Happy Birthday Sophie~Bug!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Sophie~Bug!

She woke up this morning (in her big girl bed - because I moved her there in her sleep) and was all excited that she is no longer a baby, but a big girl now! The Birthday Fairy had come and decorated her room with streamers and balloons, which she LOVED!

 

 

 

And, she got to blow out a candle in her special birthday donut!

 

Then, we headed over to lunch at QDoba, her favorite, for rice and beans and realized that Build A Bear was just across the parking lot... she has never been before. LOVE this picture of my two big kids walking with their baby sister!


She picked out a Scruffy Puppy and really enjoyed getting to make him!




The air bath is the best part...


She loves the little house they put the stuffed animal in... she is such a cheeser though!


Then... over to the toy store... my big kids talked me into getting her an inflatable bounce house... this child is IN LOVE with bouncers. I know it will get alot of use. She jumped for two hours this afternoon... and Morgan and Grant took turns in there with her...




She and Scruffy the Puppy chilled out to read some books while we watched the Ky Derby tonight... this is truly her favorite thing to do... read books. She so carefully turns each page and talks as she recites what she remembers the words are to each story.


Does she look comfy or what?


This is happiness... true bliss!


Tonight, she fell asleep in the car after dinner at her choice "Wendy's" - yuck and then ice cream at my (er... her) favorite, Coldstone. So, she is once again in the big girl bed... I am so excited! More tomorrow as the family comes over to help her celebrate!

Favorite Foto Friday #38 - HAVING A BALL!

The theme for this week's FFF is all about your kids doing their favorite things or trying out something new!

Tonight, Sophie got to play her version of what she called "baseball" with a golf club, golf ball and tee... she had so much fun figuring it all out without anybody telling her what to do. I enjoyed watching her creativity with them!










And... something new... as recommended by many FFF'ers, I will post the theme for next week's FFF each Friday. That way, you will have a whole week to find or create that perfect picture. I am also open to ideas of future themes, just leave them with your comments!! So... NEXT week's FFF theme will be "Mommy and Me" in honor of Mother's Day weekend! Come on everybody... let's see those beautiful children with their mommies!

Lastly... it is Derby Week in Kentucky! The first Saturday in May will behold the greatest two minutes in sports! It will also be a 3rd Birthday for a very special little Bug. I will update this weekend with pictures of my birthday girl!


Looking forward to seeing your FFF for the week!! Please leave a comment if you would like me to link your post! If your profile is private, please also leave your blog address!

UPDATE: Blogger is having problems notifying me of comments. If I somehow leave you off the links, please let me know (you will know I linked you if I posted a comment back to your blog). I try to keep things updated up through lunchtime and then again after dinner... the rest of the day, I gotta keep up with work... darn job - LOL!

Mindy, Walker & Hadlee - First FFF!
Sarah & Anna
Tina, Toby & Liliana
Tonya, Brent, Zach & Gabe
Amy, Brayden & Malayna
Sabra, Maya & Sofia
Christina, Emily, AShley & Madeline
Rachel, Makensie, Madison, Makan & Max
Steve, Amy, Ethan & Mia
Faith, Hope & Love Mama, Autumn, Mara & Ian
Tracy & Brenda
Tricia & Sofia
Becca & Ella
Aves & Tuks
Misty, Maddy & Lyza
Maddy
Kelly & Skylie
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Carrie & Savannah
Kathy & John
Dena & Annie
Michelle, Dylan & Dominic
Rachel & Riley
Rebekah & Jaden
Ellie, Angelena & Angelo
Kelli & Kaleb
Tracy, Matt & Emmy
Becky, Juliana & Amaya
Hannah, Dmitry & Sophia - First FFF!
Soltana, Derek & Cerah
Lisa & Madeline
Marianne, Finn & Chloe
Lindsey, Chris & Eliana - IN PGN!! YEAH!!
Laurie & Bella
Amy & Joey
Lauren, Amanda & Adam
Rachel & her Philippine cuties
Jenelle special prayer request for Carter!!!!
Timberly, Dawson, Daeton, Emmy & Ella
Kim & her three blessings
Amanda, Mary, Mason & Matthew - not feeling well, give her a little love!
Amy, Regan, Carson & Brooklyn
Mandy & Jadon
Jennifer, F, K & M
Becky & Tabatha
Laurie, Kari, Mindy & Joe
Robyn & Gabriella
Kelly, Craig & Courtney
Gina - PLEASE PRAY FOR CARTER!!!
Kerri & Ruby

CRAZY TIMES

Blogging to me means sharing our joys with our friends and family. Sharing the difficulties in our every day lives is hard for me... but I admire those who can reach out and share those personal moments with others. The past few months have been rough in our family and I have chosen to keep things private. I appreciate the e-mails and the many prayers that have been sent our way. Maybe someday I will find a way to share the good as well as the bad and ugly. For now, I want to keep our family blog as a scrapbook of the miracles and blessings in our lives... which I never forget even in our darker times... are VERY plentiful!

Keeping the glass half full and looking for the wonder in the everyday things is what I wake up every day and try to do. And, I have a few precious faces that help me remember that I am blessed beyond measure...





Hopefully, things will settle down and I will be back to blogging more regularly soon... I know I have some promised post catchups to do as well as my Pay It Forward and a give away opportunity!

Favorite Foto Friday #37 - SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods, but here in KY, Spring has finally sprung! The parks are full of people, kites are flying, flowers and trees are blooming and people are enjoying sitting outside at almost every sidewalk cafe. This is truly one of my favorite times of year!

