Babies and The Great Outdoors

Ruby is really into her baby dolls lately.  Oma got these two cute dolls for Ruby and Owen during her last visit. We did not have any dolls and every time we were out and they were around (i.e. storytime or a playdate), Ru and OT were fascinated.  Now, Ruby sleeps with one every night and when you pick her up in the morning or after nap, one of the first things out of her mouth (after asking for Owen, of course...her greatest love and concern :) is, "baby?"...meaning she wants you to make sure and get her baby out of the crib for  her to cuddle as she wakes up.  So cute.  Owen is actually pretty into baby as well.  He mostly likes anything his sister has or does, which often results in fights (grabbing, taking, biting, crying- good stuff- ugh!), but sometimes results in really cute moments...like the ones I captured below.

Ruby started asking for baby when we would sit down to eat lunch so I figured, why not?  The more the merrier, right?  She would feed baby and made sure that she got a sip of smoothie too.  Well, Owen thought that lunch guests were a great idea, so the next day he asked (in his own special way- he still doesn't have very many words, but manages to communicate quite well anyway) for our other baby to join.  I mean, no one wants to be a third wheel.  Mom doesn't really count, she is more like our server. Plus, it's not cool to have your mom as your lunch date. ;)

So, here are the four of them enjoying lunch at the Summit Cafe.   We don't always have guests, just some days.  Not sure what motivates the invitation.  Can't wait till we have enough words to find out more of what is really going on in their little minds.

Chip says this picture is freaky.  Maybe it is, but it makes me chuckle.  I like our guests, especially their very appropriate lunch attire- a robe barely tied together and a birthday suit (coincidentally Ruby and Owen's favorite outfit as well- they would eat lunch every day in that outfit if I let them). 

They like to share other things with their babies as well, like books.  I love the really focused look on Owen's face as he reads, "Where's Baby's Bellybutton?".... upside down to his baby.  Priceless. 

And water.  This is them giving their bears water at snack.  

The view of the moon from our porch.  Chip caught this.  Nice one.

Random. Pigtails.

Chip and I have been busy getting the backyard open for business this spring.  We put in a small patch of sod which you can make out in the upper right corner of this picture and I built the sandbox on the left.  Yes, had to dig it into the hillside.  There isn't much flat ground where we live so you have to get creative if you want somewhere for a 17 month old to be able to play.  Chip also put in a sweet swing between trees that I still need to get some photos of.  A few more finishing touches to be done and we will be open for play date bookings, so give us a call if you are in town!

We have also been loving the hiking on the trails just up the hill from us.  Ruby and Owen can hike a lot further than I thought they would on their own.  However, it is slow going.  It reminds me of the "mindful walks" we would do when guiding backpacking trips with the teens where we would concentrate on noticing the  rocks, sticks, and roots around us.  Ruby and Owen just exist in a mindful state all the times.  It is one of the best things about spending the day with them.  They notice, and want to touch, all the super cool things around us that I would probably take for granted at this point.

"Dad, check out this rock I found!" "Rock", is actually one of Owen's words- he loves them.

They love to hold hands on the trail- with each other, or with friends like their buddy Kaya, who sometimes join us.

We even got really motivated one day and decided to see how they nap in the packs these days.  It was shorter than home, but fine for once in a while.  We hiked Grandeur Peak from Millcreek- a six mile en devour with probably 30 pound packs on.  I was a little sore the next day.  

Owen was having a good time...until we made him take the binkie out for a family photo.

That's better. :)  I mean I just got up from a nap- geez, people.

Kess. :)

And finally, a random video just for giggles-

Oh man, this entry got long.  If you are still with me- thanks and I hope you enjoyed! :)

Mimi...I mean, T-I-N-A

We tried to repeat Tina's name as many times as possible while she visited for four days.  However, Ruby insisted on calling her "Mimi".  The conversation went something like this...Ruby looks at Tina, smiles, maybe reaches for her to pick her up (yeah, seriously, amazing), and says, "Mimi".  Tina or I would say, "TINA.  You like your auntie Tina."  There would be a short pause, she would look at both of us, and say, "Mimi."  She has been asking for her ever since she left.

We went to the park.  We love the park. Ruby and Owen love slides in particular.  They do most of them by themselves these days- climbing up and going down, the whole thing.  I was just watching them today in amazement thinking about how much they have grown up and become independent in past few months.  Just incredible.

 I was fortunate to have my big sister in town for my 35th birthday!  We had a great day and Tina got me two of these really nice mylar helium balloons.  Tina and I were gabbing away in the kitchen when we realized that Owen had walked outside (yes, he can open the door by himself and often lets himself outside...thank goodness our deck upstairs is gated...if you remember to close the gate...although the weather was so nice when Tina was here, maybe we just had it open....anyway) with my balloon!!  Tina caught this picture of it floating away.  It just makes me laugh picturing us running out there in hopes that we would catch it while slightly freaking out that we didn't notice what was going on.  I mean, the balloon had only been home for a few hours!

 Ruby really steals the show here.  She LOVED the stuffed animal backpacks that Mimi brought them.

