Monday, December 30, 2013

He just can't wait...

Nearly every time I make dinner Jack has a meltdown. He just loves to eat and can't stand that there is something food related going on that he's not a part of. So on Christmas Eve when I was getting dinner ready he took matters into his own hands. He busted into one of the suckers that a friend had given us. And he was content.



Friday, December 27, 2013

Our Christmas

We had such a beautiful little a Christmas this year, just our family, and it was wonderful. The festivities started on Christmas Eve with a couple last minute grocery and Santa shopping trips. Bobby wanted prime rib for our big dinner, so we had that and it was delicious! First time I had made it and I was a little proud of myself that it turned out so good.

And of course we had cream puffs for dessert. Ruby helped make them and was very excited to eat them....


With her sucker too....


And there was one little boy who couldn't get enough of his.





We ended our evening by reading about Jesus' birth in Luke and singing carols. Then we had a round of finding the pickle on the tree. (A German tradition my family's been doing for awhile.). The kids went to bed eagerly awaiting Santa....he made it safely, probably due to the fact that Ruby made sure Bobby asked for his safe arrival during our dinner prayer.

Bobby and I heard Ruby creeping down the stairs in the morning and find her stash. A trumpet!








And Jack had fun too.





But then the kids saw that Santa left a note that he left them something in the basement.

YouTube Video

Opening presents from family came a little while later.











We had such a great time and the rest of the day was spent playing and being together. Ruby was right, it was the best day ever.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Watching Shows

The kids have started watching a show together in the afternoon. And it's just so cute. There's usually hand-holding, hugs and kisses involved.





Until Jack starts messing with the IPad, and then he gets kicked off.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Ruby's special ornament...

I decided this year to start a tradition to have each kid pick out their own ornament every year. Then they'll have a little collection to take with them when they're grown up. So I took Ruby to Hobby Lobby and said she could pick out whichever one she wanted. I thought the poor girl would never be able to choose. There was so much sparkle and glitter and pink that she was in heaven.

And she finally chose....this:


Ummm...what is it? Why it's a Jellyfish Ballerina Princess, of course.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Brrrrr....

It's been freezing the past week but along with the sub-zero temperatures came a bit of snow. This was Jack's very first time playing in the snow and he and Ruby were super excited about it.





I gave Ruby a little talk about it before hand that went something like this: "This is Jack's first time playing in the snow, so you need to be very nice to him. No snow on his head or his face. Okay?"

And she said okay and that she would take good care of him.


Seven or eight minutes into their playing I heard Jack screaming and looked out to see Ruby sitting on him and pushing his face into the snow. Seriously?! So Jack's first snow adventure was very short. And traumatic. And just a little fun.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We had a blast for Thanksgiving...eating, playing with friends and spending time with each other. We have so much to be grateful for. Ruby had a lot of fun, but what she was really looking forward to was the day after Thanksgiving. Because that's when we decorate for Christmas.

So we pulled out the Christmas tree and ornaments and went to work.


And then we found the kids' nativity. Let's just say that Away in a Manger has been playing nonstop. And the kids can't hold still long enough to take a decent picture.


And then we decorated Ruby's little tree for her room. It just has a few glass ornaments and a tree topper. The girl was pretty worn out after all the morning's festivities and took a nap during quiet time. This is how we found her when we went to wake her up:


Yup, no clothes and clutching her tree topper. She makes us laugh. Every. Single. Day.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Ruby said....


While eating dinner one night and trying to weasel her way out of eating...

"I'm not hungry. I want to leave the table and go upstairs and play. Is that an option?"


Monday, November 18, 2013

Ruby said...

While saying a prayer one evening...

"Please bless the tooth fairy to come when my tooth falls out. And make sure she gives me a present."


Saturday, November 16, 2013

Another project....done!

We've slowly (emphasis on slowly) been chipping away at the project list that resides in my brain. Our house is feeling more and more like us. But that list in my head? Wow, it's long. And expensive. And time consuming.

Our latest task? Painting the doors and window sills in the kitchen and family room. When we moved in I think you might remember that it looked like this:





And then we painted the walls to look like this:


Here you can see our problem....the doors and trim were painted a pretty horrible pale peachy tan. You didn't notice it as much when the walls were terracotta, but man oh man it was bad.


