Sophie Lu & the Bouganvilla (practicing w/ my new camera)

Sophie's 1st SNOW!!!

Sophie Lu has always wanted to see snow- especially this Christmas Season, she has been talking about it non-stop. She talks about throwing snowballs, sledding, and what she wants to do in the snow the very most: make Snow Angels! Well, she is lucky enough to go to an amazing preschool that has an annual "Snow Day"! They actually brought in tons and tons of snow by the truckload so the kids could experience real snow!

Needless to say, Sophie Lu was VERY excited! This is her, "I'm soooo happy and excited laugh"! I just love it when she laughs this way (it makes me cry!!!)...

But what really made me emotional was seeing my sweet girl making her very first Snow Angels! She's been making imaginary Snow Angels in the grass at home for so long- and she even makes Sand Angels on the beach in Florida. I was so thankful that she got to experience this right in her school playground!

.............Me and my very happy sweet Sophie Lul!

So the second thing she did was make and throw snowballs... at ME! :)


..................And here she is in line for the sled...

I was so nervous, but look at her smiling way up there!

.............................................Weeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

................................I love this picture-

I think Sophie rode the sled more times than any other kid in her class! Here she is with her best friend Annabelle...

.............And again with her friend Matthew!

And after Sophie's class was done playing in the snow, her teacher served hot cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream. Sophie was so reflective while she sipped... I just love how much she loves and appreciates every new experience-

............................ "Cheers to Snow Day!!!!"

Sophie's Christmas House (my 1st parent-project)

A few weeks before Christmas, Sophie's teacher assigned a "Parent Project". I really didn't think I would get homework when Sophie started school, but apparently I was wrong! lol Her teacher wanted each child's parents to make a house for the Christmas Village she was creating in her classroom. Easy, I thought... I'll just glue some cotton balls on a shoe box and call it a day. Wrong!!! When some of the other parents started bringing their houses in, I knew I would need more than cotton balls (I'm a tad bit competitive)...

So I bought tons of materials and tried lots of different things... and this is what we ended up with! Michael used masking tape and shoe boxes for the main structure, roof, and chimney. Then, I used wafer cookies for the shutters, lace doilies for window accents, colored sugar crystals and candy sprinkles for the "stucco", opalescent snowflakes for the roof, and dried hydrangea petals from my garden for the wreath and ivy accents...

I must say, my house was a hit (and the prettiest one in the village if I don't say so myself)! Next time, though, I will remember to paint the inside of the house, and I plan to use dollhouse lights to illuminate it from within.

Okay... I confess... I cheated! I had the masterful Sophie Lu help me with my project (shhhh... don't tell the teacher)!!!

And she was so proud, too! We had so much fun working on this project together- I'm sure that soon enough, I will be the one helping her on her projects... and I can't wait!