from the weekend

Well it was a weekend of firsts....

Ruby is recuperating from her first case of tonsilitis complete with rash all over her chest, tummy and back.

She had her first 'pop up' or push pop as I always called them.

Messy, but totally worth it!  Love this face!

First time to eat corn on the cob. She loved it!

Ruby and Stella love playing together outside and love to get their suits on and play in the pool.

Note to self: Don't even bother buying shorts and t-shirts for Stella!  She will only wear a dress during the summer!

Ruby is saying so much now, a new word everyday it seems.  She's making two word sentences.  One of her favorites is "No, no Mimi (Millie) also "Hi Momma" and "Hi Dada"  She has the cutest way of saying Stella.  Sometimes it's "Del-la" and other times it's "Lel-la". 

 She is so busy.  As I am cleaning up the mess she made with water in the bathroom sink, she's unrolling the toilet paper.  As I am cleaning up the mess she made by dumping the dog dish she's spilled my drink on the kitchen table everywhere.  Today Stella and I were working on a project for her classmates and Ruby had taken a glue stick and was eating it.  But she sure does love to sit with me and snuggle too!

Stella has just about finished her first year of pre-school, and I can't believe it. She's becomming more and more independent, wanting to brush her teeth, get dressed and even go to bed by herself.  I mentioned taking off her training wheels the other day and she was adament that we should wait and she would try that when she was older. 

Summer style

Check out Stella's new do!

Before

and After

this and that

This is the face Ruby makes when she says "cheeeeese".  As soon as she sees the camera come out she starts saying "cheese"

We went to a great farm nearby to pick strawberries!  Loved it and the strawberries were so awesome. 

By the end of this little adventure Ruby had squished up lots of strawberries, had them all over her hands, face, and dress.  She also had flung her hat off and took off her shoes and was following after other strawberry pickers as they left calling out, "Bye"! Stella was trying to help manage Ruby but by doing so left me picking strawberries without a bucket trying to just collect them in my hands.  Did I mention the strawberries were AWESOME!!!???  : )

Our neighbor friends lent Stella their old bike which is much better for Stella.  She needed a taller one.  Stella thought it was pretty cool to be on this bigger bike especially since it once belonged to her friend, Karis.

Ruby got to go for a ride on Stella's old bike then.  Karis pulled her around on the bike and Ruby just had the best look on her face.  She really enjoyed herself on this 'big girl' toy!

This weekend

We headed downtown this past Sunday for some fun and dinner.

Ruby saw some ducks across the river and loved them.  She is always very interested in animals.

Photo op at the cool tree downtown...

Water was cold, but getting our feet in the water was fun.

Ruby loves to ride on her rocking horse.  This belonged to my Dad when he was a boy and so has been giving rides to many little kids over the years.  Ruby is glad to be the owner of it today.  Notice the princess shoes she is wearing.  She loves to clomp around the house in these or my heeled shoes and she does really well in them.  You can find her in shoes most anytime while inside.  But when she goes outside to play she immediately takes OFF her shoes.  Go figure. 

recent trip to Indiana

The girls and I traveled back to Indiana and stayed for 9 fun filled days.  We are always so taken care of and comfortable and love spending time with family.  Stella and Ruby had such an AWESOME time!  The days go by so quickly though and it seems there is never enough time to get all the plans I have formulated in my head accomplished. With that said we did have time to....

Ride the 3 wheeler with Uncle Chris

Swing A LOT!

Camp out in the backyard

Swing some more

Run a lemonade stand

Wear Grandma out on the playset.  Ruby went up this ladder and down the slide on the other side at least 100 times while we were visiting.  It was definitely her favorite!

Meet friends out for lunch at Casa's.

(The other two blondies in this photo are my very best friend's two youngest daughters. Their mom and I have been friends for 25 years.)

Have and easter egg hunt

and enjoy the spoils!

We also really enjoyed having a 4th birthday party for Stella with family.  We hung out at the mall one morning and enjoyed the carousel there.  Though Ruby did not want to ride up on one of the horses; she felt much better sitting on Andie's lap in one of the benches.  We also went to see The Hunger Games.  Loved it. 

We had a great time and as always the girls were fantastic travellers in the car!



singing in church

Stella was invited to sing with her classmates at church one morning last month.  We were very excited to go and I made sure I got FRONT row seats!!! 

Stella's first 4th birthday party.

The birthday princesses.  This is Stella with her good pal Kolby.  They share a birth day.  Kolby will be 3 on March 31st and Stella will turn 4. Kolby's mom and I wanted to celebrate their birthdays together this year.  Sarah volunteered to host the party at her house.  The party was Sunday and we had a great time. 

This castle cake was a labor of love.  It seemed a lot easier when I designed it in my head.  Aren't things always that way?  Sarah (Kolby's mom) made some excellent cake pops, her specialty.

My little princess! I made these fun hats for both girls.  They were a hit. 

Ruby wanted to join some kids in the backyard.  She couldn't get out of the screened in porch and I didn't want her too.  This is her upset face.  I have a feeling it will look almost exactly the same say in about 14 years.

So many great friends were there.

Super ready to open presents, but they were patient with the parent paparazzi who wanted some photos before paper and gifts were everywhere.

Kolby her Mom. 

Cute dress!  Stella would wear a dress everyday if she could!

A VERY captive audience.

Stella was thrilled to get this special Hello Kitty toothbrush.  Her friend Lexington has one and she just loved it.  Last night I brushed her teeth with it and she was giggling.  After we were done she came out of the bathroom saying, "That was so much fun."

Very sweet moment of two friends blowing out the candles together.

Question:  How do you get children to gather around, sit still, pay attention and stick around?

Answer: Sing Happy Birthday and cut the cake.

Ruby hadn't recieved her cake pop yet and would you look at that face!