Sunday was Sofia's first birthday!!!!

But, we had her birthday party on Saturday! Our theme was an Elmo Fiesta!



We had lots of Mexican foods, and a yummy tres leches cake!!!!!! MMMMMmmmmmm.....



Sofia had a ball, and couldn't understand why everyone was making such a fuss over her!! She was the perfect angel, and shared her toys with her big brother and sisters, who couldn't keep their hands off all of the new toys!! Ha ha!!






She didn't like the little Elmo cake I made for her-she wouldn't even touch it!! Her cousins LOVED the little Elmo cupcakes I made, though!!(Sorry-no pic of the cupcakes-my camera battery died!!!!)



But, the greatest gift is Sofia, and all the smiles she gives to everyone! She is a true light in our life, and for that we are very thankfull! Happy Birthday to our sweet, sweet baby!!!

Favorite Foto Friday #2-Sorry it is late!

Ok, so I am super late with my FFF!! Sorry!! I was out all day, and unable to get to my computer, and should have had it ready last night, but, then I went to bed instead!!

This weeks favorite photo is of Miss Sofia modeling a little papoos!! My inlaws had a Fall Pow Wow, and everyone dressed up with feathers, while the kids wore indian vests-see Sofia's??(My mother in law did a great job on them!) We had a great time, and there are a lot of great pictures-I'll post some more another time!

Favorite Foto Friday #1

Like I said, I am going to try to keep up with my blog a little more-so, here is my first ever "Favorite Foto Friday". I am not sure that I will be good at keeping it up, but, thought I would give it a whirl! Of course, I couldn't decide on one favorite foto, but here are two that I just love!

Here is Sofia, dressed for the season. She looks so cute in the little princess costume she got from her friend Sol Ana, who wore this last year for Halloween!! Happy Halloween from Princess Sofia!!



Here she is after her lunch, Can you tell?! She had squash and peaches, and it was all over her!!! Mmmmmm...it must have been good!

First ever Wacky Wednesday Photo!

Ok, so I probably won't do the whole "Wacky Wednesday" post as often as some, but this picture of Caleb is absolutely priceless! He is wearing Sofia's sun hat, which he put on his own head!! It has little lady bugs all over it, and Caleb just loves it! He is screaming Cheese!! Mind you, when I attempt to put a baseball cap on this little guy's head he screams and cries!! Ha ha!
Enjoy, and I hope it brings a smile to your face!

Took Maya to get her pictures taken, professionally for the first time...

and she wouldn't even look up at the photographer! I couldn't believe it! She was all dressed up in the special dress that I bought for her when we went to the American Embassy in Guatemala. She looks so pretty in the pink dress, and I wanted to take a picture of her in it before she outgrew it! Well, Maya did not like going in to have her picture taken, and I have to say that it was probably the best thing that happened to us that day! I decided to take her to a local park that I like to take pictures in, and the little model in her emerged! She had a ball, and didn't want to leave when we did! I knew it was going to be fine when I took the first picture, and saw it on the screen! Here are some of the pictures that I took, when she said no to Olan Mills!





















Sorry so many, but these were my favorites!! I told you she loves to have her picture taken!!

Looking back on how much my Guatemalan sweeties have changed!

It's hard to believe how much the kids have changed since we received their referals! Not only has their faces and growing bodies changed, but their personalities have changed as well.
Caleb has been home since he was 6 months old, and he turned 2 in August. I can't find one of his referal pictures on this computer, so I will just have to share an early favorite! I have to admit that Caleb has been our biggest challenge. He has always been a bit demanding, and he has been very verbal! (Ok, so he screams and cries-A LOT!!) Thankfully, he is at last growing out of this a bit! He used to scream at people in the store if they looked at him. Now, he smiles and says"Hi" repeatedly until they speak to him. He actually hugged a stranger in the store the other day! She was very friendly-grandmother of many-and we talked casually, while standing in the isles of Walmart. Caleb just loved her!
Instead of screaming madly at the top of his lungs and crying miserably when he wakes in the morning, he sings out "Momma", or "Daddy", and plays in his bed till we get him! He says "Love ya" when he goes to bed, and our hearts burst with joy!
Oh, if only you knew how far this one has come!!(Some of you do!)

