The Many Faces

Oh, this little stinker.  She makes me smile all of the time.

RJ + Kai= B/F/F

We have finally done it- it's here and I couldn't be more happy!

Kai and Ruby June are friends.  I mean, sure, they've always been friends since they love each other and are brother and sister, but now they play together, laugh at each other, cuddle, wrestle, and enjoy each other's company.

See- I'll show you just how much.

When they wake up in the morning, they find each other to hug and snuggle.  They give each other big, wet kisses on the lips at bedtime.  Kai shows Ruby how to play with his playmobile knights and tells her all about guns, swords, bow and arrows, and cannon balls.

And, just today, Kai burped at the dinner table and as quick as it took me to ask Kai to say "Excuse Me" and remind him how we don't burp at the table, Ruby started to laugh and they gave each other a high-five.

To think I've waited almost 21 months for this!

Lately...

Lately..

• I am filled with gratitude for all of the hand-me-downs clothes Ruby receives
• I am surprised that she picks out the most 'girly' outfits in the drawer
• I chuckle to myself when she insists on accessories
• I am pretty sure it's obvious that my daughter is way more stylish than me
• I am amazed when she brings the basket of ribbons to me so I can "do" her hair
• I am glad that she doesn't mind her tutu getting dirty
• I watch as she loves her baby dolls 
• I am filled with love for my little spunky, affectionate, funny, smart 20-month girl

Delight

Walter  and Kai- taken by Tricia Hipps

If a fairy was to fly out of the trees and grant me one wish for my children, I wonder what I would say. (First, I should tell you that I went to "The Learning Fairy" last night at the Open Eye Figure Theater in Minneapolis, so fairies are on my mind!)

I am debating between two words:  Ease and Delight.  Or maybe instead of "Delight" it should be "Joy".  I decided if a fairy was to jump out of the trees, she would be a nice fairy and would give me both.

This photo of Kai and one of his best buddies, Walter, oozes both Ease and Joy.

I just absolutely love it.

Tonight, when I kiss Kai and Ruby June in their sleep before I go to bed, I think I will whisper my wish in their ears and say an extra wish that I guide them in that direction.

Sleep well.  Listen for those fairy bells.

Happy Halloween

Once again, we had a blast this Halloween and celebrated for a couple of weeks...we went trick or treating all over the place - in a nature center, at a farm, a friend's party, and then in the neighborhood.  We had a chance to each wear a variety of costumes- but the winners were Joe going as a vampire
(of course, what is Halloween without Joe as a vampire), RJ as a dragon, Kai as a ninja and me as a leopard.  I was sick for almost 3 weeks, so really my costume should have been a coughing, exhausted, and crabby mom.  I wouldn't have had to dress up!

Ely...again

Well, I haven't been posting as much as I would like since we've all been sick over here.  It has hit me the hardest which means we are way behind on our "To Do" list around the house.  But, this morning, in the few minutes it takes Joe and Ruby to take Kai to school (he is back today after being sick), I want to update you with some fun photos of our Sept. trip to Ely.  Ahhh, sweet Ely.  I could use a few days to recover in Ely right now.

Ely in the fall is my absolute favorite (although I think I might say that for every season).  We were able to explore much more deep in the woods because there were no mosquitoes and cuddling up in front of the fire, eating popcorn, and reading books has to be one of the best things ever.  My mom and brother joined us and we were all so happy to be together.  Kai would be glued to my brother if he could so it really just couldn't get better.

The new compost toilet at the cabin

It's a throne!

It's hunting season- which means orange hats for everyone

This is the couch in front of the fire..heaven

The first day, Ruby would not walk in front of the grizzly bear that is on the wall.  By Day #2, she was convinced it was a teddy bear named Bubba and he wasn't scary at all.

Kai slept in the loft that Nana Kit and Pops made for him for the first time

Look at that grin!

Blue Tutu

I would say Ruby June's two favorite things right now are: 1) Tutus & 2) Baby dolls

We all agree, I'm sure, that she is way more fashionable and girly than her mom.

The way she lays out her tutus and dresses and considers each option, then picks out shirts to match them (or sometimes to not match them), looks through her 20 pairs of shoes for "just the right" pair and then does the same with her hats...well, it just makes me laugh so hard.  Then, today while grocery shopping, when someone commented on her outfit (oh, how she smiled when they did), she actually spun around and squealed in delight.

She is one stylish little dude  (Joe said she had the "Punky Brewster" vibe going today with the pink converse high tops).

The good news is that she is a multi-dimensional girl- which means today's outfit was muddy in about 2 hours and she didn't seem to mind. Now, that's more like her mom, for sure...

P.S.  Her Tia Leesa (my brother's girlfriend) can take all of the credit for her cute clothes, hats, and shoes.  Leesa owns Pedoodle Shoes (CHECK THEM OUT! They are the best) and The Giggle Guide.  We get packages all of the time with the most incredible goodies in them- people stop me in the stores and on the streets about her shoes, or tutus, or shirts.  She is so spoiled!

Christa

I realized today that I completely forgot to post some photos of Christa's visit to Minnesota in August...which is silly because it was one of my most favorite weeks of the summer.  

Christa and Julio and their three children came and spent a week with us.  It's the first time that all of us were together in years.  It was the first time that our children really got to play together and fall in love with the fact that they will be friends forever.  It was not the first time I realized why Christa Desir has got to be the most fabulous friend to have.  I'm realizing though while posting the photos that I do not have a single one of Christa and I, but I have a lot of Julio and RJ.  I think you will pick up on the fact that Ruby June was absolutely smitten with Julio (but, then again, who isn't?).  

