Ruby's 1st Tooth

So our little Missy has been her same ol' self for the most part lately, except for wanting to wake up once in the night for the last 12 nights - little stinker.  She's been chewing on things like crazy and a little bit more drooly.  A few days ago it was finally obvious that something was happening in that little mouth of hers, and today her bottom left front tooth finally cut through!  We're all thrilled.  Ruby's thoughts on this were as follows:

"Da da da da da da ba na na na na da da da"

Words of inspiration for us all.

She didn't want to show me her tooth - little cute stinker!

She kept hiding it behind her tongue!

Still cute :)

Money Shot!

 

She's growing up!

My little Miss Rubies is growing up too fast.  This last week I've been holding friends' babies that are between one and five months old.  I've completely forgotten what it's like to hold a baby that will just sit there and let you hold them.  Ruby is a thrill seeker and always wants to be in the action which is adorable, but that leaves next to nil time in her schedule to cuddle.  Needless to say after all this baby holding...it's been making me baby hungry which is CRAZY because I still have a baby.  Why are babies so addicting?  We women want them and want them, and then when we finally get them, our bodies go to pot, we're sleep deprived, emotional, and hormone crazy most of the time.  Then we go back for more.  Seriously...it may fit the bill for addiction.  Except for the fact that it's not only for our selfish desires - it's for the good of life, mankind, and what God asks us to do. :)  Whew - cleared that one.

On another note - here is an adorable Ruby for you to enjoy. :) 

 

Uncle Grandpa Joe Visit and Expensive Doughnuts

So my Uncle Joe was in town overnight doing a conference for the Nike Campus in Beaverton.  He was staying in Portland and was so nice to squeeze us in for a meet up for dinner.

Growing up, my Uncle's kids, Aislinn and Cara, were some of my best cousins.  We had sleepovers all the time at each other's houses and even tagged along with each other going to visit our grandparents in Fort Bragg, CA.  Our families did a lot together and I am lucky to have him as an uncle.

Steve couldn't make it that night since he had his own conference to go to that evening to schmooze potential employers (I can't believe I just said that - are we really approaching that part of life?), so I packed up the kids and trekked to good ol' Portland myself.  We decided to meet my Uncle at the restaurant and when I finally found it, ended up circling a dozen times around trying to find a parking spot (of course in the city that's impossible!) until I finally saw a sign right in front of the restaurant for $7 valet parking (which was an even better deal than the parking garages I was looking at).  I got to pull right up to the place, grab my kids and walk two steps in to the building - way better than pulling out my stroller and hauling them four or five blocks.  

The restaurant was called The RingSide Fish House and was on the second floor which ended up being a prime spot with big windows showing a great view of the courthouse and water fountain - not to mention that MAX that would pass by every five minutes.  Ross was COMPLETELY entertained the entire time.  

My uncle met up with us, and since Ruby is so social usually, I assumed she would have no issues having him hold her right off the bat.  Yeah - I was dead wrong.  She was quite offended that I would just hand her off like that.  For the next five minutes I had to console her from her melt down.  (Really Ruby?  Really? My ALWAYS happy baby decides to turn all stranger danger - silly girl.)  We got seated and Ross and my uncle chatted away, playing cars, coloring, and counting the MAX trains that passed.  Ruby hung out in her high chair eating some snacks and chewing on a toy, and then, lo and behold, she suddenly was my Uncle's best friend.  By the end of the meal he was holding her and she was smiling at him like they had been friends for years.  He's got a way with kids that's for sure.  This morning Ross woke up talking about Uncle Grandpa Joe and playing cars with him.  We were spoiled rotten since he treated us to his company AND dinner - the Surf and Turf was amazing.

Dinner Buddies

Rubes loving some Uncle Joe time and Ross was too engaged in blind cords and outside to look at me the stinker!

We finished up our meal and chat and parted ways.  My mom had requested a couple Mango Tangos from Voodoo Doughnuts, but I didn't have time beforehand to get them for her.  Since it was so close I decided to stop by and maybe drop them off at my uncle's hotel on the way back.  Again, parking was ridiculous so I pulled into the lot across the street where we've always parked and tried to pay, but EVERY time the machine wouldn't work, so I would sit in the car with the kids while Steve would run in line to get the doughnuts.  Assuming this would be the situation again, and seeing the line EXTREMELY short, I grabbed the kids and hoped we could get in and out quick (illegal I know).  Don't worry - I got my consequence.  Of course, the ONE time I didn't check to see if that darn machine would maybe work for once, I get a ticket!  I called Steve with the bad news.  He was just glad I wasn't calling to tell him we were in a wreck.  I attempted to then call my uncle to drop off the now expensive Mango Tangos (seriously people you HAVE to try them...they're incredible) only to find him unreachable - also my fault.  So there I was with two Mango Tangos to deal with and a parking ticket.  What did we have left to do but to eat away our remorse and tango with some mango...it was our only consolation.  Lesson learned: unless you would like really expensive doughnuts, always check to pay for parking first.
 

