Horses & School

We were lucky enough to visit my aunt's horses, Bud and Tia, last week.  Ann boards her horses on a beautiful farm in a neighboring state. It was such a happy place.  The owners of the farm are so passionate about what they do and you can tell they just love their horses.   

 

Layla was pretty tickled with her time at the farm.  It was the day after her first day of school and we had been looking forward to our big horse day all week.  My dad was nice enough to watch Grady and Layla was able to spend the day with a bunch of her favorite ladies :)

 

Layla loves animals, but she really surprised me with her confidence and fearlessness around and on the horses.  Let's hope she approaches school in the exact same way this year!

 

Ann's pictures below tell about our day perfectly.  We rode for so long that we missed lunch! 

 

 

 

 Our whole crew.  Ann, Layla, Joan, myself and mom!

 

 

 

And that was a wrap to a wonderful day!  Thank you to Ann for having us to the farm and showing Layla into the horse world!  And to Joan for keeping Layla fed, hydrated and very giggly :) 

 

School update:  Layla had a great first full week in school this week.  She cracked Ryan and I up with her stories this week.  Layla told us she had trouble finding her friends because they were all in the same color clothes (it was color week!) but yet she has already successfully memorized her special number (student ID number) so she can access the computers.  Layla loves her teacher, snack time, music time, P.E. and analyzing the behavior management system in the room.  Recess is the area that seems to be the biggest area of uneasiness and questions.  We have now gotten through school pictures, Layla's first hot lunch and five early wake-ups.  Big week.  So big that Layla fell asleep at rest time in the classroom.
 

Resting after school with a big pile of new library books

Grady is slowly adjusting to the transition.  He is of course confused by Layla's new whereabouts, but it is also a huge change in his sleep schedule.  He now has an earlier wake-up and an earlier and shorter nap.  Poor Grady (and mom).  Hopefully by the end of next week he will be a bit better adjusted to his new sleep schedule!

 

Saturday

 

A busy Saturday morning!  Layla is ready to build some toys and Grady is ready to go see Thomas!!  

Layla loves the Lowe's Build and Grow clinics.  Lowe's gives the child an apron and goggles and then you build a wooden toy.  It is fun, free and you end up with a really nice toy and new dress-up clothes too :)  Layla has added toy builder to her list of things she wants to do when she grows up.  The list currently includes teacher, vet, toy builder and police officer. 

And while Layla and I built toys, Grady and Ryan were off to see Grady's favorite pal, Thomas.

Grady sleeping with his REALLY big Thomas.  Shea was nice enough to give it to Grady a few weeks ago.

Ryan said Grady loved his day with Thomas.  He loved seeing "the cheeky one" but Ryan was surprised how excited he got by the regular trains too.  They rode on a bunch of different trains and Grady loved waving to the crowds of people.

Thomas!!

We hope you have a nice weekend!!

Kindergarten

Today was the big day, Layla's first day of school. 

 

Layla was too excited to sleep last night.  She came downstairs at 10 p.m. announcing she was too excited to sleep.  And then Ryan found her in the hallway around 5 a.m.  She was wondering if it was time to get ready for school :)  I have a feeling she will sleep well tonight.

 

 

 

Grady wanted to join in on all of the kindergarten festivities.  He has embraced Layla's preschool backpack and likes to be included in all pictures!

 

Back-to-school breakfast!

 

Layla is Lalaloopsy crazy right now! 

And finally a picture of Layla and her teacher.  She gave Layla a big hug and off they went together.  While mommy cried all the way to the car... 

But I recovered and now Grady and I are off to pick up the kindergartner!  I hope she had a great first day!

Fair 2013

We had a fun week at the fair!  On opening day the kids and I hit the fair with my mom, aunts Joan and Ann and Cassie and the boys.  We had a great day.  It was our first full day with ALL of the kids.  Next year, we will add Cassie's baby boy-to-be to our group!!

My busy boy.  Grady was pumped to be at the fair.  He is a very funny and enthusiastic little guy.  Overall, he did a great job for the big day.  He only had to be peeled off the ground a couple times ;) 

Later in the week, I took Shea and Layla out to the fair again for a couple hours.  Ryan's family was out at the fair that day so we were able to catch up with more family members which was nice.  Layla and Shea loved their bonus day at the fair. 

And finally a day with dad.  Ryan was quite impressed with our fair knowledge by Saturday :)  Anything new, moved or changed...Layla and I were all over it. 

And that's a wrap!  Until 2014!!!