magic irish boots

Ruby is convinced that she can Irish dance.  Somehow, one day, without any training, she just magically knew how to do it.  You should she her perform, it is incredible.  And, who knew, all she needed were her magic boots.  She makes me smile every day.  I don't know how I could live my life without her in it.  I just love her, and her irish dancing!

Room Service

We just got back from a great weekend in Calgary filled with fun memories.
Justin was asked to attend a conference there and was treated to a hotel room and room service.
It was awesome.  We didn't get there until around 9 so we has already eaten but who can pass up some free room service?  We ordered some cheesecake and some fruit, and were treated with some delicious chocolate cookies.

 Twelve dollar cheesecake.  We expected it to be a little bit larger, but it was enough to quench our sweet tooth!

The prince and princess and our room service tray.  Justin and I have never had room service or stayed in a fancy hotel.  So this was a treat for us too.  We stayed up late with the kids and just enjoyed the night.  I think we all had a great time.  Just outside our window was the Calgary Tower.  We were right across the street from it.  Noni had a little bit of a scare looking out the window (we were on the top floor) at the Calgary Tower.  He would not let Justin let go of his hand.  He was so cute.  It was just and unexpected and fun night.  Justin kept saying to Ruby  'Remember this night' and she kept replying 'I can't'.  I hope she does. She has the best memory of anyone I know- so I am confident she will be fine...

And Eldon was there- whether he enjoyed himself or not is still unknown...

Gallets

When Ruby was young she used to call glasses goggies and noni called them gallets.  Now they both call them glasses.  (They are getting too big)
There are a lot of perks that come from Justin being an optometrist, like for example, we are finally MAKING money.  (It has been a long time)
One of my favorite perks is being able to go and try on glasses.
There is nothing better than a little kid with a pair of glasses on.  They are just way too cute!
Ruby loves it too.  She has her set favorites- the glow in the dark ones but I like to make her branch out.  There are some incredibly cute ones there!
Here are some of my favorites from the last time we were there.

 Is this not the cutest picture you have ever seen?  He reminds me of the old man from UP.  I just love his mouth and the way he is standing!

 Ruby loves purple.  As she should- these glasses look so awesome on her!

 Eldy isn't really a fan- but that cute cry face is awesome.

What a cute little head.

Mustaches

I was asked to do a booth at a relief society activity. It was to be geared towards having fun with kids.

It wasn't until I started to plan it out that I realized 2 things.

Number 1:  I used to have fun with my kids all the time.  We used to do really fun things, and life was good.

Number 2: I have been slacking a bit since I got pregnant- a year ago.  I was just so sick, having fun was the last thing on my list.  Life is still good but we really need to get the fun back into it.  

So here I go to 'Carpe Diem'

I love mustaches, I just love them.  Not real ones mind you.  I don't want Justin to actually GROW one.  Please no.  But I do love fake mustaches.  I really do.

My kids tolerate them.  (They love them deep down I am sure.)

I printed out the props- (I found the free printable here)

And we got to work having fun.

 Noni didn't have as much fun as the rest of us.  I guess he wasn't in the mood.  He kept crinkling all the props and after this photo was taken he promptly ripped those glasses in half...  I just turned them into a monacle...  when noni gives you lemons make lemonade- right?

 Ruby was such a good sport!  And isn't she the cutest thing you have ever seen?

 Eldon is awesome.  Look at that little guy- he is SO AWESOME!  He didn't even cry or complain.  He as quickly learned to endure...

This was so fun.  and you get some awesome photos from it for memories later.  We will do this again soon. I just need to find some more mustaches....

Good Deeds

Today brought me drama.  Car and snow drama.

One thing after another drama.

The kind of drama that has you asking two questions- 'Really?'  and 'What's Next?'

It began with a crazy snowfall.  Like 2 feet of snow.

Then Justin was taking Ruby to school and got stuck outside the house.  Mom and I didn't notice and luckily some guy came by and pushed Justin out and Ruby got to school and Justin got to work.

