new update

click here for the link to a new blog post on 'for the love of foster'.

and just so you know you will need to scroll down to the very bottom of this blog to find the blog link. it wasn't working out on the side with the size of my pictures so until i can figure that out (and keep my blog pretty) it will be at the bottom:)

and don't miss out below for a new christmas post!

christmas as seen through my phone

sophia and santa - this moment was so worth the crazy amount of time that we waited in line - i was one of those moms who stayed in line even though my sane self knew it was ridiculous - but the moment was magical - this santa knows his stuff and made my girl feel very very special - so worth it

i baked - these are white chocolate cherry shortbread - i also made our classic pearson gingerbread men - and egg nog cookies - baking and me these days are not best friends - we get quite annoyed at each other

my happy thrifted find - an old tree topper (it came complete with the original box - handcrafted in romania) $3.99

two of my five vintage christmas cards - purchased at an antique store in mt. vernon washington - they make me happy

these make sophia happy - some of her advent treasures - thats right she had a my little pony advent calender - very traditional - but for real every morning was so fun to open up each box and find itty bitty pony fun

how old are you? oh your four. daydreaming away looking at books - the nutcracker is her favorite

maple ridge tree in the center of town

daddy and his girl on a christmas eve eve walk

maple ridge has its not so fabulous moments but one thing they always get right are there christmas street decorations - i cant get enough of the old vintage street decor

sophia in a princess dress (how unusual - i have no say over what she wears anymore people - its a sad day) christmas eve at grama and grampas admiring the tree

christmas eve

we played charades - ok sophia played charades and we guessed - somebody cough cough *auntie sara and uncle dave* dont play games - party poopers. good thing we have a cutie who plays

pirate loot inside our christmas crackers

auntie sara made chocolate dipped strawberries and dipped mini oranges - so gooood!

christmas caroling by candle light

santa came to visit!!

sophia opened her christmas eve gift before bed - a new owl stuffy and new jammies of course!

christmas morning and santa left an easel!! very exciting! it was a wonderful christmas - i even have a little bit of real photos - i may even post those soon ;) but for some reason i love the fuzzy haze of my phone

she likes to pose by the snowflake

...and wear pretty dresses

and put curls in her hair

and wear lip gloss

sophia the girliest girl i know

who looks much older than four in these pictures

who is sweet as pie

who i love with all my heart

we even take phone photos by the snowflake

fostering

some of you may know this and some of you may not know

i have kept it close to my heart but feel ready to share with you what chris and i are doing

i started a new blog dedicated to our journey into becoming foster parents

feel free to check it out here

or right over there -----> on the side of my blog

sophia's preschool christmas concert

here is a wiggly wobbly video of 'must be santa' performed by sophia and her preschool classmates last night at the school concert. you will have to get past the beginning where i completely drop the video camera because i was too busy blowing kisses and catching sophia's kisses. its a rough life being the mom to this sweetie!

(and to the lady in the front row - stop tilting your head, don't you know im trying to video tape here - geez)