July

It's hard to believe that it is already the END of July!!!

We have filled July with lots of memories.

We had our last lamb of the year....

Check out our farm blog for that exciting story!

www.cattailcoulee.blogspot.ca

and we did summer games

(see below post)

and we ACTUALLY FINALLY made it out to our favorite spot

(besides our home)

And mixed into this was a family reunion 

and 

our regular duties.

I can't wait to see what August brings....

Summer Games

Summer Games 

The girls were so very excited to compete- they could barely sleep!

We headed up Tuesday night

and our horse trailer wasn't too bad to sleep in.

All three girls slept in the back on cots and 

Dusty and I and Andy slept in the gooseneck.

I banded and braided for a good long while into the night 

and

when I got back Dusty said the girls FINALLY

fell asleep about midnight.

HAHA

They did very well on the English day.

(or their ponies did very well on the english day...)

 English Pleasure

 Gold for Ellie and Midnight

 Bronze for Lucy and Rocky

 Ellie and Midnight riding a dressage test.

(midnight jumped that lovely white fence-going off course and DQing)

They let her ride again just for a score.

 Rocky and Lucy in their dressage test!

They did great!

 Could we go to anything and have just pretty pictures?!?

To wrap up English day-

Ellie won

Gold- English Pleasure

Silver- English Equitation

Lucy Won

Bronze- English Pleasure

Bronze- Dressage

 Western day

Ellie and Midnight being Judged in showmanship

 Lucy and Rocky about to start in showmanship

 Ellie and Midnight in Western pleasure

 Lucy and Rocky in Western Pleasure

 Lucy and Rocky opening the gate in the trail course

Ellie getting some feedback after the reining class

The run down of western day

Ellie won

Silver- showmanship

Silver in Western Equitation 

Silver in Polebending

Gold in Keyhole

The day ended with gymcanna.

Lucy scratched. She was pooped and wanted to watch and eat chips and drink pop.

but

we saw Ellie shine.

She started to breathe.

Her pony did great- there were some really great barrel horses there 

so we prepped her that her little pony 

just doesn't have the stride

BUT

that little pony was smart.

She made every turn.

She watched where her feet landed.

and

Ellie was over the moon.

Great experiences

but

now the girls are ready to get to the lake!

Oh Rotten Bananas

I had a counter full of mushy brown bananas. This heat wave has not been kind to them. I did not want to heat my near equator feeling home.... So Pinterest to the rescue.

http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/05/crock-pot-chocolate-chip-banana-bread.html

It worked perfectly. I recommend a big bread pan because mine spilt over. And it cooked 3 hours on the nose and was done.

I cooked it outside so not even the slowcooker heated up our haven from the heat!

First day of Freedom

The kids have been dying to go boating and since our CRAZY schedule hasn't let us get to our most favourite boating/camping spot we just loaded up and headed for the nearest water. It was a great way to finish school and start summer!

Ellie still doesn't love the tube but Penny was a little insaine- it makes me scared...

And please notice the sky-

They have been calling for rain- it never comes! 

It came- a lot- with hail.

The kids hid in the front of the boat and dusty and I took cover under the tube. It had a few leaky spots! (Understatement!!)

Andy did not enjoy being trapped or the noise!

We managed to get the boat loaded after it blew over us- but then we followed it all the way home. 

Good things it's hot today so it can dry out!

Lucy- our Triumphant Triathlete

I am so proud of Lucy!

Her school puts on a mini triathlon

And they give the kids the option of running it in a team

Or

Alone

And she did it solo!

She had a good swim

A fantastic bike ride

And she ran the whole way!!!

Way to go Lucy!

The Great will Fall

I knew eventually my streak would come to a close.

It started this morning with more aches than usual.

Then I got myself THE fever.

Now I found my dying spot- I am here for the duration.

Denial

I have a drawer in his dresser full of clothes that are too big for him....

These came out of that drawer.

When Ellie brought them too me

I told her they wouldn't fit

He is little

Too little to wear 24 month jammies

How did this happen?!?

That feeling

Last week we went to look at a horse.

We have been trying to downsize a bit but a trade was in the works.

The woman trading us warned of this horses really poor physical condition and before we arrived both Dusty and I were pretty skeptical. Neither of us wanted to trade a healthy horse for one that was going to kick the bucket.

We pulled in and both he and I did a once over- not good. But we drive all that way so we took him over to the arena. 

The ladies daughter jumped on and he did everything she asked.

Ellie got on and he slowed down even more and got softer- he did everything she asked. Lucy got on (which doesn't happen) and again he was a real gem.

Penny at this point was dying. She wanted on. I threw her up and she rode that guy all over the pen. When she slide down she asked if she could hold her horse. She sat and scratched and pet him and he fell asleep in her little arms. When it was time to go she walked him back to the pen and he obediently followed behind her. She was so sad we had to leave him there. My kids love horses and they love getting a new horse- it's exciting. This was different. 

Meet Douglas.

He is in pretty rough shape but we are all hoping with a bit of time and love this guy will be back to himself. Penny was so happy to have him here so she can take care of him. In a previous life he was loved and it took a bad owner to almost destroy him. The people we got him from have been doing a good job trying to bring him back and hopefully we can take him the rest of the way.

Rock-a-bye

It's a drizzly day

We bundled up and went out for groceries. Normally he likes a costco trip but today.... Not so much.

He came home tired and cranky and totally unwilling to sleep in his crib. 

Now he's passed out and I am afraid to move!

Andy's Sweater

Well I FINALLY got his sweater finished! Good thing in my "wisdom" I made it a size two! 

It is soft, cuddly, and going to be perfect for camping! 

Now I want one!

I found the pattern on Ravelry! 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stormy-day-jacket

I love it!