Sweet sweet summertime!

This summer seems to be the summer of the horse at our house. We've also had Scout camp and VBS. It's been a great summer though, so I thought I'd share some pictures.
Sarah and Flicka are doing well. Flicka has started doing lessons WITH Sarah now, so they can both learn. They had their first this week, and did great. It's hard when you're a four year old horse to understand things, and hard when you're a pig headed 11 year old girl to know that your horse isn't the BEST thing that ever walked (well, maybe she is), but they are learning together and that's awesome. Here are some photos of her at the barn for her first lesson




Earlier this summer Sarah went to riding camp for the week. (Remind her, all of you, how wonderful her mom is for letting her do this.) Then the end of the week brought a dressage show for her. She rode Maggie and Bobbie Sox, who you can see below. She did well, it rained TERRIBLY hard and it was nasty, contrary to how the weather looks in these photos.



Riding Maggie in her dressage test



And a little Bobbie Sox riding



Just hanging out with Maggie between classes.


Our other big thing was summer camp with the scouts. Gabe loves Scout camp, this is his last year as a camper, next year he will have to volunteer. He had a great time. He went into it with a broken finger poor chap, then got attacked by ground hornets, but his awesome den leader (we love you joy) made it a good week anyways. Here are some photos from camp for your viewing pleasure!

His favorite water thing, zip lining! Gabe's in the blue life vest. Everyone must wear a life vest, good practice to have!


Slingshots! Which he is really good at!



We ALL go to camp, even dad gets in on the act. He is medic at waterfront, but we caught him riding his four wheeler!



Cub Scouting teaches respect for our flag. He was announcer for the flag ceremony this morning. He is the KING of announcement~!


And..just because this one I like:



And yes, the girls get in on the act, here's Ms Abigail


Sarah makes herself scarce, btw!

Lastly, this past weekend my nephew Taylor turned SIXTEEN! OMG save me! Well, we went to White Sands Beach for his birthday. What a fun time! Here are just a few from then.





Thanks to all of you for visiting our blog!! Now, all of you that haven't blogged in a while, and you KNOW who you are ANGIE, get to it!

Long time, no blog!

Seems I have neglected my little blog here. SO many things are going on in our lives that it's hard to find time to sit at the desktop. I find myself checking on the world through my phone, aahh technology.
Since we last met, we've done so many things. Our lives focus around our children, and their likes and dislikes, so we'll work on the likes here (and ignore the dislikes like good parents should).

Gabe has finished out his Scouting year with a bang, earning his Webelo badge and is moving toward his arrow of light. For the third time this year he achieved A average honor roll at school, REALLY an awesome kiddo. He has chosen not to play baseball this summer for the first time since he started playing ball, but I'm actually kind of relishing the break. He's looking forward to learning to cut the grass with his dad if one can imagine wanting to cut grass.
He's a sneaky buggar to get a picture of, but I got this one:


Sarah is as always up to her ears in horses. She is the proud rescuer of a little quarter horse mare, who she has named Flicka. When Flicka came to us she was very underweight and a sad sad tale. Today she still shows some signs that will take years to go away of that abuse, but is a new horse. I'll share some before and afters of her here in a few. Sarah participated in her first real horse show outside of the barn last weekend and did awesome! She, of COURSE, also has achieved A average honor roll all three nine weeks. She, of COURSE, has no interest in learning to cut the grass. Her other achievement of late was that she and Harley, our 6 month old German Shepherd, entered the 4H pet show, and achieved a "cutest ears" first place ribbon. I shall share his ears, you will totally agree with them.

My freckled beauty at the pet show:


Her beautiful freckles amaze me:



Flicka then: and honestly, this is a good picture of then, she looked much worse in person, this was February.


Flicka now: she's moved to an awesome friends house, is eating good groceries and getting good work, pink thing is bareback pad, kids are slowing getting her used to having someone on her back, and I'm lunging her to get some energy out.







