Cabo! (part 1)

We left on Memorial Day for our first trip back to Cabo since the hurricane. We had a great time and it was so nice to see our friends.

It's different there now. Lots of the hotels still haven't reopened, there are buildings that appear to have not been touched since the storm ripped through and the people are just a touch less happy. While we were there the threat of another hurricane was looming and people were nervous. Thankfully it weakened and didn't do any damage.

It didn't take us long to find our old routine....and as always it was HARD to come home. Gracie has decided she's ready to live there and Maggie still says she couldn't move their full time.....but she's considering part-time :)

Going back to Cuadra SanFrancisco was like walking back into a great friends house. They're a
truly wonderful family and we so enjoy our time there. Not having Shakira there was hard, but Maggie got the
chance to ride 4 horses while she was there and she loved them all. Two of the days we were there, Valente invited Maggie to come back in the evening for classes he was teaching, so somehow in 8 days she managed to have 10 lessons and a trail ride :) She's got it rough......she'd MUCH rather be at this hot dusty barn then on the beach.

Even on vacation Gracie spends hours hanging out 'in' a barn!

Somebody else stole Maggie's name for their golf cart.

Maggie spent about 20 minutes learning to get up on this surf board in the pool, then she told
me she thought she was ready to go take a lesson in the ocean the next day.......Um, probably not, maybe when she's
a teenager!

Some people told us about an awesome swimming teacher, so we hired him to come work
with the girls. What we didn't know was that he spoke NO English. I was sure it would
be a disaster with Gracie.....she proved me wrong. She loved him and spent 30 minutes every day giggling and
learning to swim with him. It was amazing to watch. Just the other day I told her she had swim lessons next week
here in Norfolk, she asked if Mr. Raul would be there to help her :)

She's trouble! One day she told us "if Lauren was here, we would sneak out at midnight
and drive the golf cart to the beach." That's funny when she's 4, somehow I think it will be less
funny when she's 14!

WHOA!

Whoa, I'm behind! I'm going to attempt to catch up with mostly pictures....hopefully I can remember the high points of the last month.....there have been SO many!

Right after Maggie's Birthday, we headed to Omaha for Uncle Vadim's Graduation! I'd be lying if I said there weren't days I wondered if he'd actually graduate, BUT he did and we couldn't be more proud of him for it. We had a fun weekend celebrating him.....

"Helping" Grandma get ready for the party!

Deem got golf clubs and lessons....Arnie better be working on his game!

At the party we all got to meet our new cousin Madeline for the first time!

Congrats Deem! Mom and Dad are almost empty nesters.......(Again!)

Maggie's Birthday

Yesterday we celebrated Maggie's Birthday with Arby's for lunch, a couple of hours in the barn, and Prime Rib dinner at the Sand Bar. Grandma & Pops got home from Arizona just in time and Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Deem, Uncle Mark and Elsie came to help us celebrate. Maggie really enjoyed her day. 

 

This morning I had to tell Maggie some terrible news and I was dreading it. Shakira, her favorite Mexican horse died of colic. I knew how broken hearted she would be but she needed to know before we get there next week. Maggie took the news very well, she was sad but really handled it like a big girl. I'm very proud of her and so sad that Shakira is gone. I think her first ride on a new horse their will be hard but I know they will have another one she'll love.  Shakira will always be special to us, she was the first horse that made Maggie love to ride and the first horse she ever took a lesson on.

Last Day of School!

Today was the girls last day of school! It's freezing cold and raining here, so it seems crazy- but it's that time of year.  Gracie was sad that they didn't get to play outside today, she loves the sand.

 

 

At Maggie's school they had a talent show today. Here is a video of her doing the trick Papa taught her....

https://youtu.be/q2r25QiQ96c

 

She did awesome. She told me after school that lots of kids, and even her teacher, asked how she did it, but she told them that it was just magic and her Papa would be really upset if she told them the secret! :)

 

Summer break here we come!!!

 

Last weekend we had a zillion graduation parties to attend and Arnie and I both had to help with graduation at the high school and college. We ran into Ries' on Friday night and the girls concocted the idea for a sleepover....

Chelsea ate all the frosting and Gracie ate all the cake! What a pair.

Saturday and Sunday we spent some time working on the rental house. Maggie worked really hard to get the 2 layers of identical linoleum off the bathroom floor!

