Extreme Cowgirl Challenge

This weekend Brianna participated in an Extreme Cowgirl Challenge. Many events your used to seeing at a rodeo like pole bending and barrel racing don't really require a lot of skill by the rider but rather a horse that knows what it is doing. So the point of the Cowgirl challenge is to make your horse do different things that show the riders control of the horse.

First, Bri had to get her horse from the arena, take her to the platform and get on.

There was a whole series of obstacles, like taking the horse between a rock and a fence, past some cows, weaving through trees and picking some flowers. One of the last was to get the horse to go over a large log.

Her horse Buck was more interested in eating but Bri managed to get her through the course.

She did another event that was like a modified Barrel run, where she had to pick up a curry comb off the barrels and put it on the next one. She was so high on her horse that the lady had to had it to her.

She did well enough to place third. I'm very proud of how well she cares for and handles her horse.

One of her friends was riding the pony Little Bill and Bri decided she wanted a turn.

We had a fun day and she learned a lot.

Bryce Canyon

Sorry I've been a lame blogger lately and haven't updated. I have actually written several posts, but I don't know if I should post them, as they are about somethings I've been dealing with lately and I'm not sure I'm ready to share.

Anyway....

On to our latest vacation. We started out our summer by getting out of town. We decided to go to Bryce Canyon NP. We hadn't been there since Bri was a baby.

We started out in the visitors center, where Bri promptly found a horse.

The first day we drove up to the top of the Canyon and made some stops along the way. We met this Raven at one of our stops and he posed for a picture with the girls.

On our second day there Grandma Phyllis and Aunt Jenny and Atticus joined us. We took the Shuttle that day and saw some of the great views, and went on a hike. These three little goofballs had so much fun.

Our little family at Bryce Point.

Me and my Sister.

The kids on the shuttle.

Grandma and the kids.

Day three we went on a hike to see Mossy cave and a waterfall.

One of the amazing views on our hike.

Our group after the hike.

Another group shot.

We stoped for ice cream after out hike and these little misfits got put in jail.

This is my favorite picture from this trip. Carly is just to funny!

The boobs are the right size but I wish my waist was this small.

The kids at the entrance sign.

Our 2 little Jr. Rangers. This is their 3 badge of the year.

On our last day we took a hike to a place called Fairyland point. This was a really long hike so we didn't go far, but it was neat because we could get closer to some of the hoodoos.

Our last hike. The Bristle cone loop. Some truly amazing views.

One last pic of our cute little Brianna.

We had so much fun on this trip. Bryce is a small park, so we spent a lot of time just hanging out in the camp ground relaxing. We can't wait for our next trip!

Holiday weekend

I know it's a little late, but it's been a busy week, but we had so much fun I just had to share. Even though we didn't go out of town for the holiday we wanted to do something fun. We decided to take the kids to the zoo before it got too hot. My sister, brother-in-law and nephew as well as Grandma also came.

Such a cute bunch of kids.

I was very excited to see the baby elephant. she is about 8 or 9 months old now and she is just stinking cute.

Three little Monkeys!

We also got together as a family for a BBQ.

Popsicles for everyone!

My little Graduate

Earlier this week my sweet little Carly graduated from preschool. Her teacher puts on quite the show. So, many cute little poems, every one with different props. They are so cute.


This was for the months of the year song.

This was, It's raining, it's pouring. They are the old man.


This is her best little buddy Jonah. We carpool with him and it is so cute to listen to their conversations every morning.

The best preschool teacher ever! We really love Miss Marla, she is amazing.

Both Bri and Carly had Miss Marla and we are sad we won't be seeing her so often.

Good Reads?

I recently joined Good Reads, mainly because facebook told me to but I'm slightly embarrassed to post what book I'm reading. My friends all seem to be reading great biographies and very serious book, but my taste run along the lines of smut. That's right I love a good romance novel, the smutty er the better.

When I was young I read a lot. Then came came high school and all the forced reading and dissecting of every book really ruined my joy of reading. Then shortly after we moved into our house, my Dad came to stay with us, and shortly after that he fell and broke his femur. It was a very very hard time in my life. I was taking care of my dad and I spent a lot of time in waiting rooms so I started reading again. Reading was my escape and I was reading 5 or 6 books a week. It was such a stressful time of my life and books helped me to not dwell on all the hard things I was dealing with and instead escape to the world of my romance novel. I didn't want to read things that were serious or depressing. I've even had the chance to meet some of my favorite authors and chat with them, and they were all so nice.

I'm not completely opposed to reading more serious book, but when all is said and done I'd take a good Nora, or Rachel Gibson any day.

So if you are my friend on Good Reads, don't judge me for my taste in reading matterial, give one of them a try.

Me and Nicholas Sparks

Me and Nora (why didn't anyone tell me how bad my hair was?)

Me and Rachel Gibson ( I was 7 months pregnat with Carly)

Convention

This last week I had the chance to attend the state PTA convention. I accepted the job of President Elect for the coming school year, a decision I'm still not comfortable with, so I was excited to go and hopefully learn a lot and get an idea of what I was in for. It was just what I needed after a hard week and I was surprised at how much fun I had. I attended with two other ladies one, was the president this year and will do it again this next year and the other was our treasure this year and will work the the Jr, High next year. For me one of the unexpected benefits of the PTA has been all the friends I have made. It has been so nice to meet so many nice ladies who all care as much about our kids, school and community as I do and want to do something about making it better. It was so interesting to look around the convention at the variety of different women (and even a few dads) there, and know that all of us had something in common.
I did learn a lot and get some really great ideas for the coming year. I'm still not convinced I can do pull it off, but hopefully after a year of training under a really great lady I feel better about things.

What do you do to relax?

Yesterday I threw myself a whooper of a pity party. Last week was a roller coaster to say the least and I struggled to stay upbeat all week. I think it all caught up to me yesterday and so when my washing machine broke down, while holding my clothes hostage, I broke down in tears. Then it rained, and ruined the dinner I had planned to grill, more tears. Thank heaven for Taco Time, and an understanding husband. Anyway once the kids were finally in bed Jon and I sat down to watch our shows, I turned on the lap top and started a marathon session of free cell, it made me feel much better.

A friend of mine once asked me what I do to relax. I like to play free cell, sudoku, sew or quilt, I also like to read. Reading saved my sanity during a particularly rough time in my life, but lately I'm in a slump, when it comes to good reading material. I basically need to do things that force my mind to focus on something else besides the problem that is plaguing me. My friend laughed because most of the things that calm me down stress her out. So what do you do to relax?

BTW, my washer is still holding the clothes hostage which is giving me huge anxiety, and the repair man can't get here till tomorrow.

Birthday Cowgirl

My little cowgirl had a birthday this week. She got lots of books(about horses)


And a Barbie from her sister.

She got a book about a little girl who gets a bike and pretends it's a horse.

And she got a new bike.

And since it's been a while since I put up some horse pictures, here is my current favorite.

Dancing Girls

The girls had their Spring dance recital last night. They both really enjoy performing and did a great job!

Brianna's class danced to At the Hop.

Carly's class danced to Shall We Dance from the King and I.