This Side of Sanity

Going greener series: Homemade laundry detergent

2011-10-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

In our quest for greener products, we've learned that this much is true: sometimes you have to shell out more cash for guilt-free cleaning.
*long, dramatic sigh*
BUT, don't you fret. Sometimes, with a little research and DIY, you don't. And laundry soap just happens to be one of those products that falls into this category. So, gather up a few supplies, have a little courage in good old-fashioned know-how, and you too can stick it to the man.
Whoever he is.

This is the idea that started all of our "going green" movement. While wasting time on Pinterest, I happened upon a link for homemade laundry detergent which claimed to be "the best laundry detergent ever". Intrigued, I did some research, and ended up with the following "recipe" (with a slightly different amount of Oxyclean, I think...) from being creative to keep my sanity.

Huh. Someone else has sanity issues.

Here we go!
Supplies:
1 box (4 lbs) Borax
1 box (4 lbs) Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1 box (4 lbs) Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
1 large tub (3.5 lbs) Oxyclean or similar cleaner*
3 bars Fels Naptha

*I found a tub of off-brand oxygen cleaner at Fry's (Kroger) for less than $4. Score!

Grate the Fels Naptha (or stick it in your food processor). The trick here is to get the Fels Naptha into as small of pieces as possible.

Mix all ingredients thoroughly.

And, lastly, put your mixture into the container of your choice.

Here's the real magic: you use a tablespoon for a small-medium load of laundry, two for an large-extra large load (I re-purposed the scoop from the oxygen cleaner, which happened to be a perfect two tablespoons--serendipitous!). Seriously. And. It. Works. We used to use Arm & Hammer liquid detergent, which, let's face it, is one of the cheaper brands--and not only are still we saving money--but it works better than what we were using before (and this isn't just "new soap" excitement speaking, we've been using it for a while now).

As a side note, you can substitute 3 bars of Ivory bar soap or Zote for the Fels Naptha if you prefer. I may try the Zote next time to see if I prefer one over the other.
Another note, if you pick up an extra bar of soap, you can rub it on stains to pre-treat them.

Pros: Cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap! Holy moly, if you do near as much laundry as I do on a weekly basis, you are going to be happy. Also, my kids have sensitive skin and Eczema, and since we have switched to this detergent, we have seen nary a rash or dry spot. Plus, the good feeling you get when you don't put a ton of nasty stuff back into the Ecosystem.

Cons: Um. The grating? Maybe? Also, it seems the bar soaps use some perfume and dye (though, I can pretty much guarantee it isn't nearly as much as the commercial stuff we used to buy!).

Going greener series: Henna

2011-10-04T06:15:00.000-07:00

Early this year, I decided to do something I've always wanted: dye my hair red. I loved the results, but my hair didn't. Chemical dyes make my head itch during the process, smell awful, and then I end up with dry, damaged hair. To add insult to injury, my hair just didn't hold on to the red color long enough to justify such crazy processing.
Cue the search for a healthier option. Fortunately, there is a very cost-effective option for those wishing to color their hair in a more natural process: henna.
I will not go into the specifics of henna dyeing here, just my personal experience. If you are interested in learning more about henna, I suggest you check out henna for hair, a wonderful website with a comprehensive guide to all things henna.
After browsing the above-mentioned site for several days, I decided that, at least for my first henna, I didn't want to mess with mixing my own color. Instead, I went with a "ready-mix" from LUSH (found here). LUSH also has a henna picture gallery with fantastic reviews and tips for their product, delightfully called "pictures of happy caca heads".
My henna arrived via UPS a few days later, looking like:

Sort of like a big brick of chocolate

I cut off two of the squares, and following some of the reviewers suggestions, I grated them. Some reviewers complained about the smell, but I found it pleasant, like a spicy, grassy tea. At the last minute (perhaps inspired by the scent?), I decided to brew a strong cup of Earl Grey and use that to mix with my henna, rather than plain hot water. After obtaining what I thought was the proper consistency, I donned the gloves that came with my henna, and pasted the mess all over my head. Instructions say to leave the henna on for 1-2 hours, and many reviewers leave it on even longer. I planned on leaving my henna on for 6 hours, but got too impatient to see what was going on after 2. I rinsed it out (which, yes, is more difficult than chemical dye, but wasn't a nightmare), and beheld my new, shiny mane.

Before

Dark blonde, dry

Styled, before.

After

Red! And conditioned.

Styled, after.

Wowza. I am pleased with the results, it has mellowed to a light red auburn with gorgeous copper highlights (henna is a tone-on-tone color, which means it will pick up on your natural high- and low-lights). I have received many, many compliments on the color. Also, my hair is nicely conditioned and feels wonderful. I still have 4 squares of henna left for later, and plan on leaving it in longer now that I know good things are happening under that mud. *wink*

Pros: Healthy! LUSH's henna is mixed with a healthy dose of cocoa butter, making it super-conditioning. My usually dry hair is happy. No allergic "itchy" reaction to the henna.

Cons: Depending on how much, and what type of henna--it can cost more than chemical dye, unless you are used to having your hair dyed at the Salon, then it will definitely be cheaper. It takes a lot longer than chemical dye. Also, you need to be cautious about dying with henna if you have previously chemically processed your hair, a strand test is highly recommended.

Going greener series: Carpet cleaning

2011-09-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

As a family, we made the decision to go greener in our everyday lives. In my "going greener" series, I will share some of the ideas we have put into practice, and hopefully inspire someone out there to follow suit.

The first topic I want to discuss is near and dear to my heart: clean carpets. There is nothing that makes me crazy faster than a dirty floor (and with two kids and a dog, that is a big task!). Our home features quite a lot of carpet--so we run the house "Island style", that is, we remove our shoes at the door. We keep a large basket in the entryway that is the shoe dumping ground, which helps to keep the floors cleaner and makes it easy to locate shoes. Score!

Despite our best efforts, the floors still sometimes require a deeper cleaning than just good old vacuuming can fix. We own a carpet cleaner, and try to run it every few months--but this becomes a problem for several reasons: 1) Cleaning solution for this much carpet gets expensive, 2) Chemicals on my floors, which the kids and dog are exposed to, and 3) This requires us to dump detergents back into our water system.

So, as I noticed that our carpet was due for another deep cleaning, I began researching better alternatives to commercial cleaning products. Here is what I found:

Spot-cleaning: If you have a few dirty spots, but not enough to warrant a full-on carpet cleaning session. OR, if you want to pre-treat some spots before a deep-clean. Mix up a paste of baking soda and white vinegar (learn from my mistake--don't make it too watery! I ended up with crusty baking soda stuck to the carpet--though it came up with some gentle scraping), dab on the spot and scrub with a sponge or rag. Let dry and vacuum as normal.

Deep-cleaning: Instead of using chemical-laden detergents to clean your carpets, simply fill your carpet cleaning machine's clean water tank with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and hot water. Put your machine on the "water rinse only" option, and clean away.

Benefits: No chemicals on the floors, no soapy residue in the carpet (which can dry sticky, like soap scum, and attract dirt, making it harder to get rid of), no detergents being dumped, and it is super cost-effective! I cleaned the two largest carpeted areas of the house with one gallon of white vinegar--less than $3.00! Also, the vinegar does an amazing job of dissolving stains and neutralizing carpet odors (like that of a big stinky dog... *ahem*).

Drawbacks: Hot vinegar smell. It dissipates as the carpets dry, but there's no getting around it. I suggest saving this, if possible, for a nice day when you can open some windows. Regardless, it is better than smelling chemicals, and I find this a small price to pay for a cleaner, greener home!

Our Ghanian Family, an adoption fundraiser

2011-08-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

If you all could take a few minutes to visit the following blog: Our Ghanian Family

The Bigelow-Probst's are such a wonderful family (they are related to Preston, after all!), and this is such a beautiful cause. If you are in the Heber City, Utah area, there will be a benefit concert on August 22nd that will be great for all ages. You can find more information on the blog. If you can't make it to the concert, you can donate directly on the blog. Every little bit helps, and is so appreciated. Please feel free to share this with anyone you believe would be interested in helping.

God Bless!

