Christmas Eve Checklist

Carrots for the Reindeer

Check

Cookies for Santa 

Check

Milk too!!

(I tried to convince her that beer was the way to go

but NOOOOO!)

Santa

Sofia meets Santa

2011

Wrapping

Okay......I'll admit it!

I'm a bit of a fanatic about how I like my Christmas presents wrapped.

It dates back to my stint in retail at a high end kitchen store,

where I received formal instruction in gift wrapping.

I like them to look nice.

I use double sided tape.

And I only ever use real ribbon.

My paper has a color theme.

It's nothing to be ashamed about.

This year my present wrapping ideals have been challenged.

I've had help in the form of a four year old.

There is tape everywhere.

Ribbons don't match.

Gift cards are being written in four year old script.

(Santa may have a bit of a challenge on his hands this year)

And yet, this year, the presents under my tree 

are the most beautiful ever.

This one is for you Papa.

And for the record, the other side of this gift tag is BLUE
Not part of the approved color scheme for Christmas 2011.

A Rainbow

Sofia:  "One.....Two......Three......"

Me:  "What are you counting, Sofia?"

Sofia:  "Lines on your forehead"

(she reached ten just in case you were wondering)

Me:  "Do you like the lines on my forehead, Sofia?"

Sofia:  "Yes.....they kind of look like a rainbow"

I have mixed feelings about this little discussion.

November

November is National Adoption Awareness Month....

and I find myself this Sunday evening

my heart content

looking across the couch

at the two best decisions

I ever made in my life.

Family is family

and I am so proud

of the way my family came into my life.

Recipe for a perfect Halloween.....

A perfectly adorable costume....

 

 Parents willing to get in on the act.....

 

Equally adorable friends to hang with......

A belly full of pizza......

A bucket to hold all of the goodies.....

And lots of doors to knock on.......

 

A comfy spot to take a break......

  

 And candy....

Lots and lots and lots of candy!

 

Happy Halloween sweet puppy girl!

Oxalis tuberosa.....

I moved to the United States over twenty years ago.

At first, it was not forever.

It was a temporary excursion, for study.

Well, you know how the story goes, 

girl meets boy........

Maybe it still won't be forever.

Only time will tell, I guess.

Now don't get me all wrong.....I love living here.

But, there are just some things that are a part of me.

Things that just aren't here.

Things that I can only find at home.

Or so I thought......

Meet Oxclis tuberosa

also known as the New Zealand Yam.

I found them......

I planted them......

and I am hoping like crazy that in four months,

I will be enjoying them.

And just so you know,

I won't share.

I have 20 years of yam eating to do.

Well, I will share with the boy,

since he scouted them out

for his kiwi girl.

Forever and Ever 4

Last weekend, we celebrated four years together as a family.

We celebrated four years since we crossed the threshold of our front door

into the uncharted waters of being parents.

 

We celebrated four years of this sweet, crazy, sassy girl,

who has made our lives complete.

We celebrated by doing nothing special,

and yet everything that is special to us.

Just being together with the ones we love (Kiwi family in our hearts),

and the ones that love us.

Of course a favorite day MUST include

playing Sofia cannonball.

She read books with Grandma Jean.

And played crazy with Papa.

And finished off a wonderful dinner with a Tres Leches cake

made with Sofia's help.

Yeah.....the grins on our faces pretty much sum it up.

Happy Forever and Ever Day, Chica Bella!!

We love you with all of our hearts.

The Ranch

 This weekend, we scored an invitation to "The Ranch".

Situated hilltop in the beautiful Sonoma Valley,

it was an invitation impossible to refuse.

And of course, being where we were,

and who we were with,

it is practically inconceivable to blog without photos of the food and wine that we consumed.

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of the goodies that we enjoyed wholeheartedly at the Bouchon Bakery,

but you should trust me when I tell you that there was not a crumb left behind.

The birds that hung out under our bench were very disappointed.

LUNCH!

After lunch, a stroll up to the chicken coop.
Here chook, chook, chook , chook!

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

GOTCHA! 

According to Sofia, hers was the golden egg.

(we've been watching a lot of Willie Wonka lately)

And, you've gotta have a pair of boots to fully enjoy all The Ranch has to offer.

Hold onto your socks....

the view from the top of the property.

Okay, so maybe these two smiles can top that.

Put them together,

and it's picture perfect!

Our mode of transportation to the top of the hill.

Now that was a blast.

The property has a hugemungous slide into a swimming pond.

Only two were willing to brave the slide.....

Sofia......

(well she may have been given a gentle push at the top :-)

She doesn't look all that happy about the situation,

and the truth is......

it didn't end well.

and Daddy.....

who managed to completely drown my camera, and me, in pursuit of the perfect shot

This was taken from my vantage point on the FAR side of the lake.

The back patio, where we spent most of our time.

Watching a pre-dinner movie outside.

The table is set......

A quick game of bocce....

(the rules of this particular game were a bit iffy,

but it does seem that Sofia and Jake are in agreement over perfect Bocce stance).

Ahhhhhh.....DINNER!

After dinner, we walked out to the point to watch the sun set.

I am not a photographer,

you just have to take my word,

that the sunset was a billion times more spectacular than these photos give it credit for.

It was breathtaking!

 

 

 

Couldn't pass up a swing.

And then,

as we left this morning,

to drive down the hill

back to reality.......

this is the sight that greeted us.

I felt like I was standing on top of the world.

BEAUTIFUL!!!