busy weekend...

It's been a busy weekend at our house.  Friday night started with Kyle and Michelle's wedding rehearsal and dinner.  When we got home we surprised Arnie with his new tractor (now he has a big green tractor and a ford pick-up, I'm pretty sure there is a country song about him.)

I spent all day Saturday photographing the wedding, and Arnie and Maggie meet us for the ceremony and reception.  Maggie was so excited because she got to ride on the trolley with me from the wedding to the reception.  By the reception I was completely worn out but Maggie was ready to dance the night away.  We all had a great time and we couldn't be happier for Kyle & Michelle. 

Carly, Maggie & JJ on the trolley.

Maggie & Kyle, she told Michelle she didn't need to be in this picture :)

Daddy's girl

Maggie had some moves to show Kyle.



Friends Forever....Maggie, Dani, JJ & Carly.


This morning we all woke up worn out and I was unbelievably sore....I realized just how out of shape I must be.  Today we did some projects around the house.  Arnie and Maggie did some mowing and "tractoring" and I did some more power washing. 




I think she was working on her trapeze skills...



Daddy, it's my tractor now!



Maggie explaining to Grace that because she is the big sister,
what's hers is off limits but what's Gracie's is for them to share :)



fly kite, fly!

and it's off.....

The weather this weekend was amazing, we couldn't have asked for 2 nicer days.  We have a busy week ahead of us, Arnie is in and out of town a lot and hopefully the girls and I will accomplish a few things. 

The Robinson's go GREEN...

...not that kind of green (we still have 2 cars that get less then 14 mpg). This kind....

For three years, I've been hearing about how much easier life would be with a tractor.  Several times a week, I'll mention something we should work on around here and Arnie responds with, "You know what would make that a lot easier?"....the answer is always a tractor.  Until now I've convinced him that we don't need a tractor.  BUT for Father's Day Maggie and I thought we would surprise him and we succeeded.

Last week Arnie mentioned several tractors he'd seen on-line and listed off several things he could accomplish if he had one.  He even stopped by John Deere to look at a few.  All the while I was trying to keep a straight face because I knew we technically already owned the tractor he really wanted.

The John Deere guy delivered the tractor Friday morning, Friday night after we'd been at a rehearsal dinner I sent him out to the shed to get me a step stool...he opened the door and there it was.  The girls and I were close behind.  I wish we could have seen his face, but I'm pretty sure we surprised him. 

This morning he and Maggie got some mowing done and now he's out moving rock.  I hope he enjoys his new toy and "here's to life being a lot easier!" :)

Doctor Day....

Yesterday was Doctor Day at our house.  Maggie had her 3 year check-up and Grace had her 2 month check-up.  Both girls are doing great and seem to be accomplishing everything they are supposed to be. 

Maggie weighed in at 41 lbs and was 39.5 inches tall...this put her well above the 90th percentile. 

Gracie was 13lbs, 1oz and 23.5 inches long...it looks like she's going to take after her sister and be a tall baby and toddler, she's well into 80th percentile.  Poor Gracie had to get 3 shots, she didn't like them at all and I think it might have upset her big sister almost as much. 

I've been getting lots of spring cleaning, outdoor cleaning and planting done this week.  Monday and Tuesday when I worked outside it was SO HOT, I think it got to 102, and today it was chilly enough that I kept my sweatshirt on the whole time!  Only in Nebraska.

so happy!!

Maggie and Grandpa watered the driveway after they gave the
baby birds a shower.

Swimming in Uncle Jeff's new pool.

big stuff!

Notice the sticker Maggie had mom wear all day...

Our very own little park, now if it would just get sunny!

The playhouse and surrounding area is finished! It's unbelievable!

It's going to be a busy weekend around here.  We're so sorry to miss Cooper & Ella's 1st Birthday, but we can't wait to celebrate with Kyle and Michelle as they get hitched.  I sure hope the photographers got her act together :) I'm pretty sure after tomorrow I officially retire from wedding photography! Say a little prayer for me!

Get a power washer!!!

seriously, if you don't have one, and can possibly afford it, get one! (or if you live close, come borrow mine).  I spent the day power washing things and was reminded why that thing is my favorite "tool".  Today was the first time, in the almost 3 years since we've lived here, that I power washed the garage floor....I'm pretty sure I was still getting rid of some of the old peoples dirt...I can see to the bottom of the seams in our cement floor :)  I didn't power wash anything with paint on it, I learned an unfortunate lesson at our old house....we once had to have our front porch sanded and painted because I got a little over-zealous...but I sure did have fun.  I still have lots more things to get clean, but I'm off to a good start.  Hopefully tomorrow I'll tackle some patio furniture. 

It was HOT today, so we got out Maggie's swimming pool and set it up on the driveway.  She did lots of "swimming" and it was a great way for her to spend a hot afternoon.  All the toys Maggie has, and she spent most of the day trying to get bugs out of the pool with the net...it was a clean pool :)  Tomorrow's supposed to be another scorcher, maybe I'll get in a few laps with the girls.

