Time in Nebraska

So, after we thawed out after the parade at the Breese's house in Lindsborg, we headed to Salina for lunch at Spangles (my favorite fries EVER) for lunch. And from there we drove to my parents' house in Nebraska for the rest of the weekend through Tuesday. Here's some of the fun we had.

My extended family...my parents, Delmar and Janice and my sister's family, Dan, Katherine, Matthew, and Samantha.

Probably the only time that us two sisters will be pregnant at the same time...she's due mid-December!

Samantha and Gabrielle in their matching church-outfits.

Gabrielle with her two cousins.

Playing the piano together. May be some day they'll play a real duet together...a music teacher's dream for her family, right?

Gabrielle helping Samantha put her shoes back on her feet.

A little time outside on the swings.

Gabrielle thought it was great that I got on the swing set too. Can you believe that this is the same one that I grew up playing on too?

Daddy taking a turn on the swing too.

On the porch swing before we head out to eat.

Having fun trying on sunglasses after we ate at the Runza in Hebron, Nebraska--yummy!!!

Playing with the wooden hammer toy with Grandpa and Grandma Reinke. Who knew that such an old toy would be so much fun?

Showing Great-grandma Reinke something...

Matthew and Samantha with my parents.

Getting a little rowdy with Matthew.

Playing "Ring Around the Rosy" together.

Monday means more time on the swings!

Swinging with Grandpa Reinke...fun!

Gabrielle and Samantha enjoying some cold outdoor time.

Who knew that you could dump the toys out of a rubbermaid box and have so much fun? Nick and Dan took turns giving "rides" to the kids in their make-believe airplane.

Way up high...

And even down low...soooo much fun!!!

A ride from uncle Dan--thanks!!!

Just a little cheeeeese from Matthew.

And, some big cheeeeses from Gabrielle too!

Matthew and Samantha playing together on the spinning toy.

My mom showing Gabrielle two of the dolls that she played with when she was growing up.

And, Gabrielle wanted to wear the Strawberry Shortcake pjs that I wore when I was growing up...neat that my mom has kept things from my childhood.

Bethany College visit

So, we traveled to Kansas (yes, we made it in a record 11 hours...eating a "picnic" lunch in the car helps to save a lot of time!). On Saturday we headed up to Lindsborg to watch the Bethany Homecoming Parade, even though it was literally freezing temperatures that morning...and had a lot of fun. I'm just glad that I had the foresight to bring our hats and gloves since the temperatures at home in Texas that week were over 90 degrees!!!

Hanging out on Main Street before the parade started.

One of the many marching bands that were in the parade.

It was really neat to watch Gabrielle enjoying herself, and also naming some of the instruments as they marched by!

Kansas Senator Brownback

I would say, "We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto", but really we were back in Kansas!

Gabrielle watching them throw candy during the parade.

Getting frustrated with the sucker wrapper.

"Daddy, help please!"

The President of Bethany College

I sure hope that I'm on a float when we make it to our 50th college reunion (doesn't 2050 sound like a long time from now?).

The Bethany Blue Dozen Alumni...sounded pretty good!

Just playin'

It's fun to see Gabrielle still enjoying the "house toy" that we gave her on her first birthday. She loves to deliver the "mail" to us although she usually keeps the orange one (her "fabert").

Gabrielle the Builder

Gabrielle and I built a tower that was as tall as she is.

MOPS craft

So the last week in September was a "fifth Wednesday" of the month, so in MOPS-talk here (Mother's of Preschoolers) that means that we get together for a play-date (since the meetings are on the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month).

I was glad that the weather was super-nice, since we met in Heather's backyard. She even has a cement slab that was covered with a canopy...great area to spread out and paint.

Gabrielle getting started by spreading out the brown paint.

Still working on the paint...getting closer.

Finished with the paint, so we put her hand prints on the canvas so that they would show through. I don't think that Gabrielle was sure she should get her hands so "messy"!

The finished product above her new bed.

A closer look at her craft...

I love it, especially knowing that it didn't even cost me $10!!!

Gabrielle's new room

Here's a few pictures, and hopefully I will get some more taken when we have all the decorations out and pictures up on her walls.

Before!

Gabrielle in her new big-girl-bed!!!

The reading corner.

Check out the painted trim around the closets, doors, and windows...the natural-colored trim in the before picture looked terrible with the new cream paint.

Gabrielle taking her first nap in the bed last Sunday afternoon.

Outdoor fun!!!

So we finally bought an air compressor for our house. A few days later the light came on in the van that I had a low tire, so it was WAY more convenient to pump it up at home. Then we decided that we should finally pump up our bike tires, as well as the bike cart that we had actually never used.

Group picture before we go for a ride.

Gabrielle peeking out of the cart on her ride with daddy.

I took a quick video before we went inside for the evening.

Just a little fun on the swing-set.

10 weeks, 3 days

We had our last sonogram yesterday with the fertility doctor in Houston. Yea--I've been released to my regular OB (who I actually haven't met yet, but she comes highly recommended!). I'll go see her in a little less than two weeks (when I'm 12 weeks along).

Baby is head-down.

I love to see the little arms, legs, and fingers.

Whoever says this isn't life has never seen a 10-week sonogram!

Our little one even did a little "dance" for us moving around a lot!