Our Future Gymnast...

...or flying squirrel

The best things in life are free!

Well, sort of. I did almost have to give my right arm in order to restock my paper goods and storage bag supplies at Costco. The upside to that is that they came with these awesome, state of the art toys for Anslie. She couldn't stop playing with...the boxes that the Ziploc bags and dishwasher detergent came in. Anslie liked to sit in the boxes and then get out and push them around the living room, then crawl on top of them. Very exciting.


PS- Anslie is running around "naked" because I caught her playing with her other favorite new discovery - the toilet cleaning brush. YUCK! Of course I ran into the bathroom when I realized where she was and almost puked when I saw that stinky toilet juice from the brush all over the floor - and Anslie. I immediately stripped her and threw her in the tub. (Sorry, no pics...I was too busy scrubbing her) It was right before bed so she got to go commando until bedtime. Lucky her!

An Exciting Attempt!

Kevin called me into the living room today just as I was about to hop into the shower. Anslie was standing on her own and took her first step. When she saw me walk into the room (rather run because Kevin was hysterical and I thought someone had died) she got excited and stood up again and took two steps before tumbling to the ground. I grabbed the camera and caught a quick clip of her attempting another step. She only takes one, but that is a big deal to me!

Kevin James Ruffner

My best friend, my sweetheart, my husband.

Playing Catch, Clapping, Spider Crawls, Standing Up, and Crotch Walking...

Check out this cute video we just took of Anslie's antics. It's really funny!

The Winners

I really appreciate everyone's input on my homework. I actually ended up going out one more time and picked up a few more shots to add to my collection. These are the 5 images that I am turning in.







If you would like to see the whole collection go to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shillawna/sets/72157607976980711/show/

Pumpkin Patch

"Animal crackers in my soup..."

WARNING: This slideshow contains images of animals, babies, and people. So if you don't like any of these things, DO NOT VIEW!



Kevin's brother, sister, and sister's husband came for a long weekend and we had a lot of fun at the Wild Animal Park. The weather was beautiful that day so we got lucky and all of the animals were out enjoying it, just like us.

11 month update...almost there!

I know this one is late again, but I have a good excuse! Our family spent most of September in Colorado visiting my sister's family and then a couple of weeks after we got back Kevin's brother, sister, and brother-in-law came for the weekend. I feel like we are finally piecing our life back together after being out of our normal routine for so long.

Well, let's cut to the chase! This month Anslie conquered yet another tooth, an ear infection, two colds, traveling half way across country and back, is a pro at crawling and standing straight up in the middle of the room, and cruising around the furniture. She is also a world-class mountain climber and loves to crawl up and over anything that gets in her way. She finally understands the meaning of no, and although she doesn't say it, she shakes her head back and forth and all of the appropriate (and sometimes inappropriate times - like when I want her to eat something she doesn't want to eat). She also wave "hello", even on cue. Anslie doesn't quite say "mama" and "dada", but "di-di" and "ummma". We get the point. :)

Anslie is quite the little ham! She thinks she is very funny and if you happen to agree she will gladly get into a giggling match with you. The harder you laugh, the harder she laughs! She also loves to pound her open fists on her high chair tray, or your head for that matter, if it gets a good laugh out of you.

We have moved Anslie into her own room now and I think everyone is enjoying the much needed uninterrupted rest. She goes to bed between 8 and 9 pm and usually sleeps straight through until 7 or 7:30 am. It's about time!!! I really like having my room back and not worrying about if I will wake Anslie up if I roll over at night.

I am enjoying my photography class and the opportunity that it provides to learn and grow. It's really nice having a trained eye giving me objective feedback on my work. Kevin is still working hard and playing harder. He's still an ideal father and a great husband who is very supportive and involved. I am so grateful that he blesses my life everyday and that he is the kind of man that he is. I know others aren't as fortunate as myself with such helpful and patient spouses and I try to keep that in mind every time I feel like yelling at him for something :) j/k



We are all looking forward to Anslie's first official Halloween celebration and birthday. You'll just have to stay tuned to see pictures of her very cute costume!!!

Yes on Proposition 8 in California

You've been tagged. PLEASE READ THIS no matter what state you live in.

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt children. If gay marriage remains legal, public schools will put it on equal footing with traditional marriage. Children will likely receive “age appropriate” information about sexual relations within heterosexual and homosexual marriages.

