Spring Break Day 3: Taking a Safari

Today was our day to take a safari, to the Wildlife Safari Park  near Gretna. This year I bought a membership since it was the same cost, practically, for our entire family to go once. This way we can go several times during the season.
We arrived right at opening, 9:30. It turned out to be a great idea bty as there was a line to check in when we were leaving! Anyway, The kids quickly jumped up and had their heads out the window pointing at the Elk, awwwwing over the little white tailed deer, and making fun on the bills on the pelicans. The safari does have something new this year which was a huge hit with the kids, a petting zoo! They had 3 week little baby goats on display that had so much energy I was begging them to share (with me, not with Asher who seems to have an endless supply lately). They were SO CUTE! Asher even tried to pet the roosters. I guess they will be getting chickens soon and at least one goat was due to have babies like yesterday (she was huge!). The petting zoo area was the kids' favorite by far. Funny, they thought it was so cold hiking up to see the wolf (that we never saw) and the black bear, but they stopped complaining in the petting zoo. We stayed there a good 20 minutes before moving on. You drive through the safari with the exception of the Bald Eagles, bear, wolf and now the petting zoo. It was chilly this morning, but it was not unbearable.

It took us an hour and a half to drive through. We could have stayed longer, probably, if the weather was nicer and I did not have 101 things to do before my big trip.

After the safari, we came home for lunch, then made chocolate chip cookies. No chilly day in spring is complete without some baking. Alivia had the "wet" ingredients, Addison the "dry" and Asher did the chocolate chips. It was really a team effort, and I am shocked they turned out. :)

The kids played outside while I mowed. Seriously, I need to mow on our rider more often. It took me a couple minutes to figure out how to actually mow. It rained before I could move on to the trimmer (shoot). Grandpa Bill and Grandma Bet gave me a quick run down on how to run that thing. Seriously, Chris has too many tools, and I am not sure I want to use them.

Speaking of Grandma Bet and Grandpa Bill...they have the kids for the next 1 1/2 days, then Chris parents have them for 1 1/2 days, before I return just in time for Easter. Addison and Asher jumped in the car and Asher yelled, "Sleep tight Mommy!" Alivia struggled to get used to the idea. It is sad to see her like that. She is not good at separation. That is okay, I am not either. But, sounds like we better get used to it.

Meanwhile, Chris had an intense day, taking a tour of base (which sounds HUGE), meeting with some important people, getting a feel for what he is to do there in Florida. I guess he is going to working at CENTCOM for the remainder of his trip, checking in at his employer's facility as well. He has a little workstation in Florida now, and it sounds like he will be sharing some time there and here. It also sounds like they do not like him spending too much time here and being there most of the time. Chris, who likes to stay in the confines of his little box, is a little overwhelmed. It is a lot to take in, a new position at work (new job essentially), new city, new base, tons of new people, new culture, etc. Give him a week and he may turn around. He finds Tampa to be beautiful yet HOT! Hey, we had at least the hot part on Monday. And, if you catch it at the right time, Nebraska can be beautiful. Okay, I can be beautiful if I try hard enough and I am in Nebraska. Okay, now I am stretching it. Anyway, I am looking forward to getting down to Florida myself so I can see what it is like and see if it is somewhere we want to move to (gasp!). Me in Florida?! The idea scared me to death, but I am up for adventure most of the time. I am not saying anything on this one and letting it play out. Chris is the one that really has to decide if this is what he wants to do. We are a family unit here or there. Obviously, our extended family is here. Chris and I have never lived away from our parents, so that would be a huge deal. There would definitely have to be some more money put into the travel budget, that is for sure. Anyway, we will just see how this plays out.

Happy Easter! Will post when I can.

Today's rundown in pictures...

The Greeting the kids made for Chris' big 40th birthday on Friday!

Spring Break Day 2: Makeover Day!

Today was yet another fun filled spring break day. The kids "slept in" until 8:15, with the exception of Addison who woke me up at 5:50am asking for breakfast.

Today's first stop: The Sump Library. Addison is reading The Cat and The Hat books now and it is helping her build reading confidence, and she was needing more books. After a quick stop there, it was time for swimming lessons. We got there early, so we read The Gingerbread Man before going inside. Asher impressed with his swimming lessons with a substitute teacher. Asher rocks in the back float swim! Again, he impressed with his good listening skills, too. He is doing pretty good in his lessons, and the girls loved watching him.

Next stop, boring Costco to exchange a life jacket I bought for Addison with a bigger one. It did help to have her with me. The kids did not mind getting some free samples, either.

We arrived at our spring break makeover spot, Concepts Salon, a little early too, so the kids had their packed picnic lunch before heading inside. The kids are on a strawberry kick right now, so we unfortunately have strawberry all over our clothes at the moment. :) Anyway, Addison had about 5 inches cut off her long locks of beautiful hair that were going past her little booty, then made into a fishtail braid that turned out beautiful (I have to learn to do that!). Alivia, on the other hand, decided to get a little bob cut, then decided to curl it. It looked adorable! After getting their hair done, it was time for nails and make up. Addison opted out of the make up, but they both got their nails painted. All of that for $18 each! They looked amazing.