I'd been putting this off for awhile, because I wasn't looking forward to the tediousness of this project, but I was sick of looking at it. So I bought some paint...Jack thought the paint store was awesome. Ruby loves the paint store and now Jack does too. Good children.

And over the course of a week transformed it to this:





So.much.better.

Next big project? Refinishing all the banisters and railings and spindles in this house. That will be another tedious task, so I'm taking a week off before I start.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Going to Daddy's office...

We went to the office for a couple hours on Friday, to see Daddy, have a snack and help him clean a bit. So while I was occupied working, the kids were occupied as well:





Contentedly watching TV. Neither wanted to go home.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Watching football with Daddy

Bobby was watching some highlights on the IPad one evening. And Jack just had to join him.







Friday, November 8, 2013

Halloween

Ruby and Jack had such a great time for Halloween. Ruby was very indecisive when it came to choosing her costume. We'd go to Costco and look at their costumes and she'd go back and forth. Finally she decided she wanted to be Izzy from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, which was super easy to put together. Jack could care less, ahh the joys of being one. He was the cutest little monster you ever saw.

Ruby's preschool had a party that morning and Jack had fun with all the kids, toys and of course the food.


Ruby's class went trick-or-treating to the offices at the rec center where her school is.


Lots of yummy goodies...this monster loves to eat!


And I'm terribly sorry I don't have any pictures of trick-or-treating. The kids wouldn't hold still love enough to get any. Both we're itching to get out the door. Bobby took them out for about a half hour and they had a blast! When they came home, we had hot cocoa and took a look at the loot. Ruby had some candy and she was kind enough to share a Reese's cup with Jack. Let's just say the boy has a favorite candy now.

And after the treats the kids had fun opening the door for trick-or-treaters, and Jack tried to make a break for it every single time. Poor boy wanted to go have some more fun.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Grandrabbits Toy Shoppe

One of the kids' favorite activities is to go to Grandrabbits Toy Shoppe, a local, totally fun toy store. They've got an awesome selection of great toys and we go several times a month. The kids could spend hours there, but we usually only stay for a thirty minutes or so, because, as we've found, the longer we stay the harder it is to leave.

We went this weekend and the kids had a blast. There were tears from both Ruby and Jack when we had to go home.
















Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Pumpkin Doughnuts

We made a little treat for our morning snack....pumpkin doughnuts. Ruby loved "helping", which mostly involved her playing with a little piece of dough, but she especially loved eating. The girl downed a doughnut and two holes and would have eaten more if we hadn't cut her off.


And this boy?


Ate three holes without batting an eye.


Jack loved them. You know he likes his food when he doesn't play, mess around or chatter while he's eating. He was silent and ate his doughnut holes in about 5 minutes flat. Delicious.

If you're interested in the recipe it's online from Our Best Bites. Super easy and super good.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Ruby said....

While saying the dinner prayer...

"Please bless Mommy, and Jack, and Daddy to get some hair on his head."



Tuesday, October 22, 2013

When Grandma comes to visit....

Bobby's mom spent the last couple weeks with us, which was a huge help as we both had to spend a lot of time at the office. So Ruby and Jack got lots of Grandma love. And one of the best things when Grandma comes? She brings her cat.






Sunday, October 20, 2013

Ruby's first attempt at the dentist...

We've been very busy with the new office. We just finished week two and Bobby's been spending countless hours handing out business cards and brochures, training and making sure the office is perfect. He's seen new patients and we're slowly but surely starting to build our business. I've spent a ton of time cleaning, making art, decorating, organizing and putting in a few hours of training too.

And Ruby and I got to be Bobby's first patients. Don't let this picture fool you:


Ruby DID NOT like going to the dentist. Let's just say we'll be coming back every couple weeks until she's comfortable enough to get her teeth clean.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Snow Day

Ruby was one happy girl this morning. Because as soon as she finished breakfast she got to do this:


First time playing out in the snow this fall. Jack was watching her very closely. As soon as I can get him some boots he'll be out playing with his sis.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

The New Office: We're Open!

We've still got a few things to finish and we're waiting for the back-ordered lobby chairs to arrive, but we're open and have patients scheduled. I am so proud of my awesome husband! He's going to have a lot of fun working at his own practice.

YouTube Video