March update

 We started the month driving down to the VA/NC border for IEA Zones.  We traveled with Peggy and Gretchen again. We met Avery and went on a tour of Averrett. It is a nice school with a beautiful barn and horses but not something you are considering. Too bad because during the individual competition you were the highest placing senior in test and DSE and earned a $10,000 scholarship! 

This year the dressage program grew so much so you had to compete at Zones rather than just regionals. You competed with the teams you always compete with but also a whole other region's teams.You had good rides but weren't on the top of your game. You typically are the top rider in DSE but this weekend you got a 5th place during team and a 6th place for individual. You got a 4th place for individual test. Unfortunately you needed 1st or 2nd as an individual to move onto Nationals. However, your team took first place and you will represent the team as the Open DSE rider. So happy you have this opportunity as a senior. 

IEA isn't only about riding. It is also about hanging out with friends, cheering each other on and making great memories. 

After Zones we decided you should ride some lessons on Phoebe's horses. Perhaps you are getting so used to riding Wren, who is not easy to ride, it is impacting your ability to adjust. Pheobe was more than happy to work with you. She says the growth she has seen over the past couple of years is amazing. You did all sorts of advanced moves on her horse, Felicity. 

You fined tuned your musical with Debbie. I can't wait to see you ride this next month in the inHouse show. Wren has been extra spooky. Not sure what is going on.

You got your financial aid packet from Randolph Macon and another scholarship from McDaniel. This time it was a $2000 Presidential Scholarship. You have decided on McDaniel. 

Animals are all doing well. 

Until next month... which will be much easier now that I am finally caught up. Hope I stay caught up!

February 2024 update

 This month we continued exploring college options. You were invited to a Scholars on the Hill event as being in the 10% of the admitted class. Attending this event made you eligible for additonal scholarships and gave you an opportunity to learn about the honors program. We also toured Hood College. McDaniel remains a top choice.

You got your haircut and cut off so much you were able to make a donation of 10 inches of hair to Locks of Love. You did all the research yourself.

You celebrated Hannah's birthday with a great dinner with friends.

We celebrated Chinese New Year by going out to dinner and giving you a red envelope. 

The Pony Club Banquet was amazing. They had a special tribute to you and Amelia as graduating seniors. Your friends made a video for you sharing thoughts about you. It was both funny and heartwarming. You were given flowers. This was the first year they recognized seniors in this way. 

We all went up to the Horse Expo for the day. You bought a boatload of stuff. It was a different shopping experience now that you own a horse!

Our animals are all doing great.

January 2024

 We started off the year with another horse event. This time we drove down to NC for the IEA show. We drove down with Peggy and Gretchen again. I am really going to miss all these road trips after the season is over. The show was a hot mess. It poured all day. They moved venues so that it could be held in a covered arena, thank goodness because it poured. It was not fun to stand around and watch everyone ride so a lot of time was spent in the car knitting. I did watch your rides, of course. You had a really good test. You got a second place in test and a third in DSE. You qualified for Regionals at the Talbot Run show but they didn't have the photo op frame so we took one this weekend. 

We got a little bit of snow on January 15th. I am missing the winters where we get a lot of snow.

You were invited down to Randolph Macon for their Scholarship Day. You were given the opportunity to interview for additional scholarship money. We went down the day before, driving down in a small snow storm, toured the school and took a lesson with the Eventing coach. We met the barn manager and talked about bringing Wren down. He even took us out to lunch. You met Kendall, who you. know from IEA, and spent some time in her dorm room and talking about life at RMC. You interviewed on Saturday and from the sounds of it you answered the questions with poise and confidence. Always amazed at how you carry yourself. 

 

  We attended an accepted student's event at McDaniel the following week. After the tour they had an activity planned for the students and the parents went to the President's residence for  hor d'oeuvres and wine. You got to play some trivia games with the current students. It was a nice night. 

Our animals are all doing well. We love them all. 

This photo was taken when we visited Wren on New Year's Day. He certainly loves you! 

December

 December was another busy month. Hard to believe the year went by so quickly. We started off the month getting into the Christmas spirit by picking out and cutting down our Christmas tree. We also went to the Pentatonix concert. We had seats that were pretty far from the stage but when we got to the section the curtains were closed and the ushers gave us floor tickets. We were about 16 rows back from the stage. The concert was amazing. Great way to kick off the month.

You also competed in IEA at Talbot Run. You got two 1sts in DSE and two 2nds in test. You also were given flowers and a card signed by all the team members as this was your last home show as a senior.

You had a 4 H holiday party and achievement night. You planned all the games for the club. Everyone had a blast. You got an award for your essay in the 4 H Senior record book

We took pictures with Wren wearing the large wreath we bought when we got our tree. He was great about having this strange thing around his neck. You then did some photoshop work and created the black background. We had a blanket made with one of these photos. Very creative!

We went to Nick's again for Christmas. You and I stayed one night but Daddy stayed an extra evening so he had more time with Nick, Aiden, Mari and Lindsey. It is nice celebrating as a family. 

Our pets are all very cuddly creatures and doing well. Loki loved opening his Christmas gift, a snuffle mat. 

We ended the year with our traditional chocolate fondue shortly before midnight on December 31.