What 3 M&Ms Will Buy You

I was trying to practice for my portrait class, but Rubie wasn't having any of it - until I brought out the M&M bribe. Seriously, for Rubie's sanity, I need new subjects...





Look, twins...

You would think she was belting out the National Anthem, but in fact it was a colorful rendition of Itsy Bitsy Spider.....with feeling.

Portait Class - Week 2 Homework

Eloise Mary graciously agreed to be my subject for this week's homework. Seriously, how can one go wrong with this subject? On top of being a great subject, she has the most amazing pink walls in her living room that make a great background.






See you next Thursday, Mary (ha).

Cooking With Chef Rubie

Rubie and I made cookies last night...



I want you to know that I did not pose her in any way during these photos. What you see in these photos is how crazy she is in real life (and her dad dressed her up like that with the adorable outfit that was a gift from Lizzie).

So Excited!

A woman from Adoptive Families Magazine called me today to let me know that Rubie's photo has been selected as a finalist in their photo contest! Her picture was chosen out of over 6000 entries, and will appear in the magazine. I guess I should renew my subscription. This is the selected photo (the one that friends and family voted for here)...

Portrait Class - Week One Homework

I am taking a portrait class with a few friends. Here is my first homework assignment. I have to take at least six pictures of a subject and try to capture mood and personality...

LA County Fair

On our way to the fair, Ramon was chewing gum. Rubie asked him what he was eating, and he said he was chewing gum, but that she can't have any until she is older. Then, she said, "I like gums." At first I thought she was just saying it because she wanted some, but then I remembered...

On our recent visit to Chicago, my mom picked Rubie and me up from the airport. By this time it was dark, so we loaded Rubie into the car seat that is already in her car (for my niece, Catie), and drove off. A few minutes later, I heard Rubie chewing. I asked her what she was eating and she said, "I eat play dough." I turned around, and Rubie was chewing away so I asked her to give me whatever was in her mouth. It was ABC gum. Apparently, my niece, Catie, had been chewing many pieces of gum and then spitting them out into the arm rest of the car door, and Rubie found them. Yum... Just so everyone knows, Rubie does indeed like "gums."

Apple Orchard

We took Rubie up to Oak Glen on Saturday to visit the apple orchards...




Then she went on her first pony ride...

We also went to a petting zoo, where Rubie got right in there with the animals. She really enjoyed the llamas (they were in the next stall over) - she kept referring to them as Llama Llama Mad at Mama's (great book if you have small chilren)...

Yesterday, Rubie was petting Frenchie, and she said, "she got belly buttons"...

Gymnastics

Rubie goes to gymnastics class every Wednesday. Here she is warming up...

She is climbing onto the balance beam...

It takes concentration...

More balancing...

She decided to sit and scoot the rest of the way...

Of course there is tumbling (She does rings and bars, too, but they are in the big gym where my camera is not allowed)...

And here she is in the tub with a Z stuck to her forehead singing Happy Birthday...

Preschool

Rubie's daycare started academics in the 3 year old room (Rubie's class). She has been bringing home homework! (tracing practice). Today she brought home the letter A and the number one. She knew what the letter A was and that "A is for apple." She didn't remember the one, but we counted and then she knew. We hung the A and the 1 on the back door for her to see...

Scissors

Silly girl...


Rubie likes to help us make grocery lists. Here she is using her play dough scissors to cut up her grocery list.

Pay close attention to the cutting skills (holding the blades is highly effective)...

Notice the pine cone next to her. She brought this in as a present for me, but then took it back and decided to cut it up. So, the only logical choice was to get her play dough scissors. I have no idea where she came up with this idea, but whenever she wants to open something or cut something, she runs to get them. Also, her grocery lists are very detailed...