At Maggie's school parents usually come have lunch with their kids on their Birthday, since today was just a half day, she got to have Daddy come last week and I went on Monday. I usually just have lunch and leave, but since it was her Birthday she made me promise I'd stay for recess.....you might not be able to tell by looking at this picture but it was FREEZING, like 48 and windy....I should have checked the weather before I made that promise!

 

Happy 7th Birthday Maggie!

Dear Maggie,
Not only do you turn 7 today, but it was also the last day of 1st Grade. After school we went out for lunch on the way you were asking about the day you were born. I said I remember it all like it just happened yesterday, you quickly said, "well I don't." That's a Maggie answer, so very literal and matter of fact.

You loved 1st grade. You have become an avid and exceptional reader, I think you can already do multiplication flashcards faster then I can and you love being at school. You have some really nice friends. I was sad to see some of the playground politics that started this year. I hate the days when other kids make you feel less then perfect, but you're learning to handle it. Daddy and I are so proud of you and how you choose to treat others.

Since you're last birthday you met your new best friend, Jude. You'd live in the barn with her if Daddy and I would let you. You've also changed horse trainers, it was a hard transition for you. You don't like change and you're fiercely loyal. When you first met Kristine you didn't want to like her and I was really worried it would change your love of riding. You came around quickly, you started to trust her and you've learned a ton. Not only do you have Jude, but you also switched to an English saddle and riding style. You really excel at it, it is a great compliment to your attention to detail and need for precision and perfection. I love watching you and Jude as a team. You both love each other. You walk all over the arena and she follows with her head right next to your shoulder. She was a great addition to our family.

You still love to be involved at church. This year we tried Girl Scouts. You enjoyed it, but next year I think we will switch to 4H. You're also still playing softball. I'm not actually sure you like softball, I think you love being on a team, you really enjoy your team mates and you're glad to have Daddy as a coach. You're a Daddy's girl thru and thru. You both love your drive to school in the morning and the teasing that goes with it. You've taught Daddy how to catch and saddle a horse and you enjoy the time you get to spend in the barn with him.

You're favorite food is STEAK, specifically Prime Rib. You're favorite piece of clothing is your boots (the dirty horse poop covered pair, not the nice dress up ones :)) You'd choose to wear sweatpants and t-shirts every day (with a pair of jeans close by)if it were up to you. You hate that I make you make your bed every morning. You HATE to spend money, unless it's on something Jude needs, you always say "isn't it a good think that I just want to save it mom?" Yes dear girl, it is a good thing that you want to save it. You like to play dolls with your sister and you love to do projects or sew and ride your bike.

You and Gracie have started fighting ALOT. I know it's hard to be the big sister and I know she is really good at getting you in trouble, but you're patience for her shenanigans has gotten less. There are moments though, when you're so sweet to her. You let her climb in bed with you when she asks, you read her a book when she'll let you and most mornings you let her sit in the coveted end seat at the island for breakfast, just so she won't throw a fit. You're a great big sister, she's lucky to have you.

Daddy and I are so proud of you. We are proud of how hard you work at school and how willing you are to help at home. We're proud of what a good friend and kid you are. We're proud of how sure you are of your love for God, your family and your friends. 6 has been a good year for you and while I wish time would slow down a bit, I can't wait to see what 7 has in store.

Happy Happy 7th Birthday Maggie!
Love, Mom

Let's see.....

I have changed some security settings and done a zillion google searches, it seems that now my blog is at least not "googelable".....My children (and my husband and I) can't be searched and have the blog show up, I've double checked that our last name isn't all over it and there are no references to our address....so far now, I'm going to call that good. I'll wait and see if any strange comments or visitors appear in the near future....I hope not, but if they do, then I'll revisit.

I CAN'T believe there are only 5 days of school left.....4 and a half really! AHHHHHHHHHH! I feel like my list of "to do's" before I have the kids home full time is looooonnnnggg. AND Maggie's Birthday is next week and I have done ABSOLUTLY nothing to prepare....shhhhhh don't tell her, I'll wing it!

Gracie's soccer season wrapped up last week, her coach (dad) was relieved. She seemed to enjoy it, though I'm pretty sure she's the kid who would enjoy any sport, no matter how good she was at it, as long as it was outside. She's almost done with her primary Montessori drawers (phonics, letter writing and basic reading) and SUPER excieted that when she gets back school in the fall she will be a "downstairs kid", a "reader" and get to do workbooks.

