Airtastic

Another fun day trip we have taken while in Chicago was to this place called "Airtastic" where the entire building was dedicated to those giant moon-bouncer jumping contraptions for kids. It only cost us $10 for an hour of fun-filled exercise for Anslie, mom, dad, and grandma!

Sledding!

We took Anslie sledding at a local park that has a giant sled hill. It was so much fun and I think she genuinely liked it! At first she was a little tentative but once we slid down that hill, she was hooked!

Getting ready to play in the snow

Abominable snow baby...she must have had 5 layers on to stay warm in the 20 degree weather!

All bundled up!

The Giant sled hill

Shillawna pulling Anslie around on the sled

Kevin and Anslie

Red nose and cheeks from the cold (and boy, was it cold!!!)

Fun times in Chicago

Kevin, Anslie and I have spent the last 7 days in Chicago visiting Kevin's family. We have had a really fun time just knocking around the house and having live-in babysitters in Grandma and Grandpa. These are some pics from our adventures so far....

Sucking on lemons with Uncle Pat....mmmmm, good!


Dinner with the family at Braxton's

It was so nice to be able to finish a meal while it was still hot and without it ending up on my clothes. Aunt Laura and Grandma fed and entertained Anslie for the whole meal. What a welcome relief!

Stay tuned for many, many more pictures from our fun, fun trip!

Shoes on Storm Drain

It's not always sunny in California

We're supposed to get 2-4 inches within the next 24 hours. I know that doesn't seem like a lot to anyone outside of SoCal, but it's a lot for us, especially for the areas that were burned in the wild fires. Those people will be on flash flood and landslide watches. :(

Valentine's Festivities

We had a couple of really fun things to do for Valentine's Day. First off, Anslie had a little party with all of the kids from our play group. My friend, Sarah, had the wonderful idea of bringing cupcakes and cookies to the park for the kids to decorate while the moms enjoyed some delectable treats of their own. My fave was the chocolate covered strawberries and marshmallows. Anslie was just happy to get a healthy dose of sugar!

Anslie and Evan with Anslie's Car...it was a big hit with all the kids!

Anslie, Ashlynn, and Maddie from B-hind

Dana and Emma Carlseen

Evan Samson

Dallin Samson

Ethan VanBoerum enjoying his cupcake

Little Ashlynn with her tricked out head gear...way to go, mom!!!

On Valentine's Day itself, a bunch of our friends and Kevin and I got together for a V-Day dinner without the kiddos. They stayed at home with babysitters while we ate GINORMOUS baked potatoes, salad, and chocolate fondu. We also played the Newlyweds game, which was really fun and funny! Overall, I think it was a really fun holiday!

L to R: Kevin R., Kevin and Gail McMackin, Lisa and Peter Carlseen, Kurt and Jenn, Cessily and Austin Azbill, Dave and Diane Jones

The potatoes were HUGE! And Kevin finished all of his...

Kevin and I

Cute couples, Kurt and Jenn and Dave and Diane

Austin and Cessily -- lookin' good!

Fondu masters, Lisa and Peter

Our gracious host and hostess, Kevin and Gail McMackin

Two Love Birds...tweet, tweet.

Kevin

He is my provider and protector. He is my confidante. He is my best friend. He is the father of my beautiful daughter. He holds my heart and my future in his hands. He is the man I love and am in love with. Happy Valentine's Day.

Some More Tutu Pictures

Here is another pic of Anslie in a tutu. We learned some interesting techniques in my photoshop class and I thought I would try one out on her. What do you think? Also, I have added a few more pics to my portfolio, so check it out if you haven't looked in a while. www.shillawnaruffnerphotography.com

Blah, blah, blah

I don't really have anything in particular to say... Kevin is coming home tomorrow from a two week business trip. I am happy to have him back. The first week he was gone I enjoyed the extra freedom I had. I didn't have to stick to anyone else's schedule. I just did whatever I wanted. It was fun being able to accept any and all invitations to spend time with friends, etc. This week has been hard. I think I over-exerted myself last week, which made me want to be a hermit this week, which in turn made me feel Kevin's absence even more.

I am grateful for the one-on-one time with Anslie. Sometimes life gets in the way of your loved ones. I am really guilty of being selfish with my time and I spend way too much of it online or working on Photography instead of spending it with her. But, because I have been a single parent these last two weeks, I didn't have anyone else around to brush her off onto so that I could focus on something else. I think we have become closer and that is always a blessing. Anslie is such a doll and she is so funny. It's intoxicating to be around her and I have fallen even more in love with her, if that's even possible.

That being said, I will be grateful for relief. It's hard being a single parent and I couldn't imagine doing it if I had to work too. My husband is so wonderful for making it possible for me to stay home with my child.

I think what I missed most about Kevin while he was gone was having his arms available at any moment to wrap around me and keep me safe. I missed him the most when I saw my friends with their hubbies. I missed being kissed and hugged and having doors opened for me. I missed his company and having the constant support and encouragement that he provides. I missed having a partner in crime and my best friend.

I am also grateful that our relationship has matured enough that we can take time apart from each other. I remember just after we were married thinking that I never wanted to be the couple who walks into a crowded room and then goes separate ways to socialize with other people. I wanted to be joined at the hip at all times! But I now realize that when you deeply love someone and know they feel the same way about you, and when you know each other so well it's like looking into a mirror when you look at them, and when you have reached a point where there is a quiet confidence about your relationship, it doesn't matter where your spouse is. You're still joined at the hip, or rather the heart, even if the other person isn't around.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I love my husband deeply. I love my daughter deeply. I am blessed and I am more aware of my blessings after being deprived of some of them for a short time. I am one lucky gal.

Anslie's First Braid

Yay! Her hair is finally long enough to braid. Well, kind of. The hair on the top of her head closest to her face is long enough to braid. And maybe the little stragglies at the base of her skull. All I care about is that I could do it. No, it's not the cutest hair style and there are many other mothers who are much more creative with their children's hair (Tera). I just work with what I have and what I have is getting longer. (Or should I say, what Anslie has)

Missing Daddy

Kevin has been out of town for some training for work. Anslie is missing her daddy. Me too. Anslie helped herself to the hat rack in our closet and put this on all by herself then walked around the house like this for at least an hour. For two days. Come home soon, Kev!

Baby Reunion and Birthday Party

I am so sad that I forgot to take pictures of my party on Friday night! Imagine that...the person who has a camera attached to her head at all times forgets to take pictures of her own birthday! Well, I did get a couple pics of my friends' kids with Anslie playing in her tent before the party started. It's not much, but it's better than nothing. I loved getting our little girls together. Britni, Jessy, and I have known each other for a long time and it was fun to see another generation playing together.

Calli and Mia, Calli and Anslie

Anyway, to celebrate my birthday I hosted a "Girl's Night In" bash at my place. It was SOOOO much fun! We painted each other's toes, had a couple movies playing, chit-chatted, and ate all kinds of junk food. It's was very nostalgic and I loved every minute of it! The best part was when we all told our most embarrassing moments. I won't point any fingers here but you know who you all are and boy do I have some great stuff to blackmail you with! (j/k...I think my stories were the worst of all) I think I am going to make this get-together my birthday tradition!