Happy Birthday, Johnny (4), and Reese (3)!

Today was Johnny and Reesie's birthday party. We had a great time! Here is birthday boy, Johnny...


This is Christina's new puppy - Duke...

Hailey...

Blakie - no smile for you...

Sydney...

Everyone is getting ready to sing, so Johnny is getting ready, too...





She still won't hit the pinata - too violent. But this time, she collected candy...


It looks like we told her that we would beat her if she didn't eat that candy RIGHT NOW...


Racine...

Ramon's Family

These are from a family picnic last weekend.

Accessories

Is this too much?


Not shown, are the 80 million necklaces...

Claremont

So, I met up with a bunch of photography nerds (myself included, of course), and we walked around Claremont carrying huge cameras and equipment - yep, we looked cool. Here are some of the pictures that I shot. The first one is my camera club friend, Kathryn...

Guest Photographer - Mrs. Lakin

I have a friend named Jackie Lakin. She thinks I only post happy pictures like this...

or this...

She doesn't remember photos like this - remember the time that Rubie wanted to pick up dog poop, and I wouldn't let her? I'm such a mean mommy...

The other day we went to Justice's 4th birthday party (by the way, GREAT party Jenna - thanks for inviting us). Rubie was really trying to be a big girl during the presents. She came over about half way through and put her head on my lap because she was sad that none of the presents were for her. But, then she got herself together and went back to sit down and watch. Then, the last present came out - and the card was a Brown Bear card. And she LOST it - over.a.card. Not the present, THE CARD. Here she is losing it (guest photographer, Jackie Lakin)...

Here I am laughing at her losing it...

And, here is the card...

Bossy? Yep.

So, this week has been an interesting one. Rubie has started her new preschool. I asked one of her teachers how she is doing, and she hesitated (that's bad), and said, "Well.....she definitely has the dominant personality in the class." yikes - we all know that means - bossy. So, we have some things to work on. How exactly do I work on that? Any suggestions?

Rubie's preschool is at a church, and up until now, Rubie has had no idea what churches are or for - so when we drove up to her school the other day, she said, "yup, there's that big letter t again." She is so funny.


I told her to give me some attitude...

I think I've created a monster

This morning I asked Rubie what she wanted to do for the day. She said, "Let's get dressed and go walk around the mall." I told her that it was Sunday and the mall didn't open for 3 more hours and she said, "I have an idea - let's go to Starbucks." So, we went. Rubie doesn't get chocolate milk at home, so that is her treat at Starbucks. Here she is enjoying her box of organic chocolate milk...


The only problem is that afterwards, she starts to act like this...

and this...

and this...

and this...

4th of July 2009

Today we went to Auntie Savie and Uncle Joe's house for a while, and then we went to Savie's sister's house for a BBQ.

Poor guy was having a rough day (see the tears in his eyes?) - but that watermelon cheered him right up...

Watermelon cheers everyone right up.

Doesn't look like she is enjoying herself here, but Rubie makes this face whenever she REALLY likes what she is eating (remember the cupcakes and popsicles?)...


Rubie takes her food very seriously (always has), and she also enjoys it very seriously...

Daddy wanted a bite, and Rubie wasn't having it...




Later, we are off the the Galaxy game for Kettle Corn and fireworks - Happy Birthday, America!