One of these things is not like the other...

Only moments after I posted a status update on Facebook about Costco's conspiracy with Godiva to offer bulk packaging on brownies (making it less expensive for me to keep those extra 15lbs I've been wanting to shed), I opened the mailbox. And there it was - the much anticipated (and equally dreaded) Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.

It's marketing genius really. Take the weeks after the Superbowl - before spring training and the NCAA tournament - and give your readers something to tide them over for a few weeks. Advertisers don't spend money in dead weeks. DirectTV took out an EIGHT page ad. Yikes. No amount of advertising dollars will ever convince me to put this in the hands of my husband.

Scantily clad skinny women lapping up the summer sun and waves are now dumpster diving in my driveway. And tonight we're having dessert.

Where do I begin?

It's been SIXTEEN months since my last post. While I'd love to give a recap of the last year and almost a half, the reality is I can't remember what I had for dinner two hours ago. So trust me when I say it's been a blur.

Quick recap - I birthed baby number THREE, haven't slept properly in six years, changed a gazillion diapers, have eaten my weight in hotdogs and goldfish crackers, watched Owen graduate preschool and become a big kindergartener, put Lyla in preschool, and lots of other fun in between. And that brings us to today.

To officially welcome her to the blogaverse, I'll post a picture of our sweet Lucy. Happiest baby ever. Born just two days before Christmas (that's Dec 23rd if you can't count), she's adored by all who meet her - but most especially by her brother and sister.

The picture was taken on her first birthday (thanks Angelica Thomas!). She's my first kid who actually ate the cake - Owen was sick on his first birthday and Lyla has a strong aversion to icing that will likely serve her well in later years.



It's good to be back.

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...