Tutu cute not to post...

My friend Jenn made Lyla this tutu and we recently got it out for a little photo shoot. Lyla loves her purple boots, so the tutu was a natural match. Thanks so much Jenn!



This was her little dance when it was all over...

Summer 2009 Photo highlights...

I can do it myself!

Lyla is becoming quite the little independent spirit - first, she wouldn't allow me to feed her with a spoon or fork. Now it's her shoes - she's surprisingly good at it!


Soaking in her success!

Easter 2009

Just a few photos from Easter...

Coloring eggs with Miss Melissa - a Good Friday tradition!


Lyla's own technique...




Thanks Easter Bunny!


Owen refuses to get his photo made.

Still not smiling...

I give up!

Is this bucket big enough to collect the eggs?


The egg hunt...

twitter....

I've been curious about this Twitter revolution lately - tonight I was at a lia sophia show with one of the hippest hostessess ever, Jenn Belden.  Jenn twitters, as does her cousin Sarah - and according to Jenn, Sarah is "sort of a big deal in the Twitter Techy world."  I THINK SO - 20,000 followers/fans!  Sorry girls, I can't even remember what it's called.  At any rate, I'm gonna look into it.

And just FYI, it worked when I emailed the post yesterday - this is my second official emailed post.  good times.  Now if only I could email my laundry to the drawers.

hmmm......

Let's see if this works.  Apparently I can now just email my blog posts.  If this does, in fact, work - you all may be in some serious trouble and/or boredom might quickly set in with me.  I love to email and though it's really not that difficult to just logon to blogspot and post, it somehow seems more fun and handy dandy to just email it in....we'll see if it works.

PICTURES!!!

I finally decided to download some photos today. These are all from April (or maybe late March - don't get your hopes up for specific dates). Just random days at the Ruff house...

In case you wonder what spring in Chicago looks like...


Not sure how two binkies AND cheeseballs will work, but she tries...


Boys left unattended on a muddy spring day...



A cupcake just Lyla's size...

Photography "how to" classes...what do you think?

So I keep getting these requests from moms who want to "get to know" their cameras. I've had so much fun teaching them that I'm considering doing a half day (or pretty spring full day) workshop. Just wondering if anyone would attend and if so, what's it worth to you? I'm so bad with prices (that's another blog all together soon).

Let me know your thoughts!

Growing Cents of Style

Just a quick post to show all the deals I got at the Growing Cents of Style sale in Barrington this weekend. For those who've not been, I liken it to game day for a Texas high school athlete. My heart actually flutters with nervous excitement the morning of the sale. It's scary, I know.

When all was said and done, I got 29 high quality (GAP or better) items for $150 dollars.

For those who think I'm a bad mom because 24 of the items are for Lyla, save your judgement. Not many four year old boys take good enough care of their clothes to make them eligible for such a resale. Anything 2T and above is slim pickins for the boys. No worries though - Mimi and Grandma take good care of him in the Bears, Illini, White Sox, funny skeleton, cool skateboard clothes department.

And speaking of, thank you Mimi and Papaw for all the clothes pictured here. We love you!

I seemed to have abandoned my blog lately, preferring instead one line at a time updates on Facebook. It's a sad reality in my life when I think I chose to do a blog because I have no time to scrapbook or formally write my family and friends, and now I'm reduced to one line at a time because I have no time to blog. The pace of life is out of control. Then I had a woman (our preschool director) the other day tell me these are really the SLOWER times in my life. I suppose when my kids can wipe their own rear (okay, Owen CAN and HAS for years now), buckle their own seat belts and fix their own cereal - I'll have something else crazy to fill those minutes. Sheesh. So I'm praying that I can accept this reality we call motherhood.

A few snip-it updates from the ruffhouse....

Owen is enjoying the spurts of warm weather we are getting lately. I looked out the back door earlier this week to find him knee deep and COVERED in mud. He and Ray found what appears to be a new small pond in our backyard, and then raced back and forth through it. When Kevin undressed him on our back porch (sorry neighbors), his body was as muddy as his clothes. Straight to the bathtub, of course.

Lyla has learned to walk in the past few weeks! The doctor told us he would not worry about her not walking until 15 months - she OF COURSE learned to walk on Saturday, Feb 28 - her 15 month birthday. Of course, this only proves she IS MY daughter, as I procrastinate on everything until the last second possible (still having nightmares about all those term papers I started three days before they were due). She's GRADUATING from her second DOC Band next Friday, just in time for a trip to Kentucky to show off her newly straightened head. Woohoo! We are thrilled. I'm thinking of hosting a "Band to Bows" party to celebrate. Really, just an excuse to get everyone together and eat cookies.

Which brings me to Kevin and me (or is it I? Someone help me here). I've cut down on my cookie intake in recent months, while Kevin and I put in some spring training. Three mornings a week, we get up at 5:30 to exercise - well, honestly KEVIN does it three mornings a week. I think my average is more like two mornings a week. We've both lost five pounds, which is almost as exciting as a perfected chocolate cake to me.

