It's all downhill from here . . .

Today we went sledding

(along with half the people in the county - it was crowded!).

A lot of the snow had already been worn off,

but there was enough for us to sled on

(and just enough patches of grass for Bentley

to wipe out repeatedly - on purpose).

The search function on my blog has been broken for awhile now,

so I like to link past posts for my own benefit.

Here are the posts of sleddings past:

2006 - I was hoping to get labor started, but it didn't work.

It was almost another week before Ruby was born.

2007

2008 - John took the boys - no photos. :(

Where were you?

A few days ago, Ruby and I were looking at photos,

when we came across this one -

Sophie and Ruby, June 2007

"Look Ruby! It's you and Sophie when you were babies!

Sophie was holding onto your dress, isn't that funny?"

Ruby - "Where were you?"

"Um . . . I was standing right there . . .

. . .next to Aunt Ginger . . .

. . . and Aunt Judy . . .

who was taking your picture."

Ruby (chin quivering) -

"But I was crying and crying for you."

"I was right there." (guilt)

Ruby (now crying) - "I was crying, 'Mommy! Mommy!'

because Sophie grabbed my dress. I was so sad."

"Ruby, you were okay. It was just for a minute."

(And it made a really cute picture.)

Ruby - "But I was crying for you!" (sob, sob)

Remind me to take down the Santa photos before she

starts asking where I was when those were taken.

Who's Milo?

The other day I overheard this conversation-

Ruby: My Mom is soooo mean!

Jonah: I know! She never lets us play on her bed!

Ruby: Yeah! She only lets "Miwo" be on it!

Jonah: Who's "Miwo?"

Ruby: My brother. Remember?

Jonah: Oh yeah.

45/52

Our annual Christmas photo

(Every year we take a photo and I frame it the next year.

Most years we use a timer, this year our home teachers helped us out.)

2006

2007

2008

Just your everyday . . .

. . . skateboarding wizard.

44/52

with Ruby before her tea party

Talkin' 'bout my girl

Today was Ruby's birthday!

Here she is with her Dad just before their date.

She's been looking forward to her birthday
for a looooooong time, and loved just about
every minute of her day as "the birthday girl."
(There was that one fight with Jonah . . . )
It's hard to believe that she's 3!
Happy Birthday Ruby!

Ruby's Birth Story

Ruby's 1st Birthday

Ruby's 2nd Birthday

No Tears!

Last year, I made a wish that there would be

no tears at our annual Santa picture this year.
And it almost came true!

Ruby cried BEFORE the photo because
Jonah sat on the rocking horse.
Jonah kindly moved aside and let Ruby
have "her spot" and by the time

the photographer snapped the picture

all traces of tears were gone.

Our Scary Santa streak is one I am happy to break.

43/52

me with all of the kids post tree decorating

8 Months!

In the last 2 weeks, Milo's personality has exploded.

He's more animated and so interested in

everything around him.

He's also noisier. He loves to yell and growl.

He can sit up, but isn't mobile, yet.

(The Christmas tree is safe for now.)

It's so fun to see his personality coming through.

He's an adorable little guy,

now if only he would sleep at night . . .

42/52

John, Bentley, and me

Bentley was baptized a member of the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

yesterday morning by his Dad.

His Grandpa and Grandma R* came from

California along with Uncle Lyle.

Grandpa and Grandma H* came from

Idaho, and brought Aunt Mindy.

Warren, Becky, Kenna, and Kylie made the drive, too.

(Warren came prepared for a Bakugan rematch with Bentley.)

Uncle Mikey and Aunt Elizabeth were also there.

Bentley, always the entertainer, took a little

swim in the font following his baptism.

Milo yelled a lot, and consequently got to spend

some quality time with Lyle in the hall.

Maxwell and Jonah cheered Bentley on,

and Ruby kept an eye out for the Holy Ghost.

(She's afraid of spirits, after all.)

I think we're all glad that Maxwell has a summer

birthday - the next R* family baptism should

take place in much warmer weather.

She Did It!

3 days in a row without an accident for our Ruby,

so today she got a new dress and leggings.

The new clothes were serious motivation for her.

If I'd offered one of her brothers an new shirt if they were accident free,

they'd have told me to keep it. The boys were all about action figures.

Ruby would have been excited about a toy, too, but I had the dress and

was just looking for an excuse to give it to her. This was perfect.

Here's hoping that she can keep it up without a prize.