Belle and her horse

**I need to get a picture of Belle and her horse to go along with this post. Maybe I'll work on that. **

No, we didn't get Belle a horse. If we did, we'd surely be the best parents EVER. Nope Belle read the book "Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse" about a year ago. It's all about a girl who wants a horse for her birthday and does everything to prepare. The party comes and her dad gets her a bike. She ends up pretending the bike is a horse and they ride off into the sunset.

Ever since then Belle's bike has been her horse. It's name has changed several times. From Star to it's current name Spirit (after She-ra's horse, I believe), and probably a million in between. She'll pull her horse out of the stable (the garage) and talk to it as she rides. It's cute.

Yesterday we took off the training wheels. She's awfully excited to ride like a big girl. And Belle is doing great as long as she doesn't put too much thought into it. She rode about 20 or so feet today without me holding on. But before she even got started she gave her horse a pep talk. I couldn't understand what she was saying exactly, she was whipsering to her "horse". Then every time Belle would make an attempt at riding she'd repeat to herself "I believe in myself, I believe in myself" over and over. She's so funny!!

Maybe I'll be able to post some video soon of my big girl riding without training wheels.

In Ethan news, his legs have finally grown long enough for him to really be able to pedal his trike. So he's off and running as well.

Kindergarten interview

The yummiest food to eat is: Corn

My favorite show to watch is: Ruff Ruffman

I love when I get to read: books about horses

The best thing about school is: playing together

The worst thing about school is: reading

The coolest person on earth is: my mom

I'm really super good at: playing tag

My favorite colors are: purple & pink

The best place in the world to be is: Mamaw's house

When I grow up I want to be: a horse rider

If I could do one thing all day it would be: playing

I really, really do not like to eat: hamburger

My best friend is: Audrey Parkhurst

Jesus is: powerful

When I was little I used to: chew on things

3 words that tell about me: Isabella, ballerina, pretty

This year I hope to learn: ballet

Labor Day trip to W. Va.

Well it had been about 10yrs since I've been down to see the Richmond side of the family. We were able to get everyone together to go down this year for the Pack Family reunion on Labor Day. We all had a good time, but ended up leaving early because Sara's kids were not sleeping well and were cranky.

I was surprised how well the drive down and back went. Not too many problems or whining. We just might be able to make a road trip again.

Of course my kids know no stranger and quickly made friends. Even had someone ask (jokingly)where they were adopted from because no child of mine would be that social. Belle spent her time playing with cousins Torre and Ciara and Ethan spent most of his time just playing with Brody. Although Ethan did come up to me during the reunion and asked if he could go play with the big kids. I'm always amazed at how well my kids are in new situations. They'll just go off and make friends with someone.

Dad with his siblings and grandma Richmond

Cooper and his bare butt.

 

 Didn't take long before the boys were wrestling in the yard.

Ethan playing with Uncle Johnny.

Belle and Torre.

Our family with Grandma.

 

All the Richmond grandkids and great grandkids minus one.

Cooper and Brody joined in with the singing.

Getting the stinkeye from Ethan.

School pictures

Last friday was the first day of our homeschool co-op. The week before one of the moms, a photographer, so graciously offered to take class pictures. We all met at the park and got a group shot as well as individual shots. Miss Belle was being such a priss that day and doing all sorts of poses. Take a look at the series of class shots. She changes her pose in each one. I was excited to get a good shot of Ethan, it'll count as his 3 yr pictures this year.

And since I had yet to take our own first day of school pictures, I decided to take first day of co-op pictures. =) We haven't been dressed in the morning enough to get pictures before then. We do school in our pjs. So when the kids were dressed in the morning for once, I took the opportunity and got our pictures on the steps like we have done in years past for preschool.

The kids had fun in co-op. Belle has a Magic Schoolbus Science class the first hour and then a music class the second hour. Mr. Ethan got to play in the nursery. Only thing the kids didn't like was sitting still during announcements/devotions. Hopefully they'll get better in the coming weeks with that.