webcam fun

As you can see Camila Luna is facinated with anything Liv is doing!

update..

I'll post some pictures next time, I don't have any formatted right now.

As usual, all is well here.

Jeff had a fun time last weekend on the annual brothers-in-law golf weekend - maybe he'll share some pictures of the golfing or other fun in Vegas... but then again..."What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas."

Camila Luna is the smiliest baby I've had the pleasure of hanging out with... she's nearly always got a grin for you! She's rolling over back-to-front (in one direction) and can sometimes get back over onto her belly! and when she has the energy and motivation, she does this hilarious Penguin-Push, where she puts her head down, her arms out or back, and gets her little legs and toes peddling and tries to scoot forward riding on her chest - it's a riot!

As you saw in a recent video clip, Liv is staring to sing. It's quite fun! She even got her friend Klaudia to start singing with her... the other day we were all playing together and the girls are skipping/marching/running in circles singing "Rosy, Rosy. Rosy, Rosy.  Rosy... We all fall DOWN!!"  so stinking cute!!

Yesterday, Liv and I were playing this some star-shaped window-gel-clings and I prompted, "Livvie, do you know any songs about stars?" I was fully anticipating "twinkle, twinkle" instead Liv starts singing: "Old Mac Donald had some Stars. On the Farm he had some Green Stars. With a star here, and green stars everywhere. E-I-E-I-O"  :) 

Grandpa Ruoss is here visiting. Its been so enjoyable to have him here. He and Jeff have tackled a few projects - and played a few rounds of golf - and he's totally won Liv's affections - and not just with the gifts Grandma stashed in his suitcase, either! :)

ps/ Klaudia has a new baby sister; Maya was born Saturday afternoon. Congrats to Kate and Len! We can't wait to meet her!

Landscape Progress

This was an exciting day, when the plants were delivered!

Liv's helping! (this could take a while...)

And today.... SOD!

And now, we have a beautiful LAWN!!

"its so soft." "we don't need shoes!"

who is this funny little person?

the lovely "creek bed"

Playing with Friends

Liv has this terrific cardboard cottage and we invited a couple friends over to help decorate with water colors, chalk, or crayons.

The most fun! Three little 2 year olds and every one of them with a baby sister. (well, Klaudia's will be here soon.)

decorating. It's an ongoing process. :)

Playing at the park earlier today.

oh, and this next guy isn't a friend.

He came to visit as a very UNwelcome guest.

Over 4' long, and 12 years old, this diamondback rattlesnake was in MY backyard. Not cool. I was home alone with the babies, and in a near panic with the thought of this guy prowling around. One has to destroy them like zombies: beheading is really the only way. But you really only get one shot at something like that, and you risk really ticking them offf by coming after them with a shovel - anyway, I stalked it with one of the landscapers shovels in hand as it slithered around the patio - but couldn't quite commit to the attack.  Instead, I trapped it under a cardboard box, weighted the box, and called the landscapers to please come back and kill it for me. I felt like such a coward, until I saw what it actually took to kill the snake. I'm pretty sure I couldn't have done it by myself - and was left wondering if I was a fool for even considering it.  

At one point Liv and I watched it (from INSIDE) and I was able to teach her to recognize it and that she needs to "run away and tell mommy" if she ever sees one. We are all on high alert! How scary!!!

Yard Work

For now, it's someone else doing the work!

We're finally making real progress on the landscaping. The guys have been "planting" boulders today; we'll have a lovely dry creek bed here, and a soft green lawn in the back. I'm so excited! 

Play Date

Liv and her friend, K, got together to play today

(and Mom had a lovely visit and some adult conversation!)

a fabulous snack. mmm, mmm, mmm!

negotiating terms of play (taking turns)

silly, silly little girls!

Toddler Days

Liv is embracing all things toddler -

...except for being the world's fussiest eater, as some toddlers can be. Liv is actually pretty good about trying new things, she doesn't freak out if her food "touches," or eat nothing but french fries for a week. She of course has her favorites (and meatballs are def. on the list!).  

But I get this face with some frequency:

...and she pouts, and giggles, and jumps, and runs, and imagines climbing a ladder to paint the clouds pink at sunset, or to go visit the cresent moon. "It's right there. It's all alone. I'll climb up there and sit." ... from a recent bedtime conversation that utterly melted my heart.

and every once in a while, if I'm lucky, she wears herself right out: