A New Look

Emma decided a couple of weeks ago that she wanted to get her hair cut.  I have to admit that I wasn't crazy about the thought of cutting it all off.  I liked her long hair although it was quite the pain in the rear to brush.  Well she wouldn't be persuaded otherwise so after making her wait, just to make sure that's what she REALLY wanted to do....I took her today for the big cut. 

Below...the result. 

We all love it!  Alot.  The braid that was cut off?  We still have it and will be sending it off to Locks of Love soon. 

Horse Lesson 2

 

"No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle." ~Winston Churchill~

Some may disagree with that quote.  Not Emma!  She has found a passion.

 

                                                                        All by herself. 

Happy

                                                                 Peppermints for a good boy.

                                                                And pure joy for a little girl. 

My Horse Lover

Note to self: Remember to take the digital card out of the computer NEXT TIME and reinsert into the camera BEFORE leaving the house for Emma's FIRST riding lesson! 

Let that be a lesson to me.  I will not forget next time. 

ANYways. 

Emma had her very first riding lesson tonight and I couldn't have been more proud of her.  She impressed me with her lack of fear and timidity with the horse.  It didn't even bother her that Spot was only slightly gassy!  Not. At. All. 

The first half of the lesson was spent grooming the horse and she loved EVERY bit of it and wasn't shy at all with the horse or the trainer.

The stable owner was very friendly the first time that we went to check out the place and she took alot of time with us showing us around.  The trainer also was extremely good with Emma and a very easy going and knowledgeable  teacher.

Her lesson was supposed to be an hour tonight but ended up being a half hour longer.  By the end of the lesson she had Emma trotting through the stable! 

When we got ready to leave Emma clasped her hands together and said excitedly, "I LOVE horses!  I  wish I could stay here and just ride horses!".

I wish I could have captured her excited face at that moment. 

But I will just have to be content with these phone pictures I snapped until I can get some better ones. :)

Before her lesson. 

Grooming. 

I kind of actually love this picture.  She looks like a natural.

In the saddle.

Every Day Stuff and a Test

Laundry.

Orthodonist appointment for Emma.

Cleaning.

Spending all Saturday morning driving around pricing new dryers because mine bit the dust.

Buying a new dryer and having it delivered.

Grocery shopping.

Oil change and tire rotation. 

Speech Therapy for Cody.

Testing for Emma.

Such are the things that have made up my days since returning from the beach.  It's just life!

On a different note....Emma did aMAZing with her testing.  She was actually looking forward to it!  By the way, if any of my homeschool mom friends want a recommendation for a test administrator, I know a great one!

Emma's reading was on a 7th grade level (she is in 2nd grade).

To quote the summary: "Emma's fluency with academic tasks is within the superior range of others at her age level.  Her academic skills are high average.  Her level of academic knowledge is average. 
When compared to others at her age level, Emma's performance is superior in broad reading; high average in mathematics; and average in math calculation skills." 

That is shameless downright bragging right there on my part but. I.Don't.Care. 

My helper. 

I love this girl.  She is getting so tall and the days pass so quickly. 

I remember when she was a peanut on the ultrasound machine.  A peanut with a beating heart. And I cried.  My first baby. 

Where does the time go?

A piece of cake

At The Bakers Rack.

Having a sampler. :)

Emma received a cooking/baking class at The Bakers Rack for Christmas from her Aunt Summer.  When I saw this week that they had spots still open for a cake baking and decorating class I signed her right up.  She had a blast! 

It was a 2 hour class and she came home with a cake and additional cupcakes that she made and decorated herself. 

:)

It was such a fun and different kind of activity. We may even go back just to sit and have a cupcake sometime.  They looked amazing! 

Happy Weekend!

"Can't you believe I'm eight?!" ~Emma~

I barely had enough time to take a sip of coffee this morning before Emma was ready to open birthday presents!  I don't blame her.  When you are 8 and you've been waiting for this day FOORREEVVVEERR, then it's only right that you should open them all as soon as the sun peeks over the horizon.  Right?

She had been waiting for this Get Well set for her doll complete with casts, crutches, etc. 

Cory is helping this poor thing stand up. 

Did you ever see anyone so excited?!  It brings me so much joy to see her happy.  I love it. 

I really didn't know what we would do today so I did what I usually do.  Fly by the seat of my pants that is.  So for breakfast we made a quick trip to Chick-fil-a for some chicken minis (for Emma and Cody) and a big ol' hot chocolate just for Emma.  

I asked her what she wanted to do today and all she said that she wanted to do was to take a picnic to the park.  Then she chose the park.  It was a pretty day for that and she chose well.  She made a friend while we were there and the boys each burned up some energy. 

I just love her.  So much. 

We got home and put Beau down for his nap and played barbies...with Cody...who was the dog.

Dinner was her choice.  It was the same exact thing she wanted last year.  Little Caesars.  :/  Yeah, not my favorite, but she was thrilled with that! 

