Event that motivated me to get current on blogging...

See...I am like you, busy. Life with kids is busy and on the go. Goodness just tonight in the car watching Kimberlyn at soccer practice Tommy informs he wants to play, I think he may be old enough to play next Spring....wooo, just 12 months to relax while hauling just 3 kids to activities until the baby, and 4th kiddo is in activities :)

Anyhow, Kaitlyn informed me that for extra credit in science she needed to be shown the breaker box and the main power shut off switch. No big deal, right??? RIGHT??!?!? Unless you have to use your garage for hay storage that is!!

So this was us last night. We I think all had a fun time doing a not so fun chore late last night.
Moving hay...

Found the box!

Well we had fun right up until the point where smarty pants dad feels he should DEMONSTRATE the "main power shut off switch" ~ give it a go yourself. 1) tuck in your other three kids. 2) flip the switch. 3) see how fast each child comes hollaring!

Kaitlyn trying to stop her dad from shutting off the power...


Tommy freaked and must have thought that "storm" he askes me about every night had come.

Robby said "great dad you broke my stereo" -that he's had a whole 2 weeks from his birthday!

Kimberlyn comes asking what we're up to, seems I think she was brushing her teeth or whatever (I THOUGHT she was "tucked" in already!

NOW when I realized we were covering the breaker box I DID have my wonderful hay-unloaders "mark" the breaker box with a crooked bale of hay in case we needed to access the box.

P.S. Mrs. Pruett we love you :) although last night my husband wasn't so eager to do this extra credit - I think he deserves the extra 10 pts!

More March fun...

Kaitlyn's lesson last week...
Kaitlyn and Romeo have encountered issues. Romeo can get bored or mad or moody...and decides to take Kaitlyn for a ride, speedy ride at that. So here in the last few months Romeo has been being "schooled" by Cortland, Kaitlyn's riding instructor for first 1/2 of Kaitlyn's riding lesson. Then Kaitlyn gets on and gets "schooled" too...Kaitlyn has come along way and is showing this Pistol Pony that she indeed is taking control.
One of my most favorite shots of her...so pretty and carefree looking!

Cortland on occasion gives lessons while mounted and rides along schooling her students, I believe Kaitlyn really enjoys these lessons a lot. I just happened to have the camera and God blessed us with sunshine. Just a perfect lessoning day!


Kimberlyn and Cortland's two boys....think we need to up their snacks to keep them off the horse's hay :) Actually, these kiddos play very well together and are great with Tommy too.

There's a video on my Facebook page...not sure if this link will work, but if you're not on Facebook come join it's fun!


The girls and I went to the Illinois Horse Fair in Springfield, IL for an overnight trip a week ago. We went with some barn friends and had a way fun time. The girls swam until just after 11pm in the hotel pool and were grumps teh next day ;) My friend Kim has more pictures of our weekend, here's a few I have.

The first night we went to see Equine Extremist Tommie Turvey...we saw his show and caught three of his seminar/clinics at the Horse Fair too.






One of his students performed in the show too. This 12-year old rode one of her horses and one of her ponies in the show. Bridleless and bareback ~ jumping courses and galloping freely. All this she did with just one hand. Yes!!! the most beautiful, inspirational Lizzy Traband was born with one hand and blessed with an amazing family to encourage her to "Dream Big!" Lizzy also has a blog which is on the left side here. The girls and I got t-shirts of hers, autographs and pictures with Lizzy.

Our brand new TWELVE year old!

Robby celebrated his 12th birthday playing Laser Tag with three good friends. Two are brothers that were our neighbors back in Oklahoma, so nice to be "local" with them now! He requested a Dippin' Dots cake. YUMMY!!! We surprised him with a nice stereo and he loves it.


The cake...

That's a few candles, make a wish!!

BLOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Sad but true, best or better yet ONLY picture of the boys I have.

Dang cute picture of all the kiddos at his party! Was a fun night!

Happy Birthday my sweet boy!!

Feb 25, 2010

here goes....trying to back track and get up to date....

So what a day this was. I can't recall much before 2:40pm when my cell phone rang. I was just pulling out of our church parking lot from picking Tommy up from "school," 20 minutes from home. It was our neighbor that hasn't exchanged any communication with us since last May. He told me my horse was running in the street. I asked questions to verify it was my "horse." He got short and said "it's you big horse." I so badly wish I could be rude, disrespectful and such to clarify to him that we don't own a "big" anything... in fact we own a medium pony and a miniature horse, both animals being quite "small" for equines. I asked if he'd go out and either try to catch or calm my pony. He flat out said his "back was out" and he couldn't. World's Best Neighbors....NOT!

