Rubie Keeps Changing Her Name...

I'd like to introduce you to Aloe (with a P, she says)...


And, here is Monica...


Last, but not least, I'd like you to meet Sleepy Layla...

Here is Sleepy Layla climbing a tree at the mall...


I took her to Color Me Mine today, and yes, it does help with concentration...

In case you were wondering, I have been trying to get a close up face picture - which is VERY difficult. Lots of Skittles involved.

Is It October Yet?

because I can't wait any longer...




someone is tired of pictures...

Family Game Night

Pretend City

My friend Franny recommended this awesome place called Pretend City. It is an entire city made for little hands to explore and imagine. I didn't have the right lense with me today, so unfortunately, my pictures don't do the place justice. We will definitely be returning. Here are Rubie and Lani waiting at the stop sign...

Here are the girls in a BMW with a gentleman washing their window for them...

Rubie is working the register at the gas station...

Beach...

They had a stage with costumes, props, and a light and sound board that worked...

The ATM gave out "money"...

Rubie harvested fruits and veggies on the farm...

Here she is working at the grocery store...

Helping at the check out stand...

Fire station...

Dr. Rubie...

Patient Rubie...

What's that, Lani? You can't hear anything? hmmmm...

Working at the post office...

Sorting the mail...

Painting at the art studio - we should have started here so that the art had time to dry...

Not shown are the marina (with water tables, damn building, sail boats, etc), the cafe (where they get to make and serve food), an entire play house with all the rooms and furniture, a construction site (where they build a house), and I'm sure lots of other stuff.

The First Note Home

Rubie has been in her new class at school for a little over 2 weeks. Today, we got her first note home. Not a good note...

Here she is writing her letter of apology...

In case you are having trouble reading her writing, it says, "Sorry for not sleeping on my bed. Tomorrow I will sleep on my bed."

The guilty party...

My Father

The other day, Rubie asked me what it means to raise her. I told her that it means that I get to help her grow up. She said, "throw up?" and I said, "no, grow up." And then she said, "but I said, throw up."

And that's when I realized that I was talking to my father. If you know my dad at all, you know this is true.

Eloise

For Rubie's 2nd birthday, Elle (Eloise) got Rubie (Eloise) the Ultimate Edition Eloise book. For the last few days, Rubie has requested that we read it to her in the bath. I do have to edit out a little (I don't think Rubie's churchy preschool would approve of her saying "Oh my Lord" repeatedly). However, she now says, "absolutely" about everything...

Time Out

Today, Rubie put some friends on the time out step. She said, "Mommy, come look at this attitude." I couldn't believe my eyes...

Rubie's Likes

Rubie's likes include making people smile (literally, forcing them)...


And, making Henry feel pretty...

People Colors

Recently, I picked up some People Colors for Rubie. I opened them up, and asked her to pick out the color that looked like her. Do you see that whitest, pinkest crayon? Yep, that's the one she chose. I put it up her her skin and asked her if it matched - and she said, "yep." Considering that Rubie is Black and Iranian, I knew I had some work to do.

So, we tried out different crayons, and decided that her skin color was "seashell," and daddy's skin color was "toast." Today we worked on drawing people, and giving them different colored skin. I drew Rubie, and guess who drew Leilani? Her skin is "wheat" in case you were wondering. After drawing, she said, "Lani is my favorite." We love the Flowers...