Then the time came for me to get the Rubes from school so I decided that I would take Noni since it was his birthday and I never take him and he really wanted to come.  

So I rushed and got him ready- which can be quite the feat especially when it is so cold outside.

We went outside and the first thing Noni does is walk into the huge snow bank.

He fell in all the way up to his chest.  It looked fun but he wasn't wearing snow pants and was covered in snow.

I grabbed him as quickly as I could and wiped him off then put him in his car seat.  He immediately started crying because the cold snow was touching his skin so I went to start the van to get it warmed up for him.

The van won't start.

Try again, nothing.

Just clicks.

Of course.

So I haul poor Noni back into the house, break the bad news to him- call Justin and go back outside.

By this time I am going to be late to get Ruby so luckily Justin's 230 appt didn't show up so he was able to run and get Ruby.

In the mean time I hopped in mom and dad's car so I could meet Justin at his work and get Ruby.

I was a little bit worried about getting stuck but thought I would go for it anyway.

Well- what do you know.

I get stuck.  Things were looking good.  I thought for sure I would be fine.  Sadly, I was not.

So I call Justin.  Of course.

He says he will keep Ruby at work until I can get there or until the end of day- whichever comes first.  At this point I'm thinking end of day.  The hard part is I am stuck in the middle of the road at an angle- leaving minimal space for anyone wanting to get around me.

So I kept trying to get out.  I shoveled, I rocked, I looked, I waited and tried again, I prayed.  

Still I did not get out.  

So I sat and waited a bit.  Tried again.

Still nothing.  In the mean time I thought my screen filter was on because my screen seemed dark so I pressed the screen filter button and it turns out that it wasn't on and I turned it on.  Now I cannot see my phone screen- which seems rather minimal but when I am trying to communicate via text with justin and I can't see my screen it is rather maximal.  I can't even see my screen to turn my screen filter off.  It was sad.

Finally a glimmer of hope.  A truck had driven by twice while I was trying to get out and I thought for sure that it would stop and someone would help me.  Turns out- no.  

But another good Samaritan did show up.  He couldn't get me out himself- he tried, I will give him that.  Luckily someone else saw our distress and came to the rescue.

I finally got unstuck and then the awkward moment came.  

You know the moment- these two guys have helped you get out- something you are grateful for and really should stop and thank them for but if you stop then you will most likely get stuck again and look like an idiot so you do the awkward wave out the window with a thank you yell to follow.  Sadly it doesn't truly show your gratitude to its full extent but what am I to do?  I just hope they felt my gratitude.

I went and got Ruby from Justin's work, we tried on a few glasses and headed home to finish Noni's cake and get the pizza dough ready.  

We had survived and Ruby got picked up in time and I learned a valuable lesson- Always stop and push people out of the snow, it will be appreciated even if they just wave and yell out the window to say thank you.

It was also this kids birthday- and this kid is awesome!  He fills my day with joy and mischief.  I really love him.  I see that sweet face and I just feel glad to have him around.  I can't believe that he is 3.  We had a little family party with him.  I will fill you in later.  But it included butt-staches.... of course.  You've never heard of a butt-stache?  Well stay tuned my friends, stay tuned...

Juliette

We are all completely in love with Baby Juliette (our new niece).
She is so sweet and lovely.
Ruby cannot get enough of her.
Myers mostly ignores her until she is gone.
But he did once say that she was as cute as a marshmallow- and if you know Noni- that is a BIG deal.
It means her REALLY loves her.

We all really love her!
Ruby now wants to name our baby Romeo if it is a boy.
I just hope ours is as sweet and as cute as little Juliette....

I Love To See The Temple

One thing I really love about Ruby is her ability to notice and love all that is beautiful.
She really truly appreciates it.
The temple in Calgary has just been finished and they are having their open house right now (a time when anyone can go in and take a tour of the temple before it is dedicated.)
I knew we were going to take the kids but I was also looking forward to Ruby's reaction to the beauty of it.  She did not disappoint and was sure to notice all of the little tiny details that only she could.
It was a great experience and I am so glad that we were able to go as a family and enjoy the peaceful feelings that were there.
Even Noni stopped for a second or two to take a look around.

