ELI SPEAKS

Can you hear what he is saying?  Listen, go ahead, lean in and listen...
Ahhhhh, the sweet sounds of a babe learning to speak....

Did you hear it?  I did.  It's more of a husky yell than a tender sentiment -   Mmmoooooommmmm!!!  How I live for those moments.  When he's in his crib - Mmmmooommm!!  When he's ready to get off the barstool - Mmmoommm!!  When he wants me to open the toy closet - Mmmooommm!  When he's done on the trampoline - Mmmoomm!!  My guess is I will miss it when he has outgrown it so I must learn to enjoy it.  Though, I must say, when I have left the house with Paul in charge and I walk through the door it is Eli's "Mmooooomm!" that makes me know that I am home.

Yesterday was Gib's best basketball game yet.  They still haven't won but Gib was the most aggressive I've seen him.  He really seemed to be enjoying himself which meant I was enjoying the game more.  He stayed on his guy when he was supposed to and played great defense.  He tried for a couple of shots but unfortunately missed - but he tried.  

He also had a golf tournament in the morning and came in first.  Golf is so his element.  He really loves the game which is to his dad's advantage since I'm becoming more supportive of it as Gib develops a greater love of it.  Proud of the kid!!
So, this would be the last photograph taken with Ruby's front tooth in - as you can see below her look has now officially changed - she is no longer my baby girl.  She is ecstatic though to have finally lost her tooth (as she has been working on it for the past two weeks).   Every night she has asked Paul or myself to work on pulling it out and Friday night Paul was the superstar - he had pulled a few times and said that he would work on it again the next night but Ruby said to do it one more time and that was the magical moment.  Her excitement was priceless - I should have been video taping!!

So do you think we let our kids watch too much American Idol?

This side of her definitely comes from her father.  At least she has cute supportive friends like Kenedy who stands by her side through it all.   What a nut!!

I have really been caught up in taking pictures of my kids that I've neglected to video tape.  I have found that in the years of being a mother I am only able to do one or the other - both just gets too overwhelming.  I just recently discovered some unedited movies of my kids when we lived in Cali. four years ago and I'm loving it.  Pictures can only document so much but this video of Ruby just melts me.  She had the greatest little speech impediment (some say it was her Boston accent from when we lived there) and I'm so glad we have it on video.  I really need to start doing this more - Eli hardly has any video of himself (though plenty of photographs).  I guess I have to give them something to be bugged at when they're older since I'm perfect in every other aspect of motherhood.  

This photo was taken through the viewing window (hence the reflection of a chair)Ruby started her first dance class today.  I'm excited for her and I think she's going to eat it up.  I grew up taking dance lessons - though I have nothing to show for it besides my lean, dancer body - and I have good memories of recitals, waiting for my dad who was often late, making it on pointe, breaking a ballet bar with Julie Hatfield, black leotards and pink tights, making friends, wondering why a boy would ever take ballet, learning how to spot as I did pirouettes, wearing my hair in a tight bun, running to the store to get a treat after class because I knew my dad was going to be late, grabbing a slurpee on the way home because my dad felt bad he was late.  The list goes on and on.  I'm guessing Ruby's going to make a lot of good memories even if I'm late picking her up sometimes.  

I don't know if I could love a four year old more than I love this guy.  The other day I was riding my bike with kids in tow in the trailer and I looked back and Charlie had his arm around Eli with their hands linked together.  I wished so badly I had my camera - it was a tender moment.  He is such a great big brother to Eli and he plays so well with both Ruby and Gib.   I look back at baby pictures of him and I realize that I would have never guessed his personality would be so strong and fun.  We're just fortunate to have him be a part of our lives.  

Last night we had our Family Home Evening lesson on prayer.  We were encouraging Charlie that he could start saying his prayers by himself.  It was his turn to pray for the closing prayer so we went through the guidelines of prayer and gave him positive affirmations.  He was very hesitant to pray by himself but then he began.  He prayed for a Happy Meal at McDonalds, that he wouldn't have to go to Costco or Target, he prayed for toys that he wanted and on and on.  We all patiently kept our eyes closed until I encouraged him to close the prayer.  It was as if a flood of information had been let loose as he now was able to pray on his own.  Love him!!  We learned though that we won't be calling on him to pray when we're in a hurry.

HAPPY 44TH BIRTHDAY CAMERON!!

Everyone was over for Sunday dinner yesterday and we celebrated Cameron's birthday.  We're lucky to have him in our family.  He's a good guy with a big heart.

My brother Nick and his family are in town for the weekend too so we had a big group.  I was talkin' trash to Nick about tether ball and that I would take him down - well, he took me up on it yesterday and I had to eat my words.  He beat me twice - I'm not as good as I thought or Nick is just phenomenal when it comes to tether ball.  Either way, I lost and it was humbling!!  I will practice until I beat my little brother - take that as a challenge Nico!!!  You are going down!!!!! 

