Run, Don't Walk

Last Saturday Cecilia and I ran in the Get in Gear 2K, just as we did last year. There were two big differences from last year -- it wasn't snowing, and this year Cecilia ran the whole thing without stopping to walk. There were a few points where I had to talk her through it, encouraging her to take deep breaths, use her arms, and "dig deep." She complained a bit about leg pain, which probably has something to do with recent growth spurts (she's complained of leg pain like this before - not just while running), and I was tempted to slow it down to a walk. She toughed it out, and as we neared the final stretch I told her we were going to turn on the gas and finish strong. Well, she interpreted this as, "run at a full sprint" and she took off like a rocket. I could NOT keep up with her sprint after running 1.2 miles, so my focus was to keep her hat in sight and not lose her in the crowd. I guess she wasn't so tired after all... Stinker.

And here is Ruby, who joined in the group stretching activities just for fun. She was probably the youngest stretcher by about 25 years, but it was a hoot to watch.

Ladies And Gentlemen, The Presider Of The United States.

You may all have heard we have a couple little sickies at home. Keeping our fingers crossed about the whole swine flu thing.

Anyhoo, yesterday afternoon I was home with Ruby, and during a moment when she felt a little better, I found her taping an old Obama flyer we had floating around to the front door. I asked her what she was doing, and she said, "Putting the Presider on the door. That way, when you go out, you can see the Presider."

(I should note that she pronounced "Presider" not the way you might think, but with the emphasis on the same syllables as "President" - PRES-i-DER.)

Fan Club

Last week Cecilia was in a play at her school and had one of the larger speaking roles. She had A LOT of fans in the audience. This included: Momlissa & Dadam, Grandma I, Grandpa I, Grandma K, Grandpa K, Auntie Jenny, Uncle Jamie, Auntie Landi, Uncle Bill, Cousin Vanessa, Cousin Vanessa's boyfriend (and Cecilia's secret crush), James, Family BFF Lindsay and, of course, Ruby.

That's 14 people, two of them coming from as far away as Chicago. Any guesses as to who is the first grandchild in our family? Anyway, she did a terrific job and didn't seem to be the tiniest bit nervous. Here she is getting some grandparent love after the show:

Lastly, here's Ruby trying to be just like her big sister (who played Leo the Lion) and giving her best lion roar.

It's a Jungle Out There!

New Ruby Quote.

Ruby [looking over Momlissa's shoulder at a photo in a cooking magazine]: Is that Chicken Babresti?

"Papa"?

That's what Ruby has decided to call me now. You see, a friend of hers at daycare has a dad who's from France, and that's what she calls him. So now it's "Good night, Papa," and "Papa, can I have a snack?" and "I love you, Papa." We'll see how long this lasts. . . .

Ruby Pics.

Caption: "Look, I'm wearing a bra." [It's actually a pair of panties.]

Caption: "Look, I'm a fire dog." [Translation: Dalmatian.]

Just In Time For Easter.

A couple weeks ago we had our spring pipe band concert, and at one point some little girls came out onto the stage to do Scottish Highland dancing. They were accompanied by one of our pipers, a neighbor of ours named Bob.

After the dances were done and Bob had left the stage, Ruby leaned over to Momlissa and asked, "Was that guy Jesus?"

Momlissa laughed and said, "No - why would you think that guy was Jesus?"

Ruby replied, "Because Grandma said Jesus liked to help kids."

Never really pictured Jesus as a piper before. Although I suppose he'd be very good. . . .