What a busy month!

May is almost over....let me recap it for you. A graduation, a funeral, last days of school for the kiddos, an ER visit, a pin on and a horse show.

I had planned to go home for my brother Rudy's MBA graduation...just days before I was to leave my Uncle James passed away. So, I left short notice a few days early. Went home for a funeral and a graduation... I'm flat out done going to FLA for sad occassions. I'm anxious for our trip home in a month. Disney, beach, friends and family...no emergencies or bad surprises PLEASE!

Rudy's graduation was great. Was super happy I was able to get down there. It was great seeing family and sharing his special day with him.


While home I met a long lost cousin...she's actually my dad's cousin's daughter. We recall family events from our childhood, but don't recall each other. It was a great time. Sad it was a funeral that brought us back together. Funny how that happens!

My brother Bill, his wife Jen, my Dad, my Aunt Judy (dad's sis) and myself

Then Grandma Andersen came out to visit and catch Robby and Kimberlyn's last soccer games and Kaitlyn's horse show. It rained all weekend and everything ended up being canceled. That Friday night while I was running dinner to Kaitlyn at the barn (she was show prepping for the show that ended up being rained out) Larry called saying he was heading to the ER...um, what? NO, I'll be back in 5 min and take you. He was checking the jack stand under the van, and BOOM the van fell on his thumb. OUCH! No idea what went wrong, he was being careful, just a freak thing. He must have gone into shock as he said it didn't hurt until AFTER he jacked up the van to get his thumb OUT. At which time he saw his "guts" smushed out the side. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWIE- no pics folks. Thankfully a few stitches and a fracture is all he got- nothing compared to what COULD HAVE HAPPENED.

The kids are out of school now!!! Not even been a full week yet, feels like months....good thing...really. We stay busy and enjoy our days. I missed Kimberlyn's awards ceremony....she got this baseball figurine thing for winning the 1st grade (2 classes) essay contest. How darn cool is THAT!


I saw Kaitlyn's ceremony, she got a few awards herself. Not sure if Robby had one or not....guessing not, never heard of one. Middle School is so ~ different.


In case you are wondering...we still have no control over this cute boy. Riding his trike (which is an outside toy) in my kitchen...

Napping in his biggest sister's bed, which YES, it is a HIGH LOFT bed....

and being absolutely adorable eating lunch with his big bro!



So later this month we had a pin-on ceremony...more to come on this later...


Grandpa Nance came out for the pin-on and caught a horseshow too.

It was the first "home" show of the season. Home, meaning at the farm she trains at each week. Kaitlyn and her pony Romeo did amazing. They both have come so far and are doing well together.

Waiting...check out these BOWS!


She did an in hand class called Model Hunter, it basically judges the pony....for a first try they did well. Her pony wasn't standing square though! Oops



More waiting...show day has MUCH waiting, just a normal part of the day.


In between jump rounds....our babysitter and her riding mentor on her left. Her riding instructor on her right. Cute!


Over a jump...




Ribbons from her flat classes....at this time she had no idea how she placed in her jump rounds. She placed 6th in the flat class judging the pony at the walk/trot/canter....silly pony got scared (or not) and bolted. She's a new rider now (she has made significant improvement in riding lessons this past winter) and beat his tush and continued on in the class. Stayed onboard the whole time. Next flat class she placed 1st. It was judging the rider. Both rider and pony did a nice job.


So Kaitlyn was beat, it was HOT and had been a long day. Again, typical show day scenario...she was back in the barn untacking, and preparing to strip out of her show clothes and cool ou ther pony when a barn friend, Emily came in and totally caught us all off guard handing Kaitlyn her Short-Stirrup CHAMPION ribbon!!! This was Kaitlyn's first time to ride in a division that gets Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons. We obviously missed the announcement. She had gotten a 1st and two 2nd place ribbons for her jump rounds....along with division champion. Made for quite a special day for this girl!