The Fort

Kai has been working with his best buddy, Walter, on a fort down by the Mississippi River.  We are lucky to live just blocks away from one of our favorite spots in Minneapolis- an oak tree grove, surrounded by plenty of green space, where you feel like you are far away from the city life.  This is our super-secret place for our super-cool fort.  It's especially fun since someone else is working on it too, so when we visit it, there is always something new.  The boys have designed a library, a garden, sleeping rooms, and of course bathrooms too.

This isn't the actual fort, but it's the tall tree next to it where the boys probably should NOT be climbing! (Notice, Joe's legs off to the side- he promises he was making sure they weren't going to fall)

The Grand Ol' Mississippi

Most of the time, after we work on the fort, we head down to the river in the winter to explore the water.  Here are some sweet photos of the two boys (and Ruby June) who are such sweet friends and wonderful matches for each other. Kai and Walter both are smart, kind, respectful, and thoughtful boys.  We are so glad that Walter and his whole family (yes, you, Tricia, Jeremy, Owen, and Griffin too) came into our lives when we chose Sunny Hollow Montessori School.

Ely or Bust

Sometimes, you just gotta take a break..and that's just what we did when we all hopped in the car and headed North to the cabin for the week.

Pops and Nana Kit made our week a treat- they spoiled us with love and attention (plus, an amazing sledding run) and we actually had a little snow to play in.  We went skiing, sledding, hiking, ice fishing, snowmobiling (a first at the cabin, thanks to our neighbor), read books, watched movies, and bathed in the sauna.  We had so much fun!

Ruby June and Lena, the wonder dog

Ely's Winter Festival included snow sculptures in the park

Snowmobiling out to the ice house

Doing dishes - or wait, that's Ruby in there!

Osa (my brother's dog) and Lena (my dad and Kit's dog)

P.S.  One night, we almost lost Osa!  Osa woke me up to go the bathroom around 1:30 am.  When, I opened up the door to go outside, I instantly heard timberwolves howling.  They sounded like they were next door to the cabin!  Osa, who is completely deaf and old, took off running through the woods like she was a young pup.  It was at least -10 degrees out and I had no choice but to run through the woods in only my pajamas and smartwool socks.  I tackled Osa finally and hauled her back into the cabin.  Just minutes later, the wolves started howling again.  There is nothing more cool than listening to wolves howl, in the middle of the night, under a full moon.  I'm just glad they didn't eat Osa!

Aunt Janet, the great

If I was granted a wish tonight, I would wish for everyone to have an "Aunt Janet."  My Aunt Janet wins the prize for being one of the funniest, kindest, and genuine women I know.  We are all lucky when she comes to town.  We only wish Anacortes, WA wasn't so darn far away.

Sling

So, there is this girl named Ruby, who loves this baby named Mimi, and everywhere that Ruby goes, Mimi is sure to follow. 

There is also this dog named Tundra and even though he isn't ours we love him like our Mimi too.

Look who got skis this year!

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!