Studio Arts 101

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

:)

Boppy?

Ruby has lots of words now... everything from hat to pasta to house to candy. Mind you, you really have to have your listening ears ready, and context clues and some pointing don't hurt either. Anyway, she still has not said Mama (or really anything that uses the 'm' sound). This weekend Steve and I went away for our anniversary, and Ruby stayed with Babcha and Papa. She had a ball and really didn't have a problem with us leaving at all. I am attaching some of Helen's pictures of the weekend. From what I hear, there were carousels, a train, a beer garden, and lots and lots of chasing after Bailey (Uncle Erik's dog). Anyway, besides some time just the two of us, we did get some else out of the weekend. I finally received a title, as thus far I have still been the woman with no name. Her version of Mommy comes out Boppy, and so it is. You would think I would be excited that my little girl can finally call out for me, but Boppy??? Kinda sounds like a clown name. :) Guess I will live it and hope that it evolves into something cute and I am not still Boppy 5 years from now!

The Cabin

Every August the Reicks Family gets together in Northern Wisconsin and Ruby's great aunt Eileen's cabin.  I think most of us look forward to it all year.  It isn't a long trip, usually just a couple days, but those days are full of swimming, eating, playing games, golfing, a few craft projects, and a bit of shopping at our favorite local "random junk" store.

Ruby had a great time.  It was fun to see her warm up to people she hasn't seen in a while.  She had fun with Noah and Hannah, but also some of Mommy's younger cousins - Micaela, Casey, and Kassidy.  She swam in the lake with everyone, and although our entrance into the water was not a graceful one.  She loved kicking and splashing, as long as she was close to Mom. :)  

 

The foods of summer!

Ruby loves her ice cream!!  Corn on the cob was a hit too. :)

The Fourth of July

With the 4th fall mid-week, we didn't have much for plans. We started by visiting our new friend Hathaway (Hattie) at the hospital.  Ruby has been obsessed with babies ever since!

All summer it has been crazy hot, but this time we decided to brave it.  Our friend Shad joined us at the parade.  Ruby was amazed.  She quietly sat in my lap and watched every pick-up, golf cart, and fire truck roll by.  We got loaded up with candy, as she was one of the only kids on the whole block.  Right at the beginning some man handed her a flag, and she sat there sweetly waving the flag throughout the whole thing.

My favorite story from the parade was that she stared and watched as all the pick-ups full of Republican canidates rolled by.  Equally amused with all of them.  Then following the Republicans, Leonard Boswell's truck rolled by.  Rep. Boswell waved at Ruby, and for the first time the whole parade, she waved back! :)  I always knew she was a Democrat. ;)

That night we went to the fireworks.  Windsor Heights (a suburb near by) put on a good display at a park with live music.  Ruby loved the music, the park, and being able to run free, but by the time the fireworks started she was exhausted.  She watched the first few, but then looked at me and signed "nigh nigh".  I tried to keep her going, but she laid on the blanket next to me and tried to get comfortable and then finally got in her stroller and started waving "bye bye" to each firework.  Take the hint Mom and Dad! 

Door County

So this year the Wagner Family Vacation took us to Door County.  We stayed in a nice condo right on the lake.  Ruby loved being so close to the water and persuaded her papa to take her down to the water where she could touch a couple of times.

During our days there, we bounced around to several little towns.  We saw lighthouses, cherry trees, the inside of a few drinking establishments, and Ruby's favorite, cows.  Ever since this trip, Ruby yells out "Boo!" as we drive down the highway.  Her way of saying "Where are the cows?"  (which say boo instead of moo... as the girl still can't say her M's)  Ruby also enjoyed the several ice cream stops and the many playgrounds that neighbor the shops in the area.

Following Door County, we went to Kohler so the guys could golf.  Ruby, Babcha, and Mama spent a relaxing day checking out the grounds, meeting up with a friend from Wisconsin. and finding some food.

What a fun trip!

Memorial Day Weekend

On Memorial Day weekend, we celebrated Ruby's Grammy Judy's 60th birthday.  Mom, Dad, Grammy, Grandpa, and Ruby rode together in the Acura to visit Uncle Sam in Chicago.  Ruby loved her first taste of Harris Pizza in Davenport, and only slept a short while during the entire trip!

We stayed in Uncle Sam's house, and as a group enjoyed a ball game or two, a nice meal in and a nice one out, and tried to stay as cool as we could, during some very hot nights in the city.

Ruby especially loved Sam's roommate's dog, Grammy's cookies, and some porcelain ducks she found on a window sill.  It's the little things. ;)