Sparkles on the Wall

Ruby loves wearing a tu-tu and her ballet slippers. She had on a tu-tu with sparkles on it and as she walked down the stairs I noticed reflections on the wall. She was thrilled when I pointed them out to her and when she wiggled they moved all over the wall.

Learning Time!

Nanny Rachael does "Learning Time" with the kids each day. They were doing it just before I left and it was so dear to listen to them. If you click on a photo to enlarge it you will see what Ruby does when she is concentrating real hard.

(if I remember correctly, so does Michael Jordon)

Fun with the Kids!

I am down with the kids for a few days. Kristin has their annual sales meetings in Palm Springs (when she arrived on Sunday afternoon it was 100 degrees!) Ruby and I got our hair cut. She wasn't real happy about sitting in the big chair and was not going to cooperate one bit -- until the gal gave her a pink lollie-pop and let her look at a "Dora the Explorer" movie on her I-phone. Then all was well. Here she is waiting for me after her cut, still with the I-phone in her hands. I'm always amazed at how much this little girl is a clone of her mother! Who says you can only color eggs at Easter??? We had such fun doing it that I purposed to find the kits on 1/2 price sales after Easter. We are calling them "happy colored eggs" (not Easter eggs) It was a hit, again. Don't tell the kids, but we will do it again in the summer, because I bought two kits! Then they will be "happy summer eggs". Since they all love egg salad sandwiches, we can color eggs any time and they will get enjoyed and eaten.

Both kids have colds, so we had to find fun things to do inside

(not to mention it has been raining off and on for 3 days!)

Dear Carson

Today at breakfast, out of the blue, Carson says to me

"Grandma, I'll take care of you!"

Those were some of the most reassuring words I have heard lately, and made my heart melt. Such a dear thing for an almost three year old to say to his Grammy!

Then after baths tonight I was helping him brush his teeth and he spontaneously said

"Grandma I LOVE you!"

New Jammies

WE LOVE OUR NEW PJ'S GREAT AUNTIE STEPH! THEY ARE PERFECT! THANKS.........

Sweet Story

Ruby: Carson fell off the chair in Sunday School.

Carson: Yeah I did!

Ruby: The teacher wanted to give Carson a hug, but he only wanted a hug from ME!

(I love the twin connection that becomes more and more evident with time!)

Farmer's Market

Today Kristin and her friend, Stacey took the kids to the Vancouver Farmer's Market. Sloan is Stacey's little girl who is a few months older than the twins. They had a great time together. Looks like Carson has his hands full!

Body Painting

Nanny Rachael planned for a FINGER painting project for the kids.

It turned into a BODY painting experience. Sure looks like fun!

(note they are holding hands -- partners in crime at such a tender age!)

Lunch!

Today for lunch Ruby told Nanny Rach she wanted a

"girl-cheese sandwich".

Carson decided he wanted a "boy-cheese sandwich".

Makes perfect sense to me!

Mom's Day With Kat

I spent Mother's Day afternoon and evening with Katharine. The top photo was taken at her church and the others she took on a walk with our dogs around where she lives in Woodinville. We had bright sunshine and rain for our walk. Nothing consistent with our weather these days! Couldn't get both dogs to look at the same time! Silly pups!

We walked passed this lovely pasture with horses.

Sweet Wishes

Kristin told me that the kids were playing in the field next to their house and Carson found a "wish".

(I think it's a dandelion that the kids blow and make a wish).

Kristin asked Carson what he was wishing for and he said

"I wish Grandma Julee was here!"

And everyone said "Ahhhhhhhh"..................

Random Fun!

Here are some random pix that Kristin sent me from her cell phone. These kids love being outdoors and take advantage every chance they can get.

Why does this 2 year old look like she is 5? (and why is she sitting on the counter?)

Wow, they are growing up fast!

Fun in the sun with momma!

Sweet kisses and secrets between twins!

The Twins Ride the OSHU Tram

The PORTLAND AERIEL TRAM is a tramway in Portland, OR carrying commuters between the city's South Waterfront District and the main Oregon Health & Sciences University campus located in the Marquam Hill neighborhood. It is the second commuter tramway in the USA (after New York City's Roosevelt Island Tramway). The tram travels a horizontal distance of 3,300 feet and a vertical distance of 500 feet in a 3 minute ride.

(OK, so I copied the info and the first two photos were on the web -- but all the rest are mine!)

Carson LOVES Tractors

Today we were at Toys R Us. When we came out to leave Carson spotted this digger across the parking lot and really wanted to see it. The "hard-hat Pete" (that is what the kids call all men with hard-hats) was very kind and took Carson up close and personal. He said he had two of his own children that really liked the tractors, too.

Coloring Easter Eggs

I was able to color eggs with the children today (who cares if Easter was yesterday?) I wasn't too sure how they would do, but I couldn't asked for them to be more perfect. I was prepared for a mess, but didn't have one bit of a mess. They didn't even crack one egg! They were gentle and careful and so fun. I loved the joy and wonder in their eyes as the white eggs turned to gorgeous spring colors right before them.

(Thank you Gretchen for the colorful Talavera mugs you so kindly sent to Kristin from Mexico! They were a great size and added to the color of the moment.)

Of course we enjoyed egg salad sandwiches for lunch......

Plasma Cars

Great Aunt Stephanie and Great Uncle Jimmy just couldn't wait till June to give the kids their three year old birthday gifts. These new plasma cars arrived on Easter Sunday. Since it was raining much of the day, we gave them to the kids in the garage. They are little cars that go by wiggles! As the kids wiggle their body and turn the steering wheels back and forth, they go forward. The kids thought they were a hoot. Carson's first comment "it's a new Pooh car!" If you have kept up with my blog, you will see that Carson has enjoyed the Pooh car for about 2 years, and still rides it like a wild child. www.plasmacar.com

"THANKS GREAT AUNTIE STEPH AND UNCLE JIMMY.

YOU ARE THE BEST!"