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt churches. The court’s decision will inevitably lead to conflicts with religious liberty and free speech rights. Society will become more and more hostile to traditional beliefs about marriage and family. Over time, greater acceptance of nontraditional marriage will be demanded of all people. This could impact the ability of any religion to teach and practice its beliefs. Including adoption agencies.

A YES vote will not hurt gays. In California, the law provides for marriage-related benefits to be given to civil unions and domestic partnerships. Proposition 8 does not diminish these benefits.

For your information:
On Friday, October 10th, 2008 a first-grade class took a field trip to witness a lesbian wedding in California. Click Here for the article from the San Francisco Chronicle.

A father in Massachusetts was frustrated when his kindergartner was taught about homosexuality at school by the teachers. He insisted he be notified in the future before such things were discussed so he could pull his boy out of school.He was taken to jail. Click Here for the story.

A Catholic adoption agency In the UK closed their doors because of the Government's new homosexual equality laws. The Equality Act forbids discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the basis of sexual orientation. The law was forced through Parliament last year despite past Prime Minister Tony Blair's recommendation that Catholic adoption agencies be exempted from the rules. Click Here for more info.

Earlier this month judges in Conneticut overturned the state law (just as the judges in California did) to legalized gay marriage. This is not just an issue in California. We voted years ago to keep traditional marriage as the only marriage recognized in the state of California, 4 judges overturned our vote…and we need to fight back. That is what this Proposition is about. This is happening everywhere and the leaders of the church and others have warned that the outcome of California’s vote will affect the way the other states vote. So PLEASE…even if you don’t live in California, put this on your blog or email this on. The internet knows no state line. You know contacts in California that I don’t…and so do your friends. Please pass this on as it could eventually have an effect on everyone!

"Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, "You cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven't time to be concerned for others." Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehoods and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and
our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord." --Thomas S. Monson

Click Here for excerpts from the Broadcast given by Elders M. Russell Ballard, Quentin L. Cook and L. Whitney Clayton.

A good resource mentioned in the broadcast: http://www.preservingmarriage.org/

October 20th: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot if voting out of state. Click Here to get one.

October 27th: Last day to apply for “Vote by Mail” Click Here for info.

November 4th: Election day. Polls close at 8:00pm. Vote by mail must be received by this time and can be hand delivered if necessary.

YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED...Here's what you do:
In the broadcast we were asked to "go viral on our blogs, etc" by Elder Ballard. This is my way of going viral. If you feel this is an important issue I ask that you copy and paste this post...and post it on your blog. PLEASE keep it at the top of your blog through November 4th. which you can adjust each time you post under the "edit post" option. The internet knows NO STATE LINE. You know contacts in California that I do not...as do your friends and their friends...and so on. Please do this. If not for your own children and the effect it could have on them some day...for mine! After you have posted this...email this to your contacts and TAG all your blogging buddies to do the same. THANK YOU!

Portrait of a Family

My Family. Well, not all of them. There is A LOT more. But these are most of the people who came to the Blessing Baptism Weekend Extravaganza. If you want to know who each of them are, read on...


Us in all our cuteness.


I am not really a big fan of Apes, but this guy was pretty cool. I literally had my lens pressed up against the glass ready to take a picture when he walked over and posed for me. Not the best looking photo, but pretty cool nonetheless.


My dad at the Denver zoo with his old pal.


I love this girl! (my sis, Tera)


Getting ready to pick some of the sweetest strawberries and (golden) raspberries I have EVER tasted. So fun!


Anslie had fun picking berries too.


My mama and my sisters.


A very appealing and romantic picture. Two men taking care of their babies. Aren't we lucky?!


The Ruffners and the Baptism Girl.


Anslie and Ethan after his blessing. (there's a funny story about the blessing--email me if you would like to hear it!)


Anslie and her cousins. BF'sF!!!


My family at the church after Lauren's baptism.


Thought this was funny. Kids really hate to pose for photographs!


Anslie had so much fun riding around in Brynna's electric car. They look like two little Barbies!


From Left to Right: my cousin, Devon, Aunt Gina, Dad, Step mother Carolyn, sister Audra, sister Rachelle, niece Lauren, niece Brynna (in her daddy's arms), new nephew Ethan, nephew Jacob, sister Tera, mom, step dad Richard, hubby Kevin, daughter Anslie, and ME!


My niece, Lauren, and her cheer squad. Go, Warriors!


Anslie is getting much better about just falling asleep when she is tired. In fact, she was sitting next to me on the plane in her own seat when she got tired and konked out on my lap. She stayed like this for most of the flight home.