Calli, Rhoda, Emmanuel and Isaac

Chunky monkey "ice cream"

2011-07-22T17:06:00.000-07:00

Who out there has seen that infomercial for "yonanas", the machine that turns frozen bananas into a healthy ice-cream substitute? Newsflash! If you have a blender, you don't need an appliance that is dedicated to making frozen banana purée! I have been freezing ripe bananas (just peel and stick in a freezer bag) for years for use in smoothies--they make them perfectly sweet and creamy and frosty. Just a little tip I picked up in the Army... ;)Anyhow, I saw the infomercial the other day and thought "Self, we could probably do that, and the kids would love it." And so, because it's Friday, and because it's hotter than the Devil's armpit... I did, and so did they.

Without further ado, ~~Casa~~ Cocina Ruiz presents:

Chunky monkey "ice cream"
You will need:
2 frozen, ripe bananas
Splash of milk (or soy milk, whatever your poison may be)
2 "fun sized" Snickers Squared
A blender
Cut banana and Snickers into small pieces. Toss into your blender, add a splash of milk, and give it a whirl--adding more milk, if necessary. Continue until desired consistency is achieved.
Now comes the hard part: do you eat it now, or put it into an airtight container and re-freeze for a firmer consistency? That's between you and your Maker. As for us, we ate it right then and there--though we were civilized enough to put it in bowls first, but just barely.

Yummy

PS--Hello readers! It's good to be back. I will update you on the comings and goings of the Ruiz family soon. Pinky swear.

One!

2011-03-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

Shakin' her thang

Miss Camdyn turned one over the weekend. We won't go into how utterly impossible it is that my baby girl is already a year old, or what this has done to my psyche. No, we won't go there...
Here are some quick Camdyn facts:

Camdyn is all girl. We often find her playing in the laundry, finding pretty articles and draping them over herself, uttering "oooh" at the effect. She also loves shoes, if she can't find someone to put them on her feet, she'll wear them on her hands.

Our little lady loves to dance. And she is pretty good at shakin' her groove thang.
Camdyn's number-one goal in life is to be near her brother. Whether she's aggravating him or not, she loves to be right next to him.

Camdyn sings herself to sleep. Every nap. Every night.
Camdyn loves to eat. Despite her itty-bitty stature, the lady loves to nibble on whatever she can find. If you grab a bite, you better be prepared to share.

Camdyn is vocal. Very vocal. She rarely leaves us guessing at what she wants. She also screeches; we're working on a more effective means of communication.

Camdyn loves Mommy just fine, but is a Daddy's girl through-and-through. She's even got his brown eyes--and she uses them to her advantage.
Camdyn loves gadgets. Give her a phone or let her type on your computer, and she'll be your best friend.

Happy first to our little Miss Bossy C. You bring so much light, laughter and fabulousness into our lives.

"Wearing" Mommy's shoes

Four

2010-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my sweet boy, Jaxon.

Some facts about the birthday boy:

Jaxon is very outgoing, and enjoys talking to anyone that will lend a listening ear.

Jaxon loves animals--especially his hound, Hendrix, and Grandma and Grandpa's cats.

Jaxon is very stubborn, he's a do-it-himselfer. He has a hard time asking for help, even if something is frustrating him.

Jaxon is all boy--he loves superheroes, cars, planes, trains and dirt.

Jaxon is very kind-hearted. When he sees a need, he tries to meet it.

Jaxon is very color-oriented. Ask him what his favorite color is, and he'll likely answer "turquoise" or "chartreuse".

Jaxon is a natural big brother. He has found his calling in life since his baby sister was born.

Jaxon has an amazing memory and an advanced sense of justice--don't think for a second you're going to get away with telling him he can do something, and forgetting.

Jaxon loves McDonald's. A lot.

Happy birthday, little man! I love you so very much.

Happenings

2010-11-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

Recently around Casa Ruiz...

...I hung out with Bumblebee and a sweet girl with (reluctantly!) a candy-corn headband. We had to explain to Jaxon that, when trick-or-treating, we don't need to let ourselves in others' houses. Taking the candy and saying "Thank you" is enough.

...my baby boy started Preschool. And he LOVES it!

...and my baby girl, well... she grew two teeth. Now she's ready for some steak and potatoes, she'll thank you kindly.

A Ruiz Family Photo

2010-10-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

Grandma Dina kindly snapped an improptu family photo for us yesterday during a quick trip to our hometown of Cottonwood, Arizona. Enjoy--us, in all our squinty glory!

Because where there's smoke, there's fire.

2010-09-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

*Vacuuming*
"What the..."

"What is that?"

*Searching the kitchen*

My darling son has been squirreling away corn dog sticks under his booster seat. I found 5--6 if you count the one that got stuck in the vacuum.

Anyone want to know how long that took him to amass such a respectable amount?

(Yeah, I don't either).

Anyone care to take bets on whether or not he has other stashes around the house?

Anyone impressed that I knew that if I found one, there'd be more?

Est. 2002

2010-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Preston and I celebrate our eighth Anniversary today. To get you all into the spirit of things, I thought I'd share some facts about us:

We had a science class together when I was a Freshman in High School, Preston was a Sophomore.
I thought he was cute. He ignored me. I dated another boy in the same class instead.
We had another class together a few years later. This time I was a Junior, Preston was a Senior. The class: Accounting.
I don't like Accounting, but I liked Preston.
I was dating someone else at the time.
Preston suddenly began to hang out in the Library during 3rd period, where I was a TA. I thought this was a lucky coincidence.
Preston doesn't like to read, but he liked me.
I tried to set Preston up with some of my friends.
I heard through the grapevine that Preston liked me and dumped my boyfriend the next day.
We officially started dating December 19, 2000.
Preston proposed the night I graduated from High School.
We eloped to Las Vegas 4 months later--just 6 weeks and a handful of days after I turned 18.
Preston was 19.
We'd gone to a Journey concert the night before.
♪♫Don't stop... believin'...♫
We originally intended to get married in Laughlin, but as it was a Sunday, the courthouse was closed. So we drove the extra hour or so and tried our luck in Vegas.
We were pulled over on the Nevada side of Hoover Dam on our way to Vegas.
We still don't know why we were pulled over. Could be because Preston drove a bright-orange car at the time with a fin on the back.
In his defense, The Fast and The Furious was big back then.
We were married in a small chapel near the courthouse. Preston's Mom was our witness.

I wore my prom dress, which happened to be white. Preston dressed in the suit he'd worn to prom as well.

We drove home that same day, but stopped off in Kingman to take pictures. We bought a tiny cake for the occasion.

We later moved to Las Vegas and had our son there.

I look back at those days and realize just how immature and silly we were, how crazy it was for two kids fresh out of High School to get hitched and attempt to cobble together a life with infant careers and no idea of the direction we wanted to go. The sum of our relationship was often greater than its parts in those early days, but here we are. It has been quite a ride; incredibly hard at times, but I wouldn’t change it. We’ve grown up together, learned some of life’s most difficult lessons, matured, and have gone from penniless small-town kids to successful adults with two beautiful children. I couldn’t ask for a finer husband, a better provider, or a more affectionate father for my children.

I doubt that anyone in the history of mankind has ever been so thankful for an Accounting class.

Silhouette project

2010-09-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

What I worked on last weekend:

close-up

Camdamnation

2010-07-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

Camdamnation [Kam-dam-ney-shuhn]

-interjection

A verbal exclamation and/or searing look from Camdyn letting the object of her irritation know just where they can stick it.

Related words and phrases:

Camdamned

Camdamnability

Camdamnable

Camdamned if you, Camdamned if you don't

Camdamnation in progress.

Father's Day

2010-06-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I love this man. A lot. And since it's Father's Day, that means you all get to hear why.

Partly because of this

...aaaaand this.

Also, because he puts up with my craziness. And my cooking. And he works hard for 10+ hours a day, goes to school full-time, and still finds the time to be an awesome husband and Daddy (he even changes diapers!). Because he comes home at the end of a long day, takes Camdyn and lets me have a few Mommy-free minutes. And because he doesn't complain if the house isn't sparkling clean every day, or if dinner isn't ready when he walks in the door. I love him because he looks past the baby vomit I wear and the fact that I don't always have time to get purty-fied for him, or even change out of pjs every day--and he still tells me I'm pretty. And also, he gives me and both of the kids a kiss every morning before he heads out the door (usually before 4:30, even though we're all still sleeping).

