Saturday, January 5, 2008

2007 Recap

With the rush of the holidays and our sudden departure out of town for New Years, I wanted to go back in time a bit and post some of my favorite pics of the year along with a little recap.

January

Oh my goodness... to look back on this and see how tiny Sophie~Bug was one year ago is startling! She was just beginning to venture away from mommy to play independently in her kitchen in her room. She ADORED her big brother, Grant.


February

Mastering the fish face! Her little personality was finally beginning to blossom and she would give us the most expressive faces! This picture cracks me up!


And, the time of the infamous first (and last) pedicure for Miss Bug! Morgan painted her toenails and for the first day, she giggled and seemed to love it. However, the next morning, she woke up and was terrified of her toes and did not want to have her socks off! She would scream this terrified cry whenever she saw her toes. We had to wait until she was asleep a few days later to take the polish off. LOL!


We also had tragedy strike our household as our beloved Cricket passed away from Mitral Valve Disease... she was gone within 12 hours of symptoms beginning. We miss her so much! This picture was taken a few days before she died.



March

The discovery of bubbles!! One of her favorite things was to be outside with her bubble tumbler! We obviously had some warm weather in March for us to be outside!


All three kids went outside to play with their Christmas motorized presents!



We would crack up watching Sophie as everytime she pushed the button on her Dora bike, she would jerk backwards and almost throw herself off! It was so funny to watch!


April

Professional Pictures of Sophie right before her 2nd Birthday... she was such the ham when normally she is so shy!!



Sophie struck this pose after reading too much of Gia's Mommy, Holly's blog! LOL




Ironically, during this photo shoot, my best friend and Sophie's Godmother was in labor with her fifth child... her husband and kids were out of town for Spring Break since she was not due yet. After this sitting, I went to meet her at the hospital where I got to be labor coach as her sweet baby boy entered the world!


Within that same time period, Grant was rushed to hospital via ambulance after having a seizure. We spent 10 of the next 30 days in and out of hospitals trying to determine what was going on. Turns out he was having a reaction to some medication he was put on. Thankfully, he is just fine now and no more seizures since April. Very scary time!


May

May brought the birthdays of both my girls! Sophie turned two on May 3rd and had such a ball at her birthday party!


I surprised Morgan with a trip to NYC for her 15th birthday, just she and I! We had such a good time staying in Times Square, going to see Wicked and shopping! We did all the tourist things... visited Ground Zero, took a boat tour to see the Statue of Liberty, went through Chinatown, Little Italy and Soho! It was so much fun!!


We even met some celebrities while we were there... Ozzy and Sharon were Morgan's favorites. They were a little waxy!


June

Warmer weather arrived and school's out! A new member of our family joined us... little Tucker, an Imperial Shih Tzu... he was so tiny!! Our other dogs were grieving the loss of Cricket so badly and Tucker definitely brought some spunk back into our house!


We visited Churchill Downs for the kids first time at the track! It was such a fun time and one of my favorite pictures of the year!


July

Sophie~Bug still adores her big brother and follows him around everywhere. I love this picture of the two of them.


August

BACK TO SCHOOL!! Yes, the time of year that all parents lament the fact that summer is already over, but yippee... the kids are back in school and no longer BORED!!

Morgan started her sophomore year in high school and ran varsity cross country.


Grant started 7th grade at a new middle school.


Sophie~Bug returned to daycare after having the summer off at home with our nanny and was really into wearing pigtails!!


Twas also the month she decided to boycott taking baths and would only take showers!


September

Last days at the pool. Sophie is NOT a water bug. She is a stair hugger. Nothing we could do this summer would get her into the pool beyond her knees. She LOVED being at the pool but would just sit and watch everybody else splash around. She looked good though!!!


And, my baby boy became a teenager, turning 13 on September 30th! We celebrated by going to his favorite Hibachi restaurant with Nana and one of his friends. This is a picture of the polaroid they took of us.


October

October 5th marked our TWO YEAR Forever Family Day. These have to be my favorite pictures of all time! I took Sophie out into the backyard in her white dress and snapped a few pictures... Whenever I look into the dark brown eyes of my little girl, I am continually amazed at the blessings I have received.



And, down with the crib and get the new toddler bed!! She was thrilled to play on it and pose... but when it came time to go to bed... no go!! She will only sleep in "Mommy's Bed" and we are still working on getting back into her own bed!


And, of course, Halloween!! We made our annual trek to the pumpkin patch! Sophie discovered how awesome her big sissy is! She loves to copy everything she does and follows her around everywhere! It is SO CUTE and Morgan is eating it up!




We were a bit scared of costumes this year, so Sophie went as a UK Cheerleader!! Here she is with my Godson, the pirate! It did not take her long to figure out that if you went up on a front porch and mumbled Trick or Treat, candy would be deposited in your pumpkin!


November

November was a special month for me... I was able to return to Guatemala on a Mission Trip with a group of adoptive Moms and visit Panajachel and San Jorge. I was able to meet my sponsored child, Dayli, through Mayan Families. She and her little sister, Fristy, are just so adorable. The trip was life altering and I cannot wait to return in 2008 to do more hands on work there.


