October update

October was a more eventful month.  Steve and Sophia took a trip to visit Aiden in Itacha for a weekend while I was at a workshop.  They had a blast.

We were all in Christy and Troy's wedding.  We are so happy for them. They are made for each other. It was nice to be part of their special day. The wedding party was all in 18th century clothing. Christy planned a beautiful wedding and made lots of the decorations herself.  It was a beautiful, albeit cold, day.

 Steve and I celebrated our twelfth anniversary with dinner at my favorite restaurant, Pasta Plus.

We went to the farm to pick pumpkins.

Sophia had her first fall off a pony in years.  The pony, Ella, was abnormally speedy that night and just misbehaving in general.  She went over a jump and then the horse bucked her off. Thankfully Sophia was not hurt.  They put her on another horse after about 10 minutes.  Unfortunately this happened the day before the second show of the fall schooling series.  Sophia's instructor lunged Ella for about an hour before the show.  She started bucking in the show again so Sophia had to scratch from two of the five events she was registered for.  They don't know if it is the change in weather that is affecting Ella or if she is just being a mare.  I wonder if she was in some kind of pain.  Sophia has ridden Ella like a champ, several coaches have told her this.  Others have had problems with Ella but Sophia and Ella had a bond.  The coach has given her another horse to ride for the third show which will happen in November.  Sophia is hoping they can work with Ella.  While she LOVES the new horse she doesn't want to see Ella sold.

Our pets are all getting along better.  Boba and Otto are being to tolerate each other.  There is less hissing, growling (from Otto) and barking and chasing (from Boba.)

The month ended with a Halloween cookie decorating class and then Halloween itself.  Sophia was Astrid from How to Train Your Dragon and Steve was a Dragon. They have been doing pair costumes for a couple of years now.  What fun.  Sophia went trick or treating with her friends, parents tagging alone behind.  She had so much fun.

And tomorrow she turns TEN years old!

September update

September flew by.  We did not do much out of the ordinary.  Sophia continues to ride horses and compete.  She was in the in-house show where she took home three 1st place ribbons and a 5th for the obstacle course.

She also rode in the September Schooling Series.  She moved up a division in the fall series and did well in her first show.  She got 5th place for the walk/trot class, 4th place for walk/trot/canter and 3rd for poles in the beginning equation class.  She took 5th place in walk/trot and 4th place for walk/trot/ canter in short stirrups.

We rented a locker at the barn so we don't have to lug her gear back and forth.  She loves having the locker.  I guess she thinks she is one step closer to owning a horse.  She has been riding Ella.  Ella tripped after a jump and Sophia hung on.  She did amazing.

Steve and Sophia went to the aquarium on one of their days off.  It is nice they get to do special things together when school is closed.

Our pets are all doing well.  Otto is learning to tolerate Kaegogi.  Kaegogi just wants to play with him.  Hopefully in time this will happen.  Mr. Twinkletoes loves playing with the dogs.