In case you ever wondered what 80 yards of mulch looks like.... (that pile is every bit of 10 feet tall)

Maggie asked why the truck driver brought us a mountain.  Tomorrow we start landscaping, phase II! 

Gracie sleeps and Maggie gets crabby....

Not that kind of crabby, this kind....

We spent the last 2 days in Annapolis with great friends and had a wonderful time.  Gracie must have loved Maryland, because she slept 8 and a half hours both nights we were there! 

We saw all kinds of great things on our trip, but one of the highlights was this morning, when we got to catch some crabs at the Olsen's.  They have a beautiful house right on the bay and we all spent a couple of hours on the dock.  The boys caught several crabs, they were all to little to eat (much to my relief), but we got to watch them run around on the dock for a bit and then throw them back.  They're ugly little buggers, and they are FAST!  Here are a few pictures from our crabby adventure....

We went to Annapolis for Brandon Keech's high school graduation...it's funny how things work out.  Arnie and Brandon have been friends forever, I think of Brandon as Arnie's 3rd little brother....When Arnie graduated Brandon had just turned 3, and here we were in Annapolis for Brandon's graduation with a barely three year old Maggie.

We spent Friday evening having a fiesta (complete with guacamole and steak, Maggie's favorites) at the Keech/Edwards house, then Saturday we had a great breakfast at a local favorite establishment, toured the naval academy, wandered around downtown Annapolis, and had a wonderful celebration dinner with Jennifer, Jeff, Brandon, Emma and all of the family that was in town for graduation. 

Maggie loved our hotel room, she thinks Aunt Joyce ordered it special for us. We had a big window that overlooked the marina, there were lots of boats in and out and we could even watch a draw-bridge go up and down. 



Our little travelers...Maggie was so excited to get to "Mary-Land"



The draw bridge going up...



Oh the attitude...



We had ice cream on Friday and then Brandon told us there was
another place that was better, so we HAD to have it again on Saturday :)

 

I hated when my mom dressed Laura and I alike, so I let Maggie decide and she
was so excited about wearing matching outfits on Friday night...aren't they cute kids!



All smiles!

Arnie asked Brandon if Maggie was bothering him, he turned and
whispered "chick magnet" and kept dancing :)  Hope that works out for him!



Margaret Emma and Emma...



Gracie enjoying (sleeping through) the Naval Academy tour.



All pinked up and a whole lota' tomboy!



My favorite picture from the whole weekend!



What Gracie was up to while we were fishing for Crabs.



Good-bye Maryland, hopefully we'll be back sometime!

Congrats to Brandon and a huge thank you to everyone who was there with us this weekend.  We wouldn't have missed it for the world.  True dear friends are hard to come by and we are lucky to have Brandon, Emma, Jennifer and Jeff.  They love us and they love are kids and we're blessed to have them in our lives. 

sa'more smores, please....

Tonight we lit the fire pit for the first time this summer.  Arnie made us a few smores and we enjoyed some time outside. We've been having some trouble with the waterfall and tonight Arnie figured out the problem and got it back up and running.  When we landscaped the backyard, I really wasn't interested in having a waterfall, now I am so glad we have it....I really missed the noise while it wasn't working.

We've been in our house almost 3 years now, it's hard to believe, I feel like it's still our new house and I'd swear we're still new to town.  When we first moved here I didn't think I would ever get used to the quiet and the space....I think I'm realizing now that I would miss it a little if we didn't have it.  My favorite part of our house is the backyard, and other then the zillion hours of weed pulling that I need to do, it's like having our own little park. It's a perfect place for family time, it's great for Maggie to play alone or for her to have lots of friends over. I adore it.  (and we love to share it, so come on over!!!)

A few pictures from yesterday and today....

The girls watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse...Gracie is always calmest when Maggie is close by.

Who can swing higher? Grandma Lucy or Maggie??

We tried finger painting today for the first time, it went much better then expected. Maggie loved it and the mess was alot easier to deal with then I expected.

Gracie is loving her new chair....she just smiles and talks while she sits there. She doesn't spend anywhere near as much time on the floor as Maggie did, (Maggie thinks all furniture is for jumping off, I would hate for Grace to be the landing pad), so I'm glad she enjoys sitting in her chair.



Hot Stuff....

Gracie thinks she's pretty hot stuff now that she's 2 months old!

I didn't notice as it was happening, but someone has definitely packed on a few pounds this month....She's all smiles now.  Last night she officially slept through the night, Arnie put her to bed shortly after 11 and she didn't wake up for a bottle until 6:05!  Yippy, I hope she can repeat it tonight. 

Gracie is getting really good at holding up her head, she loves to be propped up on the couch or in the newly discovered Bumbo chair.  She rocks around when laying on the floor, but doesn't seem interested in rolling yet, I secretly hope it takes her a long time to figure that one out...once she starts moving, I'm doomed!  She's been staying awake more and more and is still very calm and easily comforted.  We're extremely lucky to have such a mild mannered and happy little girl on our hands. 

This morning while taking a picture of Grace I had a total Deja Vu moment of a picture I had somewhere of Maggie...well I found the picture...check out our girls...almost exactly the same age....can you tell which is which???