Mommy Guilt!

I have a little Mommy guilt about sending Gracie to daycare. She isn't there everyday, usually only a couple days a week....but still, I don't have a job (at least not a real one with a paycheck), why don't I just take care of her??  I justify it (to myself) because while she's there I have lots meetings, I plan, prepare, deliver backpacks and all the paperwork and background work that goes with that, etc....and I think after having a little break to work on some grown-up stuff, I'm a better mom. I also tell myself she LOVES it there.  Other then her unwillingness to go potty, she is SO happy to be dropped off.  She has an awesome teacher and whole little gang of friends (just ask her, she's happy to go through roll call with you).

BUT this week the guilt has increased. While we were on vacation Gracie's teacher (and Grace) moved up to the 2 year old room. Sounds great, in theory. In the room she came from there were usually 6 or 7 kids, they accomplished a lot in a day and it was always very organized and so happy. Yesterday when I got there to pick her up, there were 22 kids in her new room! It was total chaos. The teachers (there were 2 for ALL those kids) were frazzled, the kids were being naughty, it was LOUD and no one was happy. Gracie was really tired, the 10 minutes I was there were exhausting. I'm really praying that it's just growing pains and that by next week it's all smoothed over and back to the place we love.  I felt guilty taking her there when I knew we both loved it, it's going to be impossible to drop her off if we don't. AHhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

On a side note, here are a few pictures...

Maggie has been BEGGING to open my "treasure chest", I promised her there wasn't much in it. But
last night I finally dug out the key (while she pretended to be a pirate) and we opened it up. She found all
kinds of treasures. Including: candles, a flip-flop picture frame, a First National blanket, a newspaper with a
much younger picture of my dad and Uncle Jeff and a beautiful embroidered table runner. I bet I haven't
opened that chest since before I moved out of my apartment in 2004.

I think we might officially be done with the high chair. Gracie prefers to eat her meals
on a stool at the table or at the counter with her sister. It's a little sad to put it away, but
I will be thrilled not to trip over it in the kitchen anymore.

I guess were done with outlet covers??

We had to....

...leave Shakira in Mexico :( We were sad to tell her good-bye.  While I wouldn't say there is NO chance she will make her home in Nebraska some day, I would say the chance is very slim (Arnie asked for that in writing. He keeps asking when the horse trailer is showing up). We will definitely visit her again soon.

The last few days of our vacation were as awesome as the first. We had great weather, great company, great food and great fun.

The only person missing from our usual Mexican itinerary was HOLA (Jorge), Maggie's favorite employee at El Dorado. They told us when we arrived that he was out hurt, but would be back before we left....that didn't happen. Maggie was very worried about him and asked different people everyday if they knew how he was....on the last day of our vacation, 2 wonderful people arranged for Maggie and Hola to talk on the phone...Thank God! You could immediately see the relief on her face, she was truly worried about her friend. I think he was glad to hear from her too. It was fun.

The girls did awesome on the way home. Our flight was totally sold out, so my mom came to the airport and helped me get the girls checked in, through security, etc., then we headed off for Dallas and a few hours later she headed for Salt Lake. Grace was her usual go-go-go self but there was no screaming, no fits and no kicking the seat in front of her (thank goodness for the gate agent who moved us to bulkhead seating). Grace was riding on my back in a baby backpack, in Dallas, she announced that she had peed on me...I clarified whether she had peed or needed to pee, she responded with "we wet". We were both a bit sweaty so I didn't know what to believe. I decided to just go ahead and get to the gate and then deal with it. Thankfully when I got her down and checked, she hadn't peed, when I asked about it, she just laughed and headed for the bathroom.....oh so Gracie!

Grandma is brave, pink and glitter! I sent this picture to my dad, his response was "I don't
remember her finger nails being that big." :)

Gracie's whale watching outfit.

"Patience Shakira, patience!" 

"Ok, now you can have it."

Crazy 8's, anyone?

The girls wanted to wait for the car, apparently they were more ready to leave then I was.

 

Next time I decide to get my kids ring-pops, in an attempt to bribe them to be quiet on an airplane,
I'll check to make sure I have more then 1 wet wipe in my bag. Lesson learned!