I asked Jaxon this morning to tell me why he loves his Daddy, and he had this to say:

"I take after my Dad."

Well, there you go. I would ask Camdyn why she loves her Daddy, but it's obvious. She loves him because he makes her laugh (and he changes her bottom).

Happy Father's Day, Preston! Thank you for being such a great Daddy, and for letting Jaxon take after you, I can't think of a better role model for our son.

And a Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there. To my Dad, who raised 5 girls and (finally) twin boys. To my Father-in-laws, Andy and Dale. To my Step-Father, Elmo. To my Grandfathers, Pop, Pop-Pop, Grandpa Lou and Grandpa Andy. To my Brothers-in-law, Will and Brent, Bryan and Jesse, and to my little brother, Shane. Also to the Uncles in our lives, whether they are still with us or not, you know who you are (and there are so many of you!). A big thank you to you all.

A riddle

2010-06-01T15:45:00.000-07:00

Q: What turns a couple of full-grown adults into complete nincompoops?

A:

As you can see, our little lady has finally burst the giggle bubble. She's been on the brink for a while now, but Preston pushed her over the edge last night. We have been acting like idiots ever since, just to hear her do it again.

3

2010-05-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

Almost exactly a year ago, something crazy happened. We call this phenomenon the "Willoughby fertile season", and all these months later--here is the result:

Korbin, Sawyer and Camdyn

Cute, huh?

What's that, you want to see more pictures? Well, you're the boss.

Mother's Day

2010-05-07T06:53:00.000-07:00

If you were to ask me what my favorite holiday is, without hesitation I would answer "Mother's Day", and not for the reason you may think (or maybe it is).

For many Mothers, today is their day to be celebrated... breakfast in bed, gifts... all to say "thanks" for a job well done at being a Mom. For me, Mother's Day is a day for me to celebrate the blessings of being a Mom.

For many years, we struggled with infertility. In fact, it took well over three years before we got a positive pregnancy test (one out of several dozen hopeful sticks). Three very difficult, heart wrenching years that took their emotional toll on both Preston and myself. I watched those Mother's Days go by with feelings of loss, anger, failure and helplessness. I tried not to focus on the unfairness of life; at the women around me that were able to conceive without planning it, and the women that had children they didn't want--that we had a loving home and the means to support a child, but empty arms.

We were never given any concrete answers on why it was so hard for us to conceive, one Doctor would give us this answer, another, that answer. PCOS, Endometriosis... we ran the gamut of issues. The most frustrating thing about infertility is that it is like fighting feathers, if there is no concrete diagnosis, there aren't many options but to "wait it out". Particularly when IVF is not feasible, and since our health insurance doesn't cover IVF, it wasn't.

When we did finally get that positive pregnancy test, instead of elation, I felt like a ticking time bomb. It seemed that, through others, we were constantly reminded of the fragility of a pregnancy. Everything went smoothly until the very end of the second trimester. At that time, during a routine ultrasound, they detected several abnormalities with our son that pointed toward some medical issues. We were sent to a Neonatologist 2-3 times a week every week for the duration of the pregnancy, where we watched and listened to our son with nervous anticipation for some indicator that he would, or would not, be okay. Again, we were fighting feathers--he was undiagnosed, an enigma. Would he be physically or mentally imperfect? Both? We were prepared to love him, but weren't sure what sort of special preparations we would need to make in order to care for him. We were suddenly facing frightening scenarios--would he need surgery on his bowels, his kidneys or his spine? It was fairly certain he would be born with some sort of a syndrome, although the medical team we were working with couldn't agree on which one. Would it be better to induce labor early? Or leave him in the womb as long as possible? Should an amniocentesis be performed, or is the risk of provoking labor too high? And so it went for endless weeks... ultrasounds and fetal monitoring and genetic counseling. Finally, it was determined that a c-section would be the safest method of delivery, and so one was scheduled for just a few days before my due date. Fingers were crossed that all would go well.

Our son accommodated all the planning, and was born on schedule. I got a fleeting glimpse of a beautiful, angry round face before he was whisked away to the NICU by his medical team, where he was tested and poked and prodded. Six long hours later, he was deemed too healthy to be in the NICU and discharged to our room. The Doctors kept us in the Hospital a full five days, undoubtedly searching for any signs of abnormality. They finally let us take him home, though--our perfect, perfectly healthy, baby boy.

When Jaxon hit about 10 months old, we decided to give pregnancy another shot. We had heard that it was sometimes easier for couples experiencing infertility to conceive right away after a successful pregnancy. A year later, we were somewhat surprised to come home from a Hawaiian vacation to a positive test. The early pregnancy, once again, was easy. Then, at about 9 weeks--things went badly. It took a full week of tests and ultrasounds and plenty of emotional ups and downs before it was confirmed that the pregnancy was over. I was devastated, angry and hurt--why, after all the difficulties we had already experienced, did we have to deal with this? We were blessed, however, to have so many wonderful people around us that had walked that path already. We were eventually able to move on with the attitude that, while another child would be welcome, we were blessed already--and Jaxon could be enough for us.

We conceived again the same week our second baby would have been due, and were blessed with a healthy baby girl just a few short weeks ago.

And so, Mother's Day is a day that I give thanks for being blessed after so many struggles. I'm grateful that today is such a sweet day for me, but I will never forget how much sadness this holiday used to bring. I got my heart's wish, but there are so many women out there that continue to struggle with the same devastation. And so, I want to wish everyone a happy Mother's Day--those that are Mothers in the traditional sense, future Mothers, those that wish to be Mothers, and those that take on the role of Mother--the single Fathers, the Aunties... everyone who has ever loved or cared for a child like it was their own, everyone that has the heart of a Mother.

Happy Mother's Day.

Peepers

2010-04-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

Accessorizin' like nobodies business

Siblings, a pictorial

2010-04-21T07:21:00.001-07:00

In memoriam: a celebration

2010-04-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

After a long and difficult battle with cancer, Preston's Uncle Ray passed away shortly after Midnight Thursday, April 1st.

(Notice the pink Dora the Explorer hat?)

Uncle Ray has a special place in our hearts. He was one of a kind: a real maverick, a family man, an accomplished outdoorsman, an avid fisherman, a tough guy with a heart of gold. Uncle Ray's big heart extended not only to his own children (all of whom I know he thought the world of), but to any of those around him. If there was a small one around, you could bet that Uncle Ray would have them befriended within a few minutes and either in his arms or engrossed in a rowdy game. Uncle Ray lived for the moment, and part of the fun of being around him was getting to know his great sense of humor and enjoying his spontaneity. I will never tire of hearing other people's memories of him.

With his children

Uncle Ray had such an enthusiasm for life, and lived his in a way that is worth celebrating. If you have any great memories of Uncle Ray, please feel free to leave a comment or link to your own blog.

If you would like to make a donation to help the family with Uncle Ray's final expenses, please email me at hthr_rz@yahoo.com

My favorite memory: While still living in Vegas, we took a trip to the Cottonwood area to visit the family. One afternoon, we all met at Uncle Ray's house. We spent the day enjoying the back yard--Preston took Jaxon for a ride on the quad (Uncle Ray had built up a little dirt track for him and Russell and Ashley to enjoy), and the kids had a good time chasing Uncle Ray's three pigs around. Jaxon was 10 months old, and spent the majority of the time being toted around by all the family members. Once Uncle Ray got a hold of him, they took off chasing one of the pigs around the yard, Uncle Ray ran in a half-crouch, holding Jaxon out in front of him, close to the ground, so he could get a good look at the pigs. I don't know which of them laughed harder, or who was having more fun. The game ended, though, when Uncle Ray decided to try to get Jaxon to ride a pig, which promptly scared the ever living daylights out of both the pig and Jaxon--and made Jaxon cry.

Making friends again

Reporting from the hospital

2010-03-13T14:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the world, Camdyn Yvonne Ruiz!

8 lbs, 12 oz

20.9 in

12:35 PM Friday, March 12th 2010

Camdyn Yvonne

2010-03-12T14:40:00.000-08:00

Featherings

2010-03-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

When faced with the imminent arrival of a new family member, many mothers feel the urge to "nest", which is usually a frenzy of cleaning the baseboards with bleach and and scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush.

