Playing at Grandma Linda and Papa Marvin's House

As part of the July 4th weekend, Ruby, Paul and Papa Marvin went to the fair. Ruby won lots of prizes and did an art project there. Then Ruby and grandma Linda worked on stuffing some wuggle pets together. 

Learning to swim at grandma Linda and papa Marvin's house

Ruby practiced and practiced in the pool at Grandma Linda and Papa  Marvin's house. She really got good at using the kick board to swim all the way across the jacuzzi to mommy! She also practiced the doggie paddle and could use that to keep herself afloat for a few moments with the water wings on. Making so much progress with swimming was very exciting!

Playdate in LA with cousins

Ruby and Zoe (11y) had a frog jump race and a bunny hop race. Then they pretended to be kitty and doggie. 

The gang (cousins Spencer 18months, Zoe, Ian 7y, Elliot 9y, Eve, Grandma Gloria, Paul and Heidi) played in Spencer's upstairs play area. Eve taught a juggling lesson and Spencer was excited to have so many kids there!

Ruby also got some time to play at Grandma Gloria's house with the puppies. She and Polyp got along very well.

Clara's Build a Bear Birthday

Ruby's best friend Clara turned 4! Her party was Ruby's first time at Build a Bear. Guess what animal she picked? Of course, a cat! She was thrilled they had one. She asked, "Mommy, will I have to give this cat back when we're done with the party or can I take it home?" And she danced when I told her she could keep it.

She chose a purple t-shirt and ear bows for her cat to wear. 

They also give their new animals a bath and they get a cardboard animal carrier and name card for it. 

Ruby named her cat "Frisco". Two different adults said "Oh, like San Francisco." and Ruby replied to each of them, "No, what are you talking about?"

The video is of kids wiggling while the stuffing goes into the animals.

Heidi's Birthday Party

We had a lovely BBQ party with several of Ruby's friends (and Paul and Heidi's friends). Ruby picked out 6 candles and let each friend put one on the cakes. Then she asked us to tie balloons around her while she and her friend Auggie discussed how many it would take to make them float. Ruby was a great hostess, sharing all her toys and inviting people out back to see daddy cooking all the food on the grill. At Auggie's request, everyone sang happy birthday in English and in Hebrew.

Chloe's Hula Mermaid Birthday Party!

Chloe always has huge birthday parties. At this one she had a mermaid teach hula lessons and do magic tricks. Ruby showed up all ready in her hula stuff, but preferred to keep her distance from the mermaid. So Ruby and mommy played patty-cake in the shade and then joined everyone else for the little swimming pools and cake. It was a very hot day, so the pools were a great idea. (No pool photos posted because for guests under 4 it was bathing suits optional.)

Chloe had two very fancy mermaid cakes! And her living room is always full of toys. It even has a climbing thing with a slide right in the middle of the room! Ruby was here many times for mommy group playdates when she was very small, pretty regularly until she was about 18 months. She remembers it pretty well.

Ruby saw one of Chloe's presents (a barbie cinderella coach pulled by a horse) and asked to put it on her wish list. She also put her shoes on and off by herself, went down the slide in the living room, and had orange popsicles with her friends Holly and Chloe.