Horse Riding Camp

Mollie Grace has been looking forward to horse riding camp all summer.  There were several dates to chose from and she chose the last one in July so that she would have something fun to do after we had gone to the beach in June.  Camp was three days from 8:30 to 1 with her usual teacher Mrs. Meredith.  It was a Beginner/Intermediate Camp so there were 5 little girls and three bigger girls (including Mollie Grace).  The bigger girls who were more advanced riders rode separately from the little girls who needed to be led.

 Along with grooming and riding horses, they also did horse-themed crafts.

 Trail ride on the last day.  Mollie Grace got over-heated on the trail ride and ended up feeling icky the rest of the day.

July Continued

 Annie put on the summer bucket list:  Let Annie make cupcakes/  Check.

 We spent the Sunday night after the 4th of July with Nana and Grandaddy.  Fran, MV, and Janey were visiting.  When I looked on my phone, this was the only picture I had.  Then I remembered that MV cut her hand at Papa Doc's house Sunday night and Monday morning, she, Fran, and I spent the whole morning at St. Dominic's getting stitches.  Fran doesn't handle things like stitches well, so I had to sit in the room with MV and hold her hand while the doctor stitched her up.  Fran did not pass out (in the waiting room) and safely drove us home even though MV and I kept forgetting Fran's rule for us not to talk about it.

I got this picture from Nana.  While we were at St. Dominic's the other kids were playing in the back yard on a Slip-N-Slide.

We've been working on this 500 piece puzzle for a month or more.  We were down to just the panda pieces and were having trouble finishing.  Grandaddy told us how to divide the pieces that all look alike by shape and we were able to finish it up in about 30 minutes.  Ben is touching the final piece.

Summer Bucket List

 This is the most recent picture of our puppy.  We pick her up in a couple of weeks.  Her name is still undecided.  Ben and Mollie Grace are making Google Slide presentations to try to sway my, John, and Annie's vote. 

Ben says, "Vote for Sally."  This picture is from his slide presentation.  This is how he will feel if Maggie wins.

 We're continuing to work through our summer bucket list.  This week we watched Paddington 2, I played with them in the back yard, we went to Books-A-Million, and had a picnic at Mud Island.  We had planned for Annie to make cupcakes for the 4th of July, but she threw up in the car on the way home from swimming at the DAC so that was out.  She's better now so maybe this weekend.

 Cranked the Slip-N-Slide up a notch by starting it at the top of the playset slide and making it slick with dish soap.

 Bubble bath to warm up and get clean after playing on the Slip-N-Slide.

 Wading down the model Mississippi River at Mud Island.

 Mollie Grace loves watching birds so this evening we made suet to attract more to our back yard.

Annie has decided to play soccer this fall so she's practicing her ball handling skills.

Saturday Night -- Playday

Saturday afternoon Zac and Lori left the house with the horses and a truckful of girls ready to Play Day.

 Rylee, Reiny, and Mollie Grace.

The 0-6 competitors did all their events first. Reiny barrel racing. She does not like to go fast.

 Reiny pole bending.

 Cara and her family had been on vacation.  They got back just in time to meet us at the rodeo arena to visit and watch. 

 Even Ben finally got bored enough to want to ride.

 It was close to 9 p.m. before Mollie Grace finally got to do her first event.  We had walked Blitz a 100 miles just riding around outside the rodeo arena.  Mollie Grace scared us all to death by heading to her first barrel kicking with both feet.  We had not practiced going that fast.  She over ran the barrel and broke her pattern.  She slowed down and walked around the barrels correctly.  Next time we visit PawPaw we will practice doing the barrels faster.

She kicked all the way home.

She is proud of her participation ribbon.

Saturday morning

Zac and Lori came over Saturday morning to let Mollie Grace practice again while the temperature was still cool.  Zac said he called at 7:45 to see if Mollie Grace was up.  She was still asleep.  Mama called him back just a few minutes later.  Mollie Grace was up, dressed, and on the porch waiting for him.  She was so excited.

 Practicing pole bending.  You weave through the six poles.

 Around the first barrel.  We had her just walk through the barrels.

 But told her to kick home. 

 You can see both legs kicking.  I wish I could have caught her face the first time she got Blitz trotting.  Huge smiles.  (She does have stirrups.  The ones flopping are too long for her.  She's using a set of short stirrups that hook over saddle horn for kids.)

 Practicing the Arena Race.  You just have to turn on barrel and then run home.  This was her best event.

 Trying to get a picture with Blitz.

 Reiny wanted Mollie Grace to pet a chicken.  The first one didn't mind being petted.  The second one squawked and jumped out of her nest.  Annie screamed.  Reiny panicked.  It was hilarious.

Rylee and Marlee also came over to play in the afternoon.  They pulled each other in the wagon, swung, petted horses, looked at the chickens, but I forgot to take any pictures.  Reiny tried to get Marlee to pet a chicken, but she wouldn't do it.