Bye Bye Nebraska

Sitting in her seat on the airplane waiting to take off after spending 19 awesome days in Nebraska with Grandpa Husker, Grandma Becky and so many other family members...

http://youtu.be/6oJ1yVEP9PA

Camp Nebraska

Natalie has been having a blast at what I like to call, Camp Nebraska...

See Dad, I can have two bikes too!

Beep beep in Grandpa's tractor.

First time ever on a Big Wheels...with Grandpa right behind.

Smelling tulips.

Eating peanuts with Grandpa.

Three generations of Jane.

Gigi reads Natalie a book before lunch.

Chasing Grandpa with the garden hose.  Lots of giggles.

Helping mommy with yard work.

Helping Grandma plant flowers.

Yard work is hard work!

 

An afternoon ride in Grandpa's tractor to get the mail.  Beep beep!

 

Playing with all the buttons.

Reading a birdie catalog on the potty with Grandma.

Guess who turned two?

Thankfully, the weather cooperated and we had a wonderful birthday party playing in the park on a Saturday morning with friends and family...and cake.  Thanks to everyone for coming and playing with Natalie!!!

Good morning birthday girl!

PARTY TIME!!!!

Thankful for Brooklyn and Ms. Patty for helping with bubbles!

Bubble Guppies-ish cake

Trying to blow out the candle

Cake and play time...

Swim meet #3 surprise

Katie was still on cloud 9 from her previous swim meet successes and showed up pretty hungry at this one.  She secured 2nd place in all 4 strokes and shaved at least 1 second off each stroke from her meet two weeks ago.

And at the end of the night, Katie was thrilled to see a surprise guest running along side of her and cheering her on in her 100-meter freestyle time trial.

Weekend fun

Here's a quick summary of our April so far...

Coloring Bubble Guppies

Helping daddy sweep the pool

Watering the flowers out front

Helping daddy FIX the pool

Riding the "turtle bike" while carrying bucket and wearing fire hat

Reading with daddy

Counting

The other day in the car, Natalie was counting airplanes at the airport near our house.  There were maybe 5-6 within sight.  However, as she started counting ... she just kept going.  When got to 10, I clapped.  But then she trumped me and said "eleven, twelve, THIRTEEN THIRTEEN THIRTEEN."

I finally got it on video last night...

http://youtu.be/94JX7ookM0g

Soccer tots

Natalie went to her 2nd Soccer Tots 'practice' today and was much more interested in participating and following directions...although she still prefers to carry the ball around rather than kick it.

Stretching before we get started...

KICK!

Natalie never initially likes the idea of spreading the cones out all over the field...

http://youtu.be/Au_zNDJ2h9k

Now coach gives us each 2 cones and 2 disks and tells us to stack them like this.  Natalie listened carefully and helped mommy build the cone tower on the ball.

Stacking ...

Now she waits as the "coach" gives instructions to kick the ball on the count of 3...

...and waiting for instructions...

Then the obstacle course.  This was her second time through...

 http://youtu.be/e2-rANoa3Ts

"Goooooooooo Soccer Tots!"

And once we got back to the car, bucked into her carseat and mommy had enough time to walk around the car and get in my seat ... she says "mommy, no-nut please? dots."  Yes, that's right ... she just asked for a sprinkled donut.

Spring swim meet #2

Despite this being the 2nd meet of the spring season, this was Katie's first meet since October 2012.  She has worked VERY hard over the winter and graduated from the Junior 1 to Junior 2 group, at the coach's recommendation.  This means she now practices 3 times a week for 90 minutes each.

In her first event, 50 yard freestyle, she got 2nd place and shaved almost 10 seconds off her last time.

"Swimmers, take your mark..."

At the end of the night, Katie had a 2nd place ribbon (freestyle), a 4th place ribbon (backstroke) and two 3rd place ribbons (breaststroke and butterfly).  It was so wonderful and rewarding to see her so proud of herself.  And now that she tastes 1st place, she's been working extra hard and has made getting 1st place a goal that now seems within reach for her.