Photo Book

Oh, how I've missed my blog!  So much has been going on...and there are about two hundred and thirty excuses as to why I haven't been writing here but there are also zero reasons as to why I didn't.  I have missed you.  I hope to get caught up soon.  For now, take a sneak peek at my trip to the Grand Canyon with my Mama and two other friends.

Darn, did we have fun!  We were gone for a week and it was the longest I've been away from my babies.  Sure, I missed them like crazy.  But, really, it was probably the smartest decision I've ever made- I really needed a refreshing, adventurous vacation.  Thanks to my Mom for making it happen!  Many belly laughs, exploring, and doing things that make me so very happy.

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Birthday Bonfire

Check out who is famous!  Ruby June was featured on our local weather forecast.  We wanted to know if it would be dry for our bonfire on Sat. night.

Watch- here!
(Skip ahead to 2:35 to see her)

2 years ago...

Here is what I looked like over 2 years ago..

Here is what I was doing exactly 2 years ago right now..

Here is what happened at 1:10 a.m. on March 15, 2010-

Ruby June was born!

And, she couldn't be more perfect!

Happy 2nd Birthday Miss Ruby June!

Things that make me happy...

I'm laying home in bed, sick with no voice (yes, hard to believe that I can hardly talk *insert snickers for those of you who know me so well*), and trying to focus on the many things that make me so happy.

So, it's not this cough that rattles me to my core.  No, definitely not.

But, this photo makes me melt.  Especially because Ruby June will be 2 years old on Thursday.
Look at this outfit she picked out to wear to her Nonny's house- and that doll, well, that's Marcia, her absolute favorite one, and my absolute favorite one when I was her age.  Ahh...my spunky, doll-loving girl, she indeed makes me happy.

Then, here is a photo of Kai at his school (Sunny Hollow Montessori School in St. Paul) at his birthday celebration in January.  Kai has taught me so much as a mom, especially about the lesson of accepting our children for who they are, just right where they are, which is ultimately exactly where they should be. In this ritual, Kai lights the candle (which represents the sun) and then he walks around the globe as many times as years he is born, while Joe and I tell stories from each year of his birth.  It's such a cool ritual.  I am so proud of Kai and his big heart.  It's nice to take a few minutes in front of his class to acknowledge all the wonderful things he is. It also makes me feel good about the educational path that Kai is on.

And, oh, so this is really not a great photo (especially of me).  But, I love it because this is what I have always wished for when I thought of myself as a mom- surrounded by my dear friends and their children.  I grew up with a gaggle of kids whose parents were the best friends of my parents.  I have so many of my memories of dinner parties, sleep overs, and time just playing while the parents were playing too.  I am so happy to have friends in my life who I do this with now. I also am so lucky to love their children so much too.

 My 38th birthday party- we lit fireworks in the backyard and had a bonfire.  It was the perfect way to begin my new year. Check out those clowns on the deck- laughter is what keeps me going.

And, oh, of course, this crazy husband of mine.  Do I need to say more?  Just the idea that he went out dancing with me (to a kid's band who was playing for only adults) on New Year's Eve and wore this wig the whole time.  Well, I can see why we've been happily married now for almost 10 years.  He is my rock star.

And, oh my-- this photo will always make me laugh hysterically.  What was I thinking?  I think this is 8th grade- or maybe even 9th grade.  Check out those glasses! And, yes, that was a spiral perm.

See, I already feel better!  Here's to a wonderful week filled with all of the things that make you happy too.

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!