Look out world....

Gracie is 5 months old!!! and she's ready to show off a few of her tricks...







We had a boring, regular day at home today...only it wasn't really boring or regular because it happens so rarely.






Maggie and I are a heck of a hair-bow making team. We've been working on them for a few days. We wouldn't want naked pig-tails :)


You can't see this picture very well, but if you could, you would see Dick is playing the purple guitar and Maggie is singing and dancing in circles.


Such a happy girl. Say a prayer for her, Thursday morning we go see the specialist about her eyes. I feel like maybe they're starting to look a little better, but it might just be wishful thinking. We've heard great things about this doctor so I trust that no matter what he says, at least we will know what she needs and what's best for her.

Arnie comes home tomorrow, it will be nice to have him back. We miss him all the time, but somehow the hardest time of the day is getting both girls bathed, pajamas on and Maggie tucked into bed...then I really miss him!


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A few days of catch up...

Sunday morning Arnie left for San Francisco and Grace and I drove to Two Rivers where Maggie was camping. Maggie spent the weekend there with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Deem, Aunt Laura and Uncle Mark. She LOVED it! She's pretty much been asking when we can go back since the minute we loaded up. Tomorrow I'll ask her to tell me about camping and I'll record it, I'd love to tell you what she'd say, but I'm sure I can't do it justice.

After a couple of days of camping, fishing, playing outside and eating s'mores Maggie looked like a little homeless child, and she was so happy about all the dirt. (In my mom's defense, she did give her a shower but there was just no keeping her clean...kids need a little dirt every now and then).

Grace liked her day at the campground too. She loved watching (and listening to) the leaves on the cottonwood trees, I've never seen her notice anything quite like that.









Maggie was SO excited about this HUGE fish. She told me all about it. Grandpa said she had no interest in touching it. When I was a kid, my dad took me fishing once and we used a ham sandwich as bait...based on the outcome, I think Maggie must have used worms.





"Get out of my way UNCLE DEEM!!!"


I took a long time to get Maggie to try the tire swing, as soon as she did she was laughing hysterically.


Gracie enjoying the great outdoors.


Maggie loves riding in the "camping truck", she gets to sit in the passengers seat and she's up SO high.



Today we all went to the zoo. Maggie loved it and Grace went along for the ride. We were walking up the hill and Maggie asked about an animal, I said, "I think it's an Antelope." Maggie thought about it for a minute and then she said "Oh an Antelope, like the ones we eat." Mom, dad and I kind of looked at each other confessed, then I realized she was talking about cantaloupe :) we explained the difference and she was happy to accept our answer, but also quick to point out that the 2 words rhymed.









Wonder what could be so confusing for the gorilla??


Watching the Sea Lions.


Grace "enjoying" the zoo.


See ya later animals...we'll be back soon.


Before we left Omaha we went out for dinner and Grace got to sit in a highchair and eat her sweet potatoes like a BIG girl. She thinks she's pretty big stuff!

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Quiet...

Maggie went camping with Mom, Dad and Uncle Deem this weekend. Our house sure is quiet. I think Gracie is wondering what's going on. Tomorrow Grace and I will join them at the campground for a few hours. I can't wait to hear how her weekend in the "camping truck" was!

Here is a picture mom sent this morning....



I'm sure Maggie was thrilled to get to go fishing, she's been asking about it all summer. And look what she caught..... (sorry, I can't get the picture to rotate)



She called me to tell me about her HUGE fish. :)

I can't wait to hear the rest of the stories.

I think maybe Gracie is starting to get a tooth, we'll see. She's been a little fussier then usual and she's not as interested in eating...I guess time will tell.

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Yee haw and good-bye...

The other day a box arrived in the mail while Maggie was at school, I opened it and inside were a pair of shinny new pink cowgirl boots.  Mr Jeff, Aunt Amy's dad, had sent them for Maggie.  I knew she would be so excited so I left one boot out on top of the box so she'd see it when she came in.  Well she did see it and she giggled and was so bouncing off the walls.  Then I opened the box and handed her the 2nd boot and she said "OH MY GOSH, Mr Jeff sent me TWO boots!!!" I have no idea what she thought she was going to do with just one boot, but boy was she excited when she found out there were 2!!

