CABO!

Once we finally had a good nights sleep, we had a great time in Cabo. We did a couple of things this trip we've never done before. We took the girls to swim with the dolphins, they we're both really excited. Maggie LOVED it and was pretty sure when we left that she wants to work there when she grows up and Gracie cried through most of if. The dolphins were in a marina cove and there were lots of fish swimming around, Gracie liked the dolphins but HATED the little fish swimming all over and her sensitive skin doesn't love the salt water, so all in all, it wasn't her favorite experience.

We also had the chance to take a sunset cruise on a beautiful yacht. We had a great time, on our way back in the ocean got pretty rocky. By the time we got off the boat Maggie wasn't feeling so good, we had to stop and let her "ralph" on our way back to the house. I think even with the sea sickness, she'd do it again, it was lots of fun and so pretty!

Probably among her favorite moments in her whole life :)

After all the crying the one thing Gracie really wanted to do was touch the dolphins
teeth. The trainer was so kind and worked really hard to get her to participate.

See you later Poseidon, I have a feeling we'll be back!

El Discovery!

yep, that's Gracie, bellied up to the bar.

 

The other thing that was different this trip is Gracie got to take lessons with Valente too! Maggie wasn't so sure how she felt about sharing, but it went really well. We let Maggie have one day all by herself but she was pretty agreeable to sharing the others with Gracie. He had Maggie loping (they call it cantering) through the hills and Gracie trotting in the arena. They learn SO much when they're there and the love between our kids and the family that runs the barn is obvious, they're very special people.

They've added a miniature donkey since last time we were there, Gracie thought she was so cute. She didn't
understand why we couldn't have one, she was smaller then Reagan.

sweaty sweaty little rider!

Not a bad homework view!

They were doing some work on the beach erosion, so we had a little different view then usual.

We had another first this trip....the life guard went in to rescue Maggie from a rip tide. I'm sure she'd
have been okay on her own, but she was definitely a little shaken and glad he was there so quickly.

 

Sister selfie (there were about 60 of these in a row on the camera)

 

Daddy and his golfers.

After all the fun we had Gracie said her favorite part was....

...riding the train at the Dallas airport.....seriously! I guess I should be happy she finds joy in the little things.

 

24 hours after being at the sunny beach, the girls were wearing snow pants, boots and gloves.... welcome home!

 

 

CRAZY people!

Sometimes I think I do things specifically to try and push myself off the ledge! The last 2 days have been crazy! Now that it's all worked out, I wouldn't change a thing but there were a few moments along the way when I thought I just might have tried to cram too much in :) I'm guesing there were a few more moments when Arnie thought I'd totally lost my mind, but he's such a good guy he just comes along with all my crazy!

Saturday morning, we had breakfast in Time Square.....

.....we had dinner in New Brunswick, NJ.....

...we got stuck on a bus waiting to get back on our plane because ALL radar was down in New York and New Jersey....we arrived in Lincoln at 1:30am....drove to Omaha, stopped at Walmart at 2:30am (because I forgot to pack the girls riding boots)....stopped at mom and dads to shower, and were back at the Omaha airport by 4:45.....We had breakfast in Phoenix....

....and lunch in Cabo.....

.....we were EXHAUSTED, but the good news (for this starving pregnant lady) is, we didn't miss a meal :)

Arnie and I had the chance to go on a University charter to New York for a couple of days of sight seeing and the Rutgers game. We had a great time, walked about 50,000 steps and saw as much a possible in 48 hours. Mike & Kate Bamsey went with us and were great travel companions!

We ended the trip with the Rutgers Football Game. It was COLD and WINDY. The forcast had been for about 60 and sunny at kickoff, but changed the day before. It was more like 40 and windy.....BRRRRRRRRRRR! Thankfully the University had gifted us some warm weather gear, just in case (Arnie didn't pick that pom pom hat out himself, but he has grown rather fond of it) and Kate and I were able to find blankets at the Walgreens before we left New York. The girls couldnt believe they let a horse run on the field before the game, might just be a recruiting tool!

After the game we loaded the buses and headed for the Newark airport. Just as we arrived we found out all radar was DOWN and they wouldn't even let us in the gate until they had it back. So we waited....I was pretty sure as long as we left there by 1am EST we would make our flight in Omaha. We took off just after 11. 

We were exhasuted but we made it.....we also learned that those neck pillows are not made for people with no neck  :)

After a good nights rest, the swelling in my ankles has mostly gone down and we are ready for vacation....oh and don't worry, we had dinner too....might be bed time but we're not going to miss a meal! 

never gonna keep up....

Every time I stop to blog, I tell myself I'm not going to get behind again.....and then guess what, a month goes by! Here we are again!

The girls have been marking off the days until the baby comes on a calendar....it's not going as quickly as Gracie would like. Gracie has decided the babies name should be "Chip Table Chair Careful Robinson"....Chip is because you know, she was potato and what else makes sense....not really sure where the furniture came from :)

Hopefully the pictures will help me remember what's been going on around here....and this time I'm going to try harder not to let a whole month go by before I sit down to catch up again!

Right before Halloween Arnie and I spent a weekend in Chicago with friends. We didn't get to see the Cubs play in Game 5 (because there was no game 5) but we had a great time.

We got home just in time for Aunt Trisha and Uncle Jeff's annual Halloween Party, Trunk or Treat at church and a week of halloweek festivities!

Gracie went as a crazy cat lady! She carried the outfit well :)

 

Maggie decided on a dolphin trainer! She loved her costume and her dolphin.

 

I got to help with the craft station at Maggie's fall festival, we made spider hats :)

 

They made hats at Gracie's fall festival too!

We spent Halloween in Omaha Trick or Treating with cousins! We had great weather and lots of
fun as always!

 

These girls wanted Trick or Treaters to come so bad! Uncle Deem snuck around the house and
rang the bell. The few kids who did stop got LOTS of candy from some excited little goblins!



Even horses need a pedicure every once in awhile!

We've been working on handing coats out to all the backpack kids we serve. One day last week it was a family affair!

Last Saturday we made a last minute trip to Lincoln to visit Grandma Lea in the hospital and go to the Husker game. Grandma
Lea's nurse was so sweet! She taught Gracie how to check Grandma Lea's heart :)

Go big red!!!!

We thought letting the balloons go would be the highlight of the game but......

....the last minute win was so exciting! These girls are pretty sure they are lucky charms.

This is what it looks like on Monday morning after a busy weekend! Gracie HATES to get up.