Introducing....Ruby!

On Friday, January 20 our third grandchild was born and we are so excited to welcome Ruby into our family. She is indeed a little gem.

The Brooks Family, Jason, Jill and Ruby.

Ruby Juanita Brooks

Four generations: Great Grandma Donna, Jill, Ruby and Grandma Sharon

Proud Great Grandparents, Ruby is their 11th great grandchild!

The happy family at home, next to the huge announcement sign that Grandpa Bob found!

With our three grandkids, Ruby, Henry and Charlie

I got to spend an entire week helping Jill and Jay get settled with their new little one. What a joy! I told Jill it is just surreal that my baby has a baby, but it just cannot get any better than this. We are so blessed with our family and Ruby is already so loved by so many.

She spends a lot of time sleeping. Is there anything more precious then a sleeping newborn baby? I don't think so.

Big brown eyes.

She has some seriously long toes and feet, Jay says she gets them from him.

We love our Ruby!

This Summer...

We went to a Dodger game with the whole family.

First we had lunch at the park.
Henry was ready to "root, root, root, for the Dodgers!"
This was the only decent picture I got at the game.
It was a really hot day and the Dodgers lost, but it was great to spend a whole day with my favorite people in the world, my family.

This Summer...

I've taken lots of bike rides.

Along the way I see city streets,
our version of waterfalls
and rivers,
lots of almonds trees,
and wide open spaces.
There are surely more beautiful places to live in this world, but I kind of like our little piece of earth. When Labdhi (our visitor from L.A.) was here she kept commenting on how far you can see and how uncluttered everything is. It helped me look at where I live through different eyes and I liked what I saw!

This Summer...

We had house guests.Selena (from Tehachapi) and Labdhi (from L.A.) stayed with us for a week while they participated in the Distinguished Young Women of California scholarship program. They were great girls and we had a lot of fun getting to know them. Henry liked them too because they sat on the floor and played with all of his cars. That is the way into a two year old's heart.

This Summer...

Henry got to go on a tractor ride with Grandpa Bob and I got to tag along.

Henry was pretty excited.
Both hands on the wheel!
Checking out the trees.
Total concentration was involved.
What a lucky boy!

This Summer...

we have been getting to know our Charlie!

It has been GREAT!

Work-cation

Last week we headed over to the beach for some relaxation and quite a bit of work. We did manage to spend a little time on the beach... and hold this little guy as much as possible.

Henry played a lot of "hitball" and "hoopball" with whoever was willing. Lucky for him Aunt Jill was available a good part of the week. The last day we were there John was playing with him in the front yard and he decided he needed a catcher's mask. This is what he came up with...

too funny!
The other reason we were all at the beach was to get some work done. Two years ago we redid the living room/kitchen/dining area. Last year we worked on the master bedroom and bathroom. This year our focus was the two downstairs bedrooms and bathroom. I don't know what was wrong with me, but I got no before pictures and only a few afters. The rooms are not totally complete, they still need some decor on the walls and new carpet, but for now they look so much better.

The first room used to have a bunk bed, plain white walls and vertical blinds on the sliding glass door. Now it looks like this...

We painted the walls a soft yellow, purchased a new daybed with a trundle, added blue and white striped bedding with floral pillows, and hung Ikea curtains with added trim on the door windows. We also got new blinds on the narrow window above the bed. This is also the new home for the happy red dresser. I love it in the room!

The second room got a fresh coat of paint (the same color that is in the entry). I also upholstered the existing headboard and installed lights. We took out the bulky dresser and added cubicles with storage next to the bed. It feels a lot roomier now. This room also got new blinds on the window. The quilt was already in there. I think it works really well with the new headboard.

The bathroom also got a fresh coat of paint, a new shower curtain, and a hook rail for towels. Alas, there are no pictures of the bathroom. Once I get a few things hung on the walls and the new curtains are hung I will post more pictures. Until then, the rooms are a lot more enjoyable to look at than they were before. Thanks to my family for all the help, and I promise that next year our vacation will not involve paint brushes!