Camping again?

Robert has been coaching football all day every day all week. He has only been home but a couple of hours each day and Ruth got to see her daddy no more than 30 minutes a day this week. Of course it was just one week of two-a-days training however it was stressful at home with Ruth constantly wanting her Daddy. To get away from the stress of school for both of us, work for both (I start back subsitituting this week), football, and everything else stressing us...we went camping again. This time it was just the three of us and we had a fantastic but quiet time. We spent most of our time on the beach or cooking by the tent. Ruth went to bed early and Robert and I played cards and watched a movie...something we haven't done in quite a while. We woke up the next morning to head straight back to the beach for fun in the sun before heading home.

In times past Ruth has been not so sure about the water...only entering with her on our hips. This time however she was a water baby and was running in and out by herself all the way up to her neck! It was a blast to watch her and here are some pictures for you to enjoy as well!


Attempting to say cheese and make a goofy camera face for me....

Jumping in and out of the water with Daddy...

Rolling around and letting the waves crash up over her...

Lets see what kind of mess I can make by pouring sand and water in my water shoes!

All this fun required a nap with Daddy on the beach. Her face is totally saying "Mom...quit bothering me...what is it with you and that camera?"

JUMPY HOUSE!

Ruth is so definitely spoiled and because of this we now know why she acts the way she does....spoiled. She has been to party after party, playgroup after playgroup, and the neighbors house...all of which have jump houses. I just couldn't resist buying one when they came into the NEX the other day. She is in love. She better love it for 199.99. It is good for children up to 8 and reviews say that it holds up for years. I hope she certainly gets her daddy's money's worth out of it!

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She is all girl!

Ruth is always doing the girly things at home and away from home. She cannot get enough of her baby dolls while she is home. At Miss Mandy's she is constantly playing dress up with hats, purses, and of course you won't catch her without a baby doll in her hands!

I just thought this picture was adorable. Thank you Mandy for taking this picture and not missing a priceless moment while she is in your care!

Bedroom!

FINALLY! Ruth's bedroom is finally put together since we initially started in April! All of you probably know what crap I have been going through to get a boxspring from the Navy Exchange. This whole process did not come together NOT because of the NEX but rather someone we met the other night at a barbeque. The exhange STILL has not gotten the boxspring in yet but once again, promises me this week. Tomorrow actually. The words "domani" are very frequently used in the Italian language. Domani means tomorrow and is a word day after day. We went to a barbeque on saturday night across the street and there was a couple with a little girl Ruths age. I knew of them and have talked in passing but as we sat there enjoying a conversation for the first time she randomly says, "I have this full size boxspring in my storage area that is driving me nuts! Its taking up room and I can't use it because someone borrowed the mattress." How so very exciting! So I offered to take it off of her hands. She said "Of course." and we got in her car, drove to her house, dug it out of the storage closet, placed it on her roof, and drove it back to the house right away. We ditched the barbeque for a few minutes and put her bed together before going back over. There is still a lot of work to do on her room but she is sleeping there for good now. We need to hang some of her pictures and place a few more nick nacks and picture frames on her dressers and night stand.

When you thought I wasn't looking

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn' t feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT. Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend)
influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today? Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Gelato Man

What is the one thing that reminds you of a small town summer day, 50 cents, and an irresistable tune? Thats right; the ice cream man! We have a very nice italian man who now rides around the neighborhood with his Gelato truck selling us homemade gelato and granita for only 1 euro. He has around 30 pots in the back of his truck, each filled with a different flavor of his deliciously creamy ice cream in so many different flavors. Although there isn't the traditional american ice cream man song, he does have an interesting honk that is unique to us and even Ruth screams "Ice cream" every night when he rides around. I took a pictures so that all of you in the states know what an italian ice cream truck looks like. They are pretty popular to see on the side of the road on a hot summer day in the cities, but now we have the joy at the end of our driveway.

All those old toys

How is it that my daughter has every toy in the world yet plays with none of them? Toys are only novelties for the first week or two then they just work their way to the bottom of the toy basket like everything else to never again be played with. I will get everything out of the toybox and reorganize the toys, clean them, find all the little parts and pieces for each toy, and neatly place them back in the toy box with those old toys right on top while reminding her of how much fun she used to have with them. Nope...not interest. We payed around one hundred dollars for this little quad toy and the outrageous amount to ship it here for it to be played with for a couple of weeks non stop and then become a porch ornament. This is coming all to mind only because Ruth is usually in daycare during the day and doesn't get the time with her toys. Many of you may know that we are dealing with all sorts of crazy illnesses in this house that we just cannot place our finger on right now and until diagnosed and ruled not contagious sick Ruth has been spending these glorious past few days with sick Mommy. In the mean time I am yet again reminded she is spoiled and doesn't even use what we buy her.





The only thing that has surpassed time and has become the prized toy that was worth the money... her kitchen. We bought this kitchen for christmas last year and it is the only toy that has past the test of Ruths liking. Even sick, cooking in her kitchen cheers her up.

Camping again...

Two weeks after our first camping experience we decided we loved it and went again. This time though, we went early and got an excellent spot. We had a beautiful view of the ocean right from out tent and at night and early morning you could just lay there and here the waves crashing on the rocks and sand. It was so beautiful and peaceful. We went for two nights and Ruth loved every minute of the beach. We can't wait to go again...

The view from the front of our lot...

The view taken right out of the tent door...