updates.

Well, technically it IS a stool, just a very small step stool.  Ruby came into the living room last week with her new found step stool and thought she'd use it just the same as the other human sized one we have. 

You've got to hand it to the girl, she made it work.  The Kruse girls are nothing if not resourceful.

Stella and her new Hello Kitty player hat. We'll call it an early birthday present. Love it!

A super and impromptu visit to Indiana last weekend was great to get a quick fix on family.  The reason for the visit wasn't so pleasant, but it was very needed.  Stella and Ruby's Grandpa is not feeling well.  :(  And we needed to spend some time visiting with him in the hospital.  The girls and I spent almost exactly 24 hours in Fort Wayne, the rest of our time was spent in Anderson.  Stella sure was happy to see the Landrigan girls and sleep with them on the floor in the living room for the night.  Total 'Big Girl' stuff!  Ruby loved playing and running around outside with everyone. 

We got to visit with Randy's Aunt Marsha and Uncle Steve.  It had been a long time since we'd last seen them.  Uncle Steve was able to retrieve several quarters from behind Stella's ears.  It was amazing!  Stella was so impressed with his magic!  I'm still looking to find some hundred dollar bills behind my ears.  No luck so far.

The picture above captures Andrea's deepest love and personality perfectly...an armful and audience of babies.  The picture below captures Ruby's deepest love and personality perfectly (for now)  ALWAYS, always, always into something!

Also, Ruby now knows some animal sounds, what a doggie, kitty, cow, snake, and tiger says.  She says please, thank you, goose bumps, creepy, help me, uppie, play, cheese.  I'm sure I am missing some.  She knows how to work a zipper, Lord help us, and she can put on her shoes by herself...mostly.

It has been gorgeous here!  Today I packed a little picnic lunch and the girls and I headed to the park/playground.  Stella made lots of new friends and Ruby would have made Evil Knievel proud!  She pulled off some amazing stunts running in front of and through swingers on the swing set and came out unscathed.  I'm not sure Knievel could've pulled off the stunts she did today!  She is so incredibly fast!  I could not catch her in time, so luckily each death defying run by and run through the swings stunt always worked out in her favor.  Put this girl as anchor leg in a 4X100 race!!