I hope that as they grow they will remember the experience they had there, and the feelings they felt while inside.  I am grateful for temples and for this new temple in Calgary.  The open house is still going on for another week- if you get the chance it is well worth your time!

Courage

In the span of a few weeks my sweet little baby girl turned 5 and started Kindergarten.

It is still a little too much for me to handle.
We did some major contemplation when deciding about school for Ruby and in the end we felt best about sending her to Kindergarten this year.
I still am trying to emotionally accept this, but Ruby has seemed too embrace it whole heartedly and is absolutely loving it.
Before she began school I decided that we should start a new back to school tradition.
Each year we pick a word, a scripture, and a quote for the year.
This year our word is 'COURAGE'.
I originally picked it because Ruby was a little nervous about school but soon realised that it applied more to me that anyone else.
I needed the courage to follow what I felt we were being inspired to do (aka send Ruby to school), the courage to send her to school, the courage to be completely involved in her schooling and to always be her advocate, and the courage to parent her as Justin and I feel we should.
Plus I want her to have the courage to make new friends, to be herself, to choose the right, to remember what she has been taught, to be a good example, to be a friend to all.
We all need courage.
So I thought it was an appropriate word for us this year.
I am amazed how many times it has come up in the last couple of weeks alone.
I chose the scripture found in Joshua 1:9
 'Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.'


And this quote by Thomas S. Monson



So as we embark on this new journey in life I hope that we can have always courage.

Horton Sure Knew How To Hatch An Egg

We like the book Horton Hatches the Egg- a lot.
It is a definite family favorite.
We have been reading it at night since Ruby was very small and have video of her 'reading' it when she was about 2.  (She obviously couldn't read- but she did have it memorized.)  I've said it before and I will say it again- child prodigy.
Anyway, recently we were watching some old video and there was my sweet little two year old Ruby reciting Horton in her sweet little 2 year old 'accent'.
I could not believe that she was now 4 and a half and 'reading' that same book to Myers- who could now recite all the important parts himself.  Where did the time go?
I made the comment to Justin that I feel like I didn't enjoy our time enough- that I feel like it goes too fast and I wish I could go back and do it all over again- I would be way better at it now.  (I think)
And then Justin said something that was wise beyond his years.
He said, 'You are going to say the same thing in a few years about this time that we are in right now.'
It really got me thinking.
I mean who would have thought Horton could cause such deep thinking.
Is enjoying the moment an unattainable goal?
Is it possible to really grasp the fleeting moments and savor them?
I feel like no matter how hard I try there is no possible way to actually feel like you have done your best and enjoyed every moment like it was meant to be enjoyed.  But I feel like I really WANT to enjoy every moment, yet I go to bed and I feel like the day has just gone- and there was no time to savor it.
Memories are made and forgotten.  Magical moments are swept aside because there is just too much to do, there is always the next thing to check off the to-do list.
So for the one hundred millionth time I vow to enjoy the moment.
To enjoy where my kids are now and not to wish that they were at a different stage.  Things pass by too quickly and apparently there are no do-overs and no time machines.  (who knew?)
I know I can't enjoy every single moment and that there will still be regrets, but I can do better.
Thanks Horton.  (And Dr. Seuss- that man was a genius.)

Because, I mean seriously, who wants to take any moment for granted when you have these cute little faces to enjoy....

And some random wonderful quotes- thank you Pinterest...

“Give your child a compliment and a hug; say, ‘I love you’ more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of ‘what if’ and ‘if only.’ … “Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is most important.  Pres. Monson

“You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out ... Do not trade your birthright as a mother for some bauble of passing value ... The baby you hold in your arms will grow quickly as the sunrise and the sunset of the rushing days.”

