Fun at Grandma's House

Here we were doing an art project with some new scissors and glue sticks. Ruby asked for the pen and began to draw intricate little people all over her volcanoes she cut out of red paper.

Carson was enjoying the two new pairs of scissors. "How am I suppose to make these things work?????"

I kept telling him to "open up the scissors more". Each time I said that, he opened his MOUTH more!

Ruby is tucked in between the dolly cradle reading books. They are books that were mine when I was a child. My mother had me in a book club and I would receive one in the mail each month. I'm surprised I still have them! (prices are $.25 each!)

Carson was looking at books with his new truck. He would pause and show the pictures to his truck. It was very cute.

Quote From Preschool Weekly Newsletter

We were in a deep discussion the other day about firefighters and all of their amazingness and we began brainstorming all of the helpful things they do for us --- this led us to chatting about kittens who may get stuck in trees who as Iris said were most likely running up because they were getting chased by a dog. We couldn't help but really roll with it all as one student in particular could not believe her ears about the goodness of firefighters work/duties/jobs etc....Ruby's eyes could not have been wider nor her body language louder (dramatically leaned in etc.) so when the conversation died down - Ruby says in the most sincere and heart felt way as she shakes her head "my heart is gooooooooonna swell....my heart is goooooooooonna swell!" She was immensely touched by the notion of a firefighter saving a scared and stranded cat --- we have been talking a lot about things we can do and things others can do to make people's hearts happy or swell with happiness so Ruby's connection of all was uber precious. Needless to say Ruby's heart swelling was contagious. Here is to three heart swellers:

kittens + firefighters + Ruby!

Too Cute

Here she is engrossed in her little computer. LOVE IT! And she is obviously making some kind of a fashion statement!

Ruby Goes To Baby Shower With Mommy

One of Kristin's friends from Adidas was having a baby shower and Miss Ruby got to attend with her mommy. Kristin said she was perfect, and had such fun helping the new mommy-to-be unwrap her gifts. I love that Ruby can enjoy fun girly things with her mom, while Carson is happy to do guy-things with Dad.

The theme was Bubble Bath Duck, and this is the darling cake they served. How cute is this???

Sorry, No Camera on Hand......

Today I took the kids to story time at the library and there was a Petsmart next door. They love going there. On the way out I saw a woman with a duck on a leash. That duck was even wearing a black diaper (because it was a black duck and a white diaper would be too obvious!) They were in the check-out line buying -- would you believe -- a bag of crickets! YUM..... The duck could hardly wait to get the crickets and kept biting at the bag. Since the lady had drawn a crowd of people around her, right there in the store, she paid for the crickets ($2.00 for 20) and dumped them out on the floor and the duck finished them off in seconds! Carson, Ruby and I were rather shocked at what we were seeing!

Sounds like a children's book waiting to be written--DUCK IN DIAPERS.

Sorry, but I didn't have my camera.

Sweet Ruby's Words

Since moving down to Oregon, and being only 12 miles away from my grandchildren, I have been able to keep them at my house regularly. Ruby made me laugh with this comment as I served them dinner one night, "But Grandma, I wanted tacos!" I never said one word about having tacos, but I guess that was what her taste buds were suggesting to her for dinner! That is definitely genetic from her momma who loves Mexican food!

I was standing on the porch telling them good bye, after keeping them with me on Monday because they were both fighting colds and were a bit too sick to attend preschool. Ruby comes running back to me, gives me a big hug and says "Grandma Julee, thank you for moving close to us!" Ahh, that melted my heart. It came so spontaneously from her with such feelings and love. Just what I needed to hear.

Nanny Rach Becomes Auntie Rach

Rachael was mightily blessed on her 25th birthday by becoming an Auntie for the first time. Baby Max was born in the evening of her birthday, which became a perfect present for her. Of course she drove right down to Oregon from her new nanny job in Seattle to meet Max for the first time. Since Carson adores Rachael's brother, she decided to take him with her to the hospital. Boy oh Boy, did Carson feel special. When we ask him about the visit he can remember all the important details -- Baby Max cried when his toes were exposed, they ate pizza and one of the friends who were visiting too, read a story to Carson!

Rachael says "Now I have TWO favorite little men in my life!"

Brother Matthew (with the new-daddy-glow!) This adorable photo was taken a few days later at home, sporting his little mittens!