It truly was delicious!

And on another note - here's an adorable father doing his routine reading to the kids before bed (Ruby doesn't always last).

I eat them up ALL the time

Yes that's a book about Santa Claus.  It's never too early to get kids to behave. ;)

Merry Christmas to all!

Halloween Festivities

So last year Steve came up with a great theme for our costumes which was pretty doable and ended up winning us a prize at a fun Halloween party we crashed.

That just stacked the deck for expectations for this year.  Steve, yet again, came up with a brilliant idea...which seemed pretty doable, but got my wheels turning and seemed to take up all my waking thoughts.  Our poor house went to shambles with my sewing machine, fabric, thread, and all my unpicking remnants everywhere...but we finally got them sorted.  Steve LOVES the Wreck It Ralph movie and, of course, got Ross to love it too which made it easy to sell him on the costume - that and he got to have a golden hammer. :)

Ruby's costume of Vanellope Von Schweetz consisted of an adult woman's jacket which I used to make her leggings and sweatshirt, and I made her hat out of some black knit fabric and hot glued the candies on.  I found her brown skirt at the thrift store as well and already had black boots for her.
 

Little Vanellope

Even got a hand in the pouch for a moment. :)

Ross's Fix-It-Felix costume was fairly easy.  I found his shirt at the thrift store and sewed it smaller, bought his hat and sewed on the Fix-it-Felix logo as well as gluing on his name on the shirt.  My friend, Amy, was amazing and had the tan boots she gave us and I made his tool belt out of some old pants.  Figuring out the hammer was tricky - first I saran wrapped one and spray painted it, but it still looked a bit messy.  I then cut a foam one - but that just didn't cut it either.  Finally I went to Goodwill and found just a plastic hammer head that was a nice 29 cent find  and glued it onto an old highlighter marker which was then sprayed with gold spray paint (everyone should have that stuff on hand).  It was pretty legit. :)
 

He can balance that baby all by itself!

He didn't want to wear the hat at the party - little stinker.

He only wore the gloves for about as long as it took to take this picture - darn!

I can fix it!

I can really fix it!

Steve's Wreck-It-Ralph costume was fabric covered foam for his hands, and lazy quick sew of brown fabric into overalls, using of his red shirt from last year, and a felt make-shift hair band. :)  
 

Wolverine and Wreck-It-Ralph both have some rage issues...

By the time I got to my cybug killing Calhoun costume, I was over adding all the bells and whistles.  So I just got a black shirt and running pants and packed them with towels to accentuate the hips, and socks in the shoulders for my armor.  I covered a water gun with black fabric, and put my hair up to look sort of short.  
 

The Wreck-It-Ralph Clan :)

We had a great time at the Halloween party and won another prize for best family costumes!  Woot woot!  There were some SWEET costumes as well. :)  I love dressing up for Halloween and enjoying good company - always something fun to look forward to. :)

The Jepsons - referees, soccer player and cheer leader :)

Cute pirate Davin playin' with Rubes (he loves her and I love it!)

The Olsens - Despicable Me complete with minions :)

The Vosses: Willy Wonka, Veruca Salt, and an Oompa Loompa :)

Two Sweeties - one works the chocolate - the other works the candy. :)

The Rasmussens: A Princess scared by a Dragon fighting a Knight :)

The Woods: Some cowgirls and a cowboy

The Steenbliks: Duck Dynasty :) Two ducks, Jase, and Willie :)

Just chillin'

The Sweeneys: A shark and two surfers :)

I'm so proud of Ruby's sweatshirt I made all by myself!

Willy Wonka and his Factory Oompa Loompa

Games!

A Cheerleader with magical powers :)

Kids playing with things they shouldn't...yeah the middle one is mine.

We also did a little pre-trick-or-treating at the Optometry school to test out the costumes.  Ross and Rubes were a hit.  Ross caught onto the idea that if you hold out your pumpkin and say trick-or-treat - people actually put treats in it.  He started saying it to EVERYONE - sometimes multiple times.  It was pretty cute. :)

Trick-or-treating :)

Ruby's ready for a nap

As I was getting costumes all ready, Ross was allowed to watch a show.  Ruby was crawling around and I found them like this.  She plopped herself right next to him.

Cute Rubes - note Ross in zombie land - what TV does to him - oh dear.

Side note: Ross loves bacon

And eating apples like a scavenging animal :)

Cute girl :)

This girl does not do flashes ;)

Some cute kids in cute Halloween PJ's from Grammy Joanne

Hugs!

Happy Halloween!