For this week's FFF, I am posting some pics from our little trip to the zoo on Thursday. All the animals were out enjoying the warm weather and we were finally able to pull out the shorts and sandals and had a great time! Thanks Auntie Susan and Andrew for joining us... it was so relaxing to just wander through the zoo and leave all the errands and chores for another time. Time spent with our children on a beautiful day TOGETHER is priceless!

SO excited to see the zebras!!


My little sassy diva on the playground! Look at that attitude!


Just chillin!


This is her pensive look...


Whee!! This Bug LOVES to swing... we have been to the park or out in our backyard swinging every night this week!




I so love this baby girl!


Also, a huge shout out to my friend, Alma, who arrived home last week with her beautiful baby Natalia! She was blessed with a wonderful agency and incredible timeline and her gorgeous daughter joined her mommy at home at the age of 5 1/2 months old! Congratulations Alma!

Please leave a comment if you would like me to link your FFF post this week.
Christina, Emily, Madeline & Ashley
Misty, Madisyn & Lyza
Maddy & Lyza
Jennifer, K, M & F
Sarah & Anna
Aves, Tuks, Cheetah & Panda
Lilysmom and Lily - First FFF!
Linda, Claire and soon, Ruth!
Becky, Juliana & Amaya
Megan & Mackenzie
Becca, Myles & Ella
Rachel, Max & Makan
Kerri & Ruby
Katie, Brayden & Arianna
Ellie, Angelena & Angelo
Marianne, Finley & Chloe
Tina, Liliana & Toby
Christina & Aiden
Lisa & Madeline
Kerry & Cameron
Rebekah & Jaden
Carrie & Savannah
Tricia, Victoria & Sofia
Kathy & John
jamie, Jalyn & Justice
Soltana, Derek & Cerah
Laurie & Bella
Rachel & Riley
Jenelle & Colter
Stacey & Luke
Heidi & Emmi
Laurie, Kari, Mindy & Joe
Kelly, Kemry & Karson
Michelle, Dylan & Dominic
Katie, Madeleine & Audrey
Lisa & Sophia
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Tracy & Brenda
Lauren, Amanda & Adam
Amy & Brayden
Amanda, Mason & Matthew
Robyn & Gabriella
Timberly, Dawson & Daeton - First FFF!
Jennifer, Sara, Rachel, Ali & McCaleb
Beth & Isabella Faye
Becky & Tabitha
Ruthie & Liliana

Dayli gets her pictures!

In December, I sent a package down to Dayli with pictures from our time together in November. The package inadvertently got buried under some other things but Sharon with Mayan Families finally delivered them to her this week. Today, she sent me pictures of Dayli receiving them... isn't she a beautiful child?




And look how happy she is to see the pictures of us together! I can't wait to see and hug on this beauty again!

Favorite Foto Friday #36 - SIBLINGS

I have reserved this Special Edition FFF in honor of SIBLINGS as I have a very special post about a very special little guy that just happens to be the biological brother of my Sophie~Bug. His name is Daniel and he is 11 months older than Sophie and just the most handsome, sweetest and tender hearted little guy. His family and ours are so blessed to know one another and have been able to get together several times with the kids over the past couple years. It has definitely been one of those unexpected blessings that have come from adoption... one I never would have imagined! Luckily, our families get along so well and of course, we think our children are just beautiful and even more so... together.

So, last week in Destin, they were able to join us for a few days at the beach and I will share a few pictures of them together as my FFF!

Cheesy smile on Bug, but Daniel sure looks gorgeous!


He was so protective of Sophie and tried to put his arm around her.


They had so much fun on the beach together.




I will leave more of the story for a later post since this is FFF!

Looking forward to your SIBLINGS FFF!! And, to not exclude any only children... don't forget about furry siblings (I consider my dogs my furbabies)!! And, as always, you never have to follow a theme... just post your FFF and leave a comment and I will link you!! FFF has grown tremendously the past couple of months and is alot of fun! I look forward to checking in with everybody every week!! Thanks for participating and leaving comments here!!

Rachel, Makensie, Madison, Makan & Max
Kerri & Ruby
Tonya, Brent, Zach & Gabe
Stephanie & Jaden
Lisa & Madeline
Stephanie & Alex
Jennifer, F, M & K
Christina, Emily, Ashley & Madeline
Lauren, Amanda & Adam
Lisa & Sophia
Becky, Juliana & Amaya
Kelly & Skylie
Tina, Toby & Liliana - First FFF!
Kelly, Karson & Kemry
Denise, K, F, E & L
Tricia, Victoria & Sofia
Michelle, Dylan & Dominic
Farrah, Madisyn, Gracie & Austin
Misty, Madisyn & Lyza
Amy, Brooklyn, Regan & Carson
Tracy & Brenda
Kelli & Kaleb
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Janelle & Colter
Laurie, Mindy & Joe
Ellie, Angelena & Angelo
Heidi, Emmi & Jake
Christina Kelsey, Clara & Aiden
Kelley & her 7 Blessings
Dena & Annie
Jennisa, Avery & Olivia
Amy, Nathan, Jeff, Giovanni, Kayla & Samantha
Beccay, Myles & Ella
Marianne & her furry babies
Tracy, Matt & Emmy
Kathy, John, Mia & Shoshie
Dori & Annalise - private
Three Handprints Beautiful Boys
Katie, Madeleine & Audrey
Amy, Joey & Honey
Sharon & Anna Maria
Rachel & Riley - First FFF!
Amanda, Mary, Mason & Matthew
Rachel & her Philippino cuties
Amy & Steve - Happy Anniversary!
Aves, Tuks & Heathcliff, Einstein & Murph
Ruthie & Liliana
Jill & Mario
Jamie, Jalyn & Justice
Robyn & Gabriella
Laurie & Bella
Amy, Brayden & Malayna
Becky & Tabitha

Wordless Wednesday