Neighborhood Garage Sale finds

This weekend was our neighborhood's garage sale. I found Ruby a few things including a vanity, a lawn mower, several books, puzzles, a baby cradle, a tea set and some cute clothes!

Owl says hoot, hoot, hoot

Ever since Lauren/Noah's owl-themed birthday party Ruby has known how to say owl. Recently she learned that owls say hoot, hoot.

She is fascinated with owls everywhere -on tv, on signs, on fabric, in books. Last week we went to a neat toy shop in Southlake that has this concrete owl in front. Ruby had to say hello.

Ruby plays in the kitchen

One of Ruby's friends invited us over to try out her new play kitchen. All the little girls loved it.






The kitchen had these neat burners that lit up and sizzled when they used pans.






Hot dogs anyone?







What a fun playdate!

Oktoberfest with the Jaaskelainen's

Last weekend we went to Addison Oktoberfest with Sakari and Annette.



Ruby stayed with a babysitter at Matias' house.




Alex and I enjoying some good Oktoberfest beer.








Annette and I.

Morning walk around the duck pond

Since the weather was a slight bit cooler this week we've started going for walks again. It was just way to hot in the summertime!

I let Ruby walk around the sidewalks...she is still learning about walking in a particular direction. She often turns and speed walks the opposite way I'm going!


Awww, looking at a flower she found.

New recipes

Now that Ruby goes to bed consistently around 7, Alex and I have more time to try out new recipes. Some recent ones we really enjoyed were...

Indian vegetable samosas with homemade spicy mango chutney. Inside of phyllo pastry I put boiled potato, peas, spinach, cauliflower, curry spice, cumin, salt, pepper, sauteed onion, garlic and lemon juice. For the mango chutney I let a whole chopped mango, half an onion, brown sugar, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, ground ginger, salt and pepper simmer down into gooey deliciousness!

Another night we made Thai chili basil noodle stir fry (also called Drunken Noodles). It required quite a few
ingredients we just don't keep around the house...like bean paste and fish sauce!

Tutu tea party at Ruby's house

This past week Ruby hosted a tutu tea party at her house. All the toddlers wore their tutus and Ruby wore one I made for her. I bought each of the girls a rose to play with.









They loved Ruby's new slide...







And playing in her room.





We even played outside for a short time.


It was so cute to see all the girls dressed up. I'm sure we will do another one soon!