I, however, preferred this time to "feather my nest". Perhaps because my husband made the mistake of buying me a sewing machine.

Mistake, I say, because the poor man has been living in a veritable landmine of fabric and buttons and snowdrifts of clipped thread.

Behold: the fruits of my labor.

The drawer-pull hanging pegs (for Camdyn's room). Actually, this was just my idea--Preston made it happen (because it involved power tools, which I'm not quite trusted with yet). Very cute, he did a good job.

"Treasure pouches"--I made 8, one for each of my older nieces and nephews and one for Jaxon (there are 7 pictured because he took off with his the moment it was finished). There are poly pellets in each pouch and several little treasures they can find by squishing them around. The laminated name cards have a list of all the treasures printed on the back. Make sense?

"Busy blanket and loveys"--one large blanket and four small crinkly loveys. I originally made the blanket-size, and decided that I also wanted to make some smaller loveys. I did the google (did anyone get that reference?) and found a nifty trick to make them "crinkley"--that is, noisy, and made one for each of my small nephews and niece, and a small one for Camdyn. They have different sized and textured ribbons attached around the edges to keep little fingers busy, and I added a paci holder for the boys, and linkadoos to a corner on each small lovey so they can be attached to a stroller or car seat. These turned out really cute.

Last but not least, a large minky blanket (my genius on this one? The felt flowers are removable so I can wash the blanket without worrying about their colors running!) and two stuffed felt teething purses (which I'm most proud of because I think they turned out really adorable--the handles are linkadoos--and as far as I know, this is a Heather original). Aren't they fabulous?

I have a few other projects in mind, but they're going to have to wait...

Again!

2010-03-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

Another broken wrist, at least this time the splint isn't so Pterodactyl-y.

Fuzzy Slipper Friday--the early morning edition

2010-01-29T04:32:00.001-08:00

The really, really, really early morning edition. Now with extra-puffy feet!

Sneak peek

2010-01-23T15:30:00.001-08:00

We had a 4-D ultrasound this morning of Miss Camdyn Yvonne. 8 more weeks to go! There are 62 pictures, so I dumped them all into a photo album in facebook. Quite a few turned out amazingly well, despite the little wiggle worm's refusal to hold still. And yes, she's still a girl! We celebrated by hitting a few baby stores on the way home to pick up some more pink.

Don't have a facebook account? No problem, they're kind enough to provide a public link so everyone can enjoy! Click here to view the rest of the set.

"Five Sense"

2010-01-20T16:14:00.000-08:00

Shamelessly snagged from Angela's blog.

My best bloggy friend, Angela, has challenged those of us that read her blog to give our "five sense" about being a homemaker. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading Angela's blog yet, you should swing by and check it out. Aside from being adorable and having an adorable family to match, Angela happens to be one of the most inspirational and creative people I have had the pleasure of meeting (well, maybe not in person--yet).
To see what the challenge is all about, what prize is at stake (and to say "Hi" to Angela!), visit her blog by clicking here.
So...
Here are my "five sense":

1. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.
My number one must-have cleaning product, these little suckers are just plain amazing. I have yet to find something (that isn't on my child) they will not remove, and with a husband, three-year old, and a dog--that's saying something. Crayon on the table? It cleans that right up. Stubborn soap scum on the shower floor? It takes care of that, too. Mystery stain on the tile? Done. I nearly panic when I'm down to my last eraser.

2. Dinner Time
With a husband that puts in long hours at work, goes to school, and has a long commute--family time, particularly during the week, is at a premium. We make an effort to sit down together and eat as a family when we can (which, I'm happy to say is more often that not!). Even if we're chowing on some delivery pizza before Preston has to crack open the books to study, it makes a real difference to have those uninterrupted moments at the table so we can share how our day went, enjoy Jaxon's stories--and just be a family before the hubub of the evening (baths, bedtime routines) begin.

3. The Y
My sanity, my saving grace--I cannot say enough wonderful things about the YMCA. If you have a Y close to you, and you aren't a member--you should seriously consider it. For a very low monthly fee we get two hours of childcare a day so that we can work out. In addition, ours boasts a hot tub, a pool with a kiddie area (I imagine most have a pool), plus there are lots of opportunities to take classes and participate in family events. It's a win-win situation, the kids get some time away from Mom, Mom gets time away from the house--and nothing busts stress faster than a good turn at the stair stepper or the ab machine of doom. Admittedly, we haven't been much in the last few months--but I honestly can't wait to jump back into a workout routine once Miss C is born!

4. Keep it Simple
As a work-at-home Mom that frequently puts in upwards of 6 hours of work time a day, I don't have near as much time for housekeeping as I used to. I try to compensate with simple solutions--I keep a canister of Lysol wipes in each of the bathrooms and in the kitchen to help keep things clean in between proper (weekend) cleanings. We also utilize baskets and bins so Jaxon can keep his own room and play room clean, a basket by the front door to catch everyone's shoes as they come in, and hooks on the wall by the garage door to catch bags and purses as we come home from grocery shopping. All these solutions keep the mess and clutter under control until I have more time to take care of it properly.

5. My camera
...and a sense of humor. When all else fails me, I try to remember that there will be a day that I will miss all of this insanity--a day when my house is immaculate, and too, too quiet. So when Jaxon uses latex paint to decorate the kitchen floor, or Hendrix comes in the house covered in mud--I try to remember to take a picture so I can laugh later, and keep it in perspective. After all, there's a reason the good Lord made little boys (and hounds) washable!

Jaxon-approved

2010-01-20T07:16:00.000-08:00

In an effort to introduce Jaxon to new, and healthier, foods--I have been playing with his favorites and making them healthier. Here are two of our newest favorites:

Banana Berry Yogurt Sundae (or "Monkey Sundaes")

1 portion fat-free vanilla yogurt

1 graham cracker (plain or cinnamon, whatever you prefer!), crushed

A generous handful of fresh blueberries

1/2 banana, sliced

Scoop yogurt into a bowl, add (washed and dried) blueberries and sliced banana. Top with crushed graham cracker and enjoy! Note that if you're making this as a snack, it makes a fairly generous portion. You may want to share with the little one in your life.

Waffles "ala mode"

1 whole-grain waffle or 1 1/2 if you're me (Nutrigrain and Kashi make wonderful frozen waffles)

Fruit spread (just fruit, sugar free--we like seedless blackberry around here)

Vanilla greek-style yogurt (fat free)

Toast waffle to your liking, add a generous amount of fruit spread and top with a dollop of greek yogurt. Devour warm.

A Merry Recap

2009-12-25T15:31:00.000-08:00

The Ruiz family's yuletide celebrations began last night with the annual opening of the pjs--which I forgot to take pictures of (but trust me, it was great). Donning our new flannels (sexy!), we commenced cookie-making (in which I opted for pre-made, break-apart cookies--I have no shame), which I also forgot to take pictures of (but the sprinkle application was superb). 15 minutes later, we enjoyed warm cookies and milk. You're in luck, I remembered to take pictures of that part:

(But just of Jaxon, because raise your hand if you want to see me eating a cookie. I didn't think so).
By the way, the cookies were delicious.

Really, seriously delicious.

Then Jaxon hung Santa's key outside (since we don't have a fireplace, we have a magic key--obviously).
And came in for one last photo op before bed.

(It isn't his fault that he's really ridiculously good looking).

And were we up bright and early Christmas morning?

Er, no. (And don't tell me how offended you are by the unpainted, yet taped, white hallway--because, me too).
But Jaxon was finally wrested from bed, and behold:

Santa did come.

Obviously pleased, Jaxon (and Hendrix) got down the the business of unwrapping the loot.

(Pleased)

And so it went on for a while, until under the tree was empty and the family room was full of paper.

Old

2009-12-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy BIRTHDAY to you!

Happy BIRTHDAY, dear Preston...

Happy BIRTHDAY to you!

Thanks, Aunt Ness, Uncle Bryan and cousin Adrian!

