Super Grover 2.0 revisited

Ruby was in the mood to wear her Super Grover hat and cape today while watching her favorite super hero on Seasame Street.....we had to oblige.

Happy Halloween!

Ruby truly got to partake in the Halloween festivities this year... and loved every bit of it.  She loved walking up the steps everyday and gently patting her pumpkin that sat on a step toward the top.  We carved her pumpkin on Sunday.  Obviously Ruby got no where close to the knife, but we drew some shapes on the Magna-Doodle and let her pick which shapes should be the eyes, the nose, and the mouth.  Suprisingly, she chose a pretty standard looking pumpkin.

Trick or Treat Night was this Tuesday.  We took Ruby to the local mall.  We met a few friends there.  The stores hand out candy and we thought it would be a bit warmer than going around the neighborhood.  It was a zoo to say the least!  I think we will try the neighborhood out next year... Regardless, Ruby loved it.  She loves to play in her SuperGrover cape and hat already, but once she learned that dressing up gets you candy, Ruby was sold on the idea of Halloween!  She got a little shy when it got to asking strangers for candy and Mom had to push her through the crowds of kids. Although, she had saying "trick or treat" mastered, she wouldn't make a peep to them, but as soon as they lowered the bowl to let her chose, she wasn't shy at all about reaching in for some candy!

Today, on Halloween, Ruby had a Halloween Party at school.  Parents hung around for the first half hour and got to see the true madness of 5 almost 2 year olds (or just turned 2).  Here are a couple picks of Ruby hammering golf tees into the pumpkin and trying to get all 5 to look the same way at once.  The only reason we even had a chance was that it was snack time!

Ruby is dreaming now in her sugar coma, and Mom and Dad are picking through the candy.  Just as Halloween should be! :)

Fall leaves...

remind me of a time.  O yeah, one year ago.  I have found myself everyday this week thinking about how fast Ruby is growing up.  How strange it is that in almost 4 months, she will be 2!  This year is going even faster than the last.

She explores every environment and loves her freedom and being around us in the perfect sort of way.  She comes up with her own ideas, sings her own songs, and notices things in the world that I don't, and yet, she always wants me around.  I know that will change some day.  Right now, we are in the business of appreciating the small things and rediscovering the world.

Ruby one year ago:

Ruby helping me with the leaves yesterday.  She was actually more interested in picking them up and putting them in the yard waste bin, then playing with them.  I think she gets that from her dad. :)

Here's more pics of her playing outside yesterday and a couple in her new booster seat today.  She was pretty proud to be at the table like a big girl.

Grandparents

Bapa, Papa, Babcha, and Grammy... some of Ruby's favorite people.

When we aren't with them, we spend our days talking about them.  Ruby loves how they are all so ready to play and so excited to see her.  Mom and Dad love how we get a little break here and again.  We are so blessed to have four grandparents that support Ruby and her parents so often.  Makes life so much easier.  They all have different things to teach her about the world, and since she is a big sponge lately, she is ready to learn any lesson.

This weekend she learned about chickens, finding eggs (and eating them), picking tomotoes, applying make up, and finding the moon in the night sky.  A couple of weeks ago when she had a night at the Wagner's, she learned about "good" music, choo-choos, lawn mowers, beer gardens, and iPads.

Both grandmas are good about sending us pictures when we are away.  While we welcome a break every now and then, we quickly miss our goofy busy sweet girl.

Here are some pictures that Ruby's grandparents have shared with us over the past few months.

Babcha, Papa, Bapa, and Grammy - we love you!

Nate's Wedding

This weekend we headed out West for my cousin Nate's wedding. My aunt Jeanne and uncle Tom have lived there for a long time and so I have been there a few times, but this was Ruby's first. Thursday evening we left from Des Moines. Two 2 hour trips out and two 2 hour trips back. Ruby did really good... though her mommy was exhausted. She sat on Mommy's lap most of the time and played with the assortment of toys and books we brought, a little with Mommy's tablet, and some with the random things we could find around us. During one of our flights, we had an empty seat next to us - a Godsend!

 Once out there, it took her a bit to get her bearings. The first night we arrived late 8:30 PM Reno time (10:30 at home). We got to the hotel and put Ruby right to bed. She fell right asleep, but not having her bearings, she woke up in the middle of the night screaming. We couldn't calm her and we tried everything... rocking, Mommy and Daddy's bed, Tylenol... all the tricks weren't working! We finally asked her what she wanted and she pulled her binkie out and said "Bapa!" I was ready to send her to Bapa's room at that point! Finally being exhausted, she let me rock her and we got her back down. Sleep was no problem the rest of the trip, once she figured out where she was and where Bapa was. :)

 Ruby approached each new experience with caution. Hesitant in the bowling alley... but 2 hours later loving it. She especially loved the big kids maze that Daddy and Great Uncle Dave got to chase her through. Ruby on foot is much faster than Daddy on hands and knees! Hesitant at the reception, but later loving running around outside and on the dance floor. Hesitant in the photo booth... okay, she never really got over that one. :)  Grammy and Bapa on the other hand were none to hesitant with their rendition of the American Gothic... Grammy's loving that I put these pics up. ;)

 It was a fun wedding with the fullest dance floor I have ever seen. Ruby loved finally getting to meet her Great Uncle Tom and Great Aunt Jeanne, and her "cousins" Pat, Roxy, Connor, Iowa, Nate and Ashlee! Hope to see them all sometime soon... hopefully we won't wait for another wedding. If we do, will it be Sam or Ellie?? :)

On the ride home, Ruby stayed well occupied with my glass of water and ice (and maybe a few other things). She got very tired during our 3 hours in the Denver airport. She did love standing at the big windows watching the planes and the "choo-choos" transporting the luggage. Somehow, we lucked out, and she fell asleep on the way home. We survived!

First Day of School

Okay, pretty far from the first day of school, but today was our first day of Play Group.  Twice a week Ruby goes to a near by church for Play Group.  The facility also has a preschool, so if we like the program we can continue going there through the next few years.  Ruby goes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-11:30.

It was a pretty crazy day to start, as the three of us got in on a plane at 10:45 last night, and she didn't make it to bed til close to midnight.  She was a trooper though.  Although she shook her head when I told her I was going, she didn't get upset at all.  The first thing she went for was a set of 6 steps that leads to a small slide.  You can imagine this is quite a popular item with toddlers!

When I returned 2.5 hours later, there she was still on the steps... but without her pants!  O goodness, all of the other kids still had their pants on.  What did she get in to?!?  Apparently during snack they gave them water in cups without lids or straws.  Ruby promptly dumped hers in her lap.  Sounded like she wasn't the only one who had problems though and they plan on using straws and lids next time. :)

Anyway, when we went to leave, she wanted to stay and play.  So I am thinking that is a good sign.  Our little girl is growing up!

(More about our weekend away soon!)

Studio Arts 101

A artist hard at work, and a few of her masterpieces.

:)