Sand Box

Liv always loved digging in the sand at the beach in Alameda. She's taken to digging in the dry creek bed in the landscaping; which, -- in addition to making Jeff twitch -- isn't all that satisfying.

I saw this idea in a magazine! Lidded, wheeled, under-the-bed storage container & about 4" of sand. 

We'll see how well it holds up (and contains the sand?). But at least on day one, it's a huge hit! 

Shockingly enough, Milli didn't eat the sand... the shovel, yeah... but not fistfuls of sand. 

Progress!

Liv's Marching Band

"One - Two - Three - Four!"

Bang, bang, bang!

First Swings

So our little one is Milli this week. 

(Embarrassing that we're still trying to figure this out.)

She likes it! (of course!) She wasn't grinning, but she started looking a little dozy.

so fun!

yippee - kai - ai!

Mommy & Me Walk

Great morning walk with the ladies today. Looking forward to doing it again!

Fire.

Planes buzzing overhead... Should I worry?

Update: seems unlikely. no new smoke. planes gone.

Squeaze Peas

A week or so ago, I was making supper and suggested peas. Liv was all for it! However, when they were served, she was disappointed. She explained to me that she what she really wanted was "sqeaze peas". 

ooooooo-kay.  I'm thinking: "What's a squeaze pea?"  think. think. think. (pooh reference - Liv loves it when I do that.)  Awhile back we had Edamame - soybeans... that's gotta be it. I promised that next time we went shopping we'd look for squeaze peas. 

Winner!

yeah. and cherry tomatos :)

Coyote!

So, the same evening as the lynx sighting... we had this great big coyote prowling around. watching us from the hillside, wondering when we were going away (inside). that, or stalking the neighbor's cat?  (Jeff pointed it out, and they called Romeo in for the eve.)

Upon further reflection; I had left the baby pool, on the patio with water in it for a few nights in a row... could it have become a watering hole for these guys? More convenient than the water hazzards on the golf course?

Shopping Trip to the "Fish Store"

There is a Bass Pro Shop/ Outdoor World store not too far away. We went there with Michelle last week, and had to go back with Daddy this weekend. The place is unreal. There are hundreds of museum quality taxidermy animals, a trout pond, a deep aquarium, and more.

liv got to feed the trout:

and pet the bear. ("It won't roar.")

Bobcat Sighting

I woke up to these ears in the shadow about 10 paces outside my bedroom.

In my drowsy state, I'm thinking "hmmm, no. not a rabbit." "great horned owl? sitting in the grass? no." "OMG! it's a mountain lion! ... no wait. Bobcat! Whoa!! There's a great big cat in my yard!"

I grabbed Liv and the phone (and called my neighbor, Michelle, to come over!)

We saw him last, almost exactly 6 months ago, right before Camila Luna was born. 

Sorry the photos aren't more exciting, tough lighting & shooting through the windows...

He rolled over to show off his handsome spots, and try to tune in the sounds he was hearing from the house, I presume... ooops.  

I was trying to catch a picture between the hammock, maple tree, and rock... from the b/r window:

What a good looking animal! He wandered off after a while. I hope we see him again.

This is DEFINITELY more than a 20 pound cat... I'd guess closer to 30 -- big for a lynx.

Playdate with Klaudia

Two pretty little girls in their fancy princess skirts! 

(Christina's and my old square dancing costumes - thanks Grandma!!)

Luna sitting and playing, too (Baby Maya was asleep in the swing.)

Posing on their matching potty chairs.

Luna playing in a cloud of fluff. (and watching the "big" girls)

Trunk Monkey Racing Well

One of the things on my mind these days, is our dear friends Jody and Skip racing their sail boat to Hawaii! 

You may remember a couple years ago (Liv was 4 months old) Skip and Jody raced aboard FLASH in the Pac Cup (San Francisco to Oahu). Well, they're doing it again. This time -- just the two of them -- on their own boat, Trunk Monkey.

They've been racing very ,very, very well! Here is the current chart (they are the red dot). They left StFYC on July 6th.

For more charts and tracks, you can visit the official race page; they are in the Double Handed 2 division.

We recently received this email (via sat phone?) from Jody:

Hi guys - Another quick note from the monkey (girl).  It has been a
pretty good day today...slow but alright.  we got spit out by two
squalls so that slowed us significantly...oh well..  good news is we had
J world's hula girl sail up behind us this morning...and they still
haven't passed us.  They are a turboed Santa Cruz 50 ...so that is all
right by me! Skip is on the helm...I am off to la la land....sure to be
another long night!!  Hopefully we will have some stars.  I have never
seen so many clouds in my entire life...up side is I'm not sun burned!!
but it makes driving at night VERY tough...and I get sick a lot...it is
that dark you just start to spin....not fun.  Good thing that in my
delirious state I have invented Charlie the Cloud Slaying Flying
Fish...he is my little friend...maybe I will write a childern's book
when I come home and become the next JK Rowling..what do you think??
(maybe I am just losing my mind after all this time at sea!)any how.
Love to you all!  Thank you Mollly and Bubba for your help with the
kitties!!  Lots of yummy fun bbq's on us when we get back!! (Did I
mention how much I miss real food???? (and mai tais).

Jody

Wow, hunh? I think about them frequently -- what an adventure! can't wait to hear more about Charlie!

btw: here is the inspiration for the boat's name

Sitting Pretty

Little Luna has been practicing sitting unsupported. 

She's mastered it today! She's sitting, and reaching, and playing, and looking around and NOT tumbling!

Showing off her new skills!

Okay, Mommy has no idea what that look is. :)

New Cousins Meet

Just before we left for Florida, we had an opportunity to meet up with Jess, Stalin, and Jahan; Jack, Francesca and Claudia. 

Jahan and Camila were born within 2 weeks of one another.  It was pretty special to see the babies together... they barely interact at this ageexcept for grabbing at eachothers toys or toes or whatever is closest!

Liv and Auntie Claudia had a good time playing together...

It was too short a visit -- I didn't take nearly enough pictures -- and I really hope we can do it again before Jess and her family head back home to India.

Fourth of July Family Vacation

The Ruoss clan got together for a fun family vacation over the independence day holiday.

We all stayed at Wayne's family lake house - the perfect setting for this crowd!

(left to right) Camila Ruoss, Chase Sanders, Summer Pfeiffer, Ashley Sanders, Olivia Ruoss, Colin Sanders, Ethan Pfeiffer

 

Everyday we played at the beach and in the water (Liv's practice at the reservoir the week before paid off!). It was lovely white sand, shallow warm water - perfect for spending the day all wet!

There were piles of sand toys and chairs, in addition to the super fun jetskis, and the great boat for towing and cruising.

We had a fun birthday celebration for Chase who turned 15.

Excellent bbq, loads of balloons, cake, and lots of friends.

Luna got to gum on a cob.

Liv enjoyed her first hotdog with her cousins.

Sure, there was more rain than usual (thanks, Hurricane Alex) - but it kept us from getting too hot or sunburned. Here's a crowd of kids having a sword fight with nerf swords! Too Fun!

Everyone knows the best way to get a 2 year-olds attention: (the tv remote, and) Bubbles!

Tubing was a favorite activity for the big kids.

Here's Roger and Chris really playing hard!

Even the little ones got a ride!

Woo - Hoo!!

A wagon ride home from the beach.

Happy Kid.