Yesterday we had to say Good-Bye to Miss Lauren, she's headed for college. Thankfully she's just going to be in Yankton so we'll still see her a lot, but Maggie has gotten so used to her being here a couple times a week, she's really going to miss her (and so am I).  I think Lauren is going to miss the girls almost as much as they miss her.  She's promised to come back and watch them on breaks and next summer.  She's like a big sister to Maggie, she's WAY more fun then mom and she has been a great role model and teacher for her. We're all so excited for what this next chapter of life will bring for Lauren but she will certainly be missed around here. Maggie colored her a beautiful picture for her dorm fridge :)



This looks a little Tarzan to me. You wouldn't want to waste any steak!

 

Nice boots...

 

She might be a crazy cat lady when she's older.



...and then she rolled over.



Good-Bye Miss Lauren, we love you!!



Tuesday afternoon I was out setting up the studio for a shoot and Grace was SO happy.
She wasn't wearing an outfit I necessarily loved for a picture, so her birthday suit was our only
other option :) My kids are really going to dislike me someday!

 and a little video of Maggie singing to finish up for today....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR_H2JWonE4

 

The "First" day of school...

Today was the official first day of the new school year.  Maggie's been going a couple days a week in the summer, but other then a little work on their letters, summer school is mostly playtime. So today it was back to the grind :)

I'm not sure what's going on here...I asked for her best first day of school smile??



One of the symptoms of Grace's eye problem is that it makes her eyes really sensitive
to the sun and bright light. I found these sunglasses and they fit her little head great and
she really seems to like them. She doesn't love wearing a hat, but she doesn't fuss about these at all.



After school today we stopped at Target for a couple of things. I needed a new alarm clock, and while I was grabbing one Maggie noticed a Hello Kitty alarm clock. She asked if she could have it, and I said no, but that she could have a clock like that (analog) when she learned to tell time. Once we got home she disappeared for a few minutes and came back to the kitchen with this clock.  I didn't even know we had a clock, I have no idea where it came from. Anyway, she walked in the kitchen and said, "Mom, teach me to tell time. I think it will take us about 2 days."  She was determined to try. Have you ever tried to teach a 3 year old to tell time? The hour hand was pretty easy to explain, but I'm not even sure how to explain the minutes...any ideas??

The longest time-out ever...

At church this morning Maggie decided to misbehave....so after church she was sentenced to spend the length of church in her room...an hour & 15 min. That is a LONG time-out (she usually has to sit on the steps for 3 or 4 minutes). She also had to say a prayer and tell God she was sorry for being disrespectful during church. I know, I know, I'm the meanest mommy ever, but I think she got the point and I expect a different outcome next Sunday.


Maggie reading Gracie a bedtime story.



Why does it look like we have a small Catholic School girl? :)

 

Maggie and I cleaned, cooked and froze a bunch of corn today. Every time she pulled the outside off an ear
she seemed surprised that there was corn on the inside. I'm not sure what she expected...



Gracie has been doing a lot of "swimming".  She thinks it's pretty funny.

This video is a little long but it's Maggie talking about golfing with Arnie. Obviously she doesn't do much sitting still.... (it might make more sense if you know her golf bag has 3 clubs, 1 driver...her "knocker", 1 iron....her "whacker" and a putter...her "clubo" or "putter".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCvYDhx_sus

First thing this morning...

...I went and climbed in bed with Maggie to wake her up for school. We usually snuggle for a few minutes before she gets up. This morning she rolled over and put both arms around my neck and smiled, I was expecting her to say I love you mommy or good morning mommy, or something sweet....but after she smiled she said, "Mommy, I can't figure out how they make cranberry juice.  I've been thinking about it all night."  Wow....I hope she didn't lose too much sleep over it :)

Yesterday Miss Lauren returned. We were at the beach for 3 weeks and Lauren has been out of town for the 2 weeks we've been home. I'm not sure who was more excited Maggie, Lauren or Me :)  Next Friday she leaves for college, that will be a sad day for sure.  I haven't even begun to try and find a new sitter, I can't imagine finding someone else that my kids love as much as Lauren. 

Yesterday, I took a quick look at a few more pictures from the beach, here are a couple more of my girls...

24 hours in the Windy City....

Arnie and I went to Chicago for about 24 hours this week.  We got there at lunch time on Monday, had lunch, went for a walk, got ready for Dick's party, went to the party, slept, had breakfast and flew home...
quick trip. Dick was awarded the Metal Service Center Executive of the Year award....we've affectionately been calling it the Metal Man Award.

