Horse Camp

Gracie had a great time at her horse camp.  She got to take her horse Lucy with her, and Lucy wore an English saddle for the first time.  It was ideal for them to be able to attend together because they both have a lot to learn still. 

 The camp gave her some good direction for what to work on this summer in her Lucy training. 

I guess Dad and Mom are going to have to come to grips with her riding English.  We don't have an English saddle of own, and their isn't much English riding in our neck of the woods.  But, she's pretty smitten with English - and more importantly with jumping. 

Last Day of School 2013!

We celebrated the last day of school with very large ice cream cones! 

Hard to believe we will have a 10th grader, 7th grader, and a 5th grader next year!

Sistercation

Daniel got rid of both his sisters for three whole days!  He's calling it his SISTERCATION.

He got his summer haircut, a mohawk.

He shipped one sister off on this bus to Baton Rouge for a mission trip. 

The other sister is at horse camp.  Learning more English jumping and having a great time trail riding and playing with her favorite cousin.  Her horse went with her.  Gracie was a nervous wreck with mom driving the trailer up to deliver them.  But, they arrived, with matching hair bows (Gracie and her horse) in their braided hair. 

At least he doesn't look like this anymore!  He missed one of the last days of school because his face was so swollen with poison ivy!  He looked a bit like a chipmunk.  He's enjoying his "sistercation" although we don't have anything particularly special planned.  Sometimes, when you are the youngest child, it's enough just to have mom and dad all to yourself.  We were in Waco and he got to make all the choices about where we ate and went.  Pretty rare for a bossed around younger brother. 

Praying Upside Down Prayers

My mom gave me a neat devotional called Upside Down Prayers for Parents by Lisa Bergren for mother's day and it has really been on my heart a lot recently.  Here's a quote, "As parents, we don't like to see our kids fail - even if failure might provide just the reality check they need.  I'm no scientist, but I think we're biologically programmed to try to protect our children from the hurt and pain that failure brings, even if it means pushing them to persevere in something that lies outside their strengths and long-term interests.  We make the tone-deaf kid practice piano.  We book time at the batting cages for a child who's better suited to the library than the ball field. We insist on the advanced-placement class, thinking it will aid on college applications, even though the pressure makes the child (and therefore the whole family) miserable all year. 
     Factor in the reality that we somehow think a child's failure is a reflection on us - What will people think of me if my child fails? - and we actually exacerbate the problem.  We pressure our children to achieve success at all costs, sometimes to the detriment of something more valuable.  That isn't to say we shouldn't encourage our kids to do their best and to follow through on their commitments.  I'm not advocating dropouts.  I'm advocating dropping things that don't matter and really winnowing down to the things that move God, the things that should move us too.  I'm challenging us to weather the What Will They Think of Me storm in favor of trusting - truly trusting - the Father with our kids." 

Great thoughts.  We've really enjoyed some upside down parenting lately and we've encountered so many of the issues in this book!  Stepping aside and letting God handle situations is never easy, particularly with our children.  And as they get older and begin to make some of their own choices, it is no less hard, but a more natural transition, to step back and allow God to work.  I guess that is why the early years are so important.  You are going to have to step back and let God move as they grow and it is so important that they know faith as young children as a foundation for that.  Ally has decided she no longer likes pitching after five years of special coaches and countless dollars, and hours upon hours we've all spent pursuing this passion.  Her choice doesn't upset us, we might even be a tad relieved in a way.  Most importantly, she's making choices with God at the root of her decisions.  It's just wild to see your kids growing and choosing, finding answers from God without your input.  Kinda shocking - and cool - kind of peeling off the layers to reveal the flower bud of who they are really going to be, and with God tending the flower that's always exciting.

One of the prayers Lisa Bergren asks you to pray in this book is, that your kids will get caught doing things wrong.  Now, that's a blog post about a 10 year old boy right there - for another day. 

Barn Loft

My amazing husband and his genius construction skills! He worked Monday on what will soon be our barn loft. It is going to be an incredible place for storage, and sleepovers.

Yes, we do have a trampoline in our barn.  We moved it in when an unexpected rain shower messed up plans for sleeping outside under the stars.  Now, it's kind of a cool, shady place to read or jump & hit the ceiling.

It's going to be a lot taller up there than we expected, with room to walk around.  The kids are excited about the extra place to play.

Craftiness

Spring always makes me itch for creating, planting, blooming.  I made some fun corsages for some of our students for prom.

Purchasing a prom corsage is the biggest rip off in the world.  Corsages generally go for around $30-40.  I buy a bundle or 2 of roses and I am able to make a whole bunch of corsages. 

I love having plants around the house I can cut and bring in to enjoy.  I try to keep a vaseful in the house.  We have the most wonderful ancient rosebush that produces incredible long stem yellow roses. 

I've been seeing these poofy wreaths around and I thought of my mama.  She likes a little bling, this was a gift for her birthday.  After the wreath was done, I wrapped in a strand of battery operated flower lights. 

More corsages.  I've been pretty busy working at the kid's schools lately, but when summer comes, I have quite the crafty do-list.  Maybe I can also step up the blogging and share some of my projects with you!  ;) 

Activities

We've had SO much going on!  Daniel had his field day.  He ran so hard, he ran out of his shoe.

We had a fun time riding go-carts and watching Epic at the theater. 

Gracie and Daniel had not ridden go-carts alone, but they are finally both tall enough.  Both of the girls placed in the top 2 in their classes and got a trophy or plaque for that.  They got a lot of other awards too.  Daniel hasn't had his awards day just yet.

Ally went to state competition for writing.  She got to go for 2 1/2 days  to compete.  I went with her and we had a great time.  She only wrote a couple of hours, so we had lots of time to shop and play.

Including, eating at her choice, Noodles & company.  She didn't end up placing, but she took and interesting slant on the topic and ended up with a good paper.  However, her slant didn't support the more traditional (and expected) approach to the environmental topic she was given.  Given she was writing this paper in the "tree-hugger" capital of Texas, maybe this was a freshman mistake.  Gotta consider the audience, you know.