Here is his early picture;


Here he is now:



Sofia came home next, at 6 months, and she will be 1 year old at the end of this month! It is hard to believe that Sofia was ever NOT a part of our family! She is so easy going and laid back! She has always been passive, and she would just set back and let the days go by, and let the Caleb, and Maya step all over her! Well, recently, she has let her personality out, and when they are pestering her, she sqeals! I now see that I don't have anything to worry about with her-she is going to take care of herself! She is a very busy baby-ALWAYS into everything! One look your way, and her face lights up! She is very smiley and giggly! Funny one this one! Huggable and oh, so loveable!!

Here she is in her referal picture-the first picture we ever saw of her:


Here she is now:


Now, Miss Maya, has been home the shortest amount of time, but only a month behind Miss Sofia! This little stinker(Ok, she is an angel) has charmed her way right into everyone's hearts! She reminds us the most of Hannah! So full of life, and spirit! Always smiling, ALWAYS talking!! ;o) Oh, she is going to steal a few boys hearts when she is older! She loves to run and play, and LOVES to be outside and play! She is just one happy little gir full of "ugs" (hugs) and kisses!! Her language has started to explode, and every day she comes up to me and says something in English that blows me away! It seems like she has been with us forever, too!

Here is Maya in the first picture we ever saw of her:


Here she is now:


And even though Miss Hannah is not from Guatemala, and has been with us all her life, I didn't want to leave her out. She is a great big sister, who has had to go from being a single child to the oldest of four in just a few short years of her life! She has shown what an amazing spirit and love she has, as she has adjusted wonderfully! Yeah, sure, there are days she is ready to ship them back to Guatemala, but I know she love them! This little chick is full of life, laughter, and silliness! She is 9 going on 16, which of course makes for some fun times around here, as we always remind her of her actual age! LIfe is a trip with Miss Hannah, and we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

Here is my Little Miss Independent:

Made in Guatemala Photoshoot!

I decided to dress Caleb, Maya and Sofia in their shirts they got from our adoption agency and take a picture! The shirts have a picture of a Quetzal, Guatemala's national bird, and a picture of the country of Guatemala. They say "Made in Guatemala" in Spanish! As you can see, they weren't in the mood for a photoshoot!! Oh, well-maybe another day!

Sleeping Sofia

Sofia falls asleep just about every day in her high chair, around 10:30am. You can pretty much set your watch to it! She usually falls asleep while taking a bottle, or eating a snack. She will sleep about 20 minutes, and wakes back up, and goes right back to what she was doing! I believe they are little power naps! She always wakes back up with a big grin on her face and ready to face the rest of the day, at least until naptime!

Here she is just pretending to be asleep!
Now, I couldn't let you think she slept all the time, now, could I?

Birthdays, Birthdays, and soon to be another birthday!

It has been a busy couple of months! Caleb turned 2 last month on the 24th of August, and little Miss Maya turned 3 on September 13. We have been celebrating for a couple of months, now, and it's not over, yet!(Although, we have a second to recoupe!) Sofia's first birthday is on October 28th!!

Here are a few pictures from Caleb's birthday:

Choo choo Cake!

Help "me me" blow out the cake, Daddy!

Hurry and get it out of the box!!

Move over, I'm cruisin in my 3 wheeler that my Grandma & Grandpa got me!

I love balloons!!

Choo Choo!!


Ahhh...such a devilish grin.....


If you haven't noticed by now, Caleb ADORES choo choos! He sleeps with these little metal/hard plastic contraptions!!! He has to have one in his hand every second of the day! He eats, drinks, sleeps for choo choos!!








Maya had a Dora birthday party! She loves Dora and Diego, although she is not big on TV! (She would much rather be outside playing in the yard, and swinging!!)




It was fun to see Maya's eyes light up with each new gift! I think the fact that she realized these toys were all hers, really touched her! She was so excited to open each package, and move onto the next! She LOVED all of her gifts, and was so excited to have everyone over for a party!


Here are a few pictures from her party:



Dora!!

Princess Maya with her daddy and Dora cake!

Cheese!

Why do they put all this paper on my gifts?

My new chair!

I just loved this picture! Who me? My birthday? All of this for me?

My new clothes!

Princess Maya in her princess outfit and new jacket!

After everybody left, I tried out my new set of wheels from my Mommy and Daddy This is from yesterday, when Maya was able to drive in the day light hours!!
Caleb is along for the ride!