Gastronomy

 We spend a lot of our time focused on food around here.  I spend a good deal of my day and energy preparing or giving bottles, making baby food, planning and packing meals, and feeding these two little munchkins solids.  This summer we have gotten out and about a lot, especially with the help of my mom here the past five weeks.  We were eating on the go so often that we started keeping a list of all the places these two have "dined out".  The following pictures capture only a few of the places Ruby and Owen have eaten this summer. The rest will have to be represented in a list only.  

 So, this picture was probably taken at home, but I just couldn't leave it out.  When it comes to eating solids, Ru and OT are pretty amazing.  They eat most things with gusto...including asparagus, brewer's yeast, egg yolks, and tofu (which my mom often reminded me is gross). And, they love trying to use the spoon to get food in their mouths...or just to bang on the tray in front of them.  

Owen and Ruby have dined at SLC farmer's market and the outlet mall (both pictured above), in the car on the way to sushi, at the bike shop in Park City as we prepared for a family ride, on the floor and in the stroller at the Sweetwater condo, outside the aquatic center, at a park in Duchesne, UT, at the Pinebrook Park, in Master Muffler's waiting room (wish we had a picture of that one), in the Costco parking lot, in our garden at home....

at the Copper Moose Farm (pictured above- where Owen could hardly get a meal down because he was so distracted by the roosters)

next to Ruth Lake in the Unitas...

   and in Toll Canyon...in the middle of the trail...no where else to go...

and on the ridge to Summit Park Peak.

Oma was an invaluable help when it came to many things the past five weeks, and making baby food is at the top of that list.  For about ten days straight we make a different food every day, freezing lots and lots of cubes for future consumption.  Asparagus, carrots, green beans, mangos, more mangos (they were on sale), peaches, plums, more mangos, split peas, and beef.  

I am pretty sure that Ruby and Owen will only eat hot dogs and pizza in a few years (or earlier!), but I am enjoying their willingness to eat anything, anywhere for the time being.  Keep up the good work, kiddos!  

"As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices:  take it or leave it."  ~Buddy Hackett

Family Vacation

Well, the family vacations continued as Oma, Chip, Ruby, Owen and I got in the car for our first road trip...to Steamboat, CO!  Aunt Mindy lives there, owns a VERY cute townhome, and graciously put up the five of us for a few days.  We strolled around town, went to the park, ate dinners with friends, and mostly just soaked up the beautiful weather and energy of Steamboat and Mindy and Bo's place.  Ruby and Owen enjoyed the swings and especially loved scooting around on Aunt Mindy's wood floors (they are newly finished and therefore have this really nice stickiness for a scooting baby... as opposed to our old slippery ones).  Our trip back to Park City proved a little more difficult than the trip out...only to figure out the next day that Owen was getting his first two teeth- bottom two, same as Ruby.  

Mindy and Bo followed us back to Park City as they headed out of town for a road trip of their own.  On their way back they stopped in Park City to stay with US for a night. Tina, John, Evan, and Madeleine ALSO arrived via airplane from PA for one grand reunion night of the Mulliken/ Voss/DuRoss clan!  Mindy and Bo continued home the next day.  The Voss family followed them and also spent a few days in Steamboat checkin out the new pad before returning to Park City to hang out for most of the week.

 We had a blast doing as much as we could around town and in our neighborhood with two 7 month olds in tote.  We ate lots of great food out on our deck and at the condo, we did nails during nap time, went swimming, visited the farm, and even went biking for an afternoon.  A highlight was hiking up to the Summit Park Peak Ridge.  Everyone made it despite the steep climb and challenging trails.  This is hearty bunch!

Ruby and Owen LOVED seeing their Aunt Tina again. Another highlight for Ruby and Owen, was getting to meet some more of the family they hadn't previously met (John, Evan and Madeleine).  Evan and Madeleine were stellar cousins.  They played with the kids constantly, they were eager to learn how to hold and feed them, and they were SO responsible with them- always making sure they were in the shade when we were outside, making sure they didn't have dangerous things in their hands (or mouths), and checking that they were seated in safe places.  Chip and I have always enjoyed our time and relationship with Evan and Madeleine, and this trip seemed to just take it to a new level.  So special.  Thanks you two for being so awesome!  Oh yeah, and John, they liked meeting you too.  (inside joke, people)

 And, again, I will probably add another collage as Tina has some of the best pictures on her Iphone, of all things.  So, we are working on getting those, but for now, I wanted to document while it was fresh on my mind.  Thanks to everyone for making efforts to get together.  We had a blast and look forward to next time!

This is a repeat from a long time ago, but I love it.

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.  Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."  
~Jane Howard

Summer

Just some randomness.

 Another one of Chip's creations in the kitchen.  Gotta love summer eatin.

 We try to get into the sandbox and/or pool every day.  Keeps things interesting for all of us.  Ruby still insists on putting most things in her mouth...even in the sandbox.  Just love her sandy protruding bottom lip here.

 Oma is back!  For another five weeks!  We are so stinkin fortunate.  She gets in the sandbox and the pool with us.  She pretty much does whatever Ruby and Owen want to- silly faces, singing, books, toys, on the floor, in the highchair, in their crib...she does it all!  Love it.

 On to some shots in the pool.  Oma got Ruby this ruby red swim suit that I adore.  

 Owen likes to try and catch the water.

These are a few wildflowers from our yard.

A little photo shoot with dad.  Ruby and Owen are quite familiar with the camera.  They start smiling when they see it pulled out- total hams.

Teeth are in the house!  Ruby got two just before turning 7 months old.  You can see the jagged little suckers coming up in the middle on the bottom.  Owen got the exact same two teeth in about two weeks later.  He does not show them off as much so we are still working on a picture.

Here is our very sophisticated little teether (notice the raised pinky on her left hand while holding her teething ring).

Chip loves to put our hats on the kids and take pictures.  I can't get enough of it.

Wow- these are late.  Here are the paintings Ruby and Owen did for dad for father's day.  Just wanted to make sure we have their first masterpieces recorded.