~Gordon B. Hinckley~

found here

You Know How We Feel About Cleveland...

We have been taking quite a few trips to Costco lately.  Really is there any place that is more magical than that place?  It even rivals Disney World.  It is an hour away so it means that we get to explore more of Cleveland (to make sure that our trip is worth it).  And with our limited budget it means we are always searching for things that are free.
Luckily it isn't too hard.
Lately we have visited The Great Lakes Science Center.

It was really fun.  They have a planetarium and a few animals to see.  It was fun.  The kids loved it.
Ruby honed her puppeteering skills.

While Myers honed his insect skills.

We had a good time.

On another trip we headed to a great park that Justin found online.  It was called Preston's Hope.

They had a little city and a great teeter totter and some great equipment to climb.
Myers and Ruby were pros.




Justin on the other hand needed some help.


Look at that cute little bum...


- and of course we made sure to use the swings.

It took a lot of coaxing but we finally got Myers off the swing and got to Costco.

Did I mention that I love Costco?
But not as much as I love Cleveland....
And maybe I was being a little bit hasty when I said it rivaled Disney...

And I made Ruby a new outfit-

I love it and she loves it!
I used this tutorial for the skirt.

Princess Ruby and Her Knight in Shining Armor

Princess Ruby and her knight in shining armor headed off to the princess ball (put on by the Youngstown Stake - every girl 18mths- 18yrs was invited) earlier this month and loved every second of it.

Ruby requested a new dress- so I had to comply of course.  She loved it.  She also loved spending time just her and her daddy.  Justin made sure he came home with flowers for her princess and he donned his matching tie for the event.  Here they are before they left.  I'll be darned if I could get Ruby to have a real smile in any photo.  

Myers and I weren't invited- so we stayed home and ate icecream and watched UP.  We had a good memorable night too.

Here the girls are waiting for their names to be announced so they can walk down the red carpet (Ruby is on the far left)...

Dancing the night away!

Stopping for a little refreshment...  Being a princess is hard work.

There is all the dancing, and eating and curtsying, and of course keeping up your appearance.  She insisted on wearing these gloves and did not take them off the whole night!

I wasn't there but from what I heard it was a great night- the girls learned how to be princesses and the dad's learned about how to treat their princesses correctly.  Then they spent the rest of the night dancing and eating.  It sounds like a blast and it is just nice to see daughters hanging out with their dads and having a good time building memories.  I am all about the memories...  And, if I do say so myself- that dress is the perfect princess dress... I mean seriously- who made that? 

Ruby's First Haircut

At four and a half years old Ruby finally received her first hair cut.  

The Befores

Yes- her first.  I have never even cut her bangs.  Her hair was cute- but it was getting so 'snarly' and unmanageable so I decided that we would have a girls day go get her hair done.  We went to a special place designed especially for kids.  It smelled distinctly of maple syrup- in fact it kind of made me sick.  But Ruby and the 50 other kids in there didn't seem to mind.  Ruby decided to sit on the elephant, was adorned with the hannah montana bib and was forced to watch Toy Story 3.  She didn't seem to mind.  She sat so still and looked so cute!

The Durings.

The After.  Isn't she adorable?  I love that girl.  After the hair cut she asked me how it felt for me to have my first hair cut.  I thought she was feeling sad about the loss of her hair so I went for the 'deeper' feelings and had a long story about how it felt so great to have all the snarlies gone and how it felt fresh and wonderful.  I then asked her how hers felt and she said 'wet.'  

We did a little bit of girls shopping, went out for Italian, and finished with some Frozen Yogurt.  Delicious.  Ruby loved the Strawberry lemonade sorbet,  I loved the vanilla froyo with fresh raspberries.  Delicious.

She could not get over how cute the spoon was- she just loved it so much.  

We had fun- it was really nice to do something just one on one.  Ruby loved it- though she did miss Noni and daddy, especially when we were at the yogurt shop- she knew that daddy and Noni would love it there.  We are headed back soon....  short hair and all.