We've decided to go back to our church of many years, Willowcreek, in recent months. Since Owen was born, we've not really been much of anywhere on Sundays - except WalMart - because he wasn't at all down with Promiseland (the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for Jesus). We've heard some amazing teaching in the last few months - specifically, we've been impressed by the series "enough," one dedicated to finances. Dave Ramsey (the author of "Total Money Makeover") even spoke - wow! That man is passion with capital "P" when it comes to saving money and living within your means. Kevin and are closely following a budget these days and working towards becoming debt-free. I'll write more about that later.

So many things in my mind these days. I often find myself "blogging" or "Facebook statusing" in my head (though now FB changed it to "What's on your Mind?"). I really process life aloud and with others, so I count the opportunity to share via technology a blessing (and somedays a curse) - all good can be used for bad and vice versa I suppose. Thanks so much to all who follow us and take the time to care. We love you too!

Pictures later...

bath time...

Yep, she's cute...

Urgent prayer needed...

I've been following a CarePages site for several months now for a little three year old girl with terminal cancer. It appears her time to meet Jesus is nearing very soon and her family could use every prayer right now. You can read more of her story at www.katiefitch.com/blog. Please take a moment to ask Jesus for strength, comfort and peace - and whatever else they need at this moment. I don't even pretend to understand this, as I don't even know her and my heart aches beyond belief for her family.

Just some fun photos...

I got a "regular" camera recently, i.e. one that fits in my purse. I'm still figuring it out, but it sure was fun to have it at lia sophia Success Camp. Mom and I have been selling the jewelry since October and we had a fantastic time with all the other women from our team. We even got to meet Ellen Kiam - the founder of the company! Well, technically her husband founded it, but it was all for her love of jewelry. Good times!



And this is a cute one of Lyla's first time in the snow.

way too long, I know....

I'm not sure where the time is going these days, but it sure does seem to be in a hurry! I realized it's been nearly a month and a half since my last post! Sheesh.

It's 12:47am, so I'm not gonna be long winded here. I am keeping my word to my cousin Carla that I would post today. =)

I just got home from a Jon and Kate Plus 8 party - Kate spoke at Willow tonight and then several women got together afterwards at a friend's house. It was great to see everyone and catch up on life. The worship at Willow was amazing. My favorite part was the emphasis on God's faithfulness. It centered around the song "Great is Thy Faithfulness." It was a song I very much loved growing up in church. I love hymns and I've been so blessed to reconnect with some old favorites these past few weeks at Willow. With the introduction of modern worship, I forgot how much I love the words of scripture in the hymns. It's a feeling of instant connect with God for me. I immediately thought of the ways God has shown His faithfulness in my life - providing people and circumstances always at the right times for me. Really, if it wasn't 1am, I'd share more. For now, I'd encourage you to reflect on the words of the song and God's provision in your own life...

"...Great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me."

Have a super day!

Go tell it on the mountain...

Owen has been singing this song for weeks. In fact, he and his friend Tommy even gave me a concert with pretend mics and guitars a few weeks ago. Tonight was their big performance. True to form, they did not disappoint.




Lyla really enjoyed the show as well, giggling most of the way through. Well, at least until she spotted the baby Jesus in the manger - at which point, she could think of nothing she wanted more.
By the way, it's the debut photo of her second band...



And what a sweet ending to a great night...(she loves the glow worm and snowman)



Kevin may kill me for this last one, but I LOVE Christmas PJs, so I was thrilled to find these on clearance...

Oh Deer...

I can't even really believe I'm posting this, but it made me laugh so much I had to share.

While perusing Walmart the other night, I came across the following...

And while I think the whole concept of the thing pooping jelly beans is novel, the real humor lies in Santa's caption - "Have a poopin' Christmas." Really? Don't ya think if you're going to market something so clever as brown poop jelly beans, you could have come up with a better catchphrase?

Santa visit

Last week we made our annual outing to visit Santa Claus. Since Owen's very first year, I've gone to the same Santa. It's at a mall not so far from our house that's not got the best reputation (there was a gunfight there one weekend last year), nor the best shopping - not even a Gap. HOWEVER, this mall does have the most authentic Santa I've ever laid eyes on. From what the elf ladies tell me at the counter, his wife makes all of his clothes. And they are just lovely.

Over the last four and a half years, I've created a 5x7 collection of the annual visit, all with Owen's eyes beaming and the thought of actually seeing Santa in person. I know all the journalism majors out there can tell where this is going, right?

Kevin decided to join us this year. So last Wednesday after work, we got the kiddos all dolled up in outfits I purchased before I even knew if Lyla was a boy or girl. Get to the mall - Santa's on dinner break - Kevin holds our spot in line while I walk around with the kids. Owen spots a remote control helicopter. Long day of needing a nap and empty stomach take their places. Meltdown ensues. "I want the helicopter NOW!" blah, blah,blah, blah, BLLAAAAHHHH. aaarrrggh.

