Introducing a sweet bundle of girl!

As I was sitting and relaxing with my husband one wonderful evening, I got a surprise call from my very best friend, Jenifer. "My water just broke and we're headed to the hospital" she said! I kissed my sleeping baby & my hubby, threw on my sneakers and out the door I went. After a very long night and even longer morning, little Ruby Elaine Sheppard made her way into this world. She was 8lbs 13oz and 21.5in of beautiful squirming baby girl! Her big sister Shirley thinks she is absolutely the neatest thing this side of the moon and she is being such a good baby for her tired Momma. I can't wait to go smooch on her little face again and give her lots of love from her "Auntie" Pickle. Here are a few pics that I took at the hospital that day. Congrats Jen, Cory, and Shirley!! We love you all!!
Daddy had to count all those little fingers and toes while she was getting all checked out.
Such a sweet little face
Father-daughter bonding

My first time to see Ruby...I already love her to pieces!
A sweet moment between Mommy and Ruby
This little girl has got some big feet! Her little toes look like fingers...so cute!
Her first smile for the camera :-)
3 pretty girls.....love you guys!

Wordless Wednesday

If you build it....

If you build it........he WILL come.........

......and knock it all down!! lol But he will help you rebuild!! :-)

Brotherly love...isn't it great!

Happy Birthday America...just a tad late:-)

Well, I'm a little late on my 4th of July post, but things have been a little crazy around here the last few days with sick kiddos. We celebrated the 4th at Alice's house this year and it was a great day full of fun, fireworks, good food, good conversation, and great company. The weather was wonderful...not too hot (or humid, thank goodness) and nice & breezy. The boys had a great time shooting fireworks that day and Trevor actually got in on the action this year and lit his own! Of course, he still couldn't take his fingers out of his ears and by the time night time rolled around he was tired of shooting and watching fireworks. We live just a few blocks from the golf course where they shoot the city's fireworks off and we have a great seat to watch them in...our backyard! We can see all of them and between the city and our wealthy neighbors...we get one heck of a good show on the 4th. This year however, about half way through the city's show....it started pouring down rain! What amazed us all was that the fireworks were still going off! It was so cool and undescribable really...I wish I could have video taped it! The lightning was flashing right along with them. We ended up having to finish our own fireworks off on Sunday night..but that's okay...we got several shows in on one weekend!
Surprisingly the fireworks didn't faze Nicholas one bit....he loved watching them at night!
See, he really isn't that afraid of them anymore! yay, Trevor!
Ian would do nothing but shoot off fireworks if he could...wonder if there is a job out there for him in that field once he grows up?? lol
The perfect set of earplugs...your fingers!
Made me kind of nervous how close he would get to them to light them...I had to keep reminding him to back up!
I guess Trev didn't believe me when I said smoke bombs don't make noise! Silly boy...
Nothing quite like sleeping in the porch swing...thanks Jess!
Whatcha got there, Daddy???
Ian and I had a blast shooting off our fireworks
I was trying to catch Donovan and his roman candles...looks like I got my clothesline instead!
Ian's fountain....one of them at least...he wanted me to show it off

Wordless Wednesday