While most of spring break was a bust because of all the rain, Natalie did get to have Emily over to eat dinner and watch a movie with her before bed one night. They tried to talk us into letting her stay all night, but I am not sure they are ready yet......
Natalie has been attending Mom's Day Out at the YMCA on Tuesdays. Last Tuesday I caught Julia in Natalie's bed, turning on her princess alarm clock and them laying down. Notice she still has her shoes on. As the saying goes...when the cat's away the mice will play!!
Julia isn't much for dressing up, but she doesn't mind it when daddy is throwing her in the air!!
Natalie showing off one of her many wonderful outfits. I think she was getting ready for bed.
Natalie had her school photos this week and after a suggestion from Carrie, I got her to wear her Easter dress instead of a leotard. I just had to take a couple of photos with her in her pink dress with the beautiful flowers on the tree out front. I can't believe how big she is getting!
To celebrate Don's 84th birthday Suzanne suggested that we stay at the ranch for a night. We decided to go out on Friday, cookout and then play on Saturday and then head home before dinner. It was a great weekend and we all had so much fun.
Here they are on a walk and I guess Julia thought I had left because she came running at me yelling, "Ma Ma!"
Along with cows, Julia has now also found a love of horses. She was totally obsessed with them and was always saying, "Barn!" Suzanne has two horses and Julia was totally stressed if there was only one out of the barn. She would say, "more!" By the end of the trip she could even say Total.
And here are my little daredevils. Natalie wasn't scared as long as we didn't go fast and Julia, well she isn't scared of much. She would have rode that thing all night.
While the girls took turns riding the atv, Don helped them pet the horses. This is Total. Dakota is in the back with Fable barking at him.
At one point Julia got so impatient waiting for Jeff to come back to get her she ran to the pasture to get him! Gotta love a girl who knows what she wants!
Of course we had some bubble blowing. After blowing bubbles she decided that she would need to run back down the sidewalk towards the barn to see the horses. It sounded something like this. "Barn. Walk. Hor-Hor. Ji-Ji." I love one word sentences.Jeff says that I am the baby whisperer as she can say one word and I can turn it into a sentence.
And Natalie caught two grasshoppers and said that they were best friends. I loved that she was into something at the ranch. You just never know with her!
I went to take some photos of the tulips and the girls posed for a photo. Suzanne and I agreed that they looked like they were heading to the beach, not to a ranch!!!
Pa Pa and his girl.
I don't think Jeff and I have taken a photo like this in years! He was grilling some awesome steaks for us. Don said that it was the best dinner that he had had in a long time! Yea!! I also love the old outdoor grill at the ranch.
Suzanne was trying to help Natalie feed Total a treat. Natalie wasn't too sure about it and kept yanking her hand back. It was pretty funny.
Friday night I told Jeff that I was really going to try and be relaxed towards everything. Those of you that know me, know that this is really hard! I like things planned and I like schedules and I really don't like rocking the ship.So, the girls usually go to bed at 7. Friday night they were eating at 7 and we didn't get showers and things done until around 9. We put Julia in the pack in play in our room and told her good night. Natalie stayed up and played a couple games with us. Julia never went to sleep so I had Suzanne get her. We all then decided to head to be around 10. Natalie was going to sleep with Suzanne in a room that had two double beds. But, when I was getting ready to tell her good night she decided she wanted to sleep with us. So, I put her on a seate type chair in the room, Julia in her pack in play and told them all good night. Jeff and I were laying there and the next thing I know Julia is shreking at the top of her lungs, "Na-Na!!" This goes on and on. Finally, we can't contain the giggles and decide we need another plan. I decided to sleep with Natalie in the twin bed in the room with Suzanne. We head that way and a couple minutes later the door opens and it is Julia saying, "Out!" The little stinker had climbed/fallen out of her pack and play!! OK, another plan. I decided that maybe we can just all sleep together in the master bedroom. We attempt that, but Julia is still just shrieking!! It is so freaking loud!! OK, new plan. I go and grab the DVD player and a movie, surely they will fall asleep watching a movie, right? Nope, Natalie doesn't like the movie and Julia is mad every time the rabbit leaves the screen. We were watching Hop.By now it is close to midnight and I am ready to pack it up and head home. I tell Jeff that I am taking Julia for a drive to try and get her to go to sleep. It works, she falls asleep for me during a 30 minute drive. Natalie on the other had is crying because I have left and didn't take her with me. Jeff and I finally get Julia back in the house and in her pack and play and she goes to sleep. Jeff sleeps with her in the master bedroom and Natalie and I bunked up with Suzanne in a double bed. Let me just say that there is no reason an adult and a toddler should have to share a twin bed. At one point Suzanne said she looked over and Natalie's head was hanging off the bed! I am pretty sure I slept with one foot on the floor the entire night. It will be a night we never forget and we were all glad to see the sun come up! The funny thing is that Don went to bed when we were playing games and said that he never heard anything!! Not the shrieking, crying, leaving in the middle of the night or anything! I thought that was hilarious.
And here we are Saturday morning getting ready to head out fishing. Yep, my daughter is wearing a leotard, tu-tu and jeans and my husband is wearing a sleeveless shirt....
The girls were so excited to get to ride in the back of the truck. Natalie determined that it was too bumpy and Julia wanted more. Julia has also started to tell me that she doesn't want me to take her photo. She used to cheese at me and now I am lucky to get her to look at me!! Ugg.
I don't have many photos of us fishing, as Julia kept trying to go swimming and Natalie was more worried about her hat and headband than paying attention to what was happening. I will say that I was the only one that got a bite! I got a little excited reeling it in, so I am not sure if I didn't get the hook set or if all the screaming scared it off!! Either way, it was the one that got away! Don said that the next time we go Julia is getting put into a life jacket as he was sure she was going in.
After lunch and nap time it was finally time to ride the horses! It couldn't happen noon enough for Julia. Here Natalie is making friends with Total.
Julia and Suzanne riding Dakota. Jeff hanging out on Total.
And there they are!
Natalie wanted to stop before Julia did. I asked her if riding horses was her thing and she said no. I asked her if riding the atv's was her thing and she said no. I asked if she wanted to help make Pa Pa's cake and she jumped up and shouted yes! I think I have two totally different personalities on my hand! She also loves Fable. Here she is taking him for a little walk.
Yep, even I got on a horse. It was so funny, when we were out my horse peed and Julia had the funniest/strangest look on her face! I wish I would of had my camera then!
After riding it was time to have some cake! The girls helped me decorate it and I think it turned out perfect! Per Don's request it is a chocolate covered strawberry cake.
It was too windy for the candles, but Don played along and pretended to blow them out for my photo.
Can't think of a better way to wrap up a great time than having a little cake! We hope that Don had a great time and that there are many, many more to come!