STICKY MESS!!!

.....and we all made it home!

What a great vacation we had. The girls are such fun ages, they can be a handful but I love all the laughs and I know before long they will be teenagers, ignoring mom!

It was really nice to get home and see Arnie (and Reagan). Not so nice to put back on socks and coats! Today it was back to real life...I miss the beach!


A couple of videos....
Maggie and Shakira
http://youtu.be/vq2yHqEygrw

100%

 

Gracie swimming

http://youtu.be/OOYVWWByU30

100%

 

Yah!!!

Grandma's here! The girls (and I) are thrilled that Grandma is at the beach with us. We're still having a great time and often find ourselves wondering why it is we don't just move here.

This morning Maggie's trainer gave her an official "horse rider shirt". She was SO proud! He's been awesome with her. He told us today that she's definitely "horse people", she just looks like she belongs with her horse and she walks like a cowgirl. She's worked really hard for the last week, she get's in the car totally exhausted. I've asked several times if she wants a break and she's quick to tell me that Shakira only needs a break on Sunday. I guess if Shakira is good to go, so is Maggie.



Gracie is not a snuggly child, she almost never willingly gives a hug, much less really snuggles....BUT since we've been here, when we're at dinner and she's tired of being in her highchair she looks over at me with her big eyes and says "cuddle, mommy cuddle". It's so cute....too bad I can see right through her :) Of course when dinner is over and I offer a cuddle, I'm met with a running screaming toddler.

A few more pictures....


















I love watching Maggie try and get the reins over Shakira's head, she has to really reach :)











Movie night! Have you ever seen Bolt? It's funny....I think Grandma might have to get a pet hamster after seeing it :)



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Brrrrrrr.....

It was a little chilly here today, Maggie wore a sweatshirt most of the day....



BUT Arnie got home to this......


So, I suppose we shouldn't complain too much :)

The girls started the day with a few self portraits....


Gracie didn't let the cooler temps deter her, she was going to play in her swimsuit. She still wouldn't sit in the sand without a towel.....but she did walk 20 feet without screaming :)


Tomorrow we're back to the stable, everyone around here is getting into the cowgirl spirit :) (maybe we better make Baby Chocolate Milk some boots and jeans....her bathrobe just doesn't seem appropriate).


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Bye Daddy!

Today we had to say good-bye to Arnie, he headed back to the waiting snow. We sure will miss him, but I know Reagan will be glad to have him home.

Maggie & Shakira (the horse) are getting along great. On Thursday her trainer gave her a switch, or "smacker thingy" as Maggie calls it. Poor horse! I think for Gracie's sake it's a good thing she had to leave that at the stable.


Everyday after her ride Maggie asks to "walk her horse", so off they go for a few laps. Her teacher always looks at her like she's a little crazy when she asks to do it, but he's happy to let her.








Gracie doesn't appear to have the same love of horses as Maggie...


GOAL!!!!





Gracie found the snacks....


I asked Gracie what she was doing, and she said she was "hiding". Thank goodness she doesn't actually fit in the microwave.




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She's been waiting...

.....a long time for this day.



This morning Maggie had her first official lesson. She was so excited she could hardly sleep last night. She kept confirming that we would wake her up in time to get there (her lesson was at 10am, she's been getting up about 6:30....I wish we had to wake her up). Anyway she LOVED it. I'm not sure I've ever seen a bigger smile. She wasn't even slightly apprehensive, she was full of confidence and did great. She gets to do a lot of really amazing things in her life, I'm pretty sure that to her, this one ranks near the top.

She spent the first half of the lesson riding without a saddle and stirrups. I was actually amazed at what she accomplished in an hour. She could trot with both arms straight out (like a T) without a saddle.






She "walked" the horse for awhile, she was supposed to be showing her who was the boss....It probably wasn't that different then walking Reagan :)


She can't wait to go back tomorrow!!!



A few other pictures from the last couple of days....












Anyone looking for aqua man???





She's practicing for the tight rope act, when we sell her to the circus :)






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