November update

November was a bitter sweet month. It marked closure on some very important people in our lives but also was a time to celebrate family. We hosted Beverly's memorial service the weekend before Thanksgiving. Steve's mom- Beverly, Step-dad- Skip, Grandmother-Phyllis all wanted their ashes spread together in the Chesapeake Bay. Steve called the yacht club in Annapolis which Bev and Skip belonged to when they first moved there and they allowed us to go in and fulfill their final wishes. Steve's step siblings, Suzy and Micky came for this. On Friday night we just hung out with Suzy and Aiden at the house. We talked about their memories growing up. Saturday morning Sophia had the final horse show of the series which Suzy, Micky and his boys came to. We then all met at the beach to spread the ashes of Phyllis, Skip, Bev and a couple of dogs. It was beautiful. We shared a few words about each person before letting them go. We then came back to our small house and all eleven of us gathered to have Skip's famous wild rice dish and share more memories and pictures. On Sunday we hosted family and some of Bev's friends at Maggianos for a family style lunch. More memories were shared. It was really a beautiful weekend.

 But I jumped ahead. Let me back up to the beginning of the month. Sophia turned twelve years old on November 1st. I don't know where the time has gone. She is becoming a young women right before my eyes. She is incredibly funny, kind-hearted, brave and loving. She is excelling in middle school and become more independent every day.  We opened her gifts on Halloween but gave had the traditional cupcake and balloons in bed the morning of her birthday. Otto and Mr Twinkletoes even took part in the celebrating each having some frosting from her cupcake. We also gave her the gift we bought her in China in the morning. This year she received a beautiful set of chopsticks.

Last picture of Sophia at 11 years old.

Gift from China

Sophia left for a three day trip to outdoor education the morning of her birthday. Steve went along to chaperone. This was the first birthday that I did not spend with her. Guess it is practice for when she grows up and goes to college. She had a blast at outdoor ed. She did some high rope courses, took part in science classes and just had a blast hanging out with her friends.

Sophia had her 12th birthday party at a place that just opened called NinjaBe. It was a blast. The eleven girls played for 90 mins and then had pizza and cake. They were all quite skilled in these ninja warrior moves. They even all got a chance to ride a mechanical bull.

Katlyn slept over after the party. Sophia and Katlyn always have fun together.

Sophia competed in the November show and did really well. She earned the series Grand Champion for the English Pleasure Division. 

Sophia rode Wilbur in a lesson. She misses jumping on school horses but her Sunday lesson, which she pays for with the money she earns working at the barn gives her the chance to ride school horses. 

We went to the MOHSS banquet. Sophia won sixth place in the Junior Trial Class. She got a huge ribbon and a plague. This is a huge accomplishment. She saw some of her 4-H friends, as well as the CHC show team there.

Thanksgiving was very quiet this year with just me, Steve, Sophia and Leslie. Not having Bev there was hard. We played a game of Big Bang Theory clue and had a wonderful dinner.

The month finished out with Sophia performing in her first middle school choral concert. She even had a small solo in one of the songs. She did beautifully.

Until next month

Boba in Kae's bed with Kae allowing it!

October 2017

October came and went very quickly.  It primarily revolved around horses. What else is new?  Sophia competed in two shows this month. She was scheduled to compete in an away show but it got canceled due to rain.  She competed in the Hunter/Jumper Show at the barn in only one division because Navajo's owner was riding him in the jumper ring.

She also competed in the dressage series. She rode Roxy which isn't really a great dressage horse but Sophia handled her well and did the test well. Roxy tripped once and kept star gazing so the points didn't reflect how well she rode the test. Dressage is about the horse and rider connection so the score was appropriate.

Sophia also went on a trial ride with her 4-H group. It was it Gettysburg. They learned some history as they rode the trail. She loved it.

She rode her favorite pony Ella this month. Ella is being transitioned back to the owner who donated her to the barn a couple years ago. Sophia wanted to have one last ride on her. She was naughty as usual. She cow kicked but Sophia is so used to her antics she handled it no problem.

Steve and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary on October 18th. He got me beautiful flowers. 

Halloween at the barn involved dressing Navajo as Thing 2 and Sophia as Thing 1. Sophia was Thing 2 in third grade with Taylor acting as Thing 1. She had even competed in a pairs class with her riding buddy Emily as Thing 1 and Thing 2.made a matching tutu for Navajo. She worked on this with very little help. This might have been the cutest Thing 1 and Thing 2 pair.  

Halloween night Sophia was a jockey again. Gracie even got in on the fun. Sophia went trick or treating with her friends Naomi and Maya. 

Our pets are all doing wonderfully. Gracie is really settling in to our house. 

And that's a wrap