Sophie Lu's 1st Lemonade Stand!

Sophie Lu was so excited to host her very own lemonade stand! She decided that she would charge 25 cents a glass, and that her lemonade should be "cold and refreshing"! We converted her puppet theatre into a lemonade stand and set it up in the porte-cochere so her customers could enjoy their lemonade in the shade. Here she is putting the finishing touches on her sign!

She was SO proud! Everything was ready to go!

Oh, except she realized that she forgot to add the fresh mint leaves from our garden (her idea)!

Now all she needed was customers... she waited and waited....

Luckily, we had construction going on at our house and the crew was hot and thirsty! (I set up a bowl of quarters in the back & told the guys when to line up! Shhh don't tell her! ) :)

Sophie's very first customer! I love how she puts her arms up like that when she's excited!


And nothing compares to that happy smile! She was laughing the whole time!

And when they put the coins in her jar, she would *pretend* not to be looking! lol (notice baby Sasha in the background!)

"Here's your lemonade, sir! I hope you enjoy it!

And they did... we all did! ♥

Mommy and Baby Sasha posing with Little Miss Entrepreneur!

And Daddy too!

Here's your coin jar, Sophie Lu!!!

Yay!!!!!!!

Happy 5th Birthday, Sophie Lu!!!!

Sophie Lu had several small celebrations this year, but this is the cake from her ballerina party... she wanted cherry blossoms like last year. ♥

Sophie's ballet teacher Miss Caroline came over, and Sophie got to star in her own private ballet recital at our house!!

Miss Caroline did the girls' hair and makeup (but Sophie's "Cinderella do" was courtesy of Mommy- because I do it best). :)

Ballerinas: Megan, Julia & Sophie Lu (with Miss Caroline)!

I had the video camera in one hand and the camera in my other.. so I didn't get the best photos-lol!

So cute! The ballet recital was adorable! The girls had so much fun, and I think all the parents cried (I know I did)! How is it that Sophie Lu can be FIVE already???

Sophie was so happy and proud! How I love her smile!

Later, Miss Caroline let the girls try on "big girl" toe shoes!!! Sophie was SO excited!

Happy 5th Birthday, my precious Sophie Lu! I love you too much!!! (my letter to Sophie Lu coming soon)! ♥

We're here, we're fine & exciting things are happening...

First of all, my apologies for being away with no explanation for so long... I've been soooo busy (I haven't even approved comments until today)... lots of exciting things going on! For one, Sophie Lu graduated from Pre-K! It was a huge ordeal (so funny)... pics & video to come soon! Second, I just released a set of fine art textures for photographers, and I've been working really hard for the past month putting everything together. I'm happy to say that the launch was very successful, and I've received the most wonderful feedback from the most talented artists/photographers (people I admire greatly)! I've also been contacted with offers from several publishing companies who are interested in my floral images for greeting cards, canvases, and prints to be distributed in Europe and the U.S. :) My website is here: Florabella Collection, and here are a couple of sites that have featured my floral work recently: Decor8 and Secrets of a Butterfly. If anyone is interested, Secrets of a Butterfly is sponsering a giveaway (free Florabella Textures) right now... all you have to do to enter is leave a comment here. :)

Anyway, that's why I've been so busy and have been neglecting my blogs. I really need to get caught up & I feel so bad for not being active in blogland... So please know that we are all well (and don't feel obligated to comment). Thanks so much for your concern... lots of catching up photos & videos coming soon (I promise)! ♥

Eddie (Sophie's 1st Fiance)

Well, here his is... Sophie's very 1st fiance!!! I'll never forget the day she came home from pre-school and announced that she was getting married. Here's how the conversation went:

Sophie: Guess what, Mommy? I'm going to get married with Eddie!
Me: What? Who is Eddie?
Sophie: He's my boyfiriend, Mom. And we're gonna get married- just like you and Daddy!
Me: Does he know he's going to marry you?
Sophie: Yes, of course! Everyone knows!
Me: When is the wedding?
Sophie: I don't know yet, but first he has to meet me. Then he has to take me to dinner and give me a ring. I'm going to wear a princess dress and a white thing on my head, like you Mama! And I hope Eddie is a good tie wearer, because he has to wear a black tie!
Me: Wow, Sophie Lu... sounds like you have it all planned out.
Sophie: Yes, and everyoe is invited!

Me: Well you and Eddie are a little young still honey... why do you want to marry him?

Sophie: Because I love him, Mama!

