Ballerina

This Tuesday, Sofia is going to attend her first ballet class. Well, they call it "creative movement" and  I have no doubt at all, that my girl will create her very own kind of movement.

Since the day we first met Sofia, she has moved to the sound of music.  She LOVES to dance.  Half the time I don't even think she realizes that she is dancing.  But guaranteed, if music is playing, her little body is going to be doing it's own thing.

She has been taking music classes since she was less than a year old and they have been fantastic.  She has loved every minute of them, but has aged out.  I have been looking for something else for her to do, but nothing has jumped out at me.

Then, the other night, as we headed home from dinner out, I see all of these little girls in leotards coming out of the Sacramento Ballet building.  I told Clyde to pull over and went in and asked them about classes.

"How old do they need to be?" I asked.

  "3 and a 1/2"

"Ohhhhh" I say...."she was 3 and a 1/2 last week."

PERFECT!

They are in summer session right now but Sofia can come by on Tuesday for a drop in.  Now normally, she would have a swim lesson with June on Tuesday, but June is going to be on vacation so she is free to try out the dance class and see if she likes it.  Coincidence?  I don't know.

What I do know, is that we came home and tried on the ballet outfit that we got from Jake for our birthday.

And, that we are super excited about our first class.

The big question is whether or not Daddy is going to be able to do something acceptable with the hair since I will be at work.

And if the ballet teacher can tame this little pistol.

And we have been checking out pictures of Mummy in her first ballet class, when she was a little girl (on the right).  I don't think I ever possessed the kind of spirit that Sofia has, but I do think I looked pretty cute in PINK. 

A Wish

Tonight was the most glorious Sacramento evening.

We decided to eat dinner outside.

Sofia wanted to sit at her own little table so we layed her place.

As a special treat I lit her very own candle on her table.

At the end of dinner I told Sofia that she could blow out her candle.

She said "I can make a wish?"

I told her to "wish away".

When she was done I asked her what she wished for (I know you're not supposed to do that but I wanted to know).

She turned around and said "Geema and Papa".

Come home soon Geema and Papa

the girlie is missing you.

The Fair

This afternoon, I played hookie from work and we found ourselves at the fair.

And, we did it ALL.

Tractors, Corn, Icees, Baby Animals and big ones too. 

Ponies, Merry-go-rounds, Tree Houses and Prizes.

Ice Cream, Corn Dogs, Wine (for the adults) and the Monorail.

New Friends, Roller Coasters, Airplanes and Boats.

And of course the "fairest wheel".

WOW!!

To quote Sofia....."I'm toasted out!"

Happy Birthday Jake

Today Sofia's best friend turns 3.

Jake is the closest thing she has to a sibling,

and at 1 1/2 months old was one of the first people she met when she came home.

 

He made her cry dressed as a skunk on their very first Halloween.....

is the perfect wagon partner........

is the very best person to sit and take a break with.......

or to throw straw at......

to share a spot of candy with.......

or a day at the park........

For Sofia, no one is better than her Jake to make memories with........

and to just love on.

Happy Happy 3rd Birthday dear sweet Jake.

We love you!

Our little Merpeople

Sof and Jake have been taking swim lessons this summer.

Jake was, how shall we say this.....a little less than enthusiastic about the whole swimming thing.

There were many tears.

Well, something changed pretty quickly in Sofia's wee friend, and he has become a right little water rat.

And no one was more proud of Jake than Sofia.

She proudly exclaimed, when I asked her how Jake did at swim class one day......

"He's a mermaid too!"

Conversations with Sofia

I don't know what it is, but most of our most interesting conversations these days happen in the bathroom.

Sofia:  I want to go potty like this, like Jakey.

Me:  Sofia, we don't go potty that way.  You are a girl.  Girls sit down to go potty.

Sofia:  When I'm a big girl boy I'll go potty like Jakey.

Really.......what are you supposed to say to that?

I want to ride my bicycle.

Look at this....

Clyde and Sofia were given this trailer bike as an end of school year gift.

It seems like just yesterday that she was sitting in a little seat 

 in between her daddy's arms on his bike.

Now look at her.....

The 4th

Have I told you that we live in the most amazing neighbourhood?

One of the best decisions we ever made was moving here.

Our block has a 4th of July bash in the street every year, and in fact, it was at one of these events, 5 years ago when I first decided that I was ready to adopt.

One friend was pregnant, another in the throws of it and by god, I was not going to be left out any longer.

Clyde had a gig.....a 4th of July gig.

I finished out the party on my own.

He came home and I announced that we were going to adopt.

We started researching agencies the very next day.

So, aside from the usual reasons to celebrate on the 4th, which I love,

I will always have a special place in my heart for this celebration.

It is especially fun to see Sofia celebrate it with the boys

who helped push me into, without question,

the BEST decision of my life.

There were water balloons (which Sofia loved to throw, although at no one in particular).  I don't think she popped more than about five.  Hers just bounced down the street and she was all good with that.

Lots of friends and Geema and Papa.

Pinatas, candy, popsicles

and

SPARKLERS!!!

The only thing I didn't get a photo of was my beautiful girl in her rw&b bikini.