The Big Sister

A couple weeks back Ruby was practicing her banjo and found herself stuck trying to read some notes she couldn't remember (or something like that - I was trying to get dinner on the table).  She asked for my help but I'm afraid I'm not great in that department, and I tried to prompt her with questions and suggestions to no avail.  As she got increasingly frustrated, it occurred to me that there is some similarity to viola (right?), so I called to Cici to come over and see if she could help us.  What happened next was completely adorable, as they sat together on the couch, the big one helping the little one get through her assigned music homework.  At a time when they bicker with great regularity, this was a welcome and heart-warming scene.

On Monday, Cici had her first Destination Imagination practice (hereafter to only be called DI) and so she stayed at school instead of riding the bus home.  This meant Rubes was on her own for the bus ride home, something she almost NEVER has to endure.  That night I found a note that Cici wrote for Ruby, instructing her to sit by Jack on the bus and that he would show her his iPod Touch.  This is awesome for a variety of reasons: 1) Jack is a good friend of Cici's and also a 5th-grader, who was sweet enough to agree to this arrangement that meant he was sharing a seat with a 2nd-grader; 2) Cici was thoughtful/worried enough to handle this in advance, knowing Ruby would be on the bus without her; 3) She took the time to write a note and get it to her sister (I'm still not sure how); 4) Even though Cici can be hard on Ruby at times (more and more often, I'm afraid), they really do love each other.  A lot.  I hope it's always that way.

Halloween Goings-On

Carving. At least, some of us were.

Gutting.

Vampire sisters. Terrifying.

"Baking" with pumpkin guts.

Recipe by Rubes

Sometimes I find things like this around the house.  It's a recipe, though for what I'm not sure.  Later today I'm taking the girls to the store, and we will, in fact, get stuff.  I think she's on to something.

Manicures

Yesterday I went on a "date" with Ruby.  It was marvelous.  We each had a manicure - Ruby for the first time ever, me for the second time ever.  We both sat there looking at each other like dorks, not entirely sure what to do, sometimes busting out into giggles because it was so fun.  She loved that the color selection was vast, the towels were hot, and that they massaged her forearms.  Here is the final product:

Then we stopped for ice cream cones, and as we sat there eating together I asked how she felt about our date.  

Ruby: "I think this might be the best day of my life!"

Me too, love.  Me too.

Pho Sure

The other evening at a much beloved local restaurant, Ruby was offered a bite of some broccoli cheese soup, and turned up her nose as if she had just been offered a cat turd.  Cecilia begged for another taste, but not Rubes, oh no.  And I said, "But it has things you love: broccoli and cheese, and you love soup!"  And, looking annoyed, responded with, "The only soup I like is pho."

And she pronounced it correctly.

Snob.

Feelin' Corny

The girls went to a corn maze with their dad last weekend, and part of this outing included a swim in the "corn pit."  Imagine a giant swimming pool, only 3-feet deep, but instead of water it's filled with dried corn.  It's super fun, but once you get out there is corn EVERYWHERE.

Cici explains:  "I had corn in some rather unpleasant places."

 It's funny because I know she had dried corn in her undies, but also because I love how she talks like an elderly gentleman. 

Apologies

Yesterday was a rough day for the Rubester, in large part because she was T-I-R-E-D.  Issues that would normally roll off her back just ... did not roll off her back.  First it was tears, then it was sobs, then it was just a mess.  After some intense mothering on my part and major distracting and shenanigans on her sister's part, she rebounded nicely and all was right with the world (and bedtime came early).  And there was also this:

Ruby: I'm sorry, Mom.

Me: For what, hon?

Ruby: For spazzing out so bad.