2009-12-01T19:25:00.000-08:00

Ness: I got your message today, and tried to call back--but we live in an apparent cellular black hole that wouldn't let me call out. I sent a text, but am not sure if that even made it out. We did indeed recieve your package, and I thought I'd post the following pictures:

Jaxon loves the books and helmet. He's a very good police officer, and is indeed making not only his Mom, but Hendrix bonkers. You know your nephew well (in fact, Santa is going to return the very same helmet back to Toys R Us this weekend--you and Santa apparently have the same taste!). The books even caused some controversy between Jaxon and Amanda, since Jaxon is new to the concept of sharing.
Thank you, Aunt Ness, Uncle Bryan and cousin Adrian (and little unnamed)! We love and miss all of you!

Thankful

2009-11-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

There are so many things I'm thankful for, but right now--I'm mostly thankful that I didn't burn dinner, and that I have a wonderful husband that washed the dishes.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Ruiz family.

Best maternity shirt evah.

2009-11-19T07:11:00.000-08:00

This tank top almost makes me sad that summer is over.

Baby HTML maternity shirt found here at My Baby Rocks.

Happy Third!

2009-11-11T06:54:00.001-08:00

Three years ago, this was me:

...chipmunk-faced, and on morphine.

And this is why:

I know I've posted this picture before, but it's my favorite. I call it "Proud Daddy, BIG baby"

I thought we'd change things up a bit and let the birthday boy speak for himself this morning in a little "getting to know you" interview.

Mommy: Jaxon, what is your favorite food?

Jaxon: Nooooo

Mommy: Do you have favorite cartoon?

Jaxon: No, I don't want cartoons

Mommy: Do you have a favorite movie?

Jaxon: No, I don't have movies. I don't have nothing to watch.

Mommy: Jaxon, what's your favorite color?

Jaxon: I want Blue's Clues.

Mommy: Do you have a favorite toy?

Jaxon: A DVD

Mommy: Who's your best friend?

Jaxon: Trike, it's not Hendrix

Well, that didn't go as planned. Trike is his dinosaur (thanks Aunt Tara, Uncle Will, Landon, Tristan and Avery!)--and he does have toys other than a DVD, which he isn't allowed to play with.

Happy Birthday to my little boy, who is growing up so fast!

Trying to work out "three" on his fingers.

Greyhound

2009-11-06T06:44:00.000-08:00

...now available in convenient tri-fold design for easy storage.

Gentleman

2009-11-05T06:09:00.000-08:00

Jaxon has recently become interested in that novel form of greeting: the handshake.

Last night, he offered his hand to Preston, and while giving his best handshake and million-dollar grin, said:

"Nice to beat you, Dad."

Dictionary of Jaxon

2009-11-04T12:49:00.000-08:00

"Rhinoculars"

"Nignog"

Hot off the press (straight from the OB)

2009-10-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that Baby C is a...

My interpretation of the above ultrasound: Two thighs, and the word "GIRL" pasted where the dangly bits would go if she were a he. (And, boy howdy, do ultrasounds do funny things to babies--where are the rest of her legs?)

Ol' Blue

2009-10-01T07:23:00.000-07:00

Jaxon visited the Orthopedist yesterday and after many, many, many tears... he is now wingless, and sports a sleek, streamlined blue cast (the gentlemen that put the cast on chose the color, as Jaxon was in no mood to care what color of material they were going to "hurt" him with). He slept much better last night, and didn't even require a dose of Tylenol until he woke up this morning, that's how bad his cast hurts him. He will be the owner of this new weapon for 3-4 weeks, then we will go back to Dr. Hurts-Jaxon-Alot and have his arm amputated. Without anesthesia. And Jaxon will not get a sucker, two stickers and a little plastic alien when it's all said and done.

A Pterodactyl no more.

Pterodactyl

2009-09-29T16:42:00.000-07:00

He couldn't listen, he wouldn't listen. Countless hours of my life have been devoted to telling Mr. Jaxon Robert that if he does not stop jumping on the couches right now, he will bonk his head, hurt his arm, hurt Hendrix, break his toy, make me crazy, get sent to time out... etc.

And today was the day that Madame Mommy's direst of predictions came true (well, not direst--if that's even a word, and I daresay it probably isn't). Jaxon fell off the couch, and broke his fall with his arm, which also... well

broke

Looks sad, huh? I know, I can't even gloat properly (that I was right, and he should have listened), it's that pitiful. Despite the pterodactyl-like bulk of the splint, it is a single fracture right above his wrist. He'll get a (less enormous) cast (hopefully) tomorrow.

Lucky 7

2009-09-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago today, I married my High School sweetheart, best friend and Price Charming, Preston. Like any good fairy tale, we have had our fair share of challenges.
(Not the least of which includes potty training a two-year-old and housebreaking a Greyhound).

But after all these years, we're still living happily ever after.
Happy anniversary, babe. I love you more than you know.

The right way to start your day

2009-09-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

Like many of us, Jaxon enjoys a fresh pastry and a little reading to get his morning going.

FYI

2009-09-08T16:25:00.000-07:00

Jaxon takes bed nesting to a whole new dimension.

For you folks out there that have had the joy of experiencing Mr. Jaxon Robert at bedtime, you know that he has meticulously catalogued each and every beloved item--and, if they are not already in his crib, he will ask for them one by one until everything is in it's place (he has a filing system that has yet to be cracked by the code breakers, but we're working on it).

For those of you unfamiliar with bedtime... behold:

Not even I was aware of the extent of this toddler OCD until this afternoon, when upon thinking to myself "Self, this is an important (read: time consuming) ordeal in the Ruiz household, you should share it with the world"--I snapped this picture, and realizing that photographic evidence doesn't begin to do justice to the mound of hidden toys under toys, I decided to pull each item out, one by one, and make you all a list.

One sippy cup of water
One pillow
One Wall-E blanket
Two baby dolls
Four books
Four Hot Wheels Cars
One Hot Wheels Airplane
Two Action Figures (Iron Man and Iron Monger)
Three plastic bugs (grasshopper, ant and spider)
Eleven stuffed animals
One Jaxon

Even I'm shocked.

12

2009-09-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Las noticias el bebé (also titled "In which I again demonstrate my favorite super power*").

2009-08-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

It's been well noted that I have been gone for a while. And well, I have a good reason.

Really. Because it's hard to find the humor in everyday life when you're hung over the toilet, vomiting.

Ruiz bebé número dos is due mid-March 2010.

*My favorite super power? Growing people. *Nods head* Totally.

Letter to the Blogger

2009-07-24T22:27:00.000-07:00

Oh, I've been meaning to send you a "Letter to the Blogger" to ask you how
your fish are doing considering the frog invasion of 2009? And what their
official stance is regarding Amphibians? :P And if Quasi would ever consider
plastic surgery?

Dear Reader,
First of all, I would like to thank you for your inquiry. Secondly, I would like to apologize for the wonky format in which Blogger has decided to display your inquiry. I have tried to fix the formatting, but alas--Blogger's rhyme and reason to formatting eludes me yet.
To answer your questions, Fish 1, 2 and Quasi have released an official comment regarding items one and two (that is, how they are doing and their official stance re: Amphibians).

Bloop bloop bloopity bloopbloop.

(cheesy translation voice over): We are at this time safe behind the walls of our BPA-rich orange plastic environment, and the frogs have yet to cross into our physical territory. Preventative measures are being taken, however, in the form of multiple 3-day time release food tablets and stockpiles of orange rocks (for therapeutic stacking purposes). We are prepared to negotiate with these amphibians regarding the amount of human time they shall recieve, but since the very nature of amphibians suggests an inability to commit to one thing or another (water or land, for example), we are not holding our breath. (Because we don't have to, we're fish).

Quasimodo's Lawyer and Publicist have collaborated on the following statement regarding the possibility of Quasi's "reconstructive" surgery:

We can confirm that Mr. Quasimodo has indeed looked into the possibilty of medically enhancing his image. However, at the time of publication, his HMO has most unfortunately denied all proposed procedures on the unjust grounds that any attempts to remove his tumor would be for purely cosmetic reasons, and therefore medically unnecessary. Rest assured that we are in the process of filing an appeal with the HMO. As a fish in the blog industry, Mr. Quasimodo relies on his image a great deal. If he becomes unable to work because of his unfortunate malformation, he will likely spend the remainder of his days in a deep, dark depression with only therapeutic rock arranging to spur on his pathetic will to live.