I called everyone I could think of to help...either they weren't home or they were unable to help. I simply prayed. And prayed a few more times...

Turns out Romeo JUMPED the fence. He realized the grass was not greener...when I arrived home I found Romeo wandering around near our walk out basement. Considering he has come in the doors down there before, maybe he was hoping Kaitlyn would come out and help him :) He came right up to me and I just stood there so relieved. The whole way home my mind couldn't help but fear for the worst. And wonder how in the world I'd tell his 10 yr old princess the bad news.


The fence....all bowed out. Looking close up I could see a few strands of hair. This could have been a mess.

Minor scrape on his one leg...lucky dog and thankful owner!

Here is Kaitlyn posing with Romeo to show the fence height is just below his withers.




Kaitlyn's 4th Grade Science Fair THAT NIGHT!!!
This was her second science fair. They were "walked" through the process. Kaitlyn had done one and scored well in 2nd grade. So this was a piece if cake and fun for her. Does the color of jars affect how much heat the water inside absorbs?

Naptime at the Nance's

See Tommy is napping... this is actually from a couple days ago, but it's so CUTE! Tommy refuses to sleep in his bed, only on his "carpet" and he had all his Little People lined up on the edge of his really cool train bed WATCHING him sleep!


I just walked by a window and got angry at Romeo, Kaitlyn's pony for napping laying completely flat out. You know when you see a horse laying flat they look dead. Some lay this way for fun/naps and some for "I don't feel well." Romeo is a "lay-flat-out" napper and it hasn't sunk in yet for me and I always get anxious and have to go out to check on him.
Next pass by of the window I see him laying with his head up and Sweetie was laying with him, it was so darn cute. I wish I had better photography skills and time.


I captured a couple pictures, then Sweetie decided it was wake up time and started rolling to itch all those hard to reach itches and got up....

Enjoy!!!






I have much other news to share, nothing ground breaking, but Robby is now a twelve year old and had a fun time celebrating the fact and such.
I'm headed out for a girls weekend with Kaitlyn, Kimberlyn and some horsey friends. Going to the IL Horse Fair!

I'd appreciate your prayers this weekend. Sunday marks our church's 1 year anniversary of the tragic day that Pastor Fred was called home. Please pray it's a smooth day and provides great healing and comfort for all whom are still hurting and struggling. Thanks.

Saturday Snow Fun

The clan minus our Robby, he was at a friend's house from a sleepover. Kimberlyn 6 1/2, Kaitlyn 10, Tommy 3 and Lil' Robby 5!

February 6, 2010
We had a small snow, but it was a great snow to play in. It was awesome for building too. My nephew Lil' Robby was over for the weekend too. Pardon my photos...I had the portrait setting on on accident....made for a good close up, but not so good on action shots.

Snow Angels!!! Lil' Robby and Kimberlyn.

Kimberlyn very proud of her snow angel.

Kaitlyn sledding!

Kimberlyn and Lil' Robby in a sledding-crash-up-derby!

all smiles though....so fun!

Kaitlyn being crashed into by our pro-crasher Lil' Robby...this may have been his favorite part!

Some things not changing, Tommy is not a fan of sledding. No matter how much his big sis insists he SHOULD like it!

Tommy much happier....just watching :)

Fun angle of everyone enjoying the snow...

Another crash-up-derby episode with Kimberlyn and Lil' Robby!

Way cool "bar of snow" falling. The power lines were losing the "snow bars" and I was able to catch thi sone falling. Was neat to watch the snow fall off the lines!

By far Aunt Tricia's favorite shot of Lil' Robby (5yrs old)-


Kaitlyn!

Lil' Robby and Tommy walking up the hill...

Kimberlyn and daddy built this snow man...she was very proud.

Vaulting....

Not sure I shared Kaitlyn's new sport on here or not. VAULTING, it's basically gymnastics on horseback! These pictures were from an early January practice, due to the cold they have been practicing indoors on the barrel "horse"~ Kimberlyn goes to vaulting club on occasion.

This is Kaitlyn and Katie (our babysitter)


Here is Cortland, their instructor helping them do a new move.

Here are a few shots of Kaityn and Kimberlyn vaulting on Holly from this past August. Kaitlyn was doing the basic positions at a trot!


Kimberlyn was working on the basic positions at the walk.