P.S. In case you are feeling sad for Ruby who didn't get to go to the hospital (since it would be very hard for Rachael to handle two 3-year olds and a new infant), Ruby was home with me and after a few tears when we told her that only Carson was going to run an errand with Nanny Rach -- we didn't even tell her what -- she was happily having lunch with me playing with the new play dough set. On our way upstairs for nap, she said

"Grandma Julee, this was the best time I've had alone with you!"

Vocabulary That BLOWS Me Away!

I was reading a library book to the twins that I had not read before. I didn't realize that the week before when Carson went with Nanny Rach for an errand, they took this book and it had been read to him. In the story a classroom of children are making a big map of their town and it has small pictures of buildings (i.e., library, fire station, school, church, children's homes). Each has a label or something that would give the children the idea of what it is, like a flag or cross. One building had a Star of David on it and Ruby said "that's a church". Carson said, "no that's a tabernacle"! I didn't quite know what to say except "Yes, Buddy, that's a tabernacle, and you are so smart!" He has an incredible memory for words and often blows me away. Both kids had appointments with their pediatrician this week and I went with Kristin. Under the examination table was an area that seemed perfect for crawling into before the Dr. came into the room. The Dr. said "what are you doing down there?" Carson replied "We are hibernating!" to which he replied "wow, that's a big word for a 3 year old boy!"

Dear Little Man

Nanny Rach recently told me a sweet story about Carson and his tender heart. When she used to take them to the library for storybook time, on the way home there was often a very raggedy looking homeless man on the side of the road in this one particular spot, holding a sign -- "will work for food". Carson, in his curious mind, asked Rachael what the sign said. When she told him, he became very concerned and said "you mean that man doesn't have any food?" At that moment Carson was 1/2 way done with eating a cheese stick and said "Nanny Rach, can I give my cheese stick to that hungry man?" Such tenderness of spirit and awareness of others. As I type this, I have tears in my eyes, because from the very beginning of Carson's life, I have been praying that Psalm 112 would be a part of who he grows up to be. Verse 5 says "Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice." My heart is touched and blessed to see this compassion and generosity of spirit at age three.

Oh one more thing -- Ruby had already finished her cheese stick and said "I can give him the princess picture I colored!"

Kristin's Video with Big FOOT

http://vimeo.com/36645943

password: climawarm

This is the video that Kristin and BIG FOOT were working on last week up at

Mt. Hood. It was shown yesterday at their sales meeting at Adidas, Portland. After the video ends, keep watching for some fun out-takes.

Please tell me that isn't really Kristin's neck cracking........

Nanny Rach - Cute Story

Saturday night Nanny Rach took care of the twins so Kristin and Casey could go out on a Valentines date. Rachael so looks forward to her time with Carson and Ruby and always says how they fill up her love-tank. So they played, bathed and read books before climbing into bed. About 15 min. after getting them tucked into bed, Rachael hears Ruby calling out "Nanny Rach. Did you forget how to be a nanny? We didn't brush our teeth!" Then Carson said "It's OK, she doesn't know where our toothbrushes are in this new house. I'll show her."

So she went upstairs and fulfilled her nanny responsibilities.

Kristin Meets Yeti

Kristin and her team from Adidas went to Mt. Hood this past week to make a video in the snow for the upcoming sales meeting. They decided to make it a race between a heroine and YETI (Sasquatch or Big Foot). Kristin was selected to be the model/heroine and a guy on their team (with size 17 shoe for real) was to wear the costume and be BIG FOOT! Kristin said it took all day to do it with numerous retakes. They even rented a black SUV for her to drive in the video -- she must have taken the second picture. I'm hoping for a copy of the video after it is shown next week. Kristin is hoping it doesn't go viral on You-Tube! Hey, she could become famous!

Random From Kristin

I wonder what this baby-girl is contemplating...........

BIG Hair Cut

Ruby's hair had almost grown down to her waist -- it reminds me so much of Kristin's hair at age 3. In fact, when I took Kristin to get her hair cut at this age, the hair dresser said "It's not right that a 3 year old has more hair than I do!" That can be said of Miss Ruby's hair as well. Kristin took her back to the fun children's hair place and she got to sit in the Barbi car and watch a Cinderella DVD while five inches got cut off. (the first picture was taken at the salon before the hair cut)

Before bed, with the braids taken out.

Ruby's Fun Vocabulary Goofs

I was down with Kristin and Casey for a week and enjoyed hearing how much the twins are growing and developing, and especially with their vocabulary. Several times I had to laugh at Miss Ruby.

