Let's Go Fly a Kite

Inspired by a book Grandpapa gave to Maia at Christmas and the kite that Gramps gave to Maia for her birthday, we finally went for our first family kite flying experience!

Kansas is very conducive to great kite flying.

First we had to put the kite together.

It took two of us.

Ruby and Maia were very patient. In hindsight, we probably should have done this before we left the house.

Then we were ready!

It was really windy.

So windy that the string/knot broke and Aleks had to chase the kite down.

Thankfully, my camera was out.

After tying new, and stronger, knots, we were ready to go!

Up, up, and away

Flying a kite is fun.

InstaFriday: My first time edition!

I joined Instagram this week! If you're on there, find me and I'll follow you!

There was a bit of a learner's curve for me. 

Like I kept pushing the send button before finishing a comment.

And sending out like 20 pictures in a row.

And figuring out how to tag someone.

For those of you following me, thank you for your patience!

On Sunday we went to the state fair. I'm so grateful that at this age my girls are more excited about the animals than the rides.

Aleks made bun cha, which is a Thai dish of pork and noodles in broth.

Super good, super easy, and makes me think of our friends, Keri & Andy, who introduced the dish to us.

Aleks sent me these flowers for our anniversary.

We had a low key anniversary.

Dinner at Bonefish Grill.

Then mini golf and skeet ball.

(Aleks beat me at golf, but I creamed him at skeet ball.)

I posted about Ruby's room and this idea was suggested.

I love it.

It makes me smile every time I go in. Which is good because the seemingly constant task of diaper changing is starting to get me down.

Maia learned a new trick.

I think Ruby is finally teething.

We're talking 12+ months and no teeth!

She's still pretty happy despite the constant chewing on things and occasional crankiness.

This gem arrived on my phone at 8 am today.

Some of my students are special. But I'm learning to love them anyway.

This weekend= finishing up the guest bedroom, a conference call with the HOT board, a possible play date with some new friends for Ruby, and hopefully getting my house clean.

I hope you all had a nice week!

Linking up with Jeannett at:

8 year anniversary

8 years ago today, Aleks and I got married on a warm day at a vineyard in northern CA. 

It was a sweet day, of which I have very few memories.

Thank goodness for our beautiful pictures.

Look at those two young kids.

Looking back, I could never have imagined where our life would take us.

2 kids. 

(As I write this Maia is calling from her bed: 

"Mommy, mommy I'm awake! Come back stinky poopy!")

Several moves across the country.

A husband who has turned into foodie and owns a sous vide.

A wife who turned into a singer.

8 years is comfortable.

Gone are the days of worrying about the bathroom door being shut.

Or showering first thing in the morning.

Or your husband seeing you in spanx.

I like comfortable.

But sometimes I miss the excitement and purpose behind the discomfort.

So tonight I am going out with my husband to play mini golf in uncomfortable shoes because they are cute.

And even though my feet will hurt by then end of the night, I know I'll feel good wearing them.

And I think my husband will appreciate a wife who feels good about herself.

That's another thing about 8 years.

I know without a doubt that Aleks wants me to be happy more than anything.

To his credit, he probably felt the same way 8 years ago. 

But I know it now.

Ruby's Room

I think I promised a blog about Ruby's room 2 months ago.

The thing is, I want to do more to decorate, but lack inspiration.

So, here's what I have so far:

 She went from this:

To this:

in the amount of time it took me to stand up.

As you can see, there's still a lot of blank wall space.

Any ideas?

Ruby's Birthday Party

I had to work all day on Ruby's birthday, so we planned to do our celebrating on Saturday.

However, we had Ruby open one present on Friday.

After I got home from work Aleks and I decorated the living room.

Aleks showed off his mad skillz by blowing up two balloons at once.

In the morning the balloons were a huge hit with both girls. Maia was a little confused at first thinking that it was her birthday. 

In fact, she was quite jealous throughout all our celebrations. It made me grateful that our girls are as close in age as they are. I think if Ruby had come later, things for Maia would have been really difficult.

After breakfast Ruby opened her presents!

Maia really wanted to wear this. I told her she was too big. 

She said, "When I get born can I wear this dress?"

I said yes.

And of course, what is a first birthday without cake?!

Although we missed our family being here to celebrate with us, it was a sweet time with just the four of us.

One Year Old

My little Ruby Ann is one today.

Even from the beginning, she was the sweetest little thing you ever saw.
I loved her from the moment she was born with intense mama bear love that suddenly overcame me moments after giving birth.

And then I went back to work and Maia turned 2 and Aleks started interviewing and Ruby was so easygoing that I think I took her for granted.

Around the time Ruby turned 8 months, I fell head over heels in love with her.

She's got the sweetest little curl to her hair as it flips out over her ears.
She raises one eyebrow at me when she's being impish.
She's got a keen sense of humor and loves to make us laugh.
She adores her sister, but already knows how to manipulate us using Maia.

She's cautious, yet adventurous.
She has an appetite like none other.

Ruby was conceived just around the time that her namesake, my grandmother, passed away.

I see a lot of my grandmother in little Ruby.
Like in her feet.
 And the way she smiles with her eyes scrunched up and the tip of her tongue peeking between her lips.
And in the way she has to dance when she hears music.
And the pure sweetness in her face.

You all had better keep your eyes on Ruby. She's got her own timetable for things and I think she will surprise most everyone she meets.

I'm so very lucky to be her mommy.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Today was the most glorious day we've had since moving to Wichita.

I actually got to run outside.

I think the high was 82 and a bit windy.

I'm feeling generous and I'm going to say it was breezy.

With today's temperatures and sunny skies, Wichita is inching its way into my good graces.

We got lots of stares as we walked through the zoo.

Now, I know my kids are cute, but it was out of control.

One gentleman walked by us and said to his wife indiscreetly,  "Now would you look at that?"

It was then I realized that our double stroller was getting all the attention.

(or maybe it was Aleks' spiderman tee shirt...)

Despite the blatant gawking at our tricked out wheels, we had a wonderful time.

So much so that we've bought a year pass with a guest added on to the membership.

So... come visit us.

We'll take you to the zoo!