While they were here, we also celebrated Ally's birthday with a back-yard BBQ.  At one point, while laughing, I sat back and thought about the fact that nothing fills me up more than friends who I have known now for almost 1/2 of my life. Thank you Christa for being the constant in my life for the past 20 years- and thank you for bringing the whole crew to celebrate where we are in our lives now.  You know, we have to do this together again soon....and get a photos of us this time.

Ruby J and Julio at the zoo

See how she snuggles in with Julio- she would still be that way if he was here still!

Pianos on streets everywhere in Minneapolis & St. Paul

Molly, Julio, & Christa

Happy Birthday Ally!

One of my favorite photos of the summer!  

Anne- just look at that smile!

TV Stars

So, it seems we are famous (at least for a morning)!

Our dear friend and our incredible midwife, Julie Cross, asked if we would be open to an interview with the local TV station about her midwife unit. They have delivered over 22,000 babies in the pat 40 years. Wow. Now, that's pretty incredible.

We jumped at the chance to rave about our positive birth experiences at HCMC Hospital in Minneapolis. And, to be honest, we thought the kids would get a kick out of seeing themselves on the TV (They did! Ruby kept trying to kiss the television and Kai could not stop grinning). As many of you know, Julie helped to deliver both Ruby June and Kai and I can't even begin to tell you (since it would be the longest post ever) how wonderful it is to have an incredibly close friend be the one to help your catch your baby. It has been one of the greatest gifts of my motherhood to enter into this adventure with such positive experiences.

Here you can see me talk a bit about it- and you can see my beautiful kids and smashingly handsome hubbie. Oh, you could also make fun of how much I use my hands when I talk (seriously folks, do I always do that?).

It might seem that you are waiting to watch the weather when you click on the link, but just wait until the ad is over, and you'll see the link about the HCMC Midwives celebrating 40 years of service.

(Sidenote: I have been meaning for now 18 months to write about Ruby June's birth- maybe this will actually get me to do it! Stay tuned- )

HCMC Gives Expecting Moms A Choice With Midwives: Hennepin County Medical Center is celebrating 22,000 babies and counting being delivered with the help of midwives. They are honoring midwives today, who give expecting moms a choice when it comes to delivering, Jamie Yuccas reports (2:20).

Aye, Matey!

1st Day of School

Here is Kai ready for his first day of school at Sunny Hollow Montessori, just across the river in St. Paul....it's his third year in his classroom (he is 4 1/2 years old) and I'm happy to report it's the first time we haven't had tears! Yeah....this just may be getting easier.

Kai absolutely loves Sunny Hollow and so do we! The community of children and families are so incredibly kind, friendly, and committed to each other. We feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful, nurturing school and we are inspired and in awe by the way in which a montessori eduction is a perfect fit for Kai.

His teachers have really gotten to know him (the children and teachers stay together the whole time while in the children's house- from 2 1/2 years- 6 years) and gently create for him a prepared environment that inspires him to learn. Kai's favorite work right now is the continent puzzles and he is also working on math through the use of the "golden bead" materials. And, the feeling of community the children have in the classroom is mind-blowing.

Ok, yes, as you can tell...we have "drank the (Montessori) Kool-Aid" for sure. We can't wait to see how much Kai grows this year. I think it's going to be the best year yet.

Everything is better in a canoe

One of my favorite memories of the summer is when Joe, RJ, Kai, and I went on an evening canoe paddle after dinner up at the cabin in Ely. We went out to "our" island not far from the cabin to check if blueberries were ready to be picked yet (they weren't) - and we ended feeling like we were in a National Geographic TV special.

A beaver followed us the whole way, we saw a loon call right next to our canoe and then just a few minutes later 5 loons popped up to join this loon, all coming from different directions on our lake. Finally, a duck must have missed seeing us and almost hit my paddle and to top it all off, Kai looked into a tree right next to us and saw a bald eagle watching us.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Oh, and the s'mores. Enough said.

HELLO August!

After a delay in leaving for the lake (Our poor, Maxie the wonder cat, got very sick but is on the mend now), we finally made it to the cabin for some fun in the sun!

We spent a couple of days with my Dad and Kit and then the rest of the time with just us- and it was just what the doctor ordered.

We took this photo during our first swim in the lake and I think I'll blow it up and keep it handy during the winter when I need to remember what summer is all about:

It's my favorite.

We spent loads of time in different boats, as always, because when you're at the lake, what else do you do?

Kai portaged the canoe for the first time and instantly my head raced ahead to when he will be a teenager going to canoe summer camp. I mean, he just has to love canoeing....it's in his blood. No pressure, right?

And, here are the boys attempting to stand up on the inner tube. Oh, those dare devils (you can't tell that the boat was really going not so fast)!

And, don't forget about Ruby! If anyone gets into a canoe, she points and grunts until someone puts her in it too and then look at how she lounges! Yep, it's already in her blood too.

Here she is hugging it- cause sometimes you just need to hug a canoe.

Then, here are some photos for the "cutest kids of summer" sweepstakes that I know we'd win...

(Why so many more of RJ you may ask? Because like I mentioned in a previous post, Kai boy isn't a fan of camera- we have many, many photos of a very, very forced semi-smile)

My dad and Kai started a "bone" project at the beginning of the summer and they finally have it finished. Here is Kai showing Ruby the deer bones that he found after discovering a wolf kill.

Our blonde biologist really liked examining them

Kai said he just wanted to talk to the wolves to make sure they were a bit nicer next time..

Finally, to leave you laughing- damn, the water was cold!