its been too long....

I need to quit feeling guilty and just record our lives when I can...so here it is:
I think it's been a bit over 5 months since I last wrote about our fam- here are the highlights-
MAY- me teaching part-time (quite nice), Ruby playing and helping and being an awesome big sis! Miles has now mastered farting noises- May 24- hang out with friends and Ruby continues her work on relating with friends, solving problems and taking care of herself! Fantastic job being a friend Ruby!
JUNE- 6.3.08: whole family went to OMSI with my class. My class had just completed a word study (morphology) regarding prefixes in latin and greek. I focused on dinosaurs and we broke apart those huge names to construct meaning. OMSI had a huge Chinese dinosaur exhibit so we connected that and all had a blast! Ruby was amazed at the sheer size of the skeletons. She also asked some great questions about the skin that would have covered the dinos- it's true, who really knows what color they were or how they really looked?
SCHOOL'S OUT and we've decided that I will take a year off next year when we move to p-town. WOW! Come back to that one later....P.s. the house is showing alot....but still showing.
SUMMER SOLSTICE 6.21.08 lots of family fun- we had solstice before the kids and I took off to Redmond and Jacob had a show (perhaps, maybe recording....its been a few months). ruby was so excited to see that the fairies had come. They brought art supplies, a handmade (by mom and dad) wooden ribbon dancer and various other treasures. We celebrated the sun together!
JULY- it's hard to show a house with 2 small children and show it frequently....but at least i'm not working and doing it anymore!
7.5.08- Classic Ruby musical brilliance! Adam Anderson has moved back to the west coast and payed us a quick visit. While outside with Ruby, she decided to play him a song. This is not unusual. Ruby lives in a musical....a spontaneous, improv-style musical, its cool and a bit weird, but "actually" (another word Ruby uses all the time) really awesome. She's got mad music skills, wonder where those came from? Back to the story- Ruby grabbed her guitar, spun it upside down (played it like an upside down upright bass) and out came this dirge style music...here are the lyrics (I ran inside and quickly started recorded her words on paper):
"I love lollipops. But I'm not allowed. Sneaking through the house, looking for lollipops. La la la da lollipops. Lollipops forever." LOVE IT! (this song became very popular in our house and lyrically she plays around with it a lot- lately, it's a wolf sneaking around for lollipops. OH, have I mentioned that Ruby is fascinated with wolves. yep.
7.11.08-Ruby and I love to read little critter books. They are great to use to learn how to read if you were wondering....On the back it shows covers of all the little critter books and she was looking at that and saw one where little critter is looking in the mirror and there is a monsterish little critter looking back and the book is titled, Just A Bad Dream. We briefly discuss this and use vocab like nightmare, bad dream etc... The next morning she awakes and tells me she has had a night mirror. I guess the mirror threw her off...I really wonder what she thinks a night mirror/mare is?!
Ruby is a stellar swimmer in her little guppy swim class- you stick a life jacket on that girl and she is fine with swimming out in the deep end all by her lonesome. Got to go on the waterslide a few times on the last day of class as well....loved it!
We sold the house! This couple who loves it and everything we have done to it is moving in at the end of July! wow!
Family Reunion 2008-

Miles and Ruby - Spring 2008!

The guilt is too much...I must write about my babies, or else I won't remember this stuff. So, regardless of the busy-ness, the pink-eye, the house on the market, the violent coughs and neon yellow snot, I will forge through and record some highlights from the last few months...

*Miles is completely entranced, enthralled and entertained by his big sis Ruby. She can always make him smile (maybe not always, but most always)

*Lots of pretend playing on Ruby's part- ex. "going on a journey, a quest"  She built the setting from playcloths. I asked her what time of the year it was and she replied," it is easternox time!" (1 week prior to Easter/Spring Equinox)

*Ruby has enjoyed watercolors lately when choosing an art medium. She teaches as she goes (don't know where she gets it): "I don't plan before I watercolor. I build or I just build on...First, you take the paintbrush, then you..., next, you..." Read in high-pitched Ruby voice for full effect.