Next stop, to get our picture with the Easter Bunny. We arrived at Oak View Mall at 1pm to find that the Bunny was eating carrots until 2. Great. So, we did a little shopping, finding a couple airplane shirts that we did not need and a few play clothes for the girls. Finally, the Bunny returned. Who knew it was $20 to see the Easter Bunny now a days!! I had my $$$$ camera around my neck but could not use it. The only way we were getting a picture was to pay some young girl $20 to snap it with a camera that was maybe 1/4 as nice as ours. Seriously!? I paid the $20 to get my picture. But, mark my words, WE WILL NEVER GO AND SEE THE EASTER BUNNY OR SANTA IN THE MALL AGAIN!! That is crazy!! So, after an hour, I left with a so so picture (mine would have rocked, thank you) that they took and a cute one that I took with my camera while we waited. Ha! I should have skipped it looking back, for the principal of it. But, my kids were so excited to see the bunny!

Finally at home, the kids could have free play outside. Alivia invited over her friend Gabby (since Addi and Asher had friends yesterday). When Addison did not come out after getting changed, I went upstairs to find her fast asleep! I let her sleep for a hour before waking her up. Poor thing. 5:50 AM is too early little girl!

Dinner, than walking Pippa, stopping into see Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Bob (on their 41st wedding anniversary no less), before coming home to get cleaned up for more face time with Chris. Chris appeared completely exhausted after his day of travels to Florida. He has found Florida to be a warm 86 degrees (although I said, "That's not bad, it was 92 degrees HERE yesterday! :) ) and beautiful with their palm trees and blue skies. Tomorrow is his first meeting  at USCENTCOM, so it will be a big day. We miss him so much!

Today was another fun day, but yet we have more fun planned for tomorrow. I am just not sure what that fun will entail tomorrow, but we will see.

                                                           Addison Before Shots

                                                              3 kids before heading out

                                                                  Swimming Lessons

                                                            Alivia: Before and After

                                                                  Asher, keeping busy

                                                        Alivia, getting her nails done.

                                                           Fishtail Braid: Adorable!

                                                                   Alivia After

                                                               Addison After

                                         Alivia and Gabby

                                                                                 Addison, never without a stuffed dog.

Someone Kayaking reminded us of Chris (look real close).

More Face Time with Daddy.

Spring Break: Day 1

The first day of spring break turned out to be a lot of fun.

We started out at the YMCA (gotta get my cardio in), I went to Zumba, then I took the kids to the pool to swim. They have so much there! After getting cleaned up, it was time for a picnic.

We met Krissa, Kaitlyn and Will at the Forest for a nice and warm picnic. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining about 89 degrees (or whatever it was today). We love nice and warm on April 2...and we will take it! After a picnic, the kids played for a long time in Acorn Acres before we took a short hike through the forest. I am not sure, but I may have spotted poison ivy. Now, I just need to figure out if that is what it was so I can be sure we avoid it! The kids then played downstairs and got cooled off. It was then definitely time to call it a day as the kids were in need of a break.

After leaving the forest, we did a little shopping. Alivia needed white shoes for her upcoming First Communion. Grandma Kathy had already purchased 2 dresses, the veil and a white sweater, and I found some tights. Alivia just needed shoes to complete the ensemble. It is really like she is getting married, but without the REAL expensive part, oh, and the groom. :) After finding some shoes she found comfortable, it was time for a treat.

The kids picked out three different kinds of ice cream treats at the grocery store before we made our way home. Next, the sprinkler. The kids played outside for quite a while. Nice to have such nice weather for at least a day of spring break.

Once inside, the girls played well with Polly Pockets. They have about 3 days a year they play well together, and today was one of them (seriously!). Meanwhile Asher had a rough day. He was well behaved at the Forest, I will give him that. But, come on child. He has way too much energy of something. If there was a such thing as a chill pill, this child would have to be on it. He was not the best behaved child today.

After dinner, our evening dog walking and a bath, it was time for Face Time with Daddy. The kids talked to him alone before they talked to him individually. They really love being able to actually see him. Chris sounded really tired and a bit overwhelmed. He is leaving Pennsylvania tomorrow and onto Florida for the remainder of his trip.

Tomorrow we have more big plans that have the kids super excited. Tomorrow is our last full day together during break (other than Easter Sunday), so we have to make the most of it.

Now for some of the pictures (yes, there are more than these even!) so Daddy can see what we are up to while he is away.

The kids had a little music program for us.

Spring at the Forest

Love Trails!

Flowers for Daddy.

Cooling off with some fudge bars.

Now for some fruit sickles. :)

View of our home from the trail. It looks lovely and quiet...right?

Addison, never without a stuffed toy, usually a dog.

Hey, that's me!

The Girls