Fun fall weekend!

We had such a fun weekend last weekend!  After making an executive decision on Friday and skipping out from work during the afternoon, Ruby and I had a fantastic lunch with a huge group of our friends - Allie (who was in town from Austin), Lauren, Francis, Lindsay, Nanny Kelly, Addie, Jack, Carter, Blair, and Hogan!  We didn't happen to get a group picture - it was hectic enough trying to wrangle all of those kids.  We also ran into tons of friends there that we haven't seen in a while!  We miss Ashley and Tinsley and need to have a play-date soon!

After our fun lunch, we went to get a quick mani/pedi - and Ruby got her first pedicure with Francis!  They just loved it and were such good girls. 

The cheese-balls and their twinkle-toes.

On Saturday we went to a cookout at the Triplets' house.  Paul cooked some serious BBQ and the kids played for hours!  Ruby was super sweet with Addie.  It's so funny, when you talk to Ruby about her friends she becomes incredibly possessive.  "It's 'MY Addie."  Not just Addie, but her Addie.  She will correct you each and every time unless you say it the way she instructs you to.

Representing the Big 12

All four kiddos swinging at the same time!

Ruby with Carter, Addie with Jack

Whee!!!



Peek-a-boo!

 

It was quite the sports-fest that evening too - thank goodness for digital cable multi-view.  Honestly, I don't know how people functioned 15 years ago.  We were able to simultaneously watch the Baylor game, the A&M game (WHOOP!!!!!!!), and the Ranger's game!  To top the night off, a big storm blew in and we got a glorious full night and day of rain! 

We always have the best time at Lindsay & Paul's house - we are so incredibly blessed to have them as friends and love them so much!

On Sunday night, Ruby hosted her first Pumpkin Carving Party!  I'll post pictures of it soon.

Ruby's First Ranger's Game

Yesterday I took Ruby to her very first Texas Ranger's Baseball game!  It was the perfect evening - beautiful weather with temperatures in the 70's, good friends, and the biggest part of the night.....

One of our best friends, Lee Anne, sang the National Anthem!  Ruby and I are SO proud of her!  She did an amazing job and is so blessed with a beautiful voice.  I admire her strength and courage to get out there and do what she did in front of a crowd of almost 45,000 people.  If you missed it, here is a video of her performance on YouTube.  It gives me chills every time that I hear it.



Me and my Mini-Me.

Oversized glasses?  Check.

Curly hair?  Check.

Rangers T-Shirts?  Check.

Coordinating Cardigans?  Check.

Good to go!

Ruby and I in our seats, while she enjoys a ballpark hotdog.

She was absolutely terrified at first - I think it was a combination of the crowd, the heights, the loud noises, and really anything else that wasn't "normal" for her.  She even admitted at one point as she was holding her hands over her ears, "I'm scared of everything!" 

She warmed up to the idea before long and was dancing and clapping.

Ruby and the guys - Kayleb and Tom.

She loves them!

Ruby with the Woman of the Evening - Lee Anne (or LeeLee, as Ruby calls her)! 

Completely unrehearsed or unscripted, when Ruby saw Lee Anne, she said "You did a really good job!"  She later told everyone how beautiful LeeLee looked.

Group shot of the "Veranda Society". 

Ruby and I are so blessed to have such amazing and talented friends in our lives.

We love our little Veranda Family so very much!

Fall is here

Temperatures below the 100+ range, shorter days, college football (Gig 'Em Ags!), and Pumpkin Spice Latte.  All signs that Autumn is upon us. 

Ruby is clearly enjoying the opportunity to spend more time outside without risk of a heat stroke. 

Seriously?  This face?  And I wonder why she always gets what she wants.  Well played, Ruby.  Well played.  Keep being cute.

Shameless Request

Do you want to really make me happy?  Well, of course you do.  Silly question.