Maggie and Jude are still working hard at loping and Maggie is anxious for summer so she can spend more time in the barn.....she keeps asking if she can spend extra time there doing chores.....why doesn't she ever ask that at home? Yesterday Maggie got an award at school for her reading comprehension, she's doing great in everything at school but her reading is especially great. Last time they tested her she was reading at somewhere between a 4th and 5th grade level....she's supposed to read an assigned number of books in her level each quarter....do you have any idea how hard it is to find books appropriate and understandable for a first grader that are written for a 5th grader??? I feel like an expert Amazon searcher and I've definitely read more chapters of Judy Bloom (when I'm home alone) then I'd like to admit.

Arnie and I have been working hard to get our rental house ready. We finally have everything pretty much ready to put back together....now we wait for kitchen cabinets. Our house plans are coming along, we have the basic floor plan pretty much worked out. We've interviewed a couple of builders in the last week. It sounds like we won't be able to break ground until spring of next year and hopefully we will move in sometime late spring of 2017......it seems like a long time, but there are a bazillion decisions to be made between now and I'm guessing it will be here before we know it.

My purse was stolen last weekend, out of the truck in my parents drive way. It's been a headache! By the time we found it (8am) they had used my credit cards at every gas station on Maple street. Apparently they needed all the scratch tickets in town! I had to cancel both my credit cards, close our checking account and replace Gracie's gum :) Darn bad guys strike again! I have replaced all the financial stuff but haven't replaced my favorite camera or my sunglasses yet.....I suppose I should give up hope they will be found. I'm hopefully my new drivers license comes today, it really bothers my rule following daughter that I would dare drive without it.

Brandon graduated from college last Saturday! We're so proud of him....he's looking for a job, but I think secretly hoping he'll have a little time to "relax" this summer. Hopefully we'll get to see some of him. His Indian dream catcher is still hanging in his bedroom, I expect that that means now that he's a grownup he's still going to use "his room". He came home 2 weeks ago and wanted to take the girls fishing....if you've ever fished with little kids you know about how it went :) Bless his heart he tried. They only broke one pole and the girls didn't catch anything, but they were so HAPPY he took them!

Maggie made a Chia head at church a few weeks ago, it's growing like crazy. It takes talent to 'brush' the grass into
pigtails. She thinks I should braid it next......probably not.

To blog or not to blog??

I've been doing some research lately and have been thinking a lot about my blog. I don't EVER want to do anything that would bring danger or harm to my kids....maybe sharing their lives online has some repercussions that I hadn't considered. Occasionally someone I don't know will leave a comment or something weird will pop up on a post...I just want to protect the girls.

I LOVE blogging about our life. I started this so I would have a record of the day to day memories....and we all enjoy looking through the books of past years and reading about what we were up to. There are also SO many of you who I wish could be a part of my girls daily lives, but can't and sharing this blog with all of you makes it feel more like you are here with us. I'm so grateful for the calls the kids get asking about what they did this day or that, or input and advice on different things I write about. My kids world is more full because some of you take the time to see what's happening in their lives and check in. They feel like you know them and that is invaluable to me.

There are ways to secure the blog a little, to give people permission to read it, but that makes it a real pain to read. I don't know. I have more research to do. Maybe it's fine the way it is....I just need to decide what the risk is and if it's worth it. I really love having you all in our lives, I just can't ever do anything that risks my girls safety and comfort. Damn bad guys, they have to mess up everything! We'll see, I'll keep posted.

BUT as long as I'm writing we've had lots of fun lately, so here are a few pictures.....

Oh Jude!

Movie night at Grandma and Grandpas!

Hammering practice in the shop.

Gracie has a new friend at the barn.

Today was Gracie's Bike-A-Thon at school. 60 three and four and year olds on bikes is more
dangerous then it sounds (especially for the Mom/Teacher traffic cops)

After they were done riding they had a pizza picnic. Gracie has the best teachers, they
have always been so good to both girls. I really enjoy getting a chance to help them.

Lots of posting! Tuesday Maggie and Jude started loping (running faster)...Maggie was really excited
to try it. It's one of those things I would expect her to be afraid of but because Jude is involved she's willing to try.
They make a great team.

Tuesday was Maggie's last Girl Scout meeting of the year. We've had fun with our little
troop of Daisy's. We aren't going to do Girl Scouts next year, there just isn't time and we will
need to start working on 4H so she can ride Jude in the fair. 

 

Tuesday was Ms Lauren's last softball game. Maggie and I drove up to Yankton to watch.
Lauren graduates from college next Saturday and in a few weeks she'll be off to her new job
in Dallas. I'm not sure how her mother is handling it, but it sure is HARD on me.