headband

Two girls, one headband.




Life is good.

Peas on Earth

We're still here!

Thanks for your patience! We've included some pictures of our fast-growing girls.

Merry Christmas.

Zombie-walkin' baby

Elsa is walking!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfq0zs7TRoM

Elsa's First Birthday

So Elsa turned one at the beginning of September and we're FINALLY getting around to posting about it.

She's pretty chill though so she doesn't seem to mind our delayed posting...

Reflections on Elsa's first year:
Man, what a gift this little girl is. She is, to me, the very definition of joy.
From her squeels, to her monster face, from her laugh, to her determined demands, Elsa is an absolute treat.


So how did we celebrate?

On her actually birthday we headed down to the beach for a picnic. Birthday hat in tow!



Guys! Birthdays are awesome!

Um... is there something on my head?

Look Mama! It's a hat with a candle on it! Rad!

Oh how I adore these girls.

Elsa is getting more inquisitive and more mischievous as she grows, evidence below...

Clara sometimes needs a pedicure break from Elsa's crazy romping.

A week after her actual birthday, we celebrated with a party with family and friends. Despite the cold weather, we had a blast at our new neighborhood park and were so thrilled to celebrate this special occasion for our little big girl.

First we played:

Grammy and Elsa (eyes closed) :)

Moms, kiddos, and swings.

One of our new SC friends! Caleb!

Papa helps Elsa off the slide.

Elsa the Explorer!

Our fearless girl.

Then we ate:

cupcakes!

Yummy things made by Chef Auntie Coco!

E cake! (Similar to C's first birthday cake!)

First birthday picture. I think she was done by this point.

Then we sang:

I love the pride I see in my face in this photo.

Happy Birthday, dear Elsa!

She wasn't sure at first... but then she devoured her cake.
That's my girl.

Next up, a little photo shoot:

She's a happy peanut.

And some other snapshots:

Papa and Auntie Coco

Clara and Genevieve

Tia and the birthday girl

The proud parents.

Happy Birthday Elsa! We're so glad you were born!

Cake is the only thing that matters!

Elsa's first birthday party was a wild success.

Reminds us a bit of this blog post:

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/10/god-of-cake.html

More pictures of our one year old will be posted soon.

Feeding time at the zoo.

Elsa rocks out

Clara the Dancing Camel

New video of the girlies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BySpUcg22jo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Sisters

Hilarious. That is all.

Ranch 2011

If the Pacific Northwest is where I feel the most at peace, then The Ranch is that place for Drew.

The Ranch deserves capital letters, for it is a magical place where the LaForge family has gathered for many years.

Over the past few years, the LaForge clan has experienced a lot of loss. But as we gathered on July 3rd this year, I was reminded of the strength of this incredible family, who turn to one another in both joy and sorrow. The Ranch was owned by Drew's grandfather, Dr. LaForge, who was an exceedingly kind and wise man and who, I can only imagine, is looking down in love as we gathered together to celebrate.

Although the 105 degree heat is not my cup of (iced) tea, I loved watching Drew settle into this special place while introducing our girls to the magic that is The Ranch.




Billy cooling us down with the hose.

The girls spent much of the day in the pool in the shade.

Clara getting her new mark on the wall.

Papa and Elsa.

Auntie Coco

Baby Calf

Elsa stayed inside (smart girl). I rocked my cowgirl hat, courtesy of Cyrus and Abbie Brown.

Grammy and Clara shared a special reading time.

Guitars are absolutely required at The Ranch.

Sarah and Elsa

Cousins!

Clara brought her trike.

Elsa loved Marc

The Gang with Grammy...

and with Papa.

And all of us together.

I consider myself blessed to be part of this wacky and amazing crew.