November 2024

You celebrated your birthday at college. We took you and your friends out the week before because your birthday felled on homecoming weekend.

We went to the PVDA Fall show. You had some amazing rides. Your last ride of the weekend was a First Level, test three ride and you scored an amazing 70.471. You both looked great together. I love these show weekends. It is so nice to see you ride and all the work you put into this sport. 

We also saw you at Parents Weekend at college. It was nice to meet more of your friends and have dinner with you. 

You and I helped out the weekend of the IEA show. It was a fun weekend back at the barn. You spent Saturday night home which is always a treat. On Sunday of the same weekend you had your first choral concert at college. The chorus is actually quite talented. We loved watching you and enjoyed the concert.

 

We had a full house for Thanksgiving. The pets were thrilled to have you home again, especially Otto. Nick and Mari came down for the day. Mari's parents also joined us for dinner. Aiden and Lindsey spent a couple days in town. The food was great but being with family was the best part.

On the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend we went on a trail ride up at Fair Hill. You and G found out about all the trails earlier this summer. Peggy trailered Wren and Macy and her mom joined us. It was a COLD weekend but you all had a blast. On Saturday you were out for over three hours and on Sunday about an hour and a half. The moms sat by the fire all weekend. We went shopping at Fair Hill on Saturday, out to dinner and you and the girls went to see Wicked. It is so nice to have these relaxing weekends.

 

The pets are all doing well. I know I said it before but I am thrilled that the cats get along with Loki. They really do love each other.

October update

 October was a pretty uneventful month. Sophia came home for her fall break. It was great to have her home. I cooked some of her favorite meals. The pets were so happy to see her. 

Steve and I celebrated our 21st anniversary with a delicious dinner. So thankful he is always by my side.

 

We all spent a day together at the Maryland Five Star. Sophia and I went up early and Steve met us there later. We shopped the vendors, watched the corgi races and saw some amazing talented riders in the show jumping arena. 

We celebrated Sophia's 19th birthday a couple of days early with friends at a local restaurant. Can't' believe she will be 19 on November 1st. 

Our pets are all doing great. The cats love Loki.  So glad they all get along. 

September blog

 This month has been a little quieter with Sophia at college. It is certainly a big change and we miss having her at home. She is, however, having a blast at college. She really is enjoying her classes and has met a bunch of new friends. We are so happy for her.

Steve and I went to her Pony Club lesson on Labor Day. After the lesson we took Sophia and two of her new friends out to lunch. It was great to spend time with Sophia and meet her friends. I look forward to her Pony Club lessons. It is so nice to see her and Wren and we often get to spend some time with her afterwards. Who can pass up a meal at a restaurant?

Sophia and her friends went to the football game and experienced your first tailgating event. 

 

The highlight of the month was going to your first Horse Trail at the Virginia Horse Center to celebrate G's birthday. This is the first time you ever did an Eventing show. On Saturday Sophia was able to run through all portions, practice in the dressage ring, jump the stadium jumping part and school the cross country course. Both Sophia and Wren were so brave. He did so well. On Sunday Sophia competed and placed second out of 17 riders! Impressive!

 

We ended up having to buy a new car at the end of the month. Sophia had gone to visit a friend at college earlier this month and had trouble with her car. It was making noises and smoking a bit. Steve went to help her. We had the car towed and he got a rent a car. Two weeks later Sophia was driving up to the barn and the car just stopped. The barn owner tried jumping it and it didn't work. I picked up Sophia and the barn and Steve meet us at the dealership. We ended up buying a 2017 Honda CRV. Somehow Sophia convinced Steve that she should have this new car!

I went out for a wine tasting event with the barn moms.

 

To finish up the month Sophia went to Dressage at Devon with her friend G.

The pets are all doing well. We know that Otto really misses cuddling with Sophia because he is even more cuddling with us this month.