Pure of Heart

A few years ago I was informed by a SIL that I was talking about 1 particular child too much.
(Can you talk about your kids too much?)
So I don't talk to her anymore.
A. It was incredibly hurtful and
2. I wasn't even talking about Rubi.

Isn't this the best picture ever?

It shows all the ornery.

It shows all the innocence.

It shows the extreme lengths she went to on Graduation to have just 1 more grape soda.

This one is incredibly silly.

She's also incredibly kind.

This one has no one to compete with.

She gets all the attention all the time.

This one just loves.

She has no prejudice.

She doesn't care who you are

or where you're from.

She's excited about everything.

She doesn't care if your clothes are up to date.

She doesn't care if your hair is combed.

She doesn't care who your parents are or where you live.

She just likes you.

She's hurt when she detects that people don't like her.

You tend to get all of her when you meet her.

She's not shy and she doesn't hold back.

At what age do kids lose that?

When do they discover brands and labels?

When do they figure out that the parents are the kid?

I hope this one stays this way.

She's unconditional.

I love that about her.

Milestones

Every week I think I'm coming here to write about food.
Every week I write about my kids.
Every week they surprise me.
Every week I'm more proud.

Last week we had the honor of watching Aspen.
She performed for the first time at the State Speech competition in Kearney, NE.
She performed in the VERY competitive poetry division.
She medaled in her first State Speech EVER.

For those that have never attended I cannot believe the intense pressure of the day.

This was before the 2nd round.

There are 2 rounds with 1 judge each round.

There were 3 groups of 6 kids each.

The level of these kids was amazing.

She spent a lot of time alone at this table.

She thinks too much sometimes.

I'm not sure where she gets that.

The 1st round started at 9:30.

The 2nd round started at 12:30.

Finals were not announced until 3:00.

The waiting to find out whether she was going to be in the top 6...

EXCRUCIATING.

This was incredible.

She stood on the podium.

She put her heart into this.

She worked harder at this than I've every seen her work.

It paid off for her tenfold...

This is what accomplishment looks like.

It's also what exhaustion looks like.

Our night ended at 6:30 p.m.

Let me tell you about this speech team.

For (I believe) the 12th year this team

has placed 1st or 2nd overall against schools from Omaha.

(Kudos to Brownell-Talbot by the way, simply amazing talent.)

Aside from the parents there was 1 administrator that attended and

1 teacher.

What an awesomely talented group of kids that Hartington continually produces.

Thank you to Coaches Kathol and Johnson for your time and energy and your

consistent belief and expectation in these kids to succeed.

NOW...

No blog of mine is complete without a bit about Madame R.

Last weekend we discovered the most wiggly, teeny, tiny, tooth.

Sadi spent a week performing oral surgery.

R waffled between wanting it out and never giving it up.

Success came.

WHILE I WAS GONE!

Do you realize this is my last first lost tooth?

I do. I cried. Jeff laughed. Fairy came. The end.

I did bake on Saturday:

These are amazing.

I found the recipe over at Within The Kitchen.

Click HERE for the recipe.

YUM!

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.

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!