Pelley Family Blog

I was a bad mom last month and forgot to take a picture of Ruby with her actual quiz box.  I’m trying so hard to adequately chronicle this first year for Ruby.  Children’s quizzing involves multiple choice questions, and the kids pull the answer card out of their box.  I’ve had pretty low expectations for Ruby’s quizzing, since language is still an issue.  I have bragged and bragged on her performance last month.  BUT, she figured out that she got the “lowest” ribbon, and that other kids were getting “perfect round” ribbons, and she was motivated.  She didn’t get any perfect rounds, but she was thrilled to improved to a “silver” ribbon. 

Ruby and Kristyn with their boxes

showing off their ribbons

Ruby dressed up as Queen Esther and joined the party at the Bedford Nazarene Church! 

We’re doing something new at our church.  It’s call 1/10 Sunday.  Just as the Bible instructs us to give 1/10 of our income (His income that He lets us manage), every tenth Sunday, we come to church in work clothes - to serve our community.   We had a gorgeous day for working outside.  Our pastor took us to an abandoned lot (there are lots of those in the city), and we cleaned it up - hopefully making a nicer, safer place for kids to play.  Mike spent the entire time cutting grass.  Ruby, Grace and Cleo (their friend) dug rocks and cement pieces (where there used to be houses) out of the ground, to make for a smoother surface.  We had a great time.

I just wanted to share some recent scenes from our kitchen.  Ruby LOVES to help in the kitchen.  In fact, I have to watch her, or she just pushes me aside and takes over - not very polite.  Since she seems so at ease helping, I often assume she knows what she is doing.  That would not be the case.  One day, as she was chopping vegetables, I asked her if she did this for her foster mama in China.  She said - “Oh no!  She wouldn’t let me touch the sharp knives.”  Oops.  Well - one of my LEAST favorite jobs is chopping onions.  In fact, I often save “onion” meals for times I know Mike will be home.  This particular night, Ruby volunteered to help.  It wasn’t long before she started saying, “Crying - crying.”  She then asked for some swim goggles. I thought it was a hoot!

Now - for the brussel sprouts - I just couldn’t resist these when I was buzzing through the grocery store the other day - I had never seen them sold like this!  They look nothing like the ones we grew last year.  Boy - were they good!