November 2019

It has been quite the month. We started off celebrating your 14th birthday. I can't believe you are already fourteen years old.  People say be careful not to blink because life moves quickly. That is what I feel like, a blink and you have gone from a baby to a teenager. We had cupcakes in bed. You got your gift from China. This year it was beautiful note cards. Your other gift is a dressage pad ordered from a company in Sweden.

Linda came down to visit Stephanie for her birthday. We joined them in Georgetown for dinner at Filomena's. We had an amazing dinner

You had several major horseback riding events again this month. It seems this is an every month theme these days! Your first big event was the PVDA fall show. We went down on Friday and you competed on Saturday. You did a great job riding Nicki. You were hoping to get a 63 on your Training Level 3 test to qualify for a musical dressage number for Ride For Life. You got a 64.310. You did it. I am not surprised! Aunt Leslie and Emma came out to see you ride. Aunt Leslie is always so proud of you. It was an exhausting day, as you can see by my activity monitor!

Then we were back at the barn on Sunday for you to finish your C-1 rating. You needed to do the cross country portion. You excelled yet again. Bonsai didn't want to go over one jump but you coaxed him over and then we flew over the jumps. One jump he thought he would fly over! You are now a C-1 Pony Club member.

You did an ISHS show at a new barn. The pony, Relish, had a rough morning. The girl who rode him forgot to tighten his girth and the saddle slipped. She fell off and he went wild. They gave him a little break and then you rode him. You did an awesome job on the flat. He was nervous but you got him to settle. You got two first place ribbons. Then came the jump class. This was going to be his first jump class. He didn't want to go over. They told you to grab a crop, even though the instructions said not to use a crop. So you just held it without using it. He went over. People cheered with each jump you went over. You were doing great, until there was a loud noise as you were approaching the 6th and last jump. He turned out and you fell. You got up quickly. You were sore but not hurt. You were flustered. You handled it well. 

We finished up the month with Thanksgiving. It means so much to me to have Aunt Leslie here with us. I wasn't sure she would make it but she was with us and in great spirits. I am hoping she continues to fight and enjoys many more holidays with us. Nick and his girl friend, Natalie, Aiden and Emma joined us too. We had a good time once everyone got there...albeit several hours late. We played some games and tried to get a picture of you and your brothers for our annual Christmas card. I managed to get a good picture and you all had fun while I was doing so.

And our furry family members are all content.

October 2019

We had a busy month, much like every other month. Sophia has lots of horse related activities again this month. It started off with her first ISHS show for the year. She went up a division to future intermediate. We were both ready for lower placings in the higher division but she was amazing. She got first place in all three rides and took home the Grand Champion ribbon for the division. She is a gifted rider.

She worked really hard for her Pony Club C1 rating exam. This involved studying horse knowledge and being orally tested on it. It also involved horse management. Her horse needed to be well cleaned and turned out. Tack needed to be spotless and she needed to look professional in her show clothes. She missed some very tiny bot fly eggs on the back of the horses legs but was able to go back and correct that. She also had to demonstrate the ability to apply stable bandages. It is important to get this right, too tight, too loose or applying it with wrinkles can be harmful to the horse. She practiced for weeks and passed that portion of the test. She also had to demonstrate riding on the flat and over jumps. She completed both flat and the stadium jumping portion. She even got an "exceeds standard" for riding with no stirrups. She passed both sections. She was not able to do the cross country portion because it was pouring out. She will complete that portion in November. She is considered a C1 rider for knowledge and flat until she passes the outdoor jumping part and then she will be C1 fully rated. She works so hard and the work pays off.

Sophia went out trick or treating with friends. This is the first year we didn't follow behind. She is growing up way too fast. I am not ready for it!

Our animals continue to amuse us with their antics. Pictured below are the cats and Gracie. I really must take more pictures of Boba. He is feeling a bit left out, rightfully so.

September blog

Back to the grind. School started. I was already at work so I could not take the 1st day of school picture. Steve took one at the end of the day. I am amazed with how grown up Sophia is.

Sophia helped the barn out at the Pony Club Tet Rally. This means Sophia has been to every rally. She participated in Quiz, Dressage, Jump Rally and Nationals. She was the stable manager for Eventing and Tet. She is all in.

Steve and Sophia made a bucket list item come true for Leslie. Leslie applied for sponsorship from the Dream Foundation to visit see the Star Wars park at Disney. Sophia, Steve, Nick, Natalie and Emma joined Leslie. I didn't get many pictures but know they had an awesome time. The first day they went to Hollywood Studios to see Star Wars. Then the second day to Animal Kingdom. The third day Leslie was too tired to go to Harry Potter in Universal. Leslie rested that day while the others toured Universal. Leslie's favorite (and Sophia's too) was the making of the lightsaber. These are memories that are going to be held deep in heart.

The day before Steve left for Disney he noticed something on Mr. Twinkletoes belly. When I got home we examined it and realized it was a pretty large puncture wound. Steve took him into the emergency vet while I worked my night sight. Four staples and a cone of shame later they came home. Mr. Twinkletoes was not happy but learned to adjust to wearing the cone for 10 days.

 While Steve was away I caught up with friends and family. George, Tracey and Danielle were in town to see Angie's softball game. I took Stephanie who just started college out to the game. We all went out to celebrate Danielle's birthday. It was great being with them.

Our furry family members are looking forward to fall. I am already missing summer!

August blog

August came and went quickly. I started the month with a trip to visit Linda and the girls. Sophia decided to stay home. I missed her on the trip but still had fun with Linda. I visited Aunt Philly on the way up. I love spending time talking to her.  I also stopped at the cemetery to visit my parent's grave. We went out to dinner with Pat and Bev. We went to Lorenzo's. I went to school with Lorenzo and it was great to see him. Linda and I also saw our cousin Paul. We had dinner on the water and caught up. It was a great visit.

Nick came down. We celebrated his birthday with a dinner with Leslie and Emma.

Sophia is enjoying riding with the Pony Club barn. We have stopped riding at the old barn with the exception of taking care of Navajo when his owner can't and a private lesson with a former instructor, Sarah, and her awesome horse, Raymond.  Sophia did her first cross country event. It was a low key schooling event. She rode Bonsai and had a blast.

Sophia has begun working on her Silver Award project for Girl Scouts. She is working on an activity board for a therapeutic riding center.

Animals are all doing well.

Summer is over and back to the hustle and bustle of fall. Time passes far too quickly.