad loved eating all the delicious things the duo cooked up in the kitchen. So did Harley and Riley and Harley was known to steal bites of food from the counter! 

Baking Christmas Cookies

As South Africa has Christmas in the summer it was nice and warm. Sophie loved being outside and spending time with her dad. 

Sophie and her dad have the most beautiful blue eyes and from when she was a little girl he would pick her up on his shoulders. Even now that she is older, he still loves picking her up and sometimes she even brushes her teeth on his shoulders. 

Dad also loved being outside, but sometimes he would forget to put sunscreen on and get a terrible sunburn. Sophie had the most beautiful freckles on her nose and would remind Dad and Esti to put sunscreen on so that everyone could play outside for longer. 

A Surprise from Theo

Sophie and her friends having a picnic with Theo and Esti

The first adventure of the trio was a picnic. Esti would bring her mom and all of Esti's friends and their children would be there.

Sophie had lots of children to play with. Sophie also loves drawing so she made sure to take all of her drawing pencils and paper along. She also had a very big colouring book and would make Dad and Esti choose different colours which she used to colour with. 

If this was only the beginning, Sophie couldn't wait for the rest of the holiday and all the fun she would have. 

Harley's Mischief

Sophie loved swimming! Every chance she got she would ask her dad if she could take a swim in their big pool.

She loved jumping off the side of the pool doing different shapes. She could even do a back bend! With every jump she would make a big splash!

This Christmas Sophie was looking forward to spending lots of time in the pool and swimming for hours. 

Christmas Eve Magic

Sophie excitedly unwrapping presents under a Christmas tree, with a cozy room in the background

Christmas morning arrived with a flurry of excitement. Sophie raced to the tree to find presents waiting for her. Dad and Esti watched as she opened each one with delight. Harley and Riley each got a new chew toy, which Sophie and Dad had bought for them at Christmas Carols. 

Sophie had a great Christmas and felt happy and loved. She realized that change could be wonderful. This Christmas was different, but it was filled with joy. Sophie knew she would always remember this special day.