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The last two days Sophia and I have been watching this video by Feist over and over again. I saw it on Jessi's facebook and I knew Sophia would love it. She goes to creative dance (core-ative dance, she says) and talks through the video. "Whooo now they are all skipping. Oh, now she's flying!"

Hope you enjoy the "rainbow dancers" too.

buddies

These two are getting to be friends. They make each other laugh. In two weeks time Eleanor will be one, and I can't imagine life without her. Sophia alone seems out of place now. Such a funny pair.

We re-organized Sophia's toys and books and all our toy shelves in the LR today. It s quite something what a thrill I get out of a re-organized shelf. I do actually get a little adrenaline rush out of it. Am I alone on that? It looks so great... but the best part was that the girls and I spent a lot of time together while we were doing it. So often I feel like I have to pick spending time with them or doing housework, but today was a great day of both.

Eleanor gives Kisses

So turn your computer 90 degrees clockwise.
And prepare to be wowed by the cuteness.

what we did today

Well, it was a momentous day. After living in our house since July 1, 2006 (the day we started painting) we finally painted the end of the hallway. The end of my hallway holds my laundry area and there is a shelf that is all the linen/household storage I have.

I wanted to take before and after pictures like Heather did with her table, but I had already cleared the shelf by the time I took the picture. So for those of you who had never seen the pit, imagine this shelf complimented with piles of laundry, zip loc bags stuffed every where and jumbled linens all thrown on top. It was nasty!


And now....


I'm so happy!!!! Shout out to the brown boxes Angela gave me..

And speaking of Heather, she made me the most amazing altered canvases for the girls with their full names and meanings on them and we finally hung them today. (Because the tool box was at the office, and then we had no nails and then it was Christmas.)

So here they are...


But then we had to take another picture because Sophia forgot to wear her crown in the first one.


BTW, Eleanor's necklace is one that she puts on herself. She puts on necklaces and scarves and things her own every day, and then climbs onto chairs and sits the right way round and likes to rock. It is pretty great, but the other day her "scarf" was a particularly festive pair of panties...


That's my girl!

Epiphany

Some of My Favourite Photos* of 2007

If 2007 had a theme for me, it was joy. Our 2nd baby girl, our Joie-baby, came to us, as well as the increasing revelation that in order to really experience joy, I need to be brave enough to be awake to all the tough stuff that life brings too. I am so glad that this was the year we seemed to be ourselves again, to find much joy (at times amid sorrow) and be in a place now to dream bigger dreams.

It is also from this place that I was able to bid farewell to my dearest Angela, going across the water with her man for a rest. What a hole to have inside me; what deep, deep joy I have for you, Ange. I can't wait to see your new home and life in Oz. Happy Birthday today, dear Angie Angie. It is no coincidence that you feature greatly in the following group of my fave snaps of last year.

When Sandra took this picture, our beautiful Eleanor was only a few minutes old. We had her at home and called excited godparents Ange and Leigh to come right over. When they got there, we said, "It's a girl, and if it's alright with you, we'd like to call her Angela Eleanor Joie."


My Dad, Bob at Sophia's 3rd birthday. One of the only photos in existence of him really smiling.


My auntie Gill, my godmother, my friend.


At our 10th wedding anniversary, Kits Beach. We're praying. Or taking a quick nap.


Me and my sister Angela. Sometimes people get us mixed up.


The last time we did this and people banged their glasses for us to kiss, it seemed our hands were more free...


Sophia and my brother (although she insists he is HER brother) Matt.


Out for sushi at the eatery on Leigh's birthday.



Sophia sleeping at "Joie", my cousin Michael's farm and winery.



I know this one was on a recent blog, but it is really a fave....



Christmas Eve. Our girls. (How did we get two - 2! - kids - who are so big and great and funny?) Amazing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!


*Photos 1 - 7 & 11 are copyright 2007 Sandra Vander Schaaf Photography . If you wish to copy, share, print or use these photos in any way, contact Sandra first for permission. Cheers.