This post is really, really photo heavy.
So if you are anyone beside my interested family I apologize.
We'll start with April 1, 2012.
Lizzie turned 7 this year. In the months prior to her birthday Lizzie has been very "horse crazy". Horse pictures, horse stories, horse drawings, etc...
She received a Breyer Horse at Christmas and it has been played with quite a bit and by that I mean nonstop.
So Jeff and I gave her a choice this year.
A birthday party or a special "Birthday Adventure".
The "Birthday Adventure" included new boots and a private riding lesson just one on one with Lizzie, an instructor and a REAL horse.
Guess what she chose?
April 1, 2012
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| Lizzie Meeting Bear For the First Time |
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| The First Pet |
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| Learning to Stroke Properly |
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| Learning About Sadling & Equipment |
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| Adjusting |
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| Walking Bear Out to Be Mounted Is it me or does she look a little nervous here? |
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| Off They Go |
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| Putting the Reins Over Bear |
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| And Climb On! |
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| Ready to Go-Off to the Arena |
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| Learning How to Hold the Reins |
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| Lizzie Learning to Steer |
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| Ever Supportive Brothers (Cooper wisely brought a book) |
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| Learning to Pull the Reins to Turn |
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| Happy Girl -Wishing She Could Take Bear Home |
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| Kisses From Bear |
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| Back to the Stable |
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| Learning to Groom After a Ride |
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| Brushing |
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| More Brushing |
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| Getting the Knots Out |
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| That's a Long Tail! |
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| Still More Brushing |
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| Cleaning Bear's Shoes Lizzie had a fantastic time and asked us within minutes when she could go back and see Bear again. I see a summer lesson in her future. It was such a special afternoon for her. Something she will always remember and so much easier than putting on a birthday party. Win/Win!! |
After a bath and dinner Nana and Granddaddy came over for still more birthday festivities!
Lizzie had picked out a chocolate mint mousse cake.
So we opened presents from Nana and Granddaddy (more Breyer Horses & new yoga pants & fun graphic t-shirt with horses!)
and then shared delicious dessert.
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| Lizzie Getting Ready to Blow Out Her Candles |
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| Yum!! |
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| Goofy Brothers April 3, 2012 |
We started Lizzie's actual Birthday (or the Birthday Birthday as we call it in our house) with the traditional Birthday Donut for breakfast.
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| Ta-Da!! |
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| Again, the Ever Supportive Brothers |
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| Blowing Out Her Candles |
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| The Official Birthday Bite |
After school and a dinner of her choice (Gnocchi with turkey meatballs)
we opened presents.
Lizzie scored some new dresses, lots of great art supplies from her brothers, some birthday $, and this pretty fan.
Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!
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| Lizzie-April 3, 2012-Seven Years Old April 5, 2012 April 5 was a huge day for Nate. It started with Pioneer Day. 4th Grade is the year students learn all about California History. There is the Mission Report, the Gold Rush, etc... Pioneer Day gives the kids an opportunity to see what games, laundry, music, art, etc..were like during the Pioneer Days.
   Then the day gets even more exciting. In the afternoon the uppergrades (4&5) had their quarterly Honor Roll Assembly. Third graders attend the assembly, but don't receive letter grades at our school. Not only had Nate made the Honor Roll for the first time, but he had been chosen by his teacher to give a speech about Acheiving Honor Roll. One 4th grader and one 5th grader are chosen each assembly. It's a big deal. He was nervous. He and Jeff had worked on his speech and by that I mean Nate dictated and Jeff typed. He had practiced every night that week.
 And Nate Giving His Speech...   He nailed it.  The Ever Supportive Little Sister Then the certificates were handed out.     We were so proud of Nate! He worked very hard this quarter and really took his public speaking seriously. A few days later Easter Sunday arrived to start off the kids' Spring Break! April 8, 2012  After going through Easter Baskets and hunting lots of eggs, we dressed and headed up to Danville for the day. It was a fun day visiting with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Stacey and the cousins. Kate enjoyed playing hard with Abby (my inlaw's golden retriever) too.   
We had Kate spayed. She did well during the surgery, but would not leave her stitches alone when she came home so she had to be fitted with the cone.  Unhappy Puppy The kids also got haircuts. The boys got their traditional trims, but Lizzie decided she wanted a whole new look. Inspired by her cousin Charlie's cute, short bob Lizzie decided the hair tangles and hassle just wasn't worth it anymore.   After!!!   |
Lizzie loves her new hair and so do I! So much easier and so adorable on her. Everyone compliments her and I've had so many moms tell me that they are trying to get their daughters to go short and using Lizzie as the example. She's a trendsetter.
At the end of Spring Break, Cooper and Jeff headed up to the cabin to try to squeeze in a couple more days of skiing.
They drove in Thursday ahead of a storm hoping to ski on Friday.
Unfortunately Friday looked like this at the cabin...
So no skiing Friday. They had a popcorn, movie, and wood buring stove kind of day. Those are great too.
Saturday looked like this...
So there was a little skiing done.
In March, April, & May we also are playing Spring sports too. Nate is participating in Spring soccer while Lizzie is trying softball. Cooper has been doing a little bit of referreeing again as well.
Nate Playing Goalie
Lizzie Playing Catcher
April 17, 2012
The 4th & 5th Grade had their Spring Concert. Nate made it through without any yawning this year!!
Nate did a great job. He was right in the front this year and concentrated very hard.
April 25, 2012
The Annual Art Show
The kids are given special art lessons by the Art Vista art docent all year long. The art show is one piece of art per student chosen by the art docent. I can't wait for the rest of the art to come home, especially Lizzie's. Nate's class always needed extra help so I would usually go and help. I've seen most of Nate's projects.
Lizzie's class was well covered so I haven't seen any of her Art Vista Art yet. Below was the art chosen by their docents...
Lizzie
Lizzie was a little disappointed. She didn't feel her "mixed media" picture was her best work. I explained that the art docent had to have examples of all the different lessons so maybe hers was one of the better "mixed media" pictures to put up. She still wished her water color or collage had been displayed. Funny girl.
Nate Pointing Out Lizzie's Picture-just in case you were confused.
Nate
Nate & Me
April 27, 2012
Lizzie's class went to the Children's Discovery Museum. I wasn't able to attend with Lizzie's class. I asked her if she would be okay if I wasn't there and she responded with, "I'll be okay. Actually, I'll be MORE than okay." Ha! Lizzie is so independent. She is happy to have you around, but also just as happy if you aren't. A friend of mine snapped a few shots of her. I think it is safe to say the water area was her favorite and that she was MORE than okay at the museum.
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