Ballerina......you shoulda seen her!

Sunday, was Sofia's ballet demonstration.

 One year of hard work and dedication.

One year of piques and plies.

One year of forcing a mass of black hair into a tiny little pink bun holder.

And it all 

came down to this.....

1 minute and 23 seconds of

absolute and total cuteness.

I wish I had seen it.

I wish I could tell you how wonderful it was.

But the tears in my eyes 

meant I couldn't see a damn thing.

These are the Sofphia's (Sofia and Sophia)

 ready for their big show.

Can you tell how excited they are?

They are just one week apart in age

(yip mine is a pipsqueak)

and have been dancing together for 2 years now.

Best ballet buddies!

Well done girls!

Now we'll just wait until the video arrives

so I can watch the show again properly.

Besties

They fight like crazy.

They love each other like crazy.

They push each others buttons like nothing you've ever seen.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind

that these two

will be besties for life.

A little levity

Just what the world needs.....

a little levity.

Valentines

Valentines have been started and are hung to dry before finishing touches tomorrow.

Man it's tricky when there are 40 (yes count 'em, 40)

kids to make Valentines for.

But I think we'll do it.

Thanks to some super quick stamping from one budding artist

we are well on our way.

Clearly.......

Clearly......

I have not posted in a good long while.

And clearly.......

this blog is very important to me.

Mostly, it is important because it is the only journal I have of our doings.

Of Sofia's growing up.

I must get back on track.

So, if any one checks in on this

please forgive me for what I am about to do.

Clearly.......

I am about to post like crazy,

in a completely meaningless, random fashion

to get stuff down.

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.