The girls stayed in Omaha with Grandma & Grandpa and had a great time.  When we got home, they were in a "tent" in the living room reading stories.  I'm pretty sure I was never allowed to make the kind of mess in my mom and dad's house that my kids are encouraged to make :)

This morning Brandon left for college.  He was so excited to go it was hard to be sad. We'll all miss him, but we'll see him more in Lincoln then we did when he was in Annapolis.

 The Metal Man award dinner was a US Cellular Field. We got to walk out on the field and sit in the Sox dugout.  Even for a bunch of Cubs fans it was cool to see.



Several of the other board members wanted to be sure their teams were represented too.
Amy is wearing Alabama, Arnie has on a Northwestern Jersey and Diane is proudly sporting USC.



Happy Gracie...Go Cubs Go!

Maggie was convinced that Grace was reading her a stroy.

Grace and Great-Grandma having a little chat.

Lots of goodies at Grandma and Grandpa's!

Aunt Laura and Uncle Mark brought Maggie a Moose hat from Wisconsin.

 Unlce Mark's Dad is very sick in the hospital in Omaha, in a few short hours, the pain will be gone and he will be in Heaven. Maggie has been really worried about him. We're all thinking about and praying for comfort for Mark, Laura and the whole family. I'm also praying for my little girl, we've never had to tell her about someone dying, I hope she'll understand and find peace in knowing he's in Heaven.   

A couple of quick Maggie stories....

...before I forget them.

Arnie and I both say, "Maggie you're pretty stinkin' cute",  on a fairly regular basis.  Several times in the last couple of days she's said, "Mom, I'm pretty sinkin' hot." I don't think she means sweaty :)

Yesterday, I was in the shower, when Maggie came in and we had this conversation-
Maggie- "Mommy, I gave Gracie her toy and said here you go Grace, and then kissed her forehead. Was
that being a good role model?"
Me- "Yes, that was being a good role model. Thanks for playing with your sister. What toy did you give her?" (I was mostly just confirming that it wasn't a polly pocket or a permanent marker)
Maggie- "her giraffe."
Me- "Oh she must have dropped it, that's what she was playing with before."
Maggie- "No mom, I took it away from her and made her cry before I gave it back nicely."

Poor Grace, somehow I think she better toughen up quickly!

I see you....

Grace and I made the trip to Omaha today to see the eye doctor.  The GREAT news is that Grace can see....her eye sight is really good, and there are no issues with her peripheral vision.  Her left eye lid does droop a little but hopefully she'll out grow that.  The bad news is that it sounds like she does need to have a little operation on both of her lower eyelids.  Her lower eyelashes are turned in, so every time she moves her eyes they rub on her eyeball. She has always rubbed her eyes alot and has had kind of watery eyes, and that's why.  The eye doctor said it probably feels like she has a dozen eyelashes in her eyes all the time, poor thing!  They refereed us on to another eye/plastic surgeon who we'll meet with and make a plan for the next steps.  If she really is uncomfortable, I'm hopeful that they will be able to give her some relief soon.  I'm very thankful that it's not a permanent problem with her eyesight.

On a side note, medicine is amazing...the fact that they can dilate the eyes of a 4 month old baby and then use different instruments to determine both her near and far sighted vision is unbelievable to me!


Gracie's dilated eyes...if you look close you'll see long top eye lashes and no eye lashes on the bottom. That little pocket or bag under each eye is basically what they remove with the surgery and then it pulls the skin tights and makes her lower lashes "roll" out.

Last night Maggie and Arnie rescued a little frog from Peanut.  Maggie decided she would take the frog to school for show & tell today....so we found it a big box, put some rocks, grass and water in the box and let the frog spend the night in the laundry room sink. Thankfully "Fancy Nancy" the frog was still alive and hopping this morning, and off to school we went. She was so proud of her frog. Show and tell is just kind of a 'whenever you want to' activity at Maggie's school and this is the first time she's ever wanted to take anything. It sounds like she did great....she's still one of the younger kids but it's fun to see her grow up and be a big girl. Her teachers must be prepared for everything because all the kids colored/painted frog pictures after they met "Fancy Nancy".  After school Arnie & Maggie set Nancy free. Maggie reminded me this afternoon that she still wants to be a frog for Halloween....she might be set on this one! 

The girls snuggling in their Grandma Betti blankets.

Peek-A-Boo!!