Lessons learned

Courtney had a horse show on Saturday the 23rd of May at Fox Chase Farm in Middleburg. She learned 3 very valuable lessons that day. One: Always listen to your trainer...she really does know best. Two:Sometimes a judge just doesn't like your pony. And three: You get a new slate after each class (well, you're supposed to...).

Had Courtney listened to Fay about her position in the ring, maybe (doubtfully though) things may have been a little different.

The judge she had was very new to judging, and it was obvious. She had her favorites picked out before they even began moving, and even when one girl could not control her pony (it took off, and she almost ran over someone else) and Bug still didn't get noticed. After not pinning in the pleasure class (a first on Moose, Bug has always at least received a 6th place in a large field in one of the three classes) Bug and Moose went in for the flat for the Short Stirrup class. Fay came over to us as the results of the class were being announced, and in her opinion Bug should have gotten about a 4th place, but again the judge had her favorites and no matter how good others were the favorites were on top. At Fay's suggestion, Bug and Moose did not even do the other 2 jump classes.

On the way back to the barn I asked Courtney why when she does not pin well in the very first class, does she start to fight with Moose and give him attitude? And she told me "Well, if we don't do well in the first class, then we won't do well all day." After a few more questions I finally figured out what she was trying to say. Poor kid thought that what she did in one class carried over to all the other classes. She did not realize that once you leave the ring and a class is over, it's over and you get the slate wiped clean and get to start over. (The things kids think about!)

Now that Courtney gets that she can shake off a bad class and come back even stronger in the next class, I think we are going to see a whole new Courtney and Moose Man.

Party time

Even though it was over a week early, Jilly had a birthday bar-b-que at Aunt Sara and Uncle Billy's house. We celebrated early so Aunt Dot and Paul, Barb and Ryan could be there with us to have some fun. Everybody enjoyed the food, Jilly loved all her presents (some more then others...details to follow) and had a great time playing in the back yard with "Blakey" (why she decided to start calling him the is a mystery to all!)

As for the presents, she had been asking for one of the little dinosaur friends for over 2 months. She loves playing with it, and likes to take care of it like it were real. "Baby Dino has to eat now Mommy...Baby Dino has to go potty Mommy" it really is something else.

She also fell in love with a little stuffed white horse (go figure, my kid loves a horse?!?)

Chorus concert

On May 14th (I know, I know...but Im still trying to get caught up!) Bug had her final chorus concert as a 6th grader. They sang a bunch of songs, danced and did a wonderful job. Cooper was bouncing to the beat, and Jilly was well behaved, it was a fun evening. Maybe next year we can get Courtney to look like she is having as much fun as she says she is!

Girl is quick!

We were at Price Club at one point in the past 2 weeks, and we came across one of the little carts with food. This cart had pizza, and Jilly asked me if she could have some. I said sure, and we weaved our way over, and Jilly asked "I have one please?" The little Asian lady said, "Sure, here you go." Jilly turned to her, and plain as day said "Shea-shea." And the little lady looked her in the eye with out skipping a beat and said "Woo ka chi."

Now for the explanation: Jilly watches "Ni Hao Kai-lan" on Nickelodeon, and the show is all about a little Chinese girl, her grandpa and her friends. The show has good moral lessons, and teaches kids how to speak some Chinese. What it boils down to, is my 3 year old saw this little Asian lady and told her Thank you in Chinese.

(No matter how badly I may feel about my parenting skills on some days, its days like that one that remind me I must be doing something right for my kids to be so polite, and in more than one language!)

stupid computer!

So we FINALLY got the computer fixed, and I promise to get everyone updated as soon as I can. Hope you are all doing well, and I will fill you all in on all the news here just as soon as I can.

Mother's Day

I must say that this Mother's Day was one of the best in recent years. Courtney and I did some shopping...poor kid needed some new shorts that fit. It's amazing how much she has grown since last summer...I'm not use to her growing so much so quickly! We then spent the better part of the afternoon playing in the garden, planting all kinds of things. Then while the 2 littlest ones were sleeping, we started getting the house organized for when the new baby arrives. After all the clothes we went through yesterday, I sure hope that this one is another girl! I know some of you really want us to have a boy, but we seem to have the raising of girls down to a science, not to mention an entire wardrobe and rooms full of girly toys already!

Uncle Bubba's B-day

Tonight we went out to see Russell and Amber's new house, and it is beautiful. Russell made us all a wonderful dinner...beef wellington, great potatoes, green beans...it was great! We sat out on the deck in the nice weather, the kids played (nicely for the most part!), we did cake and presents (we also did mother's day for Gran-ma). I think the highlight of the night was when Jilly realised that now that Uncle Bubba had his birthday, hers is close to follow. But she made it know that "All I want is a card, I don't need anything else." Now keep in mind that for the last month (at least) every time she turns around you hear "Can I have that for my Happy Birthday, please?" It's all because she heard uncle Bubba tell me that yesterday when he was here to fix my stove. It just blows my mind the things she retains and repeats (and correctly), it also scares me a little how quickly she picks things up.

Here's looking forward to Jilly's Happy Birthday, she's going to be in her first horse show that weekend as well. It should be fun!

Back to being miserable

It all started back in the begining of April with my washing machine...then 2 weeks ago it was the garbage disposal, and last night I nearly caught my kitchen on fire while trying to cook dinner. Thank goodness that my brother works for Sterling Appliance. He came by this morning to look at it, and there was a short in one of the switches to turn on a burner. The part should be in sometime in the next few days, and hopefully I will have a happy kitchen again.

Potty Talk

Cooper has moved up to size 4 diapers...Jilly was 18 months before she was in that size. Jilly is now 100%, completely potty trained. She has been wearing a pull up just at night (just in case) since the beginning of the year. Since mid February, she hasn't wet them over night, and for a month now (ever since getting over the flu) she will wake up and tell us she has to potty. For the past 5 nights Jilly has been sleeping in her " real big girl panties" and hasn't had an accident. We are all very proud of her, but she is extremely proud of herself.

-Way to go Big Girl!

it's official

I'm not sure what the law is, and I'm sorry Fay, but I think I now have to sign up at least one of my kids for soccer...we bought a mini-van yesterday. It's a means to an end, we now have enought room for all the kids, which is the important thing. Now we just have to work on the space issue in the house, that's going to be a little more difficult, but by the grace of God we'll figure it out somehow.