You wouldn't guess that Gib is one of my favorite children because I haven't posted any pictures of him yet.  For some reason he's harder to photograph for me.  I don't know if it's an age thing or if he avoids me when I have the camera out.  Anyway, he's a dang handsome kid and I need to photograph him more.  

I would have to say that 85% of the time that he wears a t-shirt he puts it on backwards.  So I often ask him, "Gib, is your shirt on backwards?"  and he checks and, as moms usually are, I'm right and he turns it around.  This check I was fully aware that it was on correctly I just wanted to capture the moment and I did.  

Yesterday we had a few of Ruby's girl cousins over and they played and played and played.  They loved watching High School Musical 2 and every song they would stand up on the couch and sing as loud as they could.  I really enjoy seeing my kids playing with their cousins - it's something that I didn't have growing up and I love seeing that my kids have it.

Also yesterday we were fortunate enough to have baby Hope in our home for a few hours.  She's the baby we had in our home for a week in a half with the hopes of adopting her but her birth father wanted something else for her so we had to give her back.  I'm so happy her mom feels comfortable asking us to watch her because we all love her sooo much.  The kids were ecstatic and built her a fort in anticipation of her arrival.  It definitely brings some emotions to the surface for me when I hold her because I wanted to be her mom so bad - but we're also so lucky to still have her in our lives a little bit.  I'm amazed at our capacity to love and I have learned so much from knowing her and her mother.

• I'm still trying to figure out the right system in installing pictures and what I'm writing.  It's probably pretty obvious but I'm learning. 
  

• Roxy after the buzz
  

The big event in our family this week is that my cutest little niece had her hair buzzed.  According to her dad she cut a big chunk of hair off her head while he was buzzing the boy's hair.  It was beyond repair and the only option was to buzz it.  I included a before and after shot - as you can see she still is a cutey patootey but pretty traumatic nonetheless.  So, my sister came over today and we made headbands to help make her a little more girly on top.   Pretty easy to make:  just chose two ribbons (yard each) and sewed up the sides and then slid the headband through.  I guess I'm into ribbon crafts lately - but it works.

The weather has been absolutely fabulous lately.  This is why people live in AZ.  The kids play outside practically everyday.  I love AZ!  We have a great neighborhood where kids are outside playing most of the time this time of year.  We also have a great driveway where kids are comfortable playing which I love.  

I'm itching for a photo shoot - I need the creative outlet.  Feel free to check out my website:

http://web.mac.com/kroffamy  .  It's pretty basic but gives an idea what I like to photograph.

Charlie has got to be one of the cutest four year olds ever.  I figure that every age he is going to live that age to the fullest.  Unfortunately, he doesn't like my kisses and wipes them off every single time.  He loves life and just makes the most of it - he is going to be so much fun to watch grow up.  This is his second time on his roller skates and I was pretty dang proud of him.

For all you lady photographers who do not want your husbands taking your precious camera to work or using it for reasons other than documenting your children I have the solution.   What man would want to carry around a polka dot camera?  Just find ribbon the width of your camera strap and sew it on.  I used the clear thread but I'm sure pink thread could have been a fun addition.  The options are endless.  

So she still had got the tooth in.  I'll keep documenting!!  I love it when she wears her hair in "twangers" (that's what we call it).  

Ruby was convinced her tooth was going to come out today so I had to take a picture just in case.  I figure once these two top teeth come out her whole look is going to change and she's not going to be my little Ruby anymore.  I love seeing my kids learn and grow but I also hate seeing time pass so fast.   The good news as much as I would like to freeze time I find that I enjoy them at every stage - everyday I want them to stay just as they are in that moment.  (well, most everyday.)  Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to post a picture of Ruby without her tooth.  

A few days ago my neighbor was having a tough day and I was able to help her out and have her little guy over.  I thought it would be fun to give him a little photo shoot.  What was even more fun was having Gib by my side taking pictures too.  It's fun to teach him some of the things I've learned but also cool to see him take an interest in photography.  Love that kid!!

So I am not being as ambitious about this as I'd thought but I'm going to give it some time. 

The kids started back up at school yesterday and I felt a bit empty when I dropped them off.  I really enjoy having them around and I enjoyed how relaxing it was when we didn't have any obligations.

Now we're back in full force though for the month of January I won't be teaching piano lessons and come Feb. I'll only have two students.  It was time to downsize as my kids are starting to get more and more involved in activities outside of school.  

We're going to go play outside now before the sun goes down.  I'm most likely going to pull out the tetherball and hopefully beat Paul in another game.