Miss Lydia -- Flowergirl Extraordinaire

 

Miss Lydia (age 2) and her big sister, Emma, were flower girls in their Aunt's wedding.   They are my niece's daughters.  This photo says it all....... 
 I believe it could win a photo contest.  What I think is there must be a ton of comments that we could add to this photo -- like these

 

1)  I said, I don't like the blue sash

2)  No one asked me if I wanted to be a flower girl

3)  Outta my way buddy -- I have pedals to drop.

4)  Why can't I ride my trike down the aisle?

5)  Does this dress make me look fat?

6)  Can we just finish this part and get to the cake and dancing?

7)  But someone might step on the flowers if I drop them down the   aisle.

8)  I WANT MY NANA!

 

Oh, I'm cracking myself up over these.  Let me know if you have more.....



Misc.

Miscellaneous photos that Kristin has emailed to me from

 her cell phone.

 

 

This is how Kristin found Ruby's "softie monkey".  It was tucked into her bed, with its head on her pink satin pillowcase.  Ahh, she loves her softie!  

Ruby's "bestie" from school, Iris, wrote this to Ru on her last day of school.  Iris is going to a different school for kindergarten and will be so missed by Ruby.   



 

 

 

Cute-ness

Last night I prepared dinner for the twins.  I made mac and cheese from scratch (no, it wasn't from a box!).  Both kids have always been such great eaters.  But recently I have heard Carson say "I don't like that........" more than usual.  So he decided, before he even tasted my mac and cheese, that he didn't like it because it was "too cheesy".  He was fixin to have a fuss, so I told him he could go have that fuss upstairs in his room with the door shut.  He quickly decided to come sit at the dinner table and eat the other food he liked (green beans and fruit salad).  He didn't even touch the small helping of mac and cheese.  Ruby, on the other hand, had two helpings of it.  So the rules say, if you don't eat dinner, you can't have dessert.  He knew that and didn't really put up a fuss.  When he was done with his meal, minus the m&c, he was excused.  Ruby was able to eat one of the cut out cookies they had made that afternoon.  After she was done eating, she got up from the table and Carson came up to her and saw a crumb of cookie on her blouse.  He quickly grabbed the tasty morsel, popped it in his mouth and announced

 "I got my treat!" 

I took the kids to a local elementary school playground after church today to run off some energy.  At one point Carson said
 "Grandma, you stay here.  We are going to look for moon rocks and bring them to you.  Then you can look them up on the Internet and tell us what they really are!" 
(Such an imagination!)

The twins are now getting old enough to not take naps because a good 2 hour nap will mean they don't fall asleep till after 10PM.  I just put them down for a 1 hour rest (not sleep), and Carson comes running back to me and says
 "Grandma will you pray with me so I don't have bad dreams during my rest!" 

 When the twins spend the night at my house, I can guarantee one or both will climb into bed with me in the mornings.  When it is Ru, I know there will be no more sleep for either of us.  She is such a wiggle worm -- can't stay still for long at all.  CARSON on the other hand, will crawl into my bed and lay as still as a stick, and many times we both fall back to sleep.  This morning I was attacked by the wiggle worm.......

I have a routine with the twins when they spend the night.  After baths, we do a beauty parlor (which means I cut their nails and paint Ruby's).  Carson gets to have ONE nail painted, just to appease him.  JUST ONE, or his Daddy would have my hide! 
Ruby announced to me 
"When I'm a big girl, Grandma, and you are very old, I will paint your nails!"  Ahhhhhhhh.......  I will remind her of that too. 

Carson was talking about when he grows up and told me that he was going to have a helicopter and a Raptor truck that he will store in the shed where Grandpa Ray stores his boat. 
 He had obviously thought this through carefully. 
I hope the storage shed is big enough for all of Carson's big-boy "toys"! 

While having dinner at Grandma Carrie's house, Carson asked her if she had some pesto to dip his chicken in.  She found a jar of store-bought and gave him some, to which he replied
"This isn't as good as Gretchen's!" 
(No, Buddy, no one can make pesto like our Gretchen -- and we thank you, Gretchen, for bringing us some when you  came for the twin's birthdays in June!) 

I have a number of cross necklaces that I wear on a regular basis.  I had the kids all ready and in the car to head out to Sunday School.   Ruby (who doesn't miss anything when it comes to fashion or accessories) said to me
 "Grandma, you forgot to wear your church necklace!" 





Fun Words Not To Forget

 

I grew up enjoying Jean Nate After-Bath-Splash.  I decided when the twins were born, when possible, to wear the same perfume when I'm around them so they connect the scent with me.  I did that because I can still remember my Grandma Katy's perfume (it was one of the Avon products). 

 I had just showered  and splashed on some Jean Nate before going out to the Jones' prior to attending the children's art show event.  Ruby comes up to me for a hug and snuggle and says. . . 

 "Grandma Julee, you smell like Palm Springs!" 

Ahhh.  That was the perfume I took and would splash on after showering in PS.   
That comment made my heart smile.

 

At the children's event, after standing in line for about 20 minutes waiting for face painting, Ruby says to me. . .

 "Pick me up Grandma.  I'm tired of standing!" 
Oh gosh honey, maybe Grandma's feet are tired too.....  But of course I didn't say that.  I picked her up for a few minutes! 

Ruby's joke to her momma on the way to school today:
Mom, why did the banana go to the doctor?
Because he wasn't peeling very well........ 

