Christmas Lights

Ruby LOVES Christmas lights so we've made several outings to go check out the lights around Sioux Falls.  We have frequented the Western Mall's Light Show three times already and we love it!  The music is great and it is a great cause for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

We have also gone to Falls Park to take in the sights there.  A little chillier option than the indoor light show but still very fun and beautiful!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, being able to see both sides of our family this year.  Paul had the weekend off before Thanksgiving so we traveled to Iowa City and Williamsburg.  Fortunately, we had tons of fun, but unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures...

Ruby and Sydney with Great Grandpa John and Great Grandma Dorothy

Uncle Jon, Grandma Ruth, and Daddy

Paul had to work the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the weekend after but by some wonderful schedule mishap, he ended up with Thanksgiving off even though it was technically his holiday to work, so we were able to see my family then.  We got together with my mom's whole side (46 people if I counted correctly) and Ruby became instant friends with Tara who is 8 months older but the exact same size... and her hat twin for the day.  ;)

Halloween

A few nights before Halloween, Hattie and Brandon wanted to carve some pumpkins.  I carved a Hawkeye out of one pumpkin and Ruby drew on her pumpkin with markers.  

She did "help" me with the pumpkin guts but was more interested in playing with the seeds.

Ruby was a bumblebee this year for Halloween, thanks to some wonderful neighbors who let us borrow a costume some of their children had worn in previous years.  She wasn't too interested in wearing the hood but thankfully it was a very nice night so it was fine that she didn't have anything on her head. 

We were invited to another ER doctor's house for pre-trick-or-treating festivities along with a few other families.  One of the spouses put together this hayride for the kids.

Then we took Ruby around our neighborhood.  

Ruby and Cooper 

She loved trick-or-treating and kept saying "more candy."  Ruby can usually be kind of shy around people she isn't very familiar with, but apparently, if you give her candy she will tell you whatever you want to know!  She had so much fun, she even needed to trick-or-treat at her own house!  ;)

We made a quick stop at Uncle Kenny and Aunt Carrie's.  

Ruby, Daddy, and Kinnick...her bumblebee friend. 

Ruby and Tate...who wasn't too happy for his first Halloween since he had gotten shots earlier in the day.  

Ruby's BFF "Coopy"

We have been blessed with some really great neighbors in Sioux Falls.  Most of the kids are older than Ruby, but we have been able to have many playdates with Cooper who is about 8 months older than Ruby.  Ruby and Cooper love each other!  When they see each other they instantly run towards each other to give big hugs!  

Playing at the Mall

Story time at the Library

(they played a little video and Ruby wanted to lay down by Cooper but she chose to lay down backwards...she doesn't have much interest in TV yet)

At the Butterfly House

Butterfly Kisses!

Baby Time #2

We are excited to be adding another baby to our little family in just a few short months!  February 17th is the due date which will put Ruby and the baby about 26 months apart.  My pregnancy has gone very smoothly thus far and pray that it continues to go that way.  Ruby absolutely loves babies right now, especially her new cousin, Tate.  We hope her love for babies continues when she has her very own brother or sister!  She will have lots of adjustments in the near future, including a move to one of the downstairs bedrooms.  Hopefully she deals with that alright!  We aren't finding out the gender of the baby.  When we ask Ruby if she wants a girl or boy baby she just says, "girl or boy" so apparently she isn't picky!  ;)  

Practicing for the real thing!  I'd say she's quite proud!....

and pretty silly... we call this "crazy face"...

...and concentrating very intently :)

Ruby with her new cousin Tate.  She LOVES giving him kisses... so far he is very patient with his active cousin.  ;)

20 weeks :)

Tatum Gray

My brother and his wife had their baby on September 6th.  He weighed right at 7 pounds and was 20 inches long.  He has adorable fuzzy brown hair and really long feet and hands!  We knew he was a boy for quite some time now but Ruby was the only one who knew his name!  Uncle Kenny and Aunt Carrie shared it with her one night when they were babysitting and she kept a good secret!  ;)  We had so much fun visiting Tate the day he was born and Ruby seemed to be quite smitten!  We love you, Tate!

Hawkeye Nation's newest and cutest fan!  :)

Tate's Paparazzi ;)

Papa Gary

This has been an adventurous summer for Paul's parents.  His dad officially retired from being a pastor in the Reformed Church of America.  They have been at their current church in Sibley, Iowa for 22 years.  Since the retirement, they have moved to Williamsburg, Iowa where Gary has found a part-time job as a chaplain at a senior living center.  Although leaving a church and community where you raised three boys was quite difficult, he is quite excited about the job and we know he will do a great job as it seems to fit him very well!  Ruth will continue to teach for Minnesota West and will have to do some traveling over the next year but will hopefully seek employment a little closer to home for the next school year.  They are now a little farther away but we know we will see them just as much!

We traveled to Iowa City and Williamsburg the weekend they moved.  We stayed with Jon, Stef, and Sydney as Gary and Ruth were busy trying to get settled.  We love their new house and the town of Williamsburg seems to be a very nice community.

The weekend in Iowa City proved to be an interesting one.  Paul and Jon played (or attempted to play) in a flag football tournament.  Paul was able to play all 6 games resulting in a lot of complaining in the night and days to follow as 6 games makes for one sore 30 year old.  :)  Jon, however, only played the first game because he broke his foot.  Stef met Jon at the ER where he received good care :) and a boot.  The broken foot has come at somewhat of an inopportune time as Jon and Stef have "inherited" a dog for the next two years.  Stef's brother and his family moved to Hawaii for two years and decided not to put their dog through 120 days of quarantine.  Lucy is quite a good dog but requires two good legs to give her plenty of walks and potty breaks throughout the day!  

We plan to make another trip to the Iowa City/Williamsburg area soon and will hopefully return with more pictures of Gary and Ruth's new house.  

Summer Visitors

We had some great friends from Iowa City stop by for the day and Ruby had a wonderful time with their little guy, Jack.

One of my college roommates also visited in late summer with her husband.  We had a wonderful weekend with them and have one picture to document their stay.