Briar Creek Stables

This year we have switched Carly to a "regular" riding program. She is riding with Kris Daniel at Briar Creek Stables. Kris is awesome. We have found out that some of things that Carly was being taught at her old program were not correct. Kris has her work cut out for her, but she seems up to the challenge. Carly was leading her own horse from the beginning.

Kris took her out into the pasture and worked on her confidence in the saddle. She was having her let go with one hand and wave to the bugs in the piles of poop. Carly asked 'Why?' and Kris responded, 'Well, no one has ever waved at them, don't you want to be the first?' Kris can think up a game in a second. She has the best ways to get the rider to do what she wants without them realizing what she is doing. At the first of the lesson Carly wouldn't even bend and touch her boot. By the end, I was a little afraid she was going off the side. I am looking forward to what is to come.

Kris is trying to convince Carly that she will not let her fall off Flicka. Kris still competes. At the end of the lesson she gave Carly one of her own blue ribbons for dressage. She told Carly that she wanted to give it to her because she had done such a good job. Carly can't wait for her next lesson, she cried when we left. This is going to be great!

The First Day of School 2010!

The girls were very excited to start school this year. They had picked out their backpacks and filled them with the required supplies. They had attended Open House and met their teachers.

I was NOT ready for them to start school. I really enjoy their company all summer and just hanging out around the house.
We had plenty of time to take a picture out front, we were there really early. Carly got her favorite fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Maureen Lalino. We have known Mrs. Lalino for about three years and Carly has been counting down the days until she entered fourth grade and could have Mrs. Lalino as her teacher. We are looking forward to a great year!

Leighton got Miss Megan Potts. We love Miss Potts. Leighton was very excited to get the teacher that she requested. Last year, Leighton cried randomly during the day for the first six months. When I asked her if she cried at school on the first day, she looked at me with a disgustedly puzzled look and said, 'For what!?!'

If Miss Potts looks familiar.......

She was Carly's first grade teacher and THE BEST teacher she has had. She is GREAT!

A note about Leighton's clothes: We are working on her being a leader, not a follower. She goes along with the crowd and lets others make decisions for her. We decided to let her make all the decisions when it came to her clothing to increase her confidence. As long as it was weather appropriate, she could wear what ever she wanted. So, Leighton picked out this tutu to wear the first day of school. It is amazing how much confidence she gets from her clothes. I warned Megan about what we had done and made her promise not to judge me on my child's attire.

I Have the Best Friends!

The girls needed their ritual, day before the first day of school, haircuts. But, I couldn't get to the salon, so Britain came to us! She set up shop in the kitchen and made the girls beautiful.

I love this short cut on Leighton. I need to do a better job of keeping it that short.

Carly's hair always looks awesome, she is very lucky.

Jensyn's hair wasn't touched. It doesn't seem to grow, it just gets curlier.