Computer Illiterate

I finally found my USB cord for the camcorder. Someday I'll learn how to rotate pics on my laptop so you don't have to strain your neck to look at my pictures. Here are a few from Ruby's first day of school! Cute, isn't she? She really wanted to show off her backpack, so that is why that first pic is the way it is...

The Little Hard Chair

Today was Ruby's first day of school. I was excited/sad/anxious/lonely/etc. In other words, I was a mess. Do you know who was not a mess? Miss Ruby. She was excited/happy/ready. She didn't even want me to walk her to her classroom this morning. (I did anyway. I wouldn't miss that moment of goodbye for anything...)
I held it together this morning until I saw some friends from church in the hallway and they asked how I was doing. My eyes welled up. When I got in the car, the tears finally broke free.
Enough about me, though. Would you like to know how her day went? Splendidly. She enjoyed every second. Well, ALMOST every second. I picked her up from school and then took her for ice cream so we could discuss her day in detail. It's funny how things come up. For instance, when I asked how her day was, she said, "It was good." Nothing else. When I asked a few more questions, she gave me short little answers. No detail. So then I asked her more DETAILED questions, and that's when she started talking.
Me: "What did you learn about today?"
Ruby: "I don't think I learned anything."
Me: "Well, did your teacher talk to you guys about rules, or anything?"
Ruby: "Oh, yes. We have rules in our class."
Me: "Like what?"
Ruby: "Like, no screaming in the building. And the very best number one rule is to always try your best."
Me: "Those are really good rules to remember."
Ruby: "Yes, but I was raising my hand and my teacher wouldn't call on me to tell her."
Me: "Tell her what?"
Ruby: "That that's not true. That the very best number one rule is to always choose the right."
Me: "That's true. Always choose the right. But in your classroom, your teacher wants you to always try your best, so that's an important rule, too."
Ruby agreed to that.

Then, later in the conversation:
Me: "Who did you sit by in class?"
Ruby: "I don't know. They didn't tell me their names."
Me: "Well did you ask them?"
Ruby: "No, we're not supposed to talk in class EVER. If you talk, you get sent to the little hard chair."
Me: "Oh. Did you have to sit in the little hard chair?"
Ruby: "Umm...yes."
Me: "How did that feel? Were you a little embarrassed?"
Ruby: "Yes, and a little nervous, too."
Me: "Oh, well I bet you'll try harder tomorrow to follow the rules, then, huh? Did anyone else get sent to the little hard chair?"
Ruby: "Only 2 people. Me and a boy."

Oh dear. In trouble already. At least it didn't effect her overall day. She still wants to go back.

Pictures

FYI: I just added pictures to the previous post. Check 'em out, and yes, I know a few are sideways, but since I thought I had rotated them, I didn't want to take the time to go back and do it again. To manually rotate the picture, turn your head to the left or your computer to the right ;-) !!

I love a good party

Ruby turns 5 on Monday. I can't believe that she will be a kindergartner in the Fall. Seriously. Seriously?!
She is smart, fun, kind, thoughtful, and full of spice. I'd take her no other way.
We had a party today. It was fun. It was black and white and blue. It was crazy. It was 15 children with sunglasses and leis sliding on their bellies in the water to emulate penguins. It was a sugar fest. It was a little girl walking into the kitchen as soon as she woke up declaring, "Wow, this is so magical and fantastic!" as her mother was finishing the party prep (and that really was a direct quote).
The only sad part is that the mother was slightly unprepared with the camera, so we did not get a whole lot of pictures, but a friend graciously snapped a few of the decorations and food. Hurray for good friends, right?!
We love you, miss Ruby. We hope your whole life will continue to be magical and fantastic.
Love,
Mom

And they call it puppy love

Look at that face...How can you NOT be in love? He's fun, super sweet, tenacious, and does the funniest things. We are obsessed. Can you tell?

New Family Member

Meet Winston:





We HEART Winston! We picked him up at 4:30 this morning and are elated to welcome him into our family. We picked the name Winston because we hope he is as smart and courageous as Winston Churchill, who was often described as being like a bulldog during WWII. Why? Well, let me just leave you with a quote from him: "The nose of the Bulldog has been slanted backwards so that he can breathe without letting go”----that coupled with "Never, never, never give up" pretty much sums up the "bulldog" personality. Am I right?