Loved

Ruby got a lot of love and attention last week - I think today was kinda a shock for her to be hanging out with just me again.

A little bit "back woods"

If you've been reading my blog for more than a year, you may have noticed that my family can be a little bit "back woods" at times. We get together and say things like "Let's shoot some guns!" or "Hey mom, do you have any pumpkins that need demolished?" or "We should go to Lunkers." Here is another example, and another and another and here's one more.

Dad took us to Three Oaks to shoot clay pigeons this Thanksgiving. It was hilarious - it's kinda like golf, you go to 12 different "holes" and each player gets 8 chances to shoot 8 clay disks as they're hurled through the air one-by-one in every direction. Each "hit" gives you a point.

Shooting a moving target is not easy, but we had a great time together!!

Shooter

I tried something new over Thanksgiving break.

I'd never shot a weapon quite like this one until now... and I must say, IT WAS AWESOME!! Have you seen the movie "Shooter"? That's what I felt like - except that my target was a pumpkin.

Piano Babies

My dad caught this precious moment of Ruby and her Uncle Aaron at the piano on Thanksgiving Day...

Ryan's mom showed me this picture of Ryan when he was a baby. I had to scan it for you - check out the exact head-shape similarities! CRAZY!!

Reach

Ruby's got "go-go gadget" arms. She's discovered how to reach out and grab onto anyone or anything. In her bouncy seat she pulls all the animals off the bar and collects them in her lap. She loves the monkey best. When I tie them on really good she pulls herself up and swings by them.

Faux Thanksgiving

(Ryan Ruby and I, Michael Luke and Kim, Ryan Parker Bree and Cash, Scott and Heidi)

Last night we gathered with a few friends for one of the best Faux Thanksgiving dinners we've ever had. The food was seriously amazing... Kim made the most ridiculously delicious sweet potatoes I've ever had. Heidi provided a crazy good chocolatey walnuty pie and Bree cooked up an incredible bird.

Cash and Luke are some of Ruby's little buddies.

On the way there in the car I got a little teary-eyed thinking about how important my friendships are to me. Bree and Kim have walked through the first 5 months of Ruby's life with me and I love the examples that they are as mothers.

Roasted Chicken Thighs with Balsamic Vinegar Glaze

Tonight I made something new for dinner - and it was good! The smoke billowing from the oven 1/2 way through the cooking process didn't seem to affect the end product at all!

You should have seen Ruby's face while I was trying to air out the kitchen. She was opening and closing her mouth, sort of like she was eating the air, but had a scowl on her face the whole time since it tasted like smoke and balsamic vinegar.

I said to her, "wipe that scowl off your face while mommy is trying to cook! You aren't helping the situation!"

Amazingly it was deliciously golden brown and Ryan loved it! Thanks for the recipe Breanne!!

1000AWESOMEthings.com

I was reading my friends Jen and Nic's blog this morning and learned about a website that lists "awesome things." I didn't think it would be that awesome, but then I read a few and absolutely agreed with the awesomeness.

A few of my favorites:

• #654 Peeling that thin plastic film off new electronics
• #668 Walking faster than cars sitting in traffic
• #715 Looking at how much dirt came off something you just cleaned

go to www.1000awesomethings.com to see the awesomeness for yourself.

Aunts, Uncles and Hairs

We made a spontaneous decision to drive to to Granger for a quick trip on Saturday. Got to spend a few hours with Angela and John.

My little sister (who has awesome hair) is having a baby in March. Ang is a natural when it come to all things Ruby, so I'm sure she'll be an absolutely incredible mom to their little one.

Speaking of Angela's hair - she has always been the adventurous one when it comes to hair. I, on the other hand, got a nice haircut in 7th grade and stuck with it until today. Long layers. Sometimes I wear it in a ponytail. That's it.

Ang is so good at changin' it up - she does all sorts of lengths, colors, styles, accessories, and even managed to pull of bangs without a hitch. She is the type of person who you see and you say, "Oh, I should get some bangs to look cute like hers!" then you do it and it's a major disaster. All of that is to say, I love her hair, because her hair is an outward expression of the beauty within her and she is carefree and fun and adventurous. She's a stylist/cutter/colorist, so if you want great hair too you can make an appointment with her at Radius Salon.

Love you guys! So fun to see you! Can't wait for Thanksgiving!

Ruby and I ran into Chris and his buddies Luke, Jacob and Josh in Holland on Friday. Such a fun crew... had to snap a pic!