Summer Leftovers

I just can't move on into fall without making sure these pictures and moments from this summer get captured for the book.  

Here we have Owen "weeding".  He learned this from Oma this summer and, in general, loves to be a helper.  He gets the gloves on himself, finds the shovel, gets a bucket and tries to get those pesky weeds.  Thanks, bug!

 Like I said, loves to be a helper.  Can't wait until he can actually do the dishes.  And, I totally appreciate his recognition of the importance of preserving his delicate hands by wearing gloves.  Smart boy. 

 We ate blueberry popsicles one hot afternoon for snack.  They were a mess, but adorable.  The mess was bigger than these pictures show- I think I had to put the camera down and address the mess at that point.  Anyway, love these summer moments. 

 Ruby and Owen loved playing dress up with their winter accessories this summer.  Regularly we were seen wearing ski hats, random gloves, and sometimes a jacket around the yard.  I just hope they like putting all that stuff on when they HAVE to again this winter. :)

 We picked up a Philly's hat on our way home from our trip so we could represent.  We recently moved from the full brim hats to the baseball hat for sun protection...and it makes them look so grown up I can't stand it!

 We had a few awesome visitors this summer too!  First, Shelly, rolled into town for a few more nights than she expected.  We loved having her and got a few adventures in that way too...like going to this fair where Ruby and Owen rode their first ride all by themselves!

 Ruby and Owen have exploded into these amazing walking and talking little humans who care about each other, play hide and seek, say "please" and sometimes "thank you", have a total sense of humor, know how to "trade" and share (although we don't always do it), and have an opinion about what they want to eat, wear, and do.  When Chip is at work, I no longer feel like I am talking to myself all day. It is so nice to have company!  I love the personality and relationship in the following picture that Chip captured.

Owen LOVES to dance...does it anywhere, anytime.  Ruby usually joins in too.  Makes my soul smile.  They dance like nobody is watching all the time, which makes us dance like no one is watching pretty often too.  How could you resist?!  You might be doing a jig by the end of this video too. :)

Oh yeah.  CSA is still rocking our house...now with the most incredibly beautiful beets you have ever seen or tasted.  I heart them.

Second awesome visitor(s), Mike and Sarah Jeffries!  They joined us on a venture to Monkey Mt.  Good times. 

 And here is one of Shelly and the gang after the fair at our favorite gelato spot.

“One must maintain a little bittle of summer, even in

 the middle of winter.” 

― Henry David Thoreau

Philly

* If you want to be able to read the blog after this weekend, I need to add your email to a "reader list".  Then, you might need to sign into your google account occasionally to see the blog.  Otherwise, it should be the same.  I have to make the blog private because  I have opened a private practice and potential clients can not have access to our blog.  So, even if you just check in occasionally, please email me to let me know you want to be on the list.  Thanks!!

Our trip to Philly started out with the usual- a flight with six otter pups on their way to Six Flags.  Ruby and Owen made a visit up to their front row seat- pretending to go to the bathroom, of course. The trainer also made his way around the plane with them out of the crate.  It was pretty exciting.  Ruby and Owen still mention the otters from time to time.

And well, after an eventful flight like that, Ruby and Owen were feeling pretty confident that the rest of the trip should be just as exciting.  Oh, what's that?  Mickey Mouse just happens to be at the park we are visiting?  Must be for us.  Let's join the party!  I think Ruby and Owen danced more than the birthday boy...luckily the parents were pretty open to our party crashing ways.

Here is the gang we came to visit and really play with!  Hilariously (yup, just made that word up) enough, this is the closest thing we have to a group photo from the whole week.  Tina isn't in it, John isn't looking- nor is Ruby for that matter, and we are on a see saw for goodness sake!  Oh well.  Good memories nonetheless. :)

That's a little better. ...the girls...

and the boys. 

This is the stream that flowed through the park we hung out at a few times.  LOVE it.  It smelled like home.  Both Chip and I grew up wandering through the woods playing in creeks and streams.  The shallow lukewarm water full of little minnows and slippery rocks.  The humid air holding the scent of earth and the sound of a steadily flowing creek filling your ears.  Mmmm...was so fun to muck around and spend some time with Ruby, Owen, and family in this setting throwing rocks and exploring the shores.

Awww...love these two special ladies. :)

...And this special gal.  I can't believe Madeleine.  She played with Ruby and Owen constantly, attending to their every need.  She was way more vigilant about their safety than I usually am and they loved her! We called her "Maddie" (easier to say than Madeleine) and they still talk about her- almost daily.  I remember playing with HER when she was Ruby and Owen's age!  Seems like yesterday.  This whole thing is crazy.  

Aunt Mindy- she is such a finder of all things adorable and fun.  She found this awesome fun skirt for Ruby and couldn't resist!  Ruby couldn't resist either!  She loves it. 

Exactly how many layers does this thing have?!

And check this out- I mean really.  Just going for a stroll around Oma's neighborhood.  These two make quite the presence on this suburban street. 