She also loved the shirt Oma sent and the hat from Madeleine.  So much great booty!

Just a cute one from the park.

 And then, the zoo!  This time we rode the carousel.  Both Ruby and Owen rode tigers in honor of the awesome view we got of the tiger on this visit.  He played in the water just on the other side of the glass from us.  Only glass between Owen's face and tiger claws.

Thanks for visiting, Tina!!  We love and miss you already, that is for sure. :)

Food Geek

I have totally geeked out on the whole food thing lately.  I have tried more new recipes in the past few months than I have probably ever tried in my entire career of cooking.  Ruby and Owen, when they aren't sick, are pretty open to trying new things which encourages my willingness and desire to pursue this new interest.  It is a total challenge to make a variety of foods available in forms that are edible for a 16 month old- soft enough, usually able to be picked up by the fingers, and with enough flavor to be interesting and enough nutrition to be alright with mom.

Our daily lunch- Owen is now on the smoothie train.  I have to fight them both off to get a sip in before they put down a whole batch on their own- broccoli, kale, coconut milk, mango, banana, yogurt- yummm.  And, we also eat what I call "peanut butter dip" on this thin pita-type bread- perfect for toddlers- they should call it toddler bread.  The dip is half peanut or almond butter, half plain yogurt and some pureed fruit or applesauce mixed in for a little extra flavor.  I have to say, it is quite good- goes down a bit easier than plain peanut butter.

Homemade Cheese-Its.  I was about to buy stock in Annie Anne's- we were inhaling the Cheddar Bunnies.  Then, I discovered how easily I could make something similar with my handy dandy newish Cuisinart.   

Baked pumpkin donut holes.  These are more for the adults once they have the sugar on the outside.  But, before they have been sugar-coated, there isn't much sugar inside and Ruby and Owen chow them down too. Also, super easy- pretty much a requisite for me to try something.

And, when in doubt, I can take just about anything out of the fridge and they will eat it if I allow them to dip it in ketchup.  They are big dippers in general- we are addicted to the jalapeno yogurt dip from Costco.  We also like tartar sauce, jalapeno ranch dressing, and taziki.  So far, they are big fans of hot things.  Owen will even dip his finger alone in hot sauce and lick it- hilarious.  Dad puts hot sauce on everything so it is often out.  I have learned not to take it as an insult to my cooking.

Also- Other staples in our snack repertoire include homemade gummy/jello cubes, pretzels (Owen LOVES pretzels.  He is such a DuRoss.), Cheddar Bunnies, and boiled eggs.  They still love tofu with all of their hearts and would never pass up cheese or mac and cheese.  They really dig these veggie toddler hors d'oeuvres I make and canned beets are often our "dessert". 

Other randomness-

Ruby and Owen have a love affair with balls ("ba-ba" as they call them)- all sizes, colors, and textures.  They especially like to throw them in our sloped driveway and watch them roll and bounce into the neighbor's yard below us...and then watch mom run after them.

The cleaning tendencies continue.  Now, they like to throw away their own diapers.  I have tried to limit it to only the diapers with pee in them, and not let them handle the poopy diapers, but lots of crying ensues.  So, I have just gotten really good at wrapping up diapers of all extremes and let them take them to the trash.  It is pretty funny- they look so grown up.

Until a few weeks ago, Owen would only wear the Robeez shoes.  If you tried to put other shoes on his feet he would throw a fit, bawl, and certainly would not try to take a step....until Ms Ruby got some Crocs handed down to her by her cousin Mercy.  She wore them around all day and by the end of this day, Owen was wearing the pink Crocs around too! Turns out they were the gateway shoes for us.  Now, they both will wear something a little more substantial.  Check out the photos of our favorite kicks currently (Crocs are still just a little big, but we plan on making them a staple this summer).  They are so stinkin cute. Who doesn't love tiny shoes?!

Just a final shot that daddy got. He must have said somethin really funny cause we all look pretty entertained.

"If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart!"

April Showers

The "earth", without "art", is just, "eh".

Well, maybe they didn't "win", but they did get to come home with these really cute stuffed bunnies because they were the first ones to turn in their artwork, and because they made the girl at the register happy every time she looked at them hanging in the window (that is what she told us).  We sort of love our local grocery store because it is SO mellow and most people know "the boy/girl twins" that are always in there.  

Nuf said....

 Kess...

 Derek, his brother-in-law, Dave, and Dave's son, Logan, came into town for a few days to do some skiing and hang out.  It was so fun to have them!  You could tell that Derek and Dave were familiar pros with the kids.  Ruby and Owen let them HOLD them....which right now is no small feat.  We are in the thick of stranger danger and separation anxiety.  Awesome.  Here are a few photos from a hike we did.

 Uncle D brought gifts!  They were a hit!  No wonder they liked him so much.  That, and his bald head. :)

 Ruby looks like she is ready for the beach or something.  Great idea.  When can we go???!

 How bout the zoo instead?  

 Here is Owen trying to imitate me spreading my arms out...trying to get him to do it. Close, buddy. :)

 And here is Ruby striking her own pose.  She doesn't  care what I am trying to get her to do...check it.