*March 16, 2008- MILES KAHLO rolled over (two times!) And I missed both of them! Next time...

*Spring Break 2008- Easter weekend kicked off Spring Break. We stayed at a hotel in Eugene one night with my parents. Miles swam for the first time! He really enjoyed the water. Ruby keeps getting braver and braver in H20. Ruby was already sick and it just kept getting worse. Miles got it too. Then me. Bummer, but at least we could all be sick at home together.

*"He is a grabby little guy!"- Daddy. Miles has a perma-grip like no other as of late. Watch out! Perhaps this might entice Jacob to shave (Miles loves to hold on to the beard)! If there's no beard, he will settle for neck skin, hair, noses, lips and the gentlest, hands. 

*4/3/08- Ruby played with a new friend Clyde today. Clyde is 4 and he is hilarious. He lives on the street behind us and we knew his Dad when we lived in Eugene. We were walking back from the park at Clyde was outside, so we stopped and hung out. This will definitely happen more frequently; they had a blast. Some highlights: "So here's the problem..." Clyde said this a lot and Ruby, a born problem-solver, kept attempting to help. They solved digging problems, playing baseball problems and then went for a journey (full of problems) in a car that Clyde's dad is rebuilding. 

* More examples of RUBY genius- (this girl is so close to reading it's ridiculous) "I wonder what foxes eat. So, I want a book about foxes." She really understands the gift of literacy-the ability to gain knowledge and research passions...keep it up smarty! 4/7/08 (if you are wondering, I jot happenings on the calendar until I have time to write about it-Jacob can't stand it because I mark all over the calendar. I thought that's what calendars are for...)

*Ruby is a BALLERINA! Ruby began her first dance class today. It is a creative dance/ballet class and she loved it. The teachers are stellar- They call all the 3,4, and 5 year olds "dancers!" and worked into the fun, a lesson on general space and self space. They leapt, they twirled with scarves, they brought songs to life through movement. Ruby stared in amazement for the first 10 minutes and then got into the action! When we were leaving, she told the teacher, "I can't wait to see you next time!" 4-10-08

*Jacob went to record in P-town and my parents visited. We had a blast at the Science Factory, it was all about color and light.... physics really! Miles enjoyed the color tornado that Ruby made with this awesome machine and the colored lights that mixed on the walls! Ruby played and learned and learned and play-I love places like that! 

*Miles has been sitting up a bunch lately (with just a wee bit of assistance. He's making a lot more noise these days as well. We'll make a recording! Still full of smiles...

 

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much belated update....

hello all...well, i'm sure most of you are aware of most of the details that have prevented me from blogging this last month. about a month ago we finally decided on a realtor and set a date to put the house on the market. at the same time ruby came down wih a horrible virus/cold. miles and lyndsey caught it about a week and a half later...i got it soon after. ruby took a whole month to kick it. miles and lyndsey are just about 100%. i'm gettin there. the doctors diagnosed miles w/ rsv. whether it was that or not i don't know. the point is we all beat it w/ vitamins, herbs, homeopathics and heavy prayers. thank you all for your thoughts/prayers this last few weeks. it all helps. we ended up having to push back the date for putting the house on the market a couple of weeks. i think i've averaged about 1-2 hours of sleep a night for the last 6 weeks. needless to say it's been a bit difficult getting all the last minute projects and cleaning done. sooooo.....the house went on multiple listings and signs went up on friday. we've shown the house about 6 times in the few days since then. hopefully we will accept an offer soon and start packin. here's a link to the pics of our house .
http://www.circlepix.com/tour/register.htm?id=648612&type=15
look at the virtual tour and the still pictures. it's very satisfying to see hundreds of hours of work all come together. i'll try to write more soon. love you all.

