Four years ago

Four years ago

this beautiful little face 

popped onto my computer screen at work.
It took the breath right out of me
and I couldn't stop staring at her,
trying to figure out who she was,
what she was like.

It seemed to me she was looking right back at me
trying to figure the very same thing out for herself.

Four years on and

I count my blessings every day

that I get to hang out with this girl
and stare at her beautiful face
and watch her become the wonderful person that she is becoming.

To steal from a fellow adoptive mother....

 It is Sofia's first mother who created this beautiful face

I am just the one lucky enough to help make it smile.

A mid-winter picnic

Only in California is it possible......

to put on summer clothes

and picnic.

And throw rocks in the river....

And dip your toes in the water....

And submerge your bum in the sand......

Take a stroll hand in hand with your Daddy.....

And play catch in the warm breeze....

Only in California....

is it possible to have this much fun outside

in the middle of winter.

I hear the rain and cold temperatures are coming back full force this week.

So glad we made the most of this beautiful day.

Anti

Sofia is very anti the camera right now.
Which is a real bummer since Mama got a brand spanking new camera for Christmas.

This is what happened when we proposed a family shot in front of the castle at "the happiest place on earth".

MAJOR MELTDOWN.

 

Apparently however, a family photo is permitted

when unhappy looking, life sized, furry donkeys are involved.

Teacups

I'm still not sure who was happier about the tea cups at Disneyland.

Sofia, because she got to go around and around

faster, faster.

Or Clyde, because he finally has someone to ride his favourite ride with him.

It's all about.....

the princesses.

and the fairies.

Sofia couldn't believe her luck.

She got to meet both of her favourites...

...Tiana and Silvermist.

But I think she might have a soft spot for Pocahontas now.

Sofia thought she was so pretty.

Faster....faster.....faster!!!

Sof's Favourite

Rain in the Tiki Room - Frightening

Nemo Submarine - Terrifying

But give this girl a roller coaster and she is as happy as a clam. 

Total count was in the double digits over two days.  It was her final choice to ride.  After the fist couple of times she was saying "No Mama!  Don't hold me".  It scared me silly so what else could I do but video it?

Ringing in 2011

We ended 2010 and rang in 2011 in great style last night

with friends, fine food and a whole lot of fun.

The rain very kindly held off and even though it was a little on the brisk side,

that didn't seem to dampen anyone's enthusiasm for

BUBBLES.

A whole bottle of bubble liquid in fact.

Sofia put this little number together herself.

Given that she was the only little girl there, she held up the pink side quite well on her own.

Eli was mezmorized by the bubbles.

 

Jake took matters into his own hands.

And Sof, well, she decided that dancing in bubbles was a good option.  

Seems like a pretty good way to keep warm.

Last year I made fish and chips from some Alaskan Halibut that we had received as a gift and it went over pretty well so we decided why mess with a good thing.

We had the fish flown in, Clyde set the BBQ up as a cooking station,

and given the fact that there was nothing left on the table,

and everyone was trying to convince me to quite my day job and start driving the streets in a truck selling deep fried goodness,

I'd say it was pretty darn good.

The kids warming up around the fire.

There were sparklers.

And s'mores.

Oh yeah....it doesn't get much better than this.

I'm really not sure what is going on in the next couple of pictures 

except to say that I think we've got it all wrong.

Apparently all three almost 4 year old's need to have fun is

a whole bunch of wet dirt....aka mud.

Personally, I don't see the appeal,
but it was hard to ignore all the laughing and smiles.

Quite possibly THE cutest toast in history.

Sharing a little New Year drink with Daddy.

Sofia saw in her very first New Year.  

We all stayed up until midnight and rang in the New Year together.

Judging by how it started

I think 2011 is going to be a good one.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Let's go......

.....to the movies.

Sofia and Jake's first "big" movie.

We went to see "Tangled" in 3D.

Sofia's room

Sofia's room got a makeover this Christmas as well.

Her very own Charlie Brown tree

complete with not one but

TWO

Snoopys.

An infusion of new books.

And snowman sheets.