Carolines 1 year invitations

We took the kids to the arboretum this morning so I could take a picture for Carolines birthday invitation. After MANY MANY tries here are the final pictures.

An old picture of Sam & Blankey

My dad ran across this email that I sent him when Sam got rid of his blankey on his 4th birthday. It makes me laugh. He still will tell Emerson that he gave his blankey to a baby at my work. He still remembers and he wrote the letter below by himself--I typed it of course.

Dear Baby Emily,

Have a good time with my blankey. I am four years old & I don't need it anymore. When I get older I will need it back. I like to suck my thumb when I keep blankey. Please return it when you get older to Rowlett, Texas. Love, Sam

I am taking it to work with me tonight to give it to a "baby". Wish us luck. At the moment he is trying to wrap one of Emma's blankets up to send instead. It is all I can do not to laugh everytime I read the letter!

Aunt Janice

Here is a picture that was taken at my Aunt Janice's funeral today. I can't remember the last time all of my mom's family was together. We had such a great time visiting with my cousins and uncles and aunts. The kids are going to miss them when they go home tomorrow. In fact, Emerson insisted on sleeping in the pack-n-play last night just in case my uncle wanted to come stay at our house. She is going to be very sad when we take him to the airport in the morning. The memorial service was beautiful. It is such a reminder that our relationships are where we get joy and that that is how we show God's love for us by loving on one another. My Aunt shared such an amazing glimpse of heaven with us the last few days as she would close her eyes and tell us how beautiful Heaven is and that she was just waiting on my Grandpa and Uncle and she described the beautiful sounds. I think God gives us this in the end of our lives to show us what we have to look forward to in eternity. She was an amazing woman who was always so happy and loved the children. When I went to see her last Wednsday night she wanted to make sure that Caroline had gotten the stuffed animal that she bought her with her Bingo money. She said now she has gotten all of the kids something. I told her that it stays in the hallway at our house because Emerson insists that it is hers. She said "I thought that would happen". I pray that all of us would have such a peace about death as she did in this last week. We were all so shocked by her sudden illness but we all know that she is dancing on streets of gold and enjoying the music and mansions in Heaven.

14,000 foot mountains!

Here is a picture of Uncompahgre peak from the alpine loop near American Basin. They hiked up from a valley just to the right of the peak. You can't see the valley in the picture. It took 4 hours to get to the peak. It was a seven and half mile round trip.

My mom & dad went to Colorado. Here are a few amazing pictures from the top of a 14,000 ft mountain. I can't believe my mom & dad climbed it! Here is the proof!

Uncompahgre Peak is the 6th highest mountain in Colorado

Family Fun

Kirt & I had everyone over for dinner to give them a break from staying at the hospital. We had so much fun with our cousins. The kids set up a tent in the backyard and played for a long time- until we noticed they had sprinkled glitter all over each other & the dog.

My uncle came in from North Carolina. It took a long time for Caroline to warm up to anyone to let them hold her. But it lasted about 5 minutes.

My cousins Betty & Tonya. We had not seen each other in about 2 years.

Founders Plaza

We have had a busy weekend. My aunt is very sick and has been in the hospital since Wednsday. So we decided the kids needed to do something fun so we took them out to Founders Plaza and had a picnic at the airport. They had a great time.

Sam couldn't see much looking thru the wrong end!

Can't believe my baby girl is going to be 11 months!

They had a great time looking at the airplanes and listening to the control tower.

Swim date

Lucy Kate & Emerson

Sam, Becca, Lucy, Emerson, Caroline, Sarah

Emerson, Sam, Brooke, Brandon, Ethan, & Max

Painting & Chalkboards

So the Ruby's have been busy painting and party planning. We have 3 parties at our house in the next month. So I wanted to get my kitchen textured & painted. Here are the pictures- I still have some finishing to do but I thought I would post them anyway.

I worked hard on the chalkboard frame for the kitchen. I still need to put some ribbon & a bow at the top but Hobby Lobby is a little crazy with three kids. So I will have to go tonight. I still have to get the drapes hung and this finished before Emerson's birthday.

We did the chair rail in the dining room- and YES I know that the shades on the light are crooked and I still have to go to Hobby Lobby to get the rest. I have been to 3 stores and still can't find all ten of them.

My friend came and helped me to do the cabinets. She did a fabulous job of using things I already had in my house.

Rhinestone Cowgirl

I am trying to do Emerson's birthday invitations! We are doing a cowgirl theme. I have an idea of what I want to do but it is just a matter of finding the time to do it! Having two birthdays in August is going to be a busy time!

Salt Dough Fun!

Supplies:

• ½ cup salt
• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup water
• Acrylic paint
• Small cookie cutters
• Acrylic sealer spray

Directions: 1. Mix together the salt, flour, and water. If dough is sticky, add additional tablespoons of flour one at a time until the mixture is smooth a pliable. Be careful not to add too much or your projects will crack.

2. Roll out or press dough with your hand and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.

3. Place shapes on cookie sheet and heat oven to 250 degrees F.

4. Place cookie sheet in oven and bake for 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours, or until items are dry. Remove from oven and let cool.

5. Paint all the shapes.

6. Let them all dry and have an adult spray them with acrylic sealer

Our Mummy

Caroline had to have a sleep study done on Friday night. We will not know the results until later in the week. She has always had irregular breathing when she sleeps but it seems to be getting louder and other people are seeming to notice as well. I didn't really worry too much until Tracey heard her one night and told me I should take her to the doctor and I asked a few of my nursing friends and they seemed to think it was a big deal. I knew it was time to take her when I would count how many seconds between breaths and she had some apnea and then one night I even pulled out the video camera so that the doctor could see what she was doing- I felt a little crazy at that point and took her into the ENT. (We have a great ENT if you ever need one). Most likely it is something she will just outgrow or it may be related to her reflux (which we didnt even know she still had until the doctor scoped her) but better safe than sorry! The sleep study went great until they woke us up and booted us out at around 5:45 in the morning! Thanks to all of you that called to check on her! And yes, she does have a black eye----she had a tumble off the bed last week!

"PLEEEEAAASSSEEEE Share your popsicle or I will just take it"

The Beach Club

On the lazy river

Max & Emerson lovin on each other

Sam at the beach for our "crab hunt"

Miss Priss in her upside down sunglasses

Looks like she has a plan! Poor Max!

Kemah

We had a great time in Kemah. The kids loved riding the train and feeding the stingrays (Well, actually Grandpa Gary fed the stingrays- we watched)

More Day 2

Emerson loved that she could reach the botttom in the kids pool- it was like a hot tub in there! It was so HOT!

My parents took Sam out to fly his kite. He was really excited.

Sweet little beach baby!

Tracey, my mom, & I