Memory Problems???

A couple of weeks ago we made a quick trip to Lincoln to visit Gramma Lea and Papa. While we were there Papa said something about being so glad the girls knew and remembered him.....when we got in the car Maggie asked why he said that, she said "does he think we have memory problems??" :)

Gramma Lea has a pink cast on her broken wrist, the girls were pumped to sign it!

Papa always has toys.

Papa prides himself on still being able to push Gracie, they were off to look for new toys....

....they came back in style :)

That same weekend was the Father/Daughter dance at school. This year it was Luau themed. They had a good time and we are happy to report there was no blood this time (Maggie broke her nose at the last Father/Daughter dance).

After our trip to Lincoln, we decided maybe we should get started setting up the nursery for Baby Chip. Maggie was at a Birthday Party so Arnie and Gracie tackled the crib alone.

If you're going to clean, you might as well look stylish.

Wow! That's a lot of parts! We should have labeled things better.

Maggie is back to help put the finishing touches on.

Time to test it out!

Monday morning when I went to get Gracie up for school she asked if we could vote to have Saturday again! Wouldn't that be nice :)

Breezy, do you like to be brushed :)

https://youtu.be/2kC5R2UeKF8
 

Cabo.

I'm not sure why we came home???? It was 80 degrees and sunny at the beach and 13 when we got off the plane! We couldn't have asked for better weather or a better time. I know it's not reality but it's definitely my happy place.

 

Not a bad place to watch the Super Bowl!

 

Gracie was unimpressed :)

  

....but she was pretty sure that the Super Bowl cupcakes were early birthday cake for her (it originally said "50", but she thought the 0 was an accident)

 

Lots of UNO!

 

....and swimming!

 

You can't beat eating breakfast outside.....what I wouldn't give for that today!

 

The girls dear friend Elizabeth doesn't work at El Dorado anymore, but she came to spend an afternoon

with them. They're lucky girls to have so many special grownups in their lives.

 

They're getting along (for a bit) :) actually they did a really good job of getting along

most of the trip. I hope they can keep it up.

 

 

Of course there was our daily trip to the girls FAVORITE place on earth. It was a little quieter then usual around the barn,

but the girls were both so happy to be back. Watching them ride is a whole different experience then at home, they are both

so much more confident and willing when we're there. Valente really challenges them but they don't seem to notice, they just

go along willingly. I wish I could harness that confidence and bring it home, especially for Maggie.

 

 

We don't have trails with this kind of a view around here.

 

One morning we had a little time to kill so we stopped for a cinnamon roll and coffee (actually milk in Gracie's case). She looked

at me right after I took this picture and said, "Mom, this is so posh!" I asked where she learned that, she said, "from Fancy Nancy!" With that

'you are an idiot' tone that only Gracie has mastered!

 

Cheers!

 

 

Paint?? No, I haven't been painting, why?

 

The girls were super excited to see their names on the movie theater sign. They always love movie night but it's way less

cool when mom or dad's name is on the sign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to a tip from a friend at the barn, Maggie got to try her hand at glass blowing.

 

They got the glass all ready for Gracie to try, but she got a little scared at the last minute, so she turned it

over to Daddy.

 

 

 

One of our favorite stops in San Jose! It wouldn't be a trip without the worlds best popsicles!

 

 

 

Oh Gracie!!

 

 

Some kids can't wait to play in the sand and find seashells....Gracie can't wait to climb the rocks.

 

 

 

 

 

.....and who needs seashells when you can take home a hunk of rock!

 

Mama and baby made it to the top too!

Maggie getting her spurs! It was a BIG moment....she was super proud and really didn't want to take them off her boots

when she was done :)

 

Yippy!!!

 

Gracie loves the horses, but she was pretty happy to snuggle Petunia the puppy too. She thinks

we should name the baby Petunia :)

 

 

 

 

Gracie went the whole trip without asking for a life jacket or floaty. She confirmed that she is officially a swimmer!

 

The girls made me some beautiful new jewelry. Maggie made the beautiful bracelet and Gracie made me a watch

that says it's always bedtime :)

 

Valente usually invites Maggie to ride with his students while we're there. This time was no

different. It's a great experience for her.

 

The Mexican cowgirl gang :)

Grandpa picked us up at the airport late on Saturday night and poof, just like that we were back to reality. Sunday we spent a little time in Omaha and then headed back to Norfolk.....the girls were pumped that on Valentine's day you can get heart shaped pizza :)