It would make me SO incredibly happy if you would vote for me on the Cheap $ally "Bring home the Bacon" competition!  It's a contest where one lucky person will win a "job" as a blog correspondent for a year with a sweet $100k salary! 

I know that I would be the perfect person for this job.  I can form gramatically-correct complete sentences.  I am cheap as heck.  I can get creative when needed.  And I am cheap as heck.  Yes, that one point deserves being mentioned twice.

So, how do you go about making me blissfully happy?  Click here: http://www.cheapsally.com/profile/jaedeanne-shaver/ and then click "VOTE".  Easy as pie.  And if you're feeling especially benevolent, please feel free to "like" my page on Facebook, RT on twitter, or let all of your family and friends know to vote as well.

Thanks in advance!  xoxo

A day in the life...

Welcome to a typical "Day in the Life of Little Miss Ruby." My name is Mommy and I'll be your host today. The people closest to Ruby also refer to me as the "hired help."

Ruby's day typically begins between 6:00am and 6:30am. I am tip-toe-ing through the house, trying to make a cup of coffee on "stealth mode," and mentally willing my shower to be silent. For the most part, this usually works and I can successfully get ready for work independently. When Ruby wakes up, this girl wakes up. It doesn't matter where I am in the house, I can her the resounding "MAMA, WHERE ARE YYYOOOOOOUUUUUUU????" I spring into action.

After her wake-up notification, Ruby enjoys a leisurly pre-breakfast breakfast of a sippy-cup full of milk enjoyed with a banana. She insists on eating her milk & banana combo in mommy's bed while watching Finding Nemo (for the eleventy-billionth time). It works out well, because I enjoy putting on my makeup while recieving compliments such as "Mommy, you are soooooo beautiful." Great way to start any day!

After this, she excitedly waits for Nana's arrival. I know that Ruby loves me, but Ruby loooooves her Nana.

Ruby and her "Vewy best fwiend in the whole wide world"

I don't have any pictures of what happens between the hours of 6:45am and 5:45pm. During those hours, I'm at work. My day consists of audits, emails, science, meetings, report-writing, grown-up boring stuff, blah blah blah...... Ruby's day consists of FUN! MUSEUMS! STORYTIME! SNACKS! CANDY! WATCHING WHATEVER I WANT ON TV! MORE FUN! BOOKS! TOYS! NANA! FUN! FUN! FUN!

When I finally walk in the door, Ruby greets me with a big grin and a hug. She tells Nana "Adios, Nana! See you manana!" (Yes, she know a significant amount of Spanish at this point - much more than I do.) Then she goes right back to watching Little Einsteins or Dora while I fix dinner.

Yay! It's dinner time!

Oh, mommy, you're so funny!!!

Ruby "taking a picture" of mommy who is taking a picture of Ruby.

Silly faces

After dinner we head out to the trampoline in the back yard. Yes, I brave the 110+ degree temperatures because this face? Totally worth it.

Another self-portrait of the two of us. Single moms definitely need a third arm. Someone needs to work on that....

Bath time! We're both a sweaty, hot mess at this point, so we (I) tend to look forward to this part of our day.

Ruby's "thinking face." You can almost see the wheels turning...

Clean and dry! My little duckie.

Yes, Ruby can scale her changing table. Yes, she can virtually diaper herself. No, she shows absolutely ZERO interest in potty-training. Bribes don't work. Peer pressure doesn't work. Forcing her doesn't work. I think in her mind, she honestly believes that's what the "hired help" (aka Mommy) is here for. I figure, she won't head off to kindergarten in diapers. We'll get there eventually. Probably right after I buy a jumbo-box of diapers at Sam's. Isn't that how it always works out?

All ready for bed!

Ruby tells Baby Ruby goodnight every night.

Eskimo kisses with Mommy.