Being that she doesn't like traditional birthday cake or cupcakes this is what we came up with. 

THAT is a chocolate covered, "peanut butter ball" cake.  You know, like the pb balls that are made at Christmas?  It was so easy and simple and yes, there are only 2 candles there.  I thought I had more but..... nope!  That's it. 

Let me tell you!  It will put some girth on ya. 

Look at that.  Chocolate, peanut butter, sugar, and butter.  Yep, I will be puttin' on the running shoes tomorrow. 

We then left the boys at home and I took her shopping with her birthday money.  She had a blast and I enjoyed being with her.  She's a shopper to be sure.  She's not like me at all in that regards but I had fun watching her pick out things and do the math in her head. 

After we were done shopping she said to me, "This has been the best birthday ever, mama!" 

Joy to my heart. 

I prayed that God would bless her with a great day and He did.  I'm so thankful. 

Blessings

Do you ever look at your growing children and remember when they were babies?  I do that all of the time. 

Sometimes I look at Emma and I remember seeing her scrunched up face for the first time. 
My first baby. 
That little girl that I had wanted.  There she was!  Now she is one month from being 8. 
Everyone says she looks like me. 
Anyone who knows her knows that she loves books.  At just the age of 2 she would sit and flip through a magazine page by page.  She would read a phone book.  Any catalogs or flyers that come in the mail do not escape her. 
She has an amazing memory! 
She loves going to Co-op on Mondays.  She hates Math even though it seems to come quite easy to her.  She loves to learn. 
She's into horses much to Cory's dismay.  All things Princess, ballet, and pink have passed.  She prefers blue. 
She will be taller than I.  I think 5'7 was the last prediction from the pediatrician...possibly taller.  I'm happy for her. :) 
She likes to go anywhere I go. 
She likes I Love Lucy reruns. 
She can't wait until we build our house so she can have her own room. 
Her husband will have to be understanding of her love of books.  He will probably need to be somewhat intelligent and have a love of learning like she does but not too stuffy.  He has to get along with her father and brothers.  A knowledge of guns and hunting is highly recommended. 

And I look at Cody and remember that fat little face he had.  He was the biggest baby I've had weighing 8 pounds 3 oz.  My first boy. 
He looks like Cory. 
He's rough. 
He's tender and sweet and always the first to give kisses and say he loves us.  He climbs into bed with us in the morning to snuggle and occasionally a wayward knee or elbow to the face.  :/
He's not too shy. 
If he gets a boo boo you hear about it until it's gone. 
He has learned the alphabet song and when I call out each of the 50 US Capitals he can recite back to me all corresponding 50 States.  He still sees a speech therapist every week so they (the States) aren't always recognizable by just anyone but I know what he's saying. :)
He's our picky eater.  He lives on Ritz crackers, cheese sticks, chocolate milk, yogurt, and pb on a spoon.  I just give him his vitamins and fruit smoothies (he likes those thankfully!!) and I don't worry about it.
I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a rodeo cowboy.  Whatever he does it will not be boring and always full steam ahead.  His wife will probably need to be the calm type who doesn't frighten easily and who also loves a little adventure herself.   

Last but not least, my little Beau.  His baby days are easier to remember being they were just last year!  He was my smallest baby at an even 7 pounds.  And what a good baby he was. 
He was a good sleeper and still is. 
I never tire of kissing his face. 
I'm not sure who he looks like but he's a good mix of all of us.
He likes to eat. 
He likes to be outside. 
His personality is still developing so I have so much more to study about him. 
He is cautious.  He likes to wrestle with the "big boys" but don't throw him in the air!  He freaks out and stiffens his body like a board. 
He seems to gravitate toward being musical.  At least he enjoys it anyways.  He likes to dance.  He's not a music snob either.  He likes it all. 
He is being toughened by his big brother and loved on by his big sister.
His wife will probably be spontaneous and bubbly.  :)

Well this post went in a different direction than I had planned but that's ok.  I do that often and when it happens I just go with it.  :)  Until next time!

This is the best, most recent picture I could find of me with all three.  Beau is being squeezed by Cody but hey, what's new?  ;)

My Shadow

Emma goes with me sometimes on my run.  This picture was taken on Tuesday evening.  Most of the time I run alone with just my music to keep me company but this night I left the music and took my daughter instead.  I was surprised by how much fun it was.  She talked to me in the beginning (by the end she was pretty tired) and really, REALLY surprised me on the hills.  She took every single one to the top and back down as many times as I did.  I guess I underestimated her!  She says she wants to run too and wants to do a fun run at one of the 5ks I plan to do this Fall.  :) 

I remember when it was just the two of us during the day while Cory was working.  I had a single running stroller then.  We would go to the park and I would set her in that stroller and she would sit straight up and look forward as I ran behind her. 

Things are quite different now!  Most of the time I run alone, once in awhile with all 3, and sometimes just Emma. 

My runs with Emma are my favorite though.  :)