I hope these statements have answered your questions, dear Reader. And please, keep reading.

Until next time,
Heather

A man's gotta do...

2009-07-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Jaxon announced that he was tired, dragged his pillow and blanket out, and proceeded to fall

fast asleep.

PS-love the green wall Preston and I spent last Saturday working on? Me too!

FSF, the un-fuzzy slipper edition

2009-07-17T07:31:00.001-07:00

In fact, this post has nothing to do with footwear. It's just too darn hot for anything fuzzy or slipper-like.

... but check out what Jaxon and I enjoyed for breakfast.

Happy Friday, folks!

Lost and found

2009-07-14T05:16:00.000-07:00

I ran across this picture Sunday on the old desktop and thought I'd share...

...me, a little over three weeks before this came along:

Happy Birthdays!

2009-07-13T07:12:00.001-07:00

These two ladies have a special place in my heart--they are my sisters. Jen (top) celebrated a birthday on Saturday. Ness (bottom) celebrates her birthday today (or yesterday, as she is in Korea with her adorable family).

Much love to both of you girls!

Frog fest!

2009-07-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

Word is getting out that the Ruiz household is a veritable smorgasbord of buggy treats.

Like a fish

2009-07-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, while I was working in the living room, Jaxon requested to watch "Wallace and Gromit" in the family room. Eager to skip more Wallace and Gromit (although I love them--we have watched "The Curse of the Were Rabbit" several dozen times in the last few weeks), I conceeded to his request.
Minutes into the movie, I heard the unmistakable sound of two-year-old feet hitting leather repeatedly.
"Jaxon," I yelled into the family room, "You better quit jumping on the couch, or I'm going to turn off the movie." And just like that, (and so unlike my son), the sounds stopped. Pleased with myself (and my son's apparently sudden attack of listening), I got back to work.
I was interrupted a moment later by the padding of those same two-year-old feet through the kitchen. Jaxon stopped a few feet away from myself and announced, in a very matter-of-fact manner:
"Mom, I'm not jumping on the couch. I'm flopping around like a fish to get sweaty."

Well if that's the case son, do carry on.

Kermie

2009-07-05T22:46:00.001-07:00

We have been hosting a summertime visitor. A very large, amphibious, bug-eating summertime visitor. A visitor that leaves "presents" on the front porch that could have been left by a chihuahua. Meet Kermie.

Declaration

2009-07-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day from the family Ruiz. May we always remember the brave men that took the first steps in creating our great nation, and the brave men and women that protect our freedom each and every day.

Time-Lapse

2009-07-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

You know what this means, don't you?

My Mommy imagination is already picturing the ER trips...

Gather 'round!

2009-06-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

After months of staring at a tiny, unused mini green and white potty exactly like the one above
a few weeks of fiddling around
one week of serious, getting-down-to-business
and only three accidents;

I am ready to declare that Mr. Jaxon Robert Ruiz is officially, certifiably

Potty Trained!

Today, the potty. Tomorrow, the world.

FSF--The Angela Edition

2009-06-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

...because you should always humor a pregnant woman.

Congratulations Ang, Mike and Caleb!!!

Boys will be boys

2009-06-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

On occasion, Jaxon enjoys a shower.

By my calculations, that's about half a can of shaving cream divided between my son and the shower walls.

On occasion, Jaxon enjoys a shower with Daddy.

In your eye! That'll teach him.
If they weren't so cute... I don't know what I'd do with them.

On occasion, Jaxon and Daddy enjoy a shower too much.

What say you? Updated.

2009-06-22T18:48:00.001-07:00

See?

Why yes, I did spend a ridiculous amount of time on this.
Preston, the gauntlet has been thrown. Feel free to prove your own point.

What say you?

2009-06-22T07:25:00.001-07:00

Preston thinks Hendrix looks like that Hyena from the Lion King.

But I see Stitch.

Readers? Weigh in.

Whodunit, a mostly-true story

2009-06-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

3 months ago:
Hendrix begins plotting.

2 months ago:
Hendrix begins digging a secret tunnel under his kennel. (Yes, it took him that long to decide to dig).

3 days ago:
Hendrix completes his tunnel complex.

Yesterday:
After the family returns from the gym and eats lunch, they unjustly re-kennel Hendrix for the duration of "nap time". He decides to take matters into his own ~~hands~~ er, paws.
Hendrix quietly slides back the tunnel complex's secret entrance and army-crawls his way to the kitchen, exiting through a concealed opening in the island. Silently, he stalks over to the alarm keypad. After a quick glance to make sure nobody is watching, he supports himself on his back legs so he can nose the silent "holdup" alarm--which nobody even knew existed.
"Help!" he furiously taps out in Morse code, "They do not play fetch with me and there are no more chewies left. I have eaten all the squeakers out of my toys. Send help."
His work done, he dashes back through the island entrance and retreats to his kennel, obscuring all evidence of his escape.

Meanwhile
The family is fast asleep, unaware of the defection occurring just yards away. They are suddenly awakened by the doorbell. Curious, as there are no scheduled visitors today (and that is usually the only sort they have). Father is getting out of bed, grumbling. At that precise moment, Mother spots a suspicious shadow slinking by the bedroom window, followed quickly by another. "Honey," she whispers, "there is somebody in the back yard!"

Back in the kennel
Hendrix's supersonic hound dog ears pick up the vibrations of large wheels on asphalt moments before the doorbell even rings. He tenses, expectant. They have come to rescue him!

In the living room
Sporting his pajamas and a fluffy bed-head hairstyle, Father greets two uniformed Sheriff's Officers at the back door. Seeing that he appears as confused as they are as to why they were called to the house, they come in, ask a few investigatory questions, and proceed through to the front of the house to open the front door, revealing two squad cars, a firetruck and three strapping firefighters.
Mother walks out, squealing in delight. "Why, darling! This is the best early birthday present ever! Did you remember to pick up some ones?" She flits off to Jaxon's room.
Still in a sleepy stupor, Father explains that the family has recently installed an alarm system and it is apparently acting up all on its own. The officers and firefighters accept the story and leave nearly as quickly as they came.
Mother sheepishly shoves a large wad of dollar bills back into Jaxon's piggy bank.

In the kennel
Hendrix's ears droop as he listens to the fading sound of boots on gravel. His would-be rescuers have failed him. He is left alone, chewy-less and with nothing but time on his ~~hands~~ er, paws. He forlornly adds another hatch-mark to the side of the dryer and begins his plotting anew...

Itty-bitty tighty-whitey hiney

2009-06-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

...playing in the dog's food.

Drama

2009-06-18T07:09:00.001-07:00

Have you found yourself wondering why the list of Jaxon's nicknames includes "Drama"?
Well. Let me tell you.

Some of this week's examples (and it's only Thursday!):
During a Doctor's visit over the weekend, we were called in to the triage room to have Jaxon weighed and have his temperature taken (you know, the usual stuff). The nurse politely asked Jaxon to step on the scale. Jaxon replied by gelatinizing himself into a puddle on the floor and screaming "Ouch!!! It HURTS!" I then scooped him up, deposited him on the scale long enough to register his weight, and plopped him in a chair. Jaxon calmed down just in time for the thermometer of DOOM to be introduced to his ear, which apparently hurts so bad that it warranted not one, but two "suckards" [suckers] from another nurse, who in my opinion, is exactly that (a sucker) for giving them to Jaxon in the first place. As soon as the suckers appeared, Jaxon's crocodile tears miraculously disappeared.

Jaxon woke up with a scratch on his ankle the other morning. I asked him what happened to his foot, and he replied (without a second's hesitation) that Hendrix bit him. Never mind that Hendrix hadn't even been out of his kennel yet that morning.
Later the same day, Jaxon's story changed. Hendrix had scratched him.
And by the evening, Hendrix had stabbed him.

He makes my life so much more interesting.

Sorry guys, he didn't come with an "edit" button

2009-06-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

We stopped off for a family lunch of pizza Sunday afternoon. After enjoying our meal, Jaxon opted to go to the restroom with Preston while I waited for them at the table. After several minutes, I began to wonder if I should peek my head in the restroom and offer some assistance or advice (Jaxon's curiosity can be downright tenacious). Just as I was really beginning to worry, I heard the unmistakable pitter-patter of excited toddler feet. Jaxon's precious blond head was just rounding the corner when he stopped, eyes shining, and announced loud enough for everyone to hear:
"Mommy, I went pee in the toilet!"