Ruby in her crib with her entourage. In the corner is Tabby, who was my teddy bear when Iwas growing up. She doesn't really play with him but likes for him to keep watch over her at night. Left-to-right in her arms is Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and her "Bunny" which is actually a little lamb lovee. She's always called it her bunny. I pick my battles. She has a mini-pillow, which I have to fluff every night. She covers up with her Blankie (I have 2 back-up blankies after hearing horror stories from friends). It has to be exactly like this every night, with each stuffed animal in their designated positions, otherwise we ARE NOT going to bed.

We don't like to think of it as O.C.D. We prefer "attention to detail".......

We say our four prayers, then "Sweet Dreams" "I love you" and "Night night". Hearing "I wuv you too, mommy," as I walk out the door puts a smile on my face as I go to bed.

Horseshoe Bay

Last weekend my dad was one of the speakers at the Texas Equine Veterinary Association annual conference. The conferences are typically in pretty fun places, so - naturally - we tagged along! This year's conference was down in the Texas Hill Country at the Horseshoe Bay Resort. So much fun!

Since we have a history (and by history, I mean the last 31 years of my life) of attending vet conferences with my dad and hanging out with the other families, we've grown very close to some of them. Gary and my dad met in Vietnam and became fast friends. They've remained close throughout the years - his daughter, Kelly, used to baby-sit me. When we got a little older, Kelly and I became close friends. Now, she and I both have daughters (Elizabeth is almost 4, and Ruby is 2 1/2) who have declared themselves as "best friends." Cutest thing ever.

We spent most of our time playing at the pool, building sandcastles on the beach, and enjoying time with our friends. One day we also ventured out of the resort - we had lunch at the famous Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls (yum!) and saw the Southern Living Idea Home (beautiful!).

On Friday evening, there was a Western BBQ for the conference. We all put on our boots and headed to dinner. Holy cow, was it ever hot! But the food was good, music was fun, and the company was great! Ruby danced her little boots right off.

Remember this....

I have this up on my wall in my bathroom. I like the reminder, because sometimes I can get so wrapped up in myself that I forget. But wow - when I do remember it makes all the difference in the world.

Ruby's First Movie

This past weekend, Ruby went to see her very first movie! We went to the local Movie Tavern for a special showing of Winnie the Pooh - they show a kids movie every Saturday morning at 9am and serve breakfast. Genius!!! We went with a pretty large group - Ruby (and me and Nana), the triplets (and their mommy and DD), Ella (and her mommy and GG), and Hazel (and her mommy). Ruby was SOOOOOO excited to see Winnie the Pooh! She's always loved the movies (she has been watching old VHS movies that I grew up watching) and she's had a stuffed Winnie the Pooh doll for about a year now. The week leading up to the movie, she would have serious conversations with her Pooh, telling him that we were going to see his movie soon and we were really excited. So very serious, yet highly informative. :)

In anticipation of the movie, I got her a stuffed Piglet as well. She (obviously) brought both of them to the movie. A few days after the movie, Tigger was purchased as well. You're welcome, Disney Company.

Ruby wasn't quite sure what to think when the movie theater darkened and the previews started. We had to ask them to turn the volume down because most of the kiddos were holding their hands over their ears with panicked looks on their faces. Ruby kept asking if it was all done. She was ready to get the heck outta there. But once Winnie the Pooh started, she was enthralled. I'm sure that her big stack of pancakes had nothing to do with that either.....

Addie, Jack, and Carter were adorable - they were all dressed in red (just like Winnie the Pooh) and Addie had little bees on her dress. They were all SO good throughout the movie!

Ruby and Ella getting settled in their seats. Ruby wanted to make sure that Pooh was able to adequately see his own movie.

Ready to watch the movie!

Addie and Ruby after the movie

Hazel and Ruby playing on the steps in the theater

Ruby had a great time and has been asking when we can go back again! The movie was absolutely adorable - I wouldn't mind seeing it again! But next time, I think that Ruby will need an extra seat for all of the other stuffed animals that we will have purchased by then....