School, More Horses, A Rodeo, birthdays and a Trip to Iowa!
I could probably divide this post into several posts, with the amount of things we've had going on in the past month. It has been a whirlwind, to say the least, but all good things! It seems like so much has happened since my last post. Two days following our return from Nebraska, the kids started school at New Haven; 1st grade and third grade. The first day and all of them following have been great. Owen has had ZERO issues with getting on the bus and going to school. It is still a chore to get him up in the morning, but he can be motivated by cartoons or the threat of not getting to watch them. Gracie is always up with her alarm and needs very little direction in the morning besides little reminders to put her lunchbox in her bag or remembering that she has library so she needs to take her books with her. She is usually asking for one of us to go play catch with her before school, too. They both ride either their bikes or skateboards to the end of our driveway in the morning to wait for the bus. I'm not sure what we did before having a blacktop driveway.
Gracie and Owen posing on the first day of school
All of us starting a new school year
Mom and Owen
Gracie and Mom
And they're off!
Gracie, with her red face after her first game. She said she was hot.
Owen is also involved in the Columbia Youth Football League this fall, playing flag football. The organization within this program is also questionable. I think his team name has changed three times and communication in this program has also been frustrating. But again, he doesn't notice any of this and just loves getting to play football with other kids. He hasn't had any games yet, but has one coming up Sunday this week...which is another frustrating aspect. His games are mostly Sunday mornings, which wasn't communicated in all the league information when we signed him up.
New Horses
Before returning from Nebraska, we stopped north of St. Joseph, MO to look at a couple horses Nick had found online. We didn't say anything to the kids, but Nick decided to go ahead and buy them, surprising the kids the following weekend. They had no idea they would be getting two new horses.
Gracie saw Nick pulling up the drive with a trailer and seconds later, she had sprinted out of the house to go see him and the new horses. Owen was confused at first and was in disbelief that Nick brought home two new horses.
Meet "Indee." Her papered name is "Image in Color" and Gracie and Nick decided on Indee to name her after Bullseye, whose papered name was "Indy's Choice." Indee is a yearling appaloosa and has a bicolored, curly mane. She is halter broke, but we probably won't be able to ride her until after next spring. I think Nick is hoping that Gracie will want to show her eventually. She is beautiful.
This is Sonitasplasholena, or "Sonita" as we will call her. She is a nine year old paint that we knew was possibly pregnant. We had the vet out to confirm this, so we will have a foal in the spring. The vet guessed that we would have another addition to our family in April. Sonita has been ridden before and seems to be a good tempered horse. I'm hoping the kids will be able to ride her.
Birthdays!
Owen in his new ninja costume
Owen celebrating his birthday
A new skateboard!
I guess this is how you do it.
Gracie picked out the game "Pie Face" for Owen. The kids had so much fun playing this. Josh even participated when he and Julie came down to visit!
Whipped cream on the face
Ashland Rodeo
The night before their birthday party, we took the kids to the rodeo in Ashland. This was a really fun (late) night and the kids loved watching everything. They got to participate in a kids' event down in the arena by chasing calves around that had tape stuck to them. The goal was to get a piece of tape and take it to the rodeo clown or other official in exchange for $1. Neither Gracie nor Owen got one, but they seemed excited to go participate.
Gracie and Owen watching the cattle inside the gates
Watching one of the events at the rodeo
Owen "petting" the calves used for roping and other events.
Gracie after it was done
Birthday party!
Owen planted himself at the end of our driveway about 45 minute before our guests arrived, waiting for his friends to come. I told him he would be waiting awhile, but he said he didn't mind.
Birthday cakes! Owen wanted a football cake (AGAIN), but positioned a little different this time. Gracie requested a chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich cake.
Gracie's new bike!
Owen getting a new football from his friend Gibson
Gracie received a game called "wet head" very similar to the "pie face" game.
Gracie and Owen had tons of fun for their birthdays which lasted approximately one week. Josh and Julie came down for a couple nights during Owen's birthday and we had a great dinner of ravioli, which he requested. Gracie ended up having soccer practice on her birthday, but we managed to satisfy her request of hamballs for dinner. They each got to take treats to school for their birthdays.
And then, a trip to Iowa
We wanted to go up to Iowa for Grandma's birthday, but it worked out better and we could stay longer during Labor Day weekend. We drove up Friday after school and came back early Monday. We stayed with Grandma Friday, then went to see friends in Huxley on Saturday and stayed with Loewes for a fun laid back evening. I was so happy to see everyone and wish I could have seen even more people. There's just never enough time.
Gracie and Raegan playing in the lake. I love seeing the kids have so much fun with their friends!
Mud baths...Good thing Loewes have an outdoor shower.
After our night in Huxley, we returned to Grandma Jeanne's for one more night. The kids swam in her pool, although it was pretty cold due to the broken heater. They didn't seem to care until Owen came out shaking and blue. After about an hour in the pool, Gracie and I went to get a great dinner of KFC for grandma, as well as some cake to celebrate another year!
Happy birthday Grandma!
We love you and are so happy to come see you whenever we can.
So, I guess that's the past month in a nutshell. This past week has been so busy and has flown by. I'm extremely busy at work, meeting with students all day long, from 8am-2pm straight. I am not scheduled to meet with students on Fridays, but need to go in to get everything else done. I have no time except 30 minutes before my first student and 30 minutes after my last student. It's crazy, and I am really hoping that it will eventually be a full time position, but not going to hold my breath on it. I really like meeting with the students and helping them manage time, classes, and get their stuff done. I could probably meet with each of my students an extra hour every week and still have more to get accomplished. I think it will also help make Mizzou events more fun to go to, knowing some of the athletes that are competing.
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