GO BEAVS!

The Jones Family are HUGE Beaver fans -- and yesterday was opening game of the season for Oregon State University.  They have cultivated that love of Beavers in the twins --

Here they are just before they left for Corvallis.  Ruby doing a cheer!  (and she told her mommy she needed to wear shorts under her skirt just in case she needed to do a high kick during the game!)

 

 

What a fun way to spend a Saturday!

Kristin and I, on the other hand, stayed home and cleaned out closets and dresser drawers.  Wow, did we do a great job with taking out the old and bringing in the new.  We also made one last trip to the store to make sure they had all their supplies for the first day of school. 

CHECK that off the list of things to do. 

When they got home they opened the back to school gift from Great Aunt Stephanie and found a book about crayons and two BIG boxes of crayons!  Plus they got to look over all the school supplies they get to carry to first grade on Tues. 

I HOPE IT WASN'T A HONEY BEE!

Kristin took the twins swimming at the local pool yesterday and all of a sudden, Carson, who was in the pool, started to scream!  He had been stung by something.  Kristin thought either the stinger fell out in the water or it was a yellow jacket.    Carson said . . .

"I hope it wasn't a honey bee because it would die after it stung me.   
I hope it was a yellow jacket that got to fly away!" 

(How thoughtful is this little man?  Wishing well the critter that just stung him!)  

Great Nieces

Couldn't resist posting these adorable photos of Miss Emma and

 Miss Lydia -- my GREAT nieces. 

 

First Day of 1st. Grade Outfit

Still 9 days to go to the start of first grade, but Ruby is her Mommy's daughter and has already found the perfect outfit for the first day of first grade. 

You look so grown up, Miss Ru. 

 

Saturday Morning At Grandma Julee's House

 

Auntie Kat has been sorting through her belongings and has come across some fun things from her childhood.  Here she and Carson are doing some art projects with some of her old art supplies and art books. 

 

The little neighbor girl, Lilly, who is the same age as the twins came over for some play time.  

 

Kat made paper dolls for each of the kids, in the color they selected. 

(It made my heart smile, because my mother used to cut paper dolls out for me, but I never could figure out how she did it.  Kat followed some instructions, and came up with such cute paper dolls for the children.)

Kat also found her great big box of Barbie and Ken dolls with tons of clothes.  Some of the clothes were from my Barbie doll  -- my Grandma Katy sewed them for me, decades ago.  I still have my original Barbie in my hope chest -- think it must be worth a lot !  

Ruby and Lilly learned they had both lost the same amount of teeth -- must be a 1st grader thing!  

At Dinner Tonight

Carson:  "Grandma, you make the best tacos in the whole wide world.  You should make a bunch and sell them to your neighbors."

 

Grandma Julee:  "Maybe I should  open a restaurant?" 

Ruby:  "You could call it Ru-Cars Restaurant"

Grandma Julee:  "Don't you think it should have my name in it too?"

Ruby:  "Call if Grandma Julee's Ru-Cars Restaurant." 

 

I love their creativity.  And I love that they enjoy my tacos! 
Carson:  "You could sell hotdogs and hamburgers too!"
 



Conversation With Ruby

Kristin said that out of the blue Ruby said

"Did you know Grandma Julee and me are so much alike, we are almost twins?"

"Is that because you both have blue eyes?"

"No, mommy.  It's because we like the same things -- except Grandma Julee doesn't eat tomatoes!" 

(You got that one right!  So sweet Ruby)

Sleeping Beauty

Kristin says "I just can't help myself!"  Who could pass up a photo-op like this one? 

Sweet dreams, precious RuRu..... Sure glad you love your satin pillowcase.

Hood River Outing

 

Kristin kind of spontaneously said "Let's drive to Hood River and play at the water front and have dinner!"  SURE, WHY NOT!  It was a gloriously beautiful day with tons of sail and wind surfers on the water.  The brisk breeze kept us cooled off since it was a very sunny day.  

 

 



The waterfront park has such creative things for kids to do.  Ruby is trying out the bongo drums. 

 

And this must be the biggest xylophone I have ever seen -- and of course Carson got tired of playing the bars, and decided to play his sister's back!  SUCH A BOY! 

 

This piece of play equipment spun round and round.  The kids had to hang on or be spun right off, onto the soft astro turf.   Carson couldn't get enough of this rough-housin!  He tries to keep up with the BIG boys, and at one point even climbed on the big guy in the green shirt and decked him -- in a playful way.  Again -- SUCH A BOY!  WITH SO MUCH ENERGY!  (Carson is between the boy in orange and girl with helmet)

 

Such a lovely backdrop for this park.  Right along the Columbia River. 



 

Kristin bought this Boston Red Sox hat when she attended her first Boston Marathon -- 3.5 years ago.  So glad it still fits her. 

 

 

And of course, Mike's Ice Cream after our pizza dinner!  End to a perfect day. . . 

Boating and Beach with the Family

What a great day we all enjoyed on the water and beach with the family!  Thank you Ray and Carrie for inviting Kat and me to join in the fun.  We all take such joy in watching the twins enjoying themselves and exploring their world. 

 (remember when you are viewing the blog, you can click on the photo and enlarge them) 

 

 

We were on the back side of Sauvie Island and across from us was Washington.  It was quiet and secluded, except it was also a shipping lane and occasionally a large ship or barge would go by, causing waves to crash on shore.  The children had fun running, digging and playing in the sand and water.  We adults mostly relaxed!

 

Carson would be content to dig and dig and dig in the sand. 

Ruby Grace is ever the artist -- making her creations in the sand! 

Can you say "long and lean?" 

 Can't believe how much the kids have grown in just the past year, since we spent the day at this exact beach!

 Sometimes it takes team-work!

 

Like Mother -- Like Son!  

 

Mini-me!



 

You just NEVER know what the Jones might be cookin up on the barbi!  Here is Lindsey grilling up some veggie and salmon burgers, hot dogs (the normal, run of the mill type), and then there are the BEAR-DOGS!  Yes, I said BEAR.  Their neighbor shot a bear and had some of the meat made into sausage (BEAR-DOGS!) 

"Make mine a mystery-meat dog"  

Could a brother and sister look more alike?

 

 

 

 

That Grandpa Ray is such a good sport.  I remember last winter in the big snow,  when he pulled the kids on a sled around and around his driveway -- 

During this day the water was a bit rough to try the new Red Rocket tube behind the boat, so he pulled them along the shore and they loved it. 

 

 

Making a beautiful sand castle with Auntie Kat, complete with a moat that Carson helped fill up!  

 

Long about 8:00 PM, the wind died down and Ray decided to pull the kids on our way back to the dock.  Aunt Lindsey was the chaperone/keeper-of-the-kids!  The Red Rocket tube is designed for two riders, but we couldn't let the twins ride alone, so she climbed on too.  

THEY LOVED IT!  

But their Mama Bear and Papa Bear were right there on the back of the boat watching every bump and splash, ready to dive in and rescue their little cubs!  

 

Day is done -- gone the sun -- all is well!