Tis a Wee Garden Gnome!

Ruby was a Garden Gnome this year. I made the costume and finished it about 3 weeks ago. I know...it's like Haley's Comet and will only happen again in another 37 years. At any rate, I thinkit turned out really cute. Ruby didn't want to wear it at first until she learned that with it, she could get copious amounts of sugar. Once she figured this out, she wouldn't take it off.

We joined our pals at Glow Bowl (bowling with black lights - fun!) and took 2nd (that's right!) in the costume contest. We lost to Hank the Alien and couldn't begrudge him too much because...well...look how cute he was!!I was a half-blind pregnant cat (I lost a contact this week) and Dustin went as a hockey player. Not the most creative but it's all about the kids, right? Then it was back home for dinner with the aunties and Ari and off to Trick-0r-Treat. Ruby was WAY into it and went running from house to house shouting "trick-or-treat!", "Thank you!" and "Happy Halloween!" At one point, after leaving the fourth house she suddenly burst into a spontaneous squeal of joy. Yeah...she was loving it! She also enjoyed seeing the dogs at the houses, of course. Now I just hope she doesn't think she can do this every night!

Knocking on doors

The three ladies, Ari Bumblebee, Ruby Gnome and Kayla Ladybug Girl ready for a night of fun.

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Carving

Ruby was very excited about the pumpkin carving and had many questions!

Here she is with the finished product:

Eat a Lime!!

Ruby and Kayla dancing to everyone's favorite pirate band, Captain Bogg and Salty!

Firemen

October is Fire Safety Month so the library hosts a Firefighter Story Time at many of its branches. We didn't have one at the branch where I work but we did have one at the branch by our house on our day off so we threw on our rain gear and headed over. The firefighters read a story and then put on all of their gear to show the kiddos what they'll look like if they have to come in a smoky house after them. Ruby was a little nervous at first but she did give the guy a high five. Then we got to go outside and sit in the truck. This was Ruby's favorite part.

Hurry hurry...drive the fire truck!

Sing...Sing a Song...

Ruby is really throwing herself headlong into childhood and saying adios to babyhood. Oh so sad...sniff... Ok ok, I'm better. Anyway, what sorts of things is she doing? Well, she loves coloring with a passion. Everyday is the request to color. She likes coloring books, blank paper, chalk, you name it. Just recently she started drawing pictures of faces and people where she painstakingly draws two circles and a line with a big circle around it and then announces who it is. She's very intent on her art and often covers herself with whatever it is she's using to create it, as you can see here. She's also really into singing lately and can be heard singing her greatest hits album as she's falling asleep and singing every single song she knows. Story time is awesome because she is now an active participant, singing along to all the songs. Up until now, she's either roamed around the room or just observed all of the other kids. I read Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root (a favorite at our house) the other day and could hear her enthusiastically chanting along, "..chocolate marshmallow fudge delight!"



Some of her favorite songs are Slippery Fish, Go Tell Aunt Rhody and anything with a Twinkle Little Star tune. She's also learning "La araña pequeñita" (Itsy Bitsy Spider) and "Que Llueva" a Spanish version of the "Rain Rain Go Away" song.



Another funny thing is that she's been listening to the Let it Be album by the Beatles at night before bed. Now when it's on, she sings along at the top of her lungs.."Let it beeee!" On Monday, I heard her innocently singing, "Nothing's gonna change my world! Nothing's gonna change my world..." as she dressed her baby doll. My heart kind of broke a little when I thought about how much her world IS going to change in 2 1/2 months. It was tragic and awesome at the same time. Sweet girl.



Oh and another bright spot to our week was when we visited our friends Jane and John and their three chickens. John has built the most awesome of chicken coops and Ruby loved peering into their window and talking to them. "Oh hi!" she says. Here's a peek at the coop: Well, those are the updates for now. More soon!

Fall Festivities

On Sunday, a church near our house had a fall festival. We walked down to the festival along with Dara and Kayla and Ari and Monica to check it out. Our pal Karen was there leading the pony rides so we stood in line and waited to see if Ruby would fare better with this pony ride than the last. They had a smaller pony at this one and they buckled her in so it was less scary. Kayly also got her turn with Princess as did Ari. Here's our little cowgirl, happy as can be on Princess the pony: After checking out the other things the festival had to offer, we headed over to Dustin's boss's house for some old fashioned apple cider pressing. The girls picked up some delicious apples. I don't know why, but I love to see Ruby eating an apple. There's just something about it.... The girls also tried their hand at working the press and then...fresh hot apple cider. Delicious!! Given that we were all feeling pretty tired, we took the bus back home. Ruby hasn't been on a bus since she was a baby so it was an exciting experience and we had to sing "Wheels on the Bus" of course! Aren't they a sweet little bunch? Ruby passed out when we got home. We know how to wear a kid out!

Weekend Shenanigans

Weekend before last, Sofia and Joel spent the night and Ruby was beside herself with joy at having two of her favorite people all to herself. We made cookies (licked the beaters natch) and watched movies and played in the park. The kids all slept together in Ruby's room with Joel and Sofia in their sleeping bags. When they got up we had a big breakfast of pancakes and orange juice. I think Ruby wants them to move in.