Ruby is 4!!

Well, Ruby Elise Wolter is 4 years old! We can't believe it. She does suddenly look older. Kind of made us sad. She told us this week that now that she is 4, she doesn't need us anymore...only to drive... (the tears started to roll, but I contained them) As the week has progressed, I subtly reminded her of a few things she might need us for. She has agreed with most of them. Ruby had a fabulous Shirley Temple Dance Party. We have wonderful friends and family who came and graced us with the Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance. Josh had a great play list which included "Animal Crackers in My Soup" for our "animal cracker" game.

Ruby's 4th year stats:

*attends Mother day out (pre-school) on Mondays and Wednesdays
*loves art projects
*loves to talk on Skype to her grandparents in Seattle
*loves her little Sis, Violet
*loves to say, "No, Way!"
*wonders why people keep talking about "JOE VITAMIN" on tv.
*explains that she can only read instructions to games if they have pictures
*loves when her daddy takes her in the wagon to the park
*loves to dance and go to her gymnastics class
*Loves her dress-up clothes and lives in them
*is excited about being a flower girl in Aunt Anna's wedding
*does not like her Daddy's SAAB.
*loves Jesus!!
Thank you, Jesus, for this gift of Ruby E..!!!!!

Teddy Bear Josh

During a night when Josh had a rehearsal and Ruby got to sleep with Mommy:

R: Mom, where is your stuffed animal like my pink bunny?

H: I don't have a stuffed animal.

R: But Mom, I thought your stuffed animal was DADDY!!

We're BA-AAACKKK!

Hi everyone!  YEs, I am back to write about the girls.  Since we last chatted, our family has moved from Smyrna back to Crieve Hall.  I got ANOTHER part-time job to add to my Oak Hill job working at Crievewood United Methodist Church as the Children's Music Director.  I love it and the best part is that we rent the parsonage next door to the church.  It's a 2400 sq. foot house and we barely know what to do with all of the space...  Josh can finally set up ALL of his drum sets and teach lessons out of our home.  

Violet now talks...alot.  Her most common words are Da, Mom-Mom, Ru, Bop (our cat), Gramma-Gram, bop-pa (Grandpa), Anna, Yora (Laura), Ro-Ro(Aunt Rosie), Oma, Opa, Pee (Pete the Dog), Ott(Uncle Art, Ka (Eunt Katie, Mock (Uncle Mark), ba-na-na, mick(milk), peez(pizza), etc.

This baby has no fear.  Climbs on anythingm jumps off everything and is one of the happiest most joyful children I have ever seen.  She LOVES her big sister.

Ruby will be 4 in October.  She just started Mother- Day out last week and goes 2 days per week.  She also started gymnastics with her friend Caleb!  She can now do front rolls and walk on the balance beam.  We call her Mary Lou.  She went on a date with her daddy this week to see the Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn.  We had free tickets so I didn't mind if she only lasted one song.  It turns out that she loved it and stayed for the whole thing.  She loved the "beautiful lights" and favorite instrument was the violin.    She hopes to go back some day.

I personally think she will be IN it someday.

Ruby also informed me that she wants to be a mommy when she grows up.  When asked how many children she would like to have, she replied laughing, "Mom,  I think I'll start with one!"

Josh is working hard like a good Daddy does and in his free time he can be found at the park with his girls!

Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Violet!

It's 7:40 AM and The girls are asleep. I have so much to do to get ready for our celebration this afternoon, but the reality of the moment has made me slow down, sit down and write. Our little Violet is ONE year old today. A whole, entire year of letting your heart live outside your body to love not one, but 2 precious lives God entrusted to Josh and I. What a reality!

It has been a hard year for our family, probably the hardest, but God and our girls show us every day what is most important. It has kept us grounded.

One year Violet old Fun Facts:

• loves to play peek-a-boo with a blanket and will stay under the blanket until you say peek-a-boo. (yes, one time we forgot her for 5 minutes under that blanket!)
• loves balls and balloons (ba-boons)
• a non-stop runner of circles around our house
• calls Ruby...RRRRRRRRR
• Can say and point to a "light"
• sits forward facing like Ruby in the car
• loves The Music Playhouse CD's
• buzzes her lips at Grandpa
• loves cheerios
• points and waves at everyone
• dances to music by bending her knees
• also can dance while sitting down..very interesting
• will be not a flower girl, but a FLOWER BUD in Aunt Anna's January 10th wedding!
• loves reading and chewing on books
• Won't got to sleep at night until her Daddy tucks her in!

What a blessing it is to love a child. Happy Birthday, Violet!

Ruby Elise Update!

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby! Where to begin...

After a temper tantrum:

R: "Mom, Sorry I am so "movie" today...

(I think she meant MOODY! Ha HA!)