Portland School Art Show and Family Picnic -- Kruger's Farm, Sauvie Island

 

The school the twins attend is so wonderful and creative.  http://pdxedschool.org/

They had been planning for months to have a grand event at a local farm that would include an art show with the children's artwork, face painting, rides, food, music and fun.  At the very last moment, the farm they had planned on having it at, was not a good fit (I don't know details).  The night before the event the two teachers/owners went to see Kruger's Farm on Sauvie Island  http://www.krugersfarmmarket.com/home.html  and was given a wonderful deal to host the event at their location instead.  It turned out to be such a blessing and an event we won't soon forget.  I can't say enough about Kruger's Farm and the special venue they provided to dozens of children, parents, grandparents, aunties and nannies!  It was so fun.  I went overboard taking pictures - until my memory was full. 

You will notice more photos of Ruby than Carson -- he was 100% boy and off and running most of the night.  It was hard to keep track of him, let alone get a photo. 

Here is Ruby after choosing her outfit in front of Grandma Carrie's roses. 

 

 

 

Carson wasn't as particular about his outfit, but he asked Nanny Rach to spike his hair!  

 

Below both of them are running to the event as soon as we pulled into the farm.  They were so excited to see everyone and the art.  

Rachael had been down for a visit during her graduate school break.  She left with her love-tank completely filled up.  (the twins have a way of doing that for her!)  

There were 100's of pieces of art that the children had been working on over the last few months -- all nicely displayed for all to view and admire.  

 

And being a farm -- there were chickens........

 

And stinky pigs!  (hence Ruby is holding her nose!)



 

It started after the farm closed for the day to regular customers -- 6:00 PM.  We couldn't have asked for a more glorious day, weather wise.  Perfect temperature with a slight breeze. 



Here Kristin and Casey are viewing the "Georgia O'Keefe" paintings.  

 

Carson's Georgia O'Keefe, to which he was mightily proud.  

 

Ruby's

 

Ruby was looking at the "Jackson Pollock" flags they all painted. 
I love how the school introduces the children to various artists.  Both kids knew the names of the famous artists very clearly of whom they were patterning their artwork after.  

 

Ruby is greeting Mia -- the sweet friend who gave Ruby the lovely pink tutu that she chose to wear to the event. 

My heart melted as I watched Ruby spontaneously greet, hugging and kissing friends and teachers.  She is so comfortable with her friends.  It blessed me to see this, since in the beginning Ruby was shy when she went into the school situation.  She is definitely outgoing and loving to others. 

 



 

Giving Nanny Rach some Ruby-love. 

 

Greeting Iris with a huge hug that almost toppled them both to the ground.  

 

This was Carson and Bradan being boys -- Carson ran and wrestled with numerous little guy friends.  Such a different thing for me, having raised two daughters.  These active little boys are an enigma  to me!  

 

Ruby had told all of us that she was really looking forward to her very first ever face painting.  After waiting in line for about 45 mins. it was finally her turn. 

Teacher Jordon was so patient with each child, as she painted their request.

Ruby wanted to look like a "fairy". 



 

I like the clothes pin idea to hold her hair back.  

Jordon was admiring her work! 

 

But face glitter was still needed.

 

Jordan took pictures of each child's face.  Carson is patiently waiting his turn next.  

 

I just happened to have a mirror in my purse, to which Ruby gazed for a long time -- Till her mommy said "OK, Ruby, I think we need to do something else!" 

 

 

Carson wanted a bat -- of course!  He sat so still and had such a serious look on his face.  This was big business for him! 

 

 

Grandma Carrie and Aunt Lindsey looking on as the bat takes form.

 

Some silver glitter paint as a final touch.  

 

Jordan snapping his photo.   He was off and running before I could give him my mirror to see.  

 

 

 

Ruby helped me find her self portrait.  

 

And Carson's too!

 

 

Kruger Farms has lovely flowers for picking.  Ruby managed to talk Nanny Rach into giving her cell phone so Ruby could take pictures of flowers.  Rach said there were tons of pictures when she got the phone back.  Ruby knows more about taking pictures with a smart phone than I do.  She thoroughly enjoyed taking pictures of every kind of flower.  

 

Rachael, you are a good sport to let Ruby commandeer your phone......

 

We have become a generation of finger users.  Never forget when Ruby was 3 and she walked up to a TV and slid her finger across it, as if she could change the picture. 

 

I know I took too many of these photos, but it was so cute.  Maybe we have a professional photographer in the making...  

 

Hello sunflower!  Can I take your picture???

 

Connecting with her mommy.  I think Kristin was trying to keep track of Carson, but she managed to grab a photo with her girl.

 

Auntie Lindsey and Nanny Rach enjoying a moment.  

 

Time for a hayride.  Do you think I can get the 4 of them to look at me at the same time????  It was far too exciting for photos...



 

This is the same farm we have taken the kids  at Halloween to their pumpkin patch and they rode this same wagon out to where the pumpkins were growing. 

 

 

Miss Ruby is flying high!  

 

Nothing like dancing to end the night. 

Ruby was so excited to tell me "Grandma, did you know we get to stay at the farm till it gets dark?"  And the lights had come on as my memory card said FULL. 

It was a wonderful evening. 

 

Thank you to the teachers at their school for providing a great time for the children and families.  

 

P.S.. . . . . . . .  If you click on 2008, September and scroll down to Kruger Farms, you will see the very first time these twins visited the Farm.  It was a birthday party for 1 year old Memphis and they were 3 months old.    Who knew this Farm would have such fond memories for years to come. 

 THANK YOU KRUGER'S FARM!