I surprised Brad this week by taking a drive and having a winter picnic (ie. being inside a nice, warm van). I brought a blanket and refreshments, as well as a candle. :) We parked the van and enjoyed some ice cream and alone time. Maybe when it's warmer we can have a real picnic outside!

The first picture posted is of Ruthie when she was sick last week . Our little girl was sick for a whole week! She's usually one to never stop moving but that week she just wanted to be cuddled and sit with a blanket over her.
Today I asked her what her middle name was and she said, "Ruthiebelle Grandma Shilloy Fox." When I asked her about her sister she said, "Naomi Grandma Cheryl Fox." [Sidenote: The girls are named after each grandma]
We were at an appointment and there were a couple girls in the waiting room Ruthie/Nae played with...instead of asking what one girl's name was Ruthie said, "Who's you?"
We've been talking to Ruthie about how Brad and I are going to Alaska for a couple weeks (for a conference and to see the field), so later that week Ruthie said, "Mommy, I'll cry for you!"

Nae is a sweet girl. She loves to cuddle which makes me happy. Today she accidentally pulled Ruthie's hair and gave her big sister a "sorry" hug and kiss. Her new favorite beverage/food source is snow! When we go sledding or walking outside she'll stick her face down in the snow and continue eating it till her face gets red from being so cold. She cries when we come inside. Sometimes she'll come up to us with her hat and want to wear it all day...maybe she assumes we'll take her outside if she's already dressed for it. ;)

Brad bought the girls each a sucker for Valentine's day. Ruthie enjoyed hers but unfortunately poor Nae didn't get to eat hers...but she sure enjoyed holding it all day. I love the above picture of Naomi...she looks so cute with her facial expression.

This picture of Naomi was taken when she got dressed to go outside and fell down...she was not a happy camper :)

Ruthie's been good about putting her own dishes away. I like it when she asks to take our dishes, then says "Thank you," as if we're doing her a favor.

One time when I warned Ruthie she would receive "discipline" if she didn't obey, she proceeded to obey while singing, "God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me." Just a funny time to be singing that particular song.

Brad asked Ruthie what one word describes her Mommy. I hoped for words such as nice, lovely, pretty, etc :) But instead she said, "Vacuum!"

Naomi's loves music. She's a good dancer and whenever I play music she runs to me and we dance together. She even sways when the furnace turns on. :)

Ruthie's statement when a particular item was out of place: "Where did that something go?"

A conversation with Ruthie and Mommy:
Mommy: Ruthie, you need to go potty right now (she's been potty trained for a few weeks).
Ruthie: Um...maybe no.
[we might call that passive agressive defiance]

A conversation with Ruthie and Daddy:
Ruthie: [yelling] Babe! Babe! [looking at her daddy now] Where did Babe and Nomi go?
[Sidenote: I never realized how often Brad calls me Babe...apparently Ruthie caught onto that quickly] :)

Our friends, David and Florine, are fun to hang out with. Florine encourages us with her stories, while David usually entertains us with his guitar. The girls love visiting these two friends of ours. They make us smile :)

This is a picture of the girls watching me vacuum. They do this most times I vacuum. I truly find great joy in vacuuming! And yes, our girls seem to share in my enthusiasm for cleanliness.