Note to Readers

For the past 3.5 years I have kept a journal for Ruby...a collection of memories in small moments and brief snapshots. Quotes from her, things I want her to know, things I want to remember...I write it for her and to her...(it's also for me) When Jacob and I discussed the blog idea, I struggled with the thought because I was already having a hard time keeping up with Ruby's journal and I had started one (barely) for Miles. So, I am surrendering their journals to take a step forward- a move into the technological future-hence, the family blog!
So if you are reading our blog, please note that I am writing these rather random little snapshots because that is how I want to record our history and I am writing to my kids....thanks, Lyndsey

Ruby The Reader

It was March 6, 2008....Ruby is almost ready to go for our hike (the first with our new pack). She enters the living room and begins reading the several labels around the room. Recently when she was napping, I labeled the piano, her art table, the couch and clock so she could read them. She read them all and then she exclaimed: "I can read them all!" And then even more geniusly asked next, " Mom, can you hear the "r" in the middle or art?" Yes I can Ruby the reader, yes I can!

Things that give Miles the Smiles...

According to my recent observations, this list that follows records the things that currently make Mr. Miles happy:
* Ruby- he stares at her now for rather long periods of time; seemingly in awe of her high-pitched, often jumping body...She can make him smile almost instantly; all it takes is one Ruby smile. I know what that's like Miles.

* Mom and Dad- both of us can often calm down the lil' man quickly...I especially, because of the "you-know-what's" (breasts- that's for you, Rebecca) full of food...Miles, your gaping-mouth grin melts me man!

*Hands- Miles loves hands. If he can't hold your's, he will hold his own, and man, is THAT cute. I'll post picture of that soon for proof!

*The mobile in the living room- Miles can fixate on the copper and wire mobile for several minutes. He has seemed interested in it and the way it moves since he was brand new.

*Standing up- Miles likes to be vertical lately. He looks so proud when he stands on your lap, so elated he often begins dancing (or soit seems). He also like you to be standing when you hold him, and he likes to be held a lot (he is a far more cuddly baby than Ruby was)....interesting...

*Nature- Miles, like the rest of the family, seems awe struck by nature; makes sense. He enjoys beautiful things just like the rest of us and you can see his curious, wondering nature in his eyes...I look forward to many a nature hike buddy.

*Music- Miles is almost instantly calmed when atop Jacob's lap at the piano. It's precious. Both of our kids enjoy music immensely. Good thing.

*Talking/Singing-The boy seems thoroughly entertained with his gurgly, growly songs/words. I am thoroughly entertained as well.

*Rattle- He can track that colorful wooden rattle like no one's business and now he can even get it in his mouth....you go, boy!

pic of miles

dave's bro took this pic a couple of weeks ago. isn't he a pretty boy....

lizzie's caramels

i just finished my caramels that lizzie gave me. in case you all weren't aware... i was given my very own private bag of lizzie made caramels....oh yeah....that's right. i can't believe i used to eat so much at one time when i was a kid. i managed to eat one or two at a time for a few days and then i forgot i had them. i found them two days ago and ate about half the bag. i ate all but one last night....and finished the last one but moments ago. thank you lizzie...it was a trip down memory lane. oooooohhhhh... how i love caramel. normally i would think it a bit wierd to go into such detail about my rekindled caramel habits...but after reading a bunch of your blogs the last couple of weeks....i realize this doesn't compare to some of the detailed descriptions of eating habits and experiences that some people divulge. what can we say.... we love food....talking about it, reading about it, watching tv shows about it, planning to make it, making it, and of course.... eating it.

mp3 player found below

i figured out how to put this mp3 player on the blog. i tried to put one on that would automatically play every time you open the page....but it didn't work and maybe that would annoy some of you daily bloggers....for it will only get changed once a week or so. anyways....a little music for your listening pleasure while you read the latest in arnold gossip and gab. this tune is off the ghost sessions e.p. it was the first thing we played, recorded/engineered, and mixed all by ourselves. is it easier/better to post videos using blogger (or whatever rebecca uses) instead of posting it to youtube??

welcome one welcome all....for we have officially entered the universe of the blog

well here's a test run....this is a clip i got of miles this morning. he typically acts this way when he wakes up. it's rather achingly sweet....isn't it?