He wanted absolutely nothing to do with Santa. Lyla gladly takes her spot on his lap and we snap the shot. Suddenly Owen remembers he wants the helicopter and asks me to tell Santa for him. I'm flashing back to "A Christmas Story" when Santa kicks Ralphy back down the slide as he remembers he needs that Red Rider BB gun.

Not pretty. So this year's photo is of Lyla and Santa, instead of the beautiful one I envisioned of both my kids and Santa for the wall. Enter the reality of parenthood. Planning really never works out.



And then I snapped another one of her in front of the tree...



This is her last photo before she gets her second DOC Band tomorrow. We were hoping to make it past Christmas without it, but our window for correction is running out so we're moving forward. Get ready for yet another paint job!

prayer bear...

Owen's school has a special little friend named Prayer Bear who makes his way to the home of each child over the course of the school year. We recently hosted the little guy for a week. Owen was excited to play in the snow with him and feed him waffles. I, of course, was excited to send him back to school because I was so nervous all week he might fall into the waffle syrup - or Lyla might put him into the toilet. Luckily he made it back safely, but not before we got a few pictures of him and wrote in his traveling journal.

A quick addict....

My friend Lori sent me a link a couple of hours ago to a money saving site written by a mom and I'm addicted already. Those who read this (the one or two of you, hehe) know I'm a fan of CVS, but this woman takes it over the top! She's serious about keeping her money IN her wallet! Check her out at www.moneysavingmom.com.

Knowing I love a good blog, Lori also sent me Stephanie's link - it's on my blog roll to the left already. I had the honor of taking her extended family's photos a few years back when I was learning photography and she and her cute kiddos were so gracious and patient with me. It's super fun to see her amazing life and family flourishing, so linky yourself over there if you're so inclined!

It's December 10th and I'm ALMOST finished with all of my photography clients and Lia Sophia for 2008. I have one more set of Christmas cards to design and one last party on Thursday - then I'm makin' cookies! SUGAR cookies. KARIN'S sugar cookies - see her family link on the left too (the Hernandez family). I'll post the recipe next week when I make them. Seriously, I have dreams of these cookies. Karin taught me to make them nine years ago and I've not made another sugar cookie since. Well, technically I've not "made" any, since Pilsbury did it for me a few times.

One last think I must mention - the snow. It's just lovely. I went to coffee with Lori tonight (sorry to the Starbucks gals who thought they'd surely get to leave early tonight due to the snow - we actually were told to leave at closing). When we got home at 10:15, there seemed to be a neighborhood block party of sorts. All the men congregating on one corner comparing snow blower or shovel stories I suppose. It was so pretty to see all the lights peeking through the snow - and neighbors enjoying one another. I LOVE where we live - specifically, I love the PEOPLE where we live. I'm a girl from the south who grew up on the same street where most everyone in my family lived - so moving north (and then STAYING here) was a big stretch for me. God has answered my every prayer regarding community, providing neighbors who very much care for one another - and kids, kids, and more kids!

Wanted to share a quick photo of Kevin's handiwork with the Christmas lights - and the snow too of course!

Bliss and a miss...

Ooooooo I LOVE this time of year! So many things really...the sparkle of white lights, snow covered trees, 32 years of Christmas ornaments, the songs, the movies (Rudolph, Frosty, a Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, even Alvin and the Chipmunks), the smells, the anticipation, the Hope, the Promise...all of it, I love all of it.

I ESPECIALLY love two things about this time of year - and they are nothing spiritual, though I'm convinced both must be in Heaven - served just after my Granddaddy's tomatoes and Grandmother's green beans.

The first is Cranberry Bliss Bars from Starbucks. I'm not sure if they are from Heaven or Hell because really sin is so pretty and tasty - but so is all that is good too. So let's just give 'em the benefit of the doubt and say if He could have served them at the last supper, Jesus would be breaking Bliss bars instead of bread. Yum, yum, yum.

And we could end the whole alcohol debate with Christians if He'd only chased those bars with Williams-Sonoma Hot Cocoa. Seriously. It really is sin in a cup. Makes wine look tame. I am intoxicated just thinking about the shaved delight in a can. I think it has more calories per cup - when made with their hand-cut marshmallows - than Willy Wonka had in the whole factory.

I'm just gonna tell you - with today's economy, the second one is definitely a luxury item. At $19.50 a can, you might need to eat Spam for the main course.

Now the miss - I'm sorry to report that McDonald's "premium" hot chocolate is nothing more than whole milk with Hershey's syrup. Don't get me wrong - I'm a Hershey's girl - when it's in a bar form with almonds or a tiny silver-kissed wrapper - or even atop a bowl of vanilla ice cream. BUT having experienced "premium," EXQUISITE hot chocolate from my own kitchen (with the help of aforementioned W.S.), I was sadly disappointed. Don't waste your $1.99 - take it to Starbucks for the Cranberry Bliss. Just don't go to the one on 14 in Barrington, as I want them to have an ample supply for me. =)