the 3 musketeers

Alli and Ruby are in a gymnastics class with their cousin Eliza.  And they have matching outfits.  They think this is the best thing ever.  And they call themselves the three musketeers.  The gymnastics moves they are learning in class are "musketeer tricks."  After class, they gather around and put their hands in the middle and say, "All for one and one for all!" 

mixing it up

There are some battles I don't want to fight... and this was one.  
Whichever shoes you want to wear today.   Great.   Let's go.
And Ruby received so many, many compliments on her footwear as we perused the aisles and sampled the wares of Costco.

she's got skills

Guess who got a bike last week!  She wasn't very excited about it.  She thought she might like training wheels still.  I told her she was ready.  She wasn't so sure.

At first she didn't want me to let go.  And then she found her balance and felt the rush of speed and freedom! And off she flew!

She learned to ride the bike in about ten minutes.  

She is good at going.  She likes to go fast.  

We are still working on the stopping skills... and the watch-out-where-you-are-going skills.

Alli has skills.

Do you know anyone else who can pull off an outfit like this?

sleeping beauty

It is tricky putting Ruby to sleep.  We start putting the kids to bed around 8pm.  June is usually the easiest; we say "night night" and put her in her bed.  Alli is usually easy too.  We read a book, pray, put on a CD and turn off the lights.  And then there is Ruby.  She is our particular child.  Everything has to be just so.  Just the way she wants it.  

She usually has a certain set of pajamas in mind... and it is a good day when the ones she was thinking of are in the drawer.  She likes to listen to princess music to wind down... she likes song #10 first.  A sip of water from a big glass... with ice.  No toothpaste, only water on her toothbrush.

She needs a certain special pink fuzzy blanket, no fewer than four pillows...plus a special heart-shaped pillow, her Carebear, unicorn... and on this night she also needed: a painting, two plastic containers, a giant princess doll, a bracelet, some fabric, a colored pencil, a few books, a photo album... she didn't go to bed with all of those things.  She likes to start her night in a "papoose."  I wrap her snugly in a blanket.  Often times, we hear her talking to herself long after our "goodnight."  Or we hear little footsteps creeping around.  And I get frustrated.  How many hours does it take to put Ruby to sleep!?  How can she have any energy left?  I am beat!
And in the morning I find her burrowed into her collection.  Splendid as an angel.  Perfectly peaceful.
My beautiful Ruby.
She is like a magpie, nested up with her treasures.
Sort of like the Princess and the Pea... only opposite.  She can't sleep without all her lovely things surrounding her.

I am sitting here trying to think of a way to sum up Ruby.  And all I can think of is... precious.


To see Ruby and Alli and their cousins in all their princess glory, click here.

spring is in the air

I am in the mood for spring!  The landscape and exterior painting touch-ups were finished today.   Our sidewalk is no longer a bridge!  I have been planting flowers.  The kids have been playing in the dirt and water and grass.  Our grass is growing... time to invest in a mower. 

80 degrees... oh happy day!

Today was a hot one.  We patched up the wading pool and pulled out the sprinkler for some fun in the sun .  June was eager to get into the water.  She walked right into the pool... clothes and all.  She was a little surprised that the water was cool... but she got over that real quick and had a blast splashing and playing in the water.  Ruby just likes to get a little bit wet.  Just enough to make her hair get all bouncy and adorable.  Ruby especially loved wrapping herself in her beach towel and basking in the warm sun (slathered in SPF 50, of course) or sitting in the sunbeams inside while lining up her little toys.  Alli loves to get wet.  She played in the pool and sprinkler for hours.  She got soaked three times today... in three different outfits.
I did some yard work today.  I watered the lawn (with help from the girls and their playing).  I planted gladiolus bulbs and patched a spot that needed sod.  I made bread... which fell when I put it in the oven... so I guess we will have small sandwiches for a few days.  I took lots of pictures today too... but not of the bread.

only at grandma's house

Alli and Ruby are on spring break this week, so we went up to my parents' house for a quick visit. Besides the regular spoiling (cooking out, all the toys, riding the Jeep, treats, etc), Grandma Ohio let the girls finger paint with chocolate pudding.It was a gorgeous day, so they did it outside at the little picnic table.
Gooey. Chocolaty.
Messy.
Alli asked, "Can we do this every day?!"
Only at Grandma's house.
They drew pictures in the pudding with fingers, hands, and Ruby even used her tongue.
June liked tasting better than drawing.
But, let's face it, no one likes to see a baby smeared in brown goo.
So it was off to the bathtub. And the table and patio were sprayed down with the hose.
All was clean again.

The end.

toothy grin and blue eyes... must be June

June is not camera shy. Matter of fact, she lights up when she sees the camera pointed at her. And she loves to see the picture on the back of the camera right away. Instant gratification at its cutest.
I love her toothy smile right now. She just got her baby molars. On the bottom she has the two front teeth... and then molars. The top is fully staffed except for the I-teeth... coming soon. June has been our toughest teether... meaning that she has kept us up more nights over her teeth than the other two girls combined.
Like so many things about babyhood, this version of her smile won't last long, and so I relish each grin and giggle.

all for the peeps

"Do I REEEEEEEALLY have to clean my room?" (exasperated whiny voice)
It took a lot of prodding, nagging, and bribery. But she did it. And I had to pay up: three peeps (enlarged in the microwave) and a handful of M&Ms.

And she gets to have her cousin sleep over tonight!

mood swing

These pictures were taken seconds apart.

The sad face was because she only got three eggs at the egg hunt... and Andy told her to show her saddest face. The happy face is because daddy said to smile.

Don't worry, she managed to get plenty of Easter candy.

a golden evening at the playground

Sometimes it is difficult getting three girls to smile together in a picture.

Especially when it is playtime at the park.