A little spring cleaning...

I guess it would technically be fall cleaning. Every house needs a good scrubbing occasionally, even a playhouse...













Arnie had to give a presentation yesterday on Economic Development in Norfolk, the group planning the lunch went with a movie theme...he probably won't be thrilled that I'm posting this (good time to remind him I suggested he take the poster to his office)...here was Arnie's movie poster....



....Maggie and I both thought it was a picture of Evan... :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

It's pumpkin season...

Maggie and I have been busy getting the house ready for fall.  Yesterday we made a Pumpkin Man and today we started working on the decorations inside...

Tonight we made a quick trip to Carly & JJ's house to deliver Carly's bday presents....she turned 6 on Saturday.  We've all been so busy that we haven't had much time together lately...Maggie really misses having Carly at preschool and was so excited to have a little time to play.

Entering a new decade...

On Sunday morning Grace woke up early, so she, Reagan and I went for a long walk.  The good news was my joints didn't get achy and I wasn't sore the next morning.  I've never turned 30 before, I wasn't sure what to expect :) Just kidding, I'm only as old as I feel, right?  My dear sweet cousin Ben was kind enough to call me a geezer this morning and remind me that I didn't even graduate in this century....good news is, he's younger then I am and you know what they say about payback....

We spent the weekend camping at Mahoney again. We had PERFECT weather and an all around (except for the Husker loss) great time. We're getting the hang of this camping thing and we're all really enjoying it. 

That's right, they set up a tv outside. So we could watch the game and the fire...we should have stuck with the fire.

 



Grace had a little lawnchair accident. It looks worse then it is....at least that's what I keep telling myself.

 

Maggie and Deem played lots of hide and seek, Maggie hid in some pots that mom & dad got me for my birthday :)

I can't think of a better way to have spent my Birthday weekend. My 20's brought with them lots of change and growth....college, graduation, a couple grown-up jobs, Arnie, my girls, Reagan, my big old house, my "baby" brother, Norfolk, photography and a zillion other things...I wonder what my 30's will bring?  Here's hoping they are just as wonderful and maybe include a little less change :)

Gracie is a half....

Where has the time gone??  Gracie is 6 months old already.  She's such a happy girl.  She's doing a great job sitting, rolling, laughing and "talking". She's working hard on figuring out how to move so she can chase her big sister.  She loves almost everything we give her to eat...except peas. Her favorites seem to be peaches, pomegranate/pears and carrots.  She loves running around the house in her walker and is still a great sleeper. She takes about 3 naps a day and then sleeps all night long. We think she's working on her first tooth, she has been a little crabbier then usual the last 48 hours, we'll see.  Friday she goes to the doctor for her next round of shots and her official weight and measurment, she's definitly growing.  She's out grown all the 6 month clothes and is about to be done with the 9 month clothes.

We are so blessed to have her in our lives and we all love and adore her so much. I can't believe how much she's changed in the last 6 months.....

Everybody helps...

...with the apple sauce.

 

We're almost done. 3 more batches to go.

Maggie is still coughing alot and is pretty stuffed up, but her fever is finally gone. Hopefully she'll feel good tomorrow when she wakes up.

Arnie and Maggie have been giving me little presents all week to celebrate "Birthday Week".  Today's present was Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups, but my favorite part was the envelope from the card, Maggie wrote it all by herself. Look how good she's getting at writting mom...

She also pointed out that she made the o look like a heart. Such a smart little girl.

Tomorrow we're headed out camping again, it looks like the weather will be better this time. I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with my family and forgetting that I'm coming home a decade older (yikes!)

fall=APPLES

Maggie's starting to feel better, she spent most of the day on the couch watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She was pretty sleepy and quiet, both of which are very unusual for her. By the time she headed for bed tonight she was starting to act a little more like herself. Hopefully when she gets up tomorrow she'll be good as new.






Today the Applesauce making began. While Maggie was on the couch I started the apple peeling...I peeled and peeled and peeled (actually Arnie peeled the 3rd batch). The first 3 batches are finished, 7 more to go. My Aunt Barbara would be proud.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A rodeo, a picnic, an anniversary and a home run derby...

WHEW....I apoligize in advance for the length of this post...but it's been a busy couple of days. On Friday night Arnie, Maggie and I went to the rodeo in Omaha. Gracie hung out with Grandma and Grandpa.  Maggie liked the rodeo, but what she really loved was getting to stand by the ready area and watch the horses. 

Here's a video of her cattle roping lesson:
http://youtu.be/mgQXGpk_4pk

Dick and Betti loaned us their cowboy boots....I kind of liked wearing them, I might have to get myself a pair.

Getting ready to learn to rope. Unfortunately for Reagan, she got to bring that rope home.



"Here, horsey, horsey."

You'd think she was growing up on a ranch.

She loved the girls we carried the flags between events.

Uncle Deem was her first roping victim.

Saturday we got up early and headed back to Norfolk for Norfolk Iron Family Safety Day....the highlight of the event was Maggie's race.  Well, actually the highlight was painting her car, she came in 4th out of 15 kids in the 3-5 category, but they raced each car 6 times, so after a couple of races, she'd had enough and was off to bounce in the bounce house.



Who gave him the keys???

After Family Day we headed for Yankton for Lauren's Softball team fundraiser. Maggie and Arnie both hit in the home run derby. Maggie did awesome! She was so excited, she actually hit the ball a few times (pretty well) then the girls told her to run to first base and they all cheered for her. She was so proud of herself and Lauren loved it too. Everybody who participated got a tshirt, so Maggie got an adult small, the littlest size they had, she slept in it last night, and thought it made the best nightgown ever.

Batting practice...

Best Pals...

Her first swing...

I would do anything to have a video of this, she had just hit a pretty good grounder, and she was trying to
figure out what to do next....

...then she ran to first base!

Grace and Jill cheering Maggie on!

Notice Maggie's cute belt...we were ready to leave home and her butt crack kept showing, so I took
Reagan's Husker collar and put it around Maggie's waist. It worked great and looked pretty cute too!

Before we left we got to make a quick stop by Lauren's room so Maggie could see where she lives at college.

Yesterday was also our 6th Wedding Anniversary, while we didn't do much to celebrate, we did get to spend the whole day together as a family, so it was perfect. Six years have passed really quickly; so much has changed and we've had such a great time, I can only imagine what's to come.

Unfortunately today Maggie is sick. We made it through church and then headed for brunch and she got sick at the restaurant and has been home with a fever since. Hopefully Grace won't catch the germs and hopefully when she gets up tomorrow morning, Maggie will be back to her bouncy energetic self.