should i be concerned?

both ruby and asher had their halloween parties at school today. ruby's not allowed to dress up at her school, which made me kind of sad. only because some of my very best childhood memories are of me and my siblings dressing up on halloween, going to school, being able to see all of our friends in their costumes, showing off our own (which my mother always made), and participating in the school halloween parade. all the parents came to see their children traipse around the elementary school's gym, and moms and dads always oohed and awed, clapped and cheered, as their children proudly flaunted their ensembles for all to see and admire. i looked forward to one day being able to do that with my own children. but alas, it may never happen. so instead we picked her up an orange pumpkin t-shirt, and a pair of black sparkly leg warmers. she was as pleased as punch when she walked out the door. john wore his traditional halloween work outfit (i don't think it's changed in 5 years) - black slacks, black button up dress shirt, and an orange tie. very profesh, if i do say so myself. asher was the one who was actually permitted to wear a costume, but i wasn't thrilled about having him wear his true costume (which will be revealed this evening), so i gave him another option. a pirate. a rough and tough (and very manly) buccaneer. and he HATED it! i mean, he absolutely LOATHED it. one look at it, and he thrusted himself down upon the ground, and threw the world's hugest fit known to man. john had to pin him down to keep him from wrecking havoc to the house, or even worse...to himself...or us. it was that bad. i think it was ruby who jokingly asked, hey asher, do you want to wear my pirate costume (which is a pirate princess...dress), and he perked up like nothing i've ever seen.
YEAH! he exclaimed. in order to make it appear a bit more manly, and a little less like he was a cancer patient, i pulled down our dread-lock wig from the attic. but of course, in true asher fashion, he wanted NOTHING to do with it.

can you just see the look of death he's giving me?

and so, our little boy walked out the front door, prouder than he's ever been, dressed... as a pirate princess.
at least when i tried to pose him for a picture by the front door, he refused and went straight to the water/mud puddle, reassuring me that he is, indeed, very much BOY.





but then again, the other day i caught him with my heels on.


hmmmm. should i be concerned?

i believe

ruby just informed that she believes in Santa Claus, Zero Hero (the unseen superhero who leaves treats outside her classroom door), and Jesus.
"i believe these things to be true, mom, i really do."

well keep on believing, my little one (especially in the latter), and never let the magic of the other two die...for that's what will guard and preserve that youthful innocence...an innocence and naivete that only a child can posess.

if only i could put a freeze on time, and keep you like this forever.


i love you so.

she's one of a kind

i have so, SO much to catch up on...but judging by the way i've been feeling lately, my guess is that the "catching up" may never actually happen. maybe one day (when i have a ton of energy/ motivation, and i'm feel really, really great) i'll bust about about 50 posts.

we've been practicing for ruby's talk on sunday. it's the annual children's sacrament meeting program, and she will be giving a short talk on her experience in the salt lake temple when we took asher to be sealed into our family. she was only three, but surprisingly, she remembers quite a bit about that special day. we try to talk about it a lot...my hope is that by doing so, she will keep those memories in her heart forever. since she hasn't actually mastered reading, she will be giving her talk from memory. if she can pull it off how she's been practicing, it will be a hit. i couldn't help but post this little preview for your enjoyment. i thought it was just about the cutest thing ever...the hand motions, the facial expressions, and yes, even the bloopers.

and this is her first time through without any prompts...

and here she takes a small break from reviewing her talk, to be a frog. there's no one else quite like ruby girl...she's one of a kind, that's for sure.

and please, don't pay any attention to my pathetic self...lying (sick as a dog) on the unmade bed. it's the story of my life these past couple of months. i know, it's DANG depressing.