Ruby is finishing up her "School Year", 2 days per week at First Pres Early Preschool in Nashville. She loves her class and her teachers and has a best friend named Caroline. Mom's Kindergarten class is right down the hall from Ruby's so they get to wave at each other alot. That is quite a treat most grandkids don't get. After school, Ruby always wants a treat and a hug from Grandma.

Ruby also has started "Drum Lessons" with her drum teacher, whom she calls "Drum Teacher". And yes, it is her daddy. The lessons are at her request, last 10 minutes, and are more about which pink purse she should carry her drum sticks in then the actual lesson. She actual is pretty good and ends up teaching her teacher a thing or two by the end of the lesson. Ruby always wants her Mommy to pick her up at the end of the lesson, by knocking on her bedroom door and taking her back to the kitchen. She pays her drum teacher one penny for his time.
Josh loves his time with his girls.

Other Ruby Milestones:

• Wears her Pink princess (huge pink tu-tu) dress every day we are home.
• Takes Pink Bunny (favorite stuffed animal) on walks in the neighborhood with Mommy and Violet IN THE PINK PRINCESS DRESS. We are a sight...
• Brand new Big Girl Car Seat! She is very impressed that she has arm rests and can sit criss-cross applesuace in her seat.
• Loves Music Playhouse class every week! Knows every song.
• Writes her own songs about family members. We are working on recording these... HYSTERICAL!
• Loves her family: feeding the birds and getting mail with Grandpa, Seeing Grandma at school, Practicing flower girl with Aunt Anna, Painting with Aunt Laura, Reading with Oma, talking walks with Opa, Asking wildlife questions to Art and Katie, and talking to Uncle Mark on the computer all the way in Australia!
• Loves Shirley Temple and is currently planning her own "Shirley Temple, 4-year old birthday party....in October.
• Show Favs: Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, and Caillou. (not Daddy's favorite)
• Loves her bible stories and knows more details than her parents sometimes. "Mom, that's a temple NOT a Tabernacle!! (What?)

Most of all, what defines Ruby at this stage in her life is her love for Violet, hew new Sister and Friend, her love of being at home with her family, and her vivid imagination (pretend play!)

Violet Suzanne Update

It's been a long time since my last post. My excuses will bore you, so let's get on to the good stuff!

Vi started walking on my 29th birthday, March 18th. She was 9 1/2 months. She has been flying around the house ever since. (Wait a minute.. I think that's my excuse for not writing.) We have the baby gate up, doors shut, valuables hidden, and yet, Violet finds some "no-no" every five minutes. It is so cute watching someone so tiny run around. She is our little "Whirlwind". Ruby thinks it's hysterical. Their favorite game to play is "Run full -force into each other and fall down."

Other Violet Milestones:

• Baby dedication at Belmont Church on March 30th. So sweet. Mom and Dad hosted an after-church brunch for all of our church family and friends that helped Josh and I out during the tough, Violet Sickness days after her birth. We were so blessed. Josh' parents, Lynn and Bill, also flew in to be there for this sweet event.
• Big Girl Car seat- it was kind of sad, putting the baby carrier seat away, but Violet and my sore arms are relieved that we switched!
• Allergy testing came back negative, Which is good, but bizarre to V's doctors and her parents. We are still going to avoid all of the food she reacts to for 6 more months. We will try soy milk next week. We pray this goes well, as her prescription formula is so, ...well...gross.
• Weight 20 1/2 lbs.
• Birthday party. We are in the planning stages of V's first birthday party! May 28th! Can you believe it's almost been one year! Love every moment!

Shirley Temple

Ruby thinks she is Shirley Temple. I bought her one movie, knowing how she loves theatre, singing, and dancing and the kid is hooked! She has me roll her hair now and puts on tap shows for us. She has us call her Shirley sometimes, but when she missed her mom, she wants to be Ruby again.

Ruby and Violet attend THE MUSIC PLAYHOUSE once a week. This is a Mommy/Daddy and me 45 minute music class that we have been a part of for almost a year. I actually am now an official Saturday teacher for a couple of the classes. Both girls love it and sing the songs all week long....well, Vi bounces when she hears them. I have a few more spots in my classes if you know anyone interested. www.themusicplayhouse.com



Quotes:

Grandma: Why are you cleaning your room?

R: Because we are trying to sell our house.

Grandma: What does selling your house mean?

R: It means that you buy a new house to live closer to someone you love.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dental Floss is pronounced "Dental Cloth"

Ruby had her first dentist appointment last week. All went well as the office had Mickey Mouse playhouse on flat screen tv's over every chair, a tiny door to walk through, and fun toothbrushes to choose from. We didn't quite make is to "the scary picture chair." (x-ray). Maybe at the next appt!
________________________________________________________