Me: Well, why do you love him?

Sophie: Because he spins me on the tire swing really really fast!

.

So of course I insisted on meeting Eddie (and taking their photos together)! And he confirmed everything Sophie had planned...

I must admit- they do make a cute couple! :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Sophie Lu will always be my first love, and oh how I love her. This is our 4th Mother's Day together. Our first was so painful, as she was still in China and I was here with only her photo to hold. I loved her so deeply and missed her so much even though we hadn't "met" yet. She was born in my heart- her soul was born to me, and my love for her is a love like no other. Now I am blessed to have three little beauties- the loves of my life. My heart is so full.. I am so lucky- this Mother's Day and forever! Here are some of my attempts at "all three" taken on Easter... :)

Itsy Bitsy Spider (in Spanish)

Holding up her fluff

(Taken a while ago)... I'm busy going through my recent Sophie Lu videos & notes for the next few posts :)

Her Beautiful Face...

always takes my breath away... This is part of the series that I took back in February. Unfortunately, she doesn't enjoy our photo shoots so much anymore & even turns away when I try to get candids. This makes me sad because I want to have photos of her at every age & of all the cute/sweet/funny things she does. But I know I need to respect her wishes, and I will. I will be posting some photos from Easter & a few others I've taken, and I'm going to start writing more- she says so many funny things... Oh, and she'll let me take video- so I can post little videos too. She does, however, want me to come to her school and take a photo of her with her "fiance" Eddie... lol (more on that to come)! :)

So sorry :)

So sorry that I've been such an awful blogger (for a long time now).... I've received several comments/emails from people who had a bad feeling or were worried or thought something was wrong. My Grandpa George did pass away early last week, and my Grandpa Orville (the one I made the video for) is in the hospital and not doing very well- so there has been sadness. But all in all, everyone here is fine... just super busy. :)

I have also been spending most of my spare time on my photography hobby which has grown into much more than I ever thought it would. I've been very active on Flickr- almost consistently posting one photo a day there. So I've gotten more behind than ever on my blogs. I have folders of photos ready to post- I just seem to be so forgetful these days! I think they call that "Mommy Brain"?

Anyway, I've been having lots of fun with my new found love- photographing much more than the kids these days. Lots of flowers and still life- and then artistic touches in Photoshop. I find flowers to be much more cooperative than my kids! I have an online gallery set up for my art now and have even made a few sales (the biggest ones from my sweet husband-lol). Here are a couple of my recent pieces, and the rest can be found on my Flickr stream. :)







This hobby has been really great for my frame of mind and attitude... it's kind of therapeutic actually! And it's extra fun because some of my friends (Kim from 3 Peanuts in particular) are into photography as well.... Kim and I talk more than ever now, and I love that (she's so special to me & her talents are endless)!

Anyway, all three kids are doing great! Sophie is turning FIVE next month!!! Ollie is starting to communicate more, and Sasha Lili is as sweet and happy as ever! :)

I am promising myself right now to get all caught up & start posting more regularly... I want to get back to writing more & documenting my kids' lives & all the sweet little things they do! Thanks again to those who were concerned.
:)

That Girl!

I'm trying to figure out who she reminds me of here.... Does anyone else remember "That Girl"? :)



I love the little tendril of hair that curls under Sophie Lu's chin here... I'm still editing photos from several different folders. I have a hard time editing all photos from one session at once, so I tend to skip around a lot. Anyway, another shot of my beautiful girl on the day she decided she was "Ready for my close up, Mama!" :)

We Picture {This}

I was honored to be asked to be a member/contributor to We Picture {this} A Mamarazzi Blog... This was one of the photos I chose for this month's theme of "Black and White". Everyone is invited to participate, and we will be choosing the winner at the end of the month! :)

Pink fur hat, necklace from Uncle Marc, flowers from Daddy & a boyfriend named Eddie???

Sophie said she was making a wish here.... "wishing"about a boy named Eddie!!! WHAT? She says she's going to marry him because he spins her really fast on the tire swing at school.... {sigh} I'm in trouble! :)

Her "Bookini" & Fancy Nancy Shoes!

Sophie Lu has always called bathing suits "kinis" (short for bikini- whether it was a bikini or not)... But recently, she asked me if she could wear her "zuchini"!!! I started chuckling, and then she quickly corrected herself and said "BOOKINI"! Oh, she cracks me up!!! :)



And, of course, she had to wear her beloved Fancy Nancy shoes to go with it.... :)