Evan is really too cute for words too.  He has such a sweet and caring heart and demeanor.  He also played endlessly with his little cousins.  Ruby and Owen are some lucky kids to have so many great cousins.   

A random shot of Owen playing at Oma's with his favorite toy she had there, wearing Maddie's slippers.  We all, including Evan and Madeleine all week, stayed at Oma's house.  It was so fun and worked out great! She had so many toys from when Evan and Madeleine were young and she knew all of our routines and what we eat.  She went way out of her way to get everything she knew we liked and even pureed food ahead of time for our smoothies...just like home!  Amazing.

We also visited this great pool in their neighborhood a few times.  Slides of all sizes, play park, diving boards, and a lazy river.  What more could you ask for!

Castle Park was a total hit as well.  The biggest park I have ever seen BY FAR.  I don't think we got a great picture of the ginormous castle structure in which you could run, slide, and hide in its many cubby spots.  Ruby, of course, particularly enjoyed the good ole swings- her favorite.  She also enjoyed watching her cousins swing and go FLYING off the swings. 

We met Ali, Tyler, and Dylan there one day for some serious playing.  You can see from the smiles on Ruby and Owen's faces that they were very happy about all this.  Too cute!

All the swimming, and playing at the park, and chasing my big cousins....makes me tired.  Can't I just go to bed early?!

One night, mom and dad got off to hang with the adults as Evan and Madeleine gave a bath.  Like I said, they were amazing!

Our last night, we got to see Madeleine play a soccer game into the setting sun.  That is her playing goalie in the picture below.  It was so beautiful we couldn't leave the field when the game was over.  We stayed to kick goals, run around the field,  pet random dogs that walked by, and enjoy the crimson sky on this warm and final evening together.  

We love you all and miss you tons!!!

"Cousins by blood - friends by choice"

-Darlene Shaw

Boats

Team DuRoss road tripped up to Driggs, ID to catch up with Nana and Papa for a few action packed days.  Day one we hit the resevoir on "Papa's Boat" where Chip and I resurrected our water skiing skills and Ruby and Owen wore a life jacket for the first time.  It was amazing- the views stunning, the water like glass, and hardly another boat to be seen.  Ruby and Owen are still talking about "Papa's Boat" and, I love that Ruby usually adds that it is "Nana's Boat" too.  I think she gets it from this ongoing joke that Chip and I have about whose car our truck is (I mostly drive it, but Chip likes to call it "his" truck.  I am pretty much in love with it, so I always remind him that he is dreaming and that I spend most days with it, therefore making it "my" truck.)  Anyway, Nana, Ruby is looking out for you and your partial ownership of the coveted boat.  I mean, she did rock it on the water ski back there.  We should name the boat after her!

There a bunch more cute pictures that Papa is holding hostage on his camera, so here is what I have so far. :)

Owen was a little unsure at first- hence the little bit of tension you can see on his face here.  However, he quickly relaxed and he cried for more when it was time to get off.  He especially loved "driving" the boat and touching all the knobs and buttons he could find.

Ruby- gung ho from the getgo.  This is her kinda thing- water and swimming.  They both swam off the boat (with their life jackets on of course).

Chip, skiing like he never missed a day.  Seriously.

Day two included a hike to Ski Lake.  Gorgeous lake, some fun play in the water for everyone, Ruby pooped outside (over a log, that's right) for the first time (sorry if that is too much information but for campin outdoorsy types like us, this is a major accomplishment- ranks right up there with walking and talking. ;), and a later afternoon thunderstorm to boot!  And, Papa carried Ruby off the mountain!  Yahoo for awesome new knees!

Day three we were so lucky as to be in Driggs the same time as the Targhee Bluegrass Festival.  And, we were so fortunate to have tickets also thanks to Nana and Papa!  The whole gang, with blankets and snacks in tow, went to dance and relax as we listened to The David Grisman Quartet and other great bluegrass wonders.  We went home to put Ru and OT down for bed, Nana and Papa monitor watched, and we were granted a date night with Leftover Salmon back at the show.  Awesome.

Oh yeah- front row, baby. Go big or go home, right?

Day four was our departure day.  But, why not squeeze in one more adventure.  It seemed to be the name of the game this go around!  So, we took the kayaks to the Teton river where Ruby and Owen got to watch a fisherman cast his line from the water, a fish jump in front of our boats, cows grazing on the shore, and lots of birds swimming and flying around us- they were lovin it!  And, aside from Papa experiencing a near loss of his phone to drowning (that's why these pictures are a little blurry), everyone was safe and happy by the end, and Ruby and Owen napped all the longer on our drive home. :)  

Just a few parting shots to try and illustrate just how into the whole boating thing we were, especially Owen.  He did not want to leave his life jacket alone, insisted on wearing it to lunch (some battles just aren't worth choosing ;), carried it around the house (along with the hiking poles...I see a gear head in our future), and wanted to sit in the boats in the garage whenever given the opportunity.

Thanks Nana and Papa for all the adventures!!  We all had a blast and love you lots and lots!

"Ships (or boats) are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made."

- Robert N. Rose