Ballet recital

Ruby had her recital day today. She wore her new outfit that she bought with her birthday money. She also had me braid her hair yesterday so it would be all wavey today like Kaylee's. It was kind of cute and gave her hair a little lift. I forgot to get any pictures with the braids still in.

Sisters at the barre.


Ballerina at the barre.

Stretching out.

Thinking hard.

Her turn to spin.

Cutesy Curtsey.

Hop-a-long Ruby!

With her certificate after class.

Sorry.....I just couldn't resist. She was just too cute.

THE END!

Superbowl Ballerina

Ruby had some money that she received for her birthday from Nanny & Pappy, Grandma & Grandpa Williams and Grammy Gloria. Her choices for how to spend her money were pretty interesting. She bought a Scooby Doo book, a commemorative Colts Superbowl football and a bright pink, sparkly tutu to wear for her ballet recital next week. Can you say "diverse interests?" Big thanks to everyone who remembered her birthday earlier this month! Can you believe she's FOUR already!?

It's National Pancake Day - Get your free pancakes!

What could be better than free food?

Join IHOP to celebrate National Pancake Day (also known as Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday) on Tuesday, February 20, 2007. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., we’ll give you one free short stack (three) of our famous buttermilk pancakes. All we ask is that you consider making a donation to support local children’s hospitals through Children’s Miracle Network, or other local charities."

Click to find an IHOP near you.

Snow day: Part 2

The kids got their second snow day today for Valentine's Day. Guess we'll have to reschedule Keithen's class trip to the nursing home and his class party. Hopefully the new dates won't create problems for me!

The last snow total I heard last night for our area was 7 inches. I know we had more overnight. And the drifts are REALLY bad because there was so much wind. Compared to yesterday pictures, this is what I woke up to today.....

You can no longer see where my wood pile is located. If it weren't for the whellbarrow, I'd have no clue where to look. It's under there somewhere.

Look how high the snow drift around the grill is!

Down at the kid's fort, you can't see where the slide touches the ground. The benches on their picnic table have completely disappeared.

This is the view from the back door. Note that the yellow dumptruck that was barely visable yesterday is now missing. The tricycle is almost covered and the woodpile has disappeared.

It's all the way up against the door now.

Little mother: cosleeping

Ruby fell asleep on the couch the other night cuddling her baby doll. So sweet!

Snow day

It's rather windy here today. Note how the Colts flag is pretty much pointing straight up in the air. (And yes, there are still Christmas lights on the post.)


Somewhere under that wheelbarrow and snow drift is the pile of wood for the fireplace. And see the tiny yellow dot in the top left corner of the picture? That's all that is peeking out of the kid's giant dump truck.


They're all home from school today and Ruby's ballet class is cancelled. None of us has bothered to get out of our PJ's yet and it's past 11:00!

Blizzard?

No matter how badly the local weather men want to call our current weather conditions a blizzard, sorry folks, this isn't a blizzard. It's a snowstorm and a little ice. THIS was a blizzard.

J.K. Rowling "simultaneously heartbroken and euphoric"

J.K. Rowling is reportedly, "simultaneously heartbroken and euphoric" over the completion of the final book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows.

Rowling says:

"If it comes as any consolation, I think that there will be plenty to continue arguing and speculating about, even after 'Deathly Hallows' comes out. So if you're not yet ready to quit the message boards, do not despair," she writes.

"I'm almost scared to admit this, but one thing has stopped me collapsing in a puddle of misery on the floor. While each of the previous Potter books has strong claims on my affections, 'Deathly Hallows' is my favorite, and that is the most wonderful way to finish the series."

Only 150 more days.....

Parents.....let's tell the Pacers to shape ups!

It's time for the parents in the Indianapolis area to speak up and tell the Pacer's upper management what we think of their bad behavior. If Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird got hundreds of letters from parents, some of us really desperate to find good male role models for our kids, do you think that would finally get their attention???

Here's the scoop on where to send hard copy or e-mail:

Indiana Pacers
125 S. Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone:(317) 917-2500
Fax:(317) 917-2599
E-mail:PacersInsider@Pacers.com

Hey Pacers - Time to start over!

If I had the power, I think I'd fire everyone in the Pacers organization from the top down and start over. I am so *SICK* of hearing about this or that Pacer being in a fight, firing a gun or getting caught with "drugs that belonged to his friend" in his car. And of course the story always ends with "no arrests were made." Why start at the top? Well, the big-wigs hired all these guys and put up with their behavior. We need some people in the top ranks who WILL NOT tolerate the embarassment that the Pacers bring our city. I'm shocked that Pacers President Larry Bird has let this go on so long.

That's right. I said that the Pacers are an embarassment to our city. First there was the brawl with the Detroit Pistons fans. Then this past October, Stephen Jackson, Marquis Daniels and Jamaal Tinsley were involved in an early-morning fight outside a strip club. A gun was fired and police discovered illegal drugs in Tinsley’s car. Now Daniels and Tinsley are accused of assaulting the manager of the 8 Seconds Saloon this past week. Do these idiots not learn from their past mistakes?

Their bad behavior looks even worse next to the example our Colts set as BOTH respectable citizens AND exceptional athletes. They are proof that athletic talent doesn't mean you have to act like a gangster or a little kid in public.

I like my kids seeing the Colts players as role models. Unfortunately, even though I've always prefered basketball to football, I've had to minimize my kid's exposure to our local team because they are NOT the kind of role models I want for my kids.

Ruby pictures

Oh so sweet sleeping Ruby. Don't you just want to kiss those round cheeks?!



Ruby the little mother with her baby snuggled in her sling and her big girl in her arms.

Some past due pictures of Ruby at ballet class.

Belated Superbowl Blogging

Yeah Colts!

Kaylee had me spray her hair blue for "show your spirit day" the Friday before the Superbowl.

And then on Superbowl Sunday we had a big picnic in the living room floor in front of the game.

Matt took Keithen and Ruby to the Dome on Monday night for the rally to welcome the players home. The players were late in getting there and it was a BIG test of patience for the kids. Especially since they were STARVING. But they did get to see the players and the trophy. They left before the speeches were over since the kids were so hungry. Hopefully some pix are coming later. Matt has the camera they were taken on.

Happy birthday Ruby!

Yesterday was Ruby's birthday. Somehow time flew by and she's 4 already. It's hard watching the youngest one grow up and knowing there will be no little babies after her.

She is my soccer-playing, blue ballerina princess who wants to grow up to be "the guy who throws the ball to Peyton Manning!" (And yes, I did make her a Colts cake. She chose Colts napkins and Superbowl plates too!)

When she opened her Leonardo book last night she said, "You mean I get to keep it?!" (We've had that book from the library off and on for several months so she was excited to have her very own copy to keep.

Keithen's birthday

A belated happy birthday to Keithen who turned 8 years old last week. (Seriously.....can he really be *8* already?!) He made out well with lots of books, some Magnetix and a nice stash of money to spend. AND he brought home a good midterm report from his teacher, noting improvement in his study skills and attitude.

Harry Potter 7 release date!

JK Rowling was nice enough to announce the release date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for Keithen's birthday today. Book seven will hit the shelves on July 21, 2007.

Amazon.com is doing preorders for $18.89 - click here.

Barnes & Noble is doing preorders for $20.99 - click here.