He received many congratulations from our fellow diners and staff.

Happy 17th, and repeat!

2009-06-12T06:41:00.000-07:00

This post is a day late, and I apologize.

For those of you who don't know, these are my baby brothers. Shawn (on the left) and Shane (er... right)--or switch that around, I'm not sure. Those are Cheetos stuck in Shawn's ears and the same in Shane's nose--or switch that around, I'm still not sure. Either way, that's just how they roll. This picture is a few years old, but it will always be one of my favorites.

Dear "Bubba" and "Buddy",
I can't believe you two are turning 17. It seems like just yesterday Tara and I were walking to school, excitedly chatting about Mom's newest pregnancy... and how we were sure that this was "the one". As you've probably been told, Nan "predicted" your birth years before you were ever thought of. So, you know, we were forewarned that twin boys were in our future. Sure enough, it was you two. My baby brothers, long waited for after the gaggle of us girls came along... and much doted on. I still remember when you two came home from the hospital. Shane, with your crazy fuzzy noggin... and Shawn, with your serious crew-cut. We worried that we wouldn't be able to tell you apart, but it didn't end up being such a problem after all.
I remember a lot about you two growing up. The bumps, bruises and breaks. Tara and I quickly rubbing lotion on your poor little eczema'd bodies every night in front of the heater while you cried, the t-ball games and finally, baseball... things like that. You two have always been the apples of this family's eyes.
And now you're growing up. Headed toward the last year of High School and many great things beyond.
We're proud of you two, and all the things you've accomplished, and all the things you've yet to accomplish.

Love,
your big (yes big, I don't care how much taller you two get) sister
"Hoho"

Lonely?

2009-06-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

May I suggest:

You can purchase a "Life Size Greyhound crochet pattern" at Aerie Designs Etsy Shop. For the bargain price of $5.00, you can have all the perks of tripping over a big lump of dog, without having to feed him twice a day.

Brilliant!

I seem to have caused some confusion. I should clarify: the above pictures are from the Aerie Designs Etsy website, not my house. As if I were cool enough to crochet a 3-foot-long dog. Also, the $5.00 price tag is for the crochet design, not the actual dog.

Naughty, naughty!

2009-06-07T16:56:00.001-07:00

..and he's not even looking apologetic. It could be that he knows if Mom has a camera, she secretly thinks it's funny, but Daddy is going to be upset when he sees that his precious pool table is being defiled.

Big dreams

2009-06-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

...little bike

It's gonna be a long ride to the Superbike World Championship, buddy.

Child Safety...

2009-05-31T13:58:00.001-07:00

Fail

Battle chicken

2009-05-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy month again in Casa Ruiz, and so this post is a week late...

After eating a perfectly balanced meal of a roll, Jaxon protests his parent's insistence that he eat a superfluous portion of chicken. By trying to saw his way outside.

Sit around here long enough...

2009-05-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

And Jaxon tries to bury you in.

The ottoman. And two pillows, a cup, a blanket, dog chew, book and two vacuum attachments.

Happy Birthday, Deb!

2009-05-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

Deb is a fairly new addition to our family, she and my Dad married a little over two years ago. Deb is a wonderful mother, step-mother, grandmother and teacher. She is very patient, loving and has a good sense of humor (all of which comes in handy when dealing with my Dad!). Deb is an amazing crafter, turning out adorable things that should be sold in glossy magazines, and is also (I hear) a very talented piano player.

Deb,

I wanted to thank you for letting us get to know you these last few years. It has been wonderful to live so close to you, Dad, and your daughters. We've enjoyed "dropping in" to visit (and let Jaxon play with all the toys) and appreciate being invited over for Holiday celebrations.

Happy (belated) birthday, Deb! We hope that this year brings many new blessings (I know of two that are due very soon!) and much more joy and laughter.

Love,

Heather

Shiver me timbers!

2009-05-16T22:33:00.000-07:00

"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

We're beggars and blighters, ne'er-do-well cads,

Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.

Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,

Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho."

-"Yo Ho" lyrics by Xavier Atencio

There's been another pirate invasion at the Ruiz household. Captain Fuzzy Nog struck again last week, although Boson Hendrix (the scurvy sea dog) was nowhere to be found--presumably, he was conducting his own raid on the biscuits in the pantry. [Or sleeping in a biscuit-drunk stupor in the lower right-hand corner... many thanks to eagle-eyed Angela!]
Lest you miss a single detail of this fabulous piratey get-up, Captain Fuzzy Nog steps out onto the red (er, brown) carpet wearing a foam pirate hat designed by Michael's, sparkly conductor's hat sticker on his forehead (a tattoo? Or perhaps extra sun protection), a sparkly lantern sticker in place of an eye patch (which, as with most fashionable accessories, is more glitz and glamor than form and function) and sporting an uber-piratey parrot (who has apparently consumed too much of ye olde grog, if you know what I mean).

Suddenly, we're getting strange looks from the neighbors

2009-05-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

Graduation, the belated pictorial

2009-05-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Shawn, goofing off

Shane and Deanna posed for the camera

Discussing the possibility that Preston was lying about graduating...

Waiting for Uncle to come out.

Excited to see Daddy!

Family, row one...

Family, row two...

Men (and ladies) in kilts!

Gratuitous snuggling.

Preston's presumably somewhere in there.

Preston receiving his ~~UoP propaganda~~ "diploma". I think.

Preston is the black dot walking down the stairs. I think. Telescopic lens, anyone?

And then we all ate lunch together and Auntie played peek-a-boo with Miss A.

The End.

No pictures of the graduate in, er, graduation gear are available at this time--as it was apparently too bloody hot to keep the cap and gown on long enough to find the official photographer (ahem--me) for proper documentation. Preston has, however, agreed to re-enact the graduation "as soon as he has time". I will be passing around an online petition for reenactment soon.

Preston the Bachelor?

2009-05-08T07:11:00.000-07:00

This happens tomorrow, and I wanted to both congratulate Preston on his achievement... and brag about him a little.
Preston has put so much work into his degree--and never dropped the ball with work or at home. There were countless nights that I have gone to bed, leaving him sitting at the kitchen table, surrounded by books and with no company other than the glow of a computer screen. And he never complained once about being in school, even if I did. Also, Preston has never brought home less than a B in any of his classes--and even those have been few and far between. As with everything else in his life, Preston has been passionate about his schooling, and has once again excelled.
Congratulations, baby! I'm proud of you.

If you plan on being at the ceremony tomorrow morning, and haven't received the parking information yet, email me at hthr_rz@yahoo.com and I will forward on the information.

I've heard of skorts, but this is ridiculous

2009-04-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

So what happens when Jaxon decides to take his shorts off in the morning?

...

Why, he puts them back on, of course!

Uh-huh. I know, it's almost like he knew I am in a blog rut.

Thanks for putting your dignity on the line there, little buddy.

Seriously

2009-04-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

Who could love this dog more?

Happy Fuzzy Slipper Friday!

Things you didn't know you missed knowing

2009-04-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

I realized I have been remiss in introducing you, my readers, to the ongoing Eco project I like to call bacterial farming.
Or the fish tank, whichever you prefer.

Here are the fish--1, 2 and Quasimodo (so named for his tumor), swimming happily in the BPA-rich environment Preston picked out. We took great care in arranging the orange rocks in a natural formation and distributing the plastic vegetation substitutes on either side of the tank as well as placing the large, noisy pump directly in the middle of the largest flat surface--all to satisfy the laws of Feng Shui. Zen achieved!

Upon sensing a change in atmospheric pressure, or seeing a form (human, canine, lotion bottle or otherwise), approach their tank--the fish surface and ask politely to be fed. This happens more frequently for Quasimodo than 1 and 2, as his tumor is in his field of vision and he sometimes mistakes it for a food-bearing phenomenon.

No worries, I throw some pain meds in the water every few days and stir thoroughly with a whisk. Quasi is feeling just fine, and spends his days therapeutically re-arranging the orange rocks in the back corners of the tank. It has given him a sense of purpose that 1 and 2 lack...

And now that you have explored the fish tank with me, don't you feel complete?