I was also able to visit briefly with Sophie's foster mother. It was so wonderful to see her again and I look forward to returning in 2008 with Sophie for her to see her now.

Back at home, Sophie loved posing in her new traditional Guatemalan clothes that I brought back from Pana.


I was able to catch the amazing relationship between my big kids and their little sister in our annual Christmas Card photo shoot. I just love these pictures of them together!



December

The most magical time of the year! Days spent with friends and family wishing each other good tidings and celebrating the joys of the season. Sophie would have no part of Santa Claus this year, but knew there was something big going on. It was so much fun watching her take everything in!




My three together on Christmas Day.


The year was full of love, tears, happiness, fear, excitement, sorrow, new experiences and most of all... faith. Thank you for sharing 2007 with us.

Love and FROG!

Sarah, Morgan, Grant and Sophie~Bug

Friday, January 4, 2008

Favorite Foto Friday #21

We returned late last night from Cancun where we were able to have some much needed family time. It ended up being too cool and windy for my planned beach pictures the last full day there, so we went inland to a really nice outside mall to wander around instead. This week's FFF is a picture of my three on the waterway at the mall.



I have many more pictures to share and I will try to update this weekend.

I am late getting this FFF posted, but if you would like me to link your FFF post, please leave a comment! Happy New Year!!

Love and FROG!!

Sabra & Maya
Alleen & Gabriella
Christina & Aiden
Kerri & Ruby
Laurie & Joe
Lisa & Sophia
Robyn & Gabriella
Amy & Jonathan
Kelli & Kaleb
Tracy & Brenda
Becky, Juliana & Amaya
Becca & Ella

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year from Cancun!

Yes, you read that right... we made a very last minute trip to Cancun to de-stress and reconnect as a family. We have had some difficulties lately and really needed this respite. I was blessed to have received some generous Christmas gifts from my father and mother and their generosity gave us this fantastic trip.

I did not bring my camera cord, so cannot download photos until I get home. However, Morgan was able to download a couple pictures on the day we arrived... here are my three greatest miracles in life...


And the gorgeous view we get to see from our hotel room... paradise!


Happy New Year!!! We will be back home to the cold and reality on Thursday. :-(

Friday, December 28, 2007

Favorite Foto Friday #20

Wow! My 20th FFF and the last for 2007!!! This week, it is of my little Christmas Diva in her Christmas PJ's...

Twas the night before Christmas and she is "pretending" to go to sleep in her big girl bed... little faker... she will only sleep in Mommy's' bed, but gladly posed for pictures in her own bed!


Who could get mad at this face?


My little Christmas Diva in her new Dora sunglasses from Grant.


And my little Bug with her Sissy in her new ladybug tent. She would not go in it until Sissy showed her how.


Have a wonderful weekend! We are making an impromptu trip somewhere to have a family "escape" while the kids are out of school for the week. Destination has yet to be determined... just a little adventure for our little family!

Don't forget to comment if you would like me to link your FFF post this week! Hope everybody had a wonderful Holiday Season... I cannot believe it is already over!!
Sabra & Caleb
Kerri & Ruby
The McKenzie Crew
Christina's Gorgeous Men
Becca's Family
Amy, Steve & Ethan
Holly, Gia & Nino
Robyn & Gabriella
Lisa's Family
Tracy & Brenda
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Alleen & Gabriella
Kelly & Kemry
Stephanie & Maya
Kelly & Skylie
Krystal, Tia & Parker
Lou, Anne Pearce & Essie

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Friday, December 21, 2007

Favorite Foto Friday #19

This week's FFF is of my daughter Morgan. She is 15 years old and I am still astounded at how grown up and beautiful she has become! Where did my baby go? The saying is true... they grow up in a flash, so don't blink!!!



She is the greatest big sister ever and Sophie just adores her.


If you would like me to link your FFF, please leave a comment. This has become so much fun!
Becca & Ella
Holly, Gia & Nino (private blog)
Stephanie & Maya
Rachel's Birthday Angels
Sabra & Sofia
Christina & Aiden
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Lisa & Sophia
Becky, Juliana & Amaya
Tracy & Brenda
Kelley & Aidan
Nancy & Victoria
Kerri & Ruby
Kelly, Kollin & Karly
Robyn & Gabriella
Krystal & Elviz
Julia and Her Christmas Blessings
Kelly & Skylar

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Dayli receives her Christmas Tamale Basket!

I know... three posts in the same week! I am just so excited that I found a picture of my little sponsored child, Dayli and her little sister Fristy (on right) with their mother receiving their Christmas Tamale Basket from Mayan Families!



After meeting this sweet family, I feel such a strong connection to them and cannot wait to go back to visit with them in 2008!

I also notice in this picture that her mother is still pregnant with her baby. She told me when I was there that the baby was due December 10th. So, they should be expecting their little Christmas miracle any day now. Sharon tells me that most of the births in San Jorge are home births assisted by a midwife. Very rarely do they go to a hospital, only if complications arise and by then it is usually too late. Please pray for a safe delivery and a healthy baby for Dayli's mother, Regina. Sharon has promised to check in on them for me and will let me know when the baby arrives.