1) I was getting her out of the bath-tub and she had to sit on the toilet for a time, while still wet. She was getting cold and said to me

"Grandma, I'm starving!" (she meant freezing!)

2) Ruby was sitting on Kristin's lap and resting her head on Kristin's chest. She said "Mommy, you have small hips!" (she meant boobs). Kristin told her that some women who are runners have smaller boobs. Ruby came running out to me in the kitchen and announced "Grandma did you know that women who run have small boobs?" Then she looked at me and said "You're not a runner, are you Grandma?"

(When did she become so precocious?)

House Coat

Just got back from Kristin's house and Ruby was wearing this pink bathrobe that she called her "house coat". It made me smile because this little robe was sewed by Aunt Stephanie for Kristin when she was 3. I love seeing Ruby wearing Kristin's clothes. I couldn't get her to look at me for the photo, and then little man jumped in to be silly. Boys will be boys.......

Then I found them sitting together on my bed looking at a book. These kids LOVE books and can sit for the longest time while being read to. Thank you to their pediatrician who told Kristin and Casey at 2 weeks of age to read to the twins, NOW! It has made me a firm believer of reading to children from the very beginning of life. (as I recall, Bill read GOOD NIGHT MOON to Kristin in the hospital the day after she was born!)

New Preschool

When they moved to Portland, Kristin found a fabulous new preschool for the twins that is 5 min from the new home. PORTLAND SCHOOL OF EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION. It is a brand new school that just started last Nov. The kids are thriving and having such a great time learning and experiencing new things. The teachers are real good about sending photos to Kristin's cell phone through out the day.

Here Carson is making crackers. Check out that concentration in the second photo. And I thought only Ruby concentrated with her tongue!

Ruby was having fun lining up cars and counting them all. I don't know exactly what this white stuff is, but Kristin said it is like snow, but not. It was cold, but not as cold as snow. Ruby was having a blast. Ruby is also making crackers. I love the little scissors they use to cut the crackers before baking. Kristin snapped this picture of Ruby on her way to school. This school is called an all-weather-school, which means the kids go outside everyday. They have all the gear they need right there at school so they can bundle up in wet and cold weather. Here is their website if you want to check it out. http://www.pdxedschool.org/

Sentimental Story

Ruby brought tears to my eyes recently. No, she didn't accidentally head-butt me, which has happened before! She said "you smell like Grandma Julee!" When I was a little girl I spent a great deal of time with my Grandma Katy. She babysat me since mom worked full time, sewed most of my clothes, including my wedding dress and took me to church. Grandma Katy was my prayer warrior who took me (and all 14 of her grandchildren) to the "throne of grace" each day. Needless to say, she was very special and dear to me. Grandma Katy always smelled good -- usually some light scented perfume from Avon. When she died I was given some of her jewelry and for several years I could still smell "Grandma Katy" on her jewelry. I made the decision when the twins were born to wear the same perfume when I was with them so they would come to know that scent as mine. It was silly, but I consciously did it. So when Ruby was hugging me and said "You smell like Grandma Julee", I felt tears forming in my eyes!

Random Pix From Kristin

This red and white gingham jacket was Kristin's at age 3. I love that Ruby is wearing it -- the hat I don't know????

Carson and Ruby attended Malia's 4th birthday party at JJJump. http://www.jjjump.com/

They had so much fun, even the adults. Kristin said she may have their next birthday at this place since it provided a great deal of fun for all. Just as quickly as Carson went down a slide, he was bounding back up the stairs to go again. You can see him doing that in the photo below. Ru was actually at the top getting ready to fly down. Ruby-red slippers (or TOMS) for Miss Ruby. She LOVES them!

MOVING DAY

Over New Years Kristin and Casey moved from Vancouver to Portland. I was there for 10 days, but was so busy I didn't get many pictures. These were taken the first day we had the U-Haul. The kids thought it was a bunch of fun! We had to work at keeping them out of the way so they didn't get tripped over!

Here they are entertaining themselves in the mud! Such fun.......

The last night the king size mattress was moved downstairs, so the kids took advantage of it while they watched a show. (also, it was the only thing in the living room at that point!)

I-phone

Kristin usually recharges her I-phone on the floor in her bedroom. The twins now know how to operate it -- as seen below! I think they know more about it than I do. Ruby knows how to get a game on it to play.