A crafting kind of weekend

2009-04-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

How to reduce a two-year-old to tears

2009-04-17T05:08:00.000-07:00

Stop the bike ride.

Or, you know, breathe on him. Or look at him sideways...

actually, the possibilities are endless.

Ever have one of those nights?

2009-04-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

...where you're so tired, you can't even grouch properly?

Strange Easter rituals

2009-04-12T18:26:00.001-07:00

The morning began with some head-scratching...

...and an Easter basket from Aunt Mary (he already opened Grandma Dina's, early, due to some confusion)...

...and this thing called an Easter egg hunt...

...Jaxon was quite the hunter, fierce and menacing with his green bunny bag...

...the eggs stood no chance of escaping his eagle eyes...

...not even their goodies were safe...

...he took to this egg hunting like a duck to water...

...although, he was sometimes surprised by the contents of these Easter eggs...

...very surprised...

...Jaxon had to perform a tricky maneuver to get the last one...

...then he took his loot inside to indulge in some OCD, toddler-style.

Taco Night with the Smith Family

2009-04-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

We were blessed to have Joyce and Kyle join us for the week. We were even invited to attend Taco Night at Poppa Frank and Granny K's house.

Jaxon and Fallon had a good time together

The adults stood around and talked

Preston, Fallon and Jaxon played ball

Granny K even supplied ice cream and strawberries

Kyle

JoJo and Mary

Hendrix, a study

2009-04-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

Not sitting on the couch

Not looking innocent

Jaxon, a study

2009-04-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of the Nikon D40, thank you very much. I now have a lot of learning to do.

Revealed

2009-04-01T06:36:00.001-07:00

There have been big improvements, fellas! Big, cushy red couches and out with that sad desk and chair, in with big comfy chair and ottoman and lap desk where I can work and blog in comfort. Gone are the days of Hendrix lounging on the couch, and in with the dog bed, on the floor, where he belongs.

And I'm not done. I have plans, my friends--big plans involving paint and more paint and an area rug and pillows and throws and repainting that lamp and did I mention paint?

Benjamin Moore "Dill Pickle" to be exact, and some brown--or lots of brown.

And in other news, may we have a moment of silence for the demise of the old vacuum cleaner that has served this family for three years?

...

Thank you, and let me lament the days where a vacuum was made to last, none of this piddly three-year crap.

However, I find myself completely attracted to its replacement, who is shiny and has all of its on board attachments.

Overhaul

2009-03-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

After months of prodding, Preston finally gave in and let me pick out a new couch set for the family room (methinks it could have something to do with the aquisition of his much-desired game room, which happened to need a couch set of it's own and don't those old leather couches look nice in there, honey?).

Cue the great family room overhaul of 2009.

Splish, splash

2009-03-29T18:33:00.000-07:00

Hendrix loves him a good bath.

In fact, you could almost say Hendrix is a bath connoisseur. He loves the Greyhound-sized tub and the ergonomically-designed backrest (so lounge-able!), the warm water and powder-scented shampoo (because what else should a hound dog smell like?) and the scrubby mitt. You mustn't forget the scrubby mitt.

\ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēv\

2009-03-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

make–be·lieve
\ˈmāk-bə-ˌlēv\
also make–be·lief \-ˌlēf\
noun
a pretending that what is not real is real

when you imagine or pretend that something is real or true

Preston Vs Shocky

2009-03-20T23:01:00.000-07:00

Hendrix, being a naughty pup, has a collar we like to call "Shocky" (thanks Vanessa!) to keep him from digging while outside. Tara and I were wondering tonight what kind of a wallop Shocky packs. (And before I get angry emails re: the inhumane treatment of Hendrix, let me just say that the dog gets only a warning beep 99.9% of the time, and if you could see what he's done to my back yard...)

"Have you ever shocked yourself?" Tara asked.

"No, but I bet you I can get Preston to try it" I said.

And so I did.

Taking care of business

2009-03-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

Remember way back in August when Preston arrived home with a little, itty bitty bundle of joy with no name (actually, with two names, neither of which fit him) and I went on and on about how cute and stinky he was? No?
He's slightly less cute now, in fact, if it weren't for Jaxon's obvious attachment to the dog, he'd probably be looking for a new home. He has a penchant for chewing, an inclination toward digging and the completely moronic habit of chasing things in the TV (I know). And he hasn't grown out of his stinkiness. Knowing his buddy's popularity is waning, perhaps, Jaxon decided to remedy the latter of the two issues at hand today.

All that said, the dang dog still holds a soft spot in my heart. Just don't tell him that.

Happy, Happy Birthday!

2009-03-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Will,

Wow, another birthday is here. What can I say about my favorite brother-in-law? I am so blessed to have you for a big brother, and I know everyone feels the same. You have always been a shoulder to lean on, somebody there to lend support and advice and always unconditional love. I liked you from the very first day that I met you and we went to the Mall to hang out while Tara took an exam.

Not only are you a wonderful big brother, but you're an awesome father to my niece and nephews and a great husband to my sister. The relationship that you have with your family is inspiring, as is the love that you have for everyone around you.

So, happy birthday, Willy T! I hope there's a good game on TV, and lots of sweets heading your way.

Love,

Heather

Fun & Games

2009-03-17T06:37:00.000-07:00

We had Jennifer, Wes, Shane and Deanna over Sunday evening for a game night and we're sorry to say that anyone that wasn't in the kitchen that night missed the most intense game of ~~Jenga~~ cheap Jenga knockoff ever.

Heather isn't used to talking in third-person. I got third- and first- in that one...

Also, now would be a good time to introduce Preston's new pride and joy.

I dare your senses to not be offended by the bare white walls. Interior decorators may apply in person.

By the way, no I didn't get a new camera. I just re-discovered the joys of the viewfinder. Raise your hand if you knew digital cameras still have viewfinders.
Preston, put your hand down.

Happy 50th!

2009-03-16T16:14:00.001-07:00

Dear Elmo,

Wow, the big 5-0! You look fabulous, darrrrling!

We are so blessed to have you and your family join our family, you're one heck of an addition! I, for one, am grateful for your kindness, compassion and patience (and your Lumpia and fried rice!) and the quiet calm that you bring with you [into this crazy family]. Mom couldn't have picked a handier man, and boy do we appreciate that you know your way around a kitchen and a toolbox.

I have really enjoyed getting to know you the last several years, and look forward to many, many more big family adventures. Just make sure you bring the Lumpia.

Hoping to celebrate with a big cake soon...

Love and miss you,

Heather

We love this band, deep down in our hearts

2009-03-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

As anyone who reads this blog regularly knows, we are a music-lovin' family. So when we bought Hot Peas 'N Butter's "Mo Hotta, Mo Butta" for Jaxon, we were sure it would be a hit.

And it is.

Jaxon ~~dancing~~ running to "Deep Down"

You can purchase Hot Peas 'N Butter's CDs (there are four) on their website (you can also watch a few music videos there), just click on the link above.

We give them five dancing Jaxons out of five.

Pomp and Circumstance, anyone?

2009-03-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

Preston's commencement ceremony is set for

Saturday, May 9th

at the University of Phoenix Stadium

in Glendale, AZ

Doors open at 8:30 AM, the ceremony begins at 10:00 AM

For Ang

2009-03-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

"Your blog has been awfully quiet...
too quiet, if you ask me... hmmmm..."
Said Angela this morning (and then proceeded to have a conversation with someone named "Phil") :)

I know. And believe me, I have been feeling the shame. Shame that I can't pull off a post with visual aid, and we all know why (I'm looking at YOU, Jaxon).
As luck would have it, Jaxon finally did something ~~other than murder cameras~~ cute that doesn't require photographic evidence.

Preston: I love you, Jaxon.
Jaxon: I love you, too, six, seven, eight!

And that is a lot!

Oh happy day

2009-03-05T20:16:00.000-08:00

I told him to smile nice

Once again, Jaxon goes above and beyond...

Getting tired of phone-quality pictures? Me too. Tell Preston I need a Nikon.

Fat boys, fat boys...

2009-03-03T06:01:00.000-08:00

Jaxon was in a singing kind of mood last night, and I finally managed to catch him singing one of his current faves... the theme from "COPS", with a twist.