Word #539 in Rubi's Dictionary

Jackpot! - This is what my kids yell instead of "SHOTGUN!" when wanting to ride in the front passenger seat of a car.

"I call JACKPOT!"

Wordless Wednesday - Sofi's 1st Vote!

Halloween 2010

I have to admit I hate Halloween.

I didn't like it when I was a kid.

I don't like it now that I have kids.

However, it's better now that I have big kids

to be with the little kids. :)

Last weekend was pumpkins.

It was cold.

I hated it.

We get the carving kits and the kids

always choose designs that are outside

their realm of carving abilities.

I hate the guts.

I don't save the seeds to eat.

Yuck.

I hate the mess.

Let the games begin.

Yes there are extras.

Sofi's friend Aaron.

A&G's friend Whitney.

Impressive line up huh?

Thank God we had some muscle!

Try as Aaron might he could not convince

Madame R that touching the guts was

something she SHOULD do.

Yes they are as smart as they look.

It's ok they didn't get real knives.

Still not liking the guts...

So Greer rescued the Damsel in Distress.

Does it look like Rubi's hand?

These 2 were done first.

They were a little less ambitious with their design.

These 2 were next.

I know it's difficult to read Rubi's expression.

Sofi was sick of it by this point.

Her expression is also difficult to read...

*eye roll*

Not to be out done

and not particularly photogenic...

Also *eye roll*

This was the coolest.

The Quiet One.

Loves skull & crossbone stuff.

Parker gave up shortly after this shot so

there is no final picture.

Par for the course...

Happy Halloween!

This is why I LIKE Halloween. :)

I love the food!

Last year's Feet of Meat. :)

And of course, Arac-cake-phobia.

This year was less eventful but still oodles of fun.

We had BBQ Worm sandwiches,

Greasy, green, grimy gopher guts,

And Blood and Brains Salad.

Mmmmm....

And who could forget a refreshing glass of

Slug Soda.

You can't see it but there are gummy slugs in the

bottom of the drink.

Yum!

Happy Halloween guys!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

She was Spectacular. She was Brilliant.

AGAIN WITH RUBI?!? You ask.
Yes, I say, Of course. Who else?

Rubi was selected to be Future Royalty for Homecoming this year.
(Like there was any REAL competition...)
I know I shouldn't encourage her. At all.

All Queens must have their hair done.
Seriously.
It's one of the most important things.
(Thanks Linde for working us in!)

I took LOTS of pictures.
Bad ones.
I have NO idea how to take pictures.
At all.

The day was spent WAITING to hold the crown.

And then someone told her she had to wait some more.

And she cried.

And I said, PSHAW! You just hold that crown, GIRLFRIEND.

So she held it.

And she held it.

And she tried to hide while I took MAAANNY pictures.

And her face says so much...

And she finally got to give it to the Queen.

And finally she sat.

She was spectacular.

She was brilliant.

She did drop the crown.

And she tried really hard not to cry.

And she was spectacular.

And she was brilliant.

She hugged for an hour. Everyone that came through that line.

One last photo.

Tattoos and parade floats and candy to throw.

She was spectacular.

She was brilliant.

The end.

On a different note Hartington suffered a great loss last week. To the Heimes family, your mother was one of the best people I have ever had the pleasure to know. She will be so missed by so many.

To Leslie, good luck to you on the birth of your first baby. You will be the best mom. You've waited a long time for this and I am sure he will be spectacular. He will be brilliant. Best wishes to you and your husband on the next leg of your journey.

The Swan

I think I'll talk about my kids today.
I know that's rare.
But I feel as though I have to.
I must be specific.

Aspen.
This is how she started.
I now am grateful that I had NO idea how sick she was.
See that. I was 21. Stupid. Naive. Rose colored glasses 21...

This was how Greer and Aspen spent much of the early months.
I was not the type to stay home.
I would switch them into 1 carseat at my destination.
I only had 2 arms.
I still only have 2 arms.

We call her Appy.
It was easier for the 1 2yr old to say.
This one was quick.
This one was openly ornery.
She walked 1st.
Surprised? We weren't.
She climbed first too.

See that look.
It was that look that we knew we were in trouble.
Trust me it's not the look of innocence.
:)

This is my favorite picture.
Aspen hates it.
It was the beginning of the awkward phase.

She had stringy hair.
She had glasses.
She had braces.
She was REALLY skinny.

She didn't have the confidence the other one had.
She didn't make friends as easily.
She was unsure of herself.
She didn't get involved the way the other one did.

She had some rough years.
She stood in the shadows.
Her personality was pretty intense.
She was tough to swallow sometimes.

She liked to be right and
needed to be first.
She had lots to grow out of.
She had lots to grow into.

She learned to not need to be first.
She started not needing to be right.
She started to get involved.
She started to find herself.

And then it happened...
She became my swan.

3 Grapes & a Paper Towel

This came home in Rubi's backpack yesterday:

Your guess is as good as mine.

The lunch menu for yesterday said they had pineapple chunks.

The year is gearing up to be an odd one!

Life's a Kick

Soccer started here this week.

Rubi finally gets to participate in an organized sport with a real team.

Just like everyone else has done her WHOLE life.

This kid attended her first basketball game at 1 week old.

I scheduled her induction around Sofi's basketball schedule.

Yes I did.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Pink socks you ask?

Yes I say?

Why you ask?

Have you ever watched a kindergarten soccer game I say?

All you see is legs and heads.

It's one gigantic ball of bodies with a soccer ball somewhere in the middle.

Pink legs will stick out.

I guarantee NO ONE else has pink legs.

She appears pretty tough and ready to go huh?



No they are not all smitten with Rubi.

Coach Matt is kneeling in the middle.

Brave soul...

Oh My God!

She is gonna be a

SUPERSTAR...

Oh! My! God!

Look at that form!

SUPERSTAR!

This??

This is where things went horribly awry.

I believe that someone told her to:

"Bring it on home!"

Which meant:

"SLIDE! SLIDE! SLIDE!"

Wait a minute - why are we now playing baseball?

Here she is rounding in to home.

Notice how many other children are sitting?

How did we get to baseball?

And she's off.

Back on track.

Check out the pink socks.

:)

Which one is Rubi?

Pink socks.

GO OREOS!

(Orioles)