Abi continues to be the same cutie patootie she always was. Kindergarten in this family means a hiatus from outside activities, so she's on a break from her typical dance regime, but I hear daily how she's starting back this summer. She amazes me with her learning, it's always so crazy how fast they start picking up reading and math and spelling. She has also learned to be a great help in the kitchen, one day, if you are all out our way, ask her to make you her "famous pizza", it's killer! She's turned an amazing SIX years old, and gotten her ears pierced! I told her that's all the growing up for now please.

Her cake:


Blowing out her candle:


You can spy a little big girl earring here:



For those following my gastric bypass journey, I'm now down 140 lbs. I've got some more to go, but I am feeling like a million bucks. It's a crazy journey, but one well worth traveling. I have been back on a horse for the first time in 12 years, and can move and groove with the best of them keeping up with these kiddos.

My husband, as always, continues to be my hero. He'll get upset at me for writing that, b/c he doesn't feel like he's a hero, but he is. He works so hard for us and continues to be right here by me to be my rock when I need him.

I did do a cake of late, I'm not doing them anymore other than family and friends, this was for a friend, very fun to do. Fondant cake, sugar ice and beer bottles, fondant crawfish and goodies.


So..I'll leave you with that, and some photos. I will try not to be away so long next time!

Mr Big Ears:



And..dressed for the costume contest:



Our family:

A picture post

My gorgeous Abi,




Look, it's like we're on top of the world. That's the clouds from ABOVE them, at Klingman's Dome.


My girl and her favorite girl!



I think this was at Cataract Falls, and TODAY my girl is 11, can you BELIEVE that!



Jamie and Gabe fishing at Tent or Treat at Five Lakes in Bush


Gabe's MONSTER fish


Learning Knots with Dad

Abi's field trip to the Pumpkin Patch


Cathedral Caverns in Alabama


At the Chimneys, in the National Park



When we reached the top of Laurel Falls



Gabe's fine self




I'm on Jamie's computer, so I thought I'd post some pictures from Tennessee, field trips and such since they're on here.

A blogging I will go...

It seems that PERHAPS I've slacked on my blogging, and several people have gotten onto me for it. So much has happened since I blogged last.
My hubby graduated from paramedic school, AWESOME JOB HONEY! My glorious children have been their normal wonderfully challenging selves, my pupper is still a Jack Russel, but amazingly wonderful. I had gastric bypass surgery. I officially stopped doing cakes for hire (I will still be doing friends and family, but no more hectic weekends doing cakes). I started subbing at the school where my children attend. We traveled to Tennessee for a week (it was awesome). Sarah rode in a show and won several ribbons.....the list goes on and on. SO I'll give a short update and some photos. We'll try to follow an orderly fashion here.

Jamie's school:
He CONSTANTLY amazes me with all he does. He finished his Paramedic this fall with his usual stellar grades. I believe in all the years I've known him and the many classes he's taken in that time he's made one B. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of him.


My glorious children:
They are continuing to do great in school. They fight, but all siblings fight, it makes them no less wonderful to me! Gabe is doing great in scouts, he's about to earn his Webelos badge. Abi is starting to read, and Ms Sarah rode in a dressage show and won three ribbons this month.

Sarah and Maggie


Me:
Well, I had gastric bypass. Those who know me know I am NOT a small girl, but I'm striving to be. Not just for me, but for my family. I need to be healthy to be around for these kiddos. So far I've lost 90 lbs. I've got more to go, but 90 sure seems like a good number to me. (some was lost by doing a protein drink based diet pre surgically) I've decided to start loving cake decorating again I must stop doing them for hire. I am going to just do cakes from here on out for my family and friends, so that it can become fun again. As such, my girls and I made cheesecakes the other night and it was a blast, so I'm thinking I have made the right decision. I love subbing at the school, and at some point may return to college to get my degree in education.

Good Golly Ms Molly (the aforementioned pupper)
Poor Molly, she's the queen of the allergy. SO..after much food trying, medication, deliberation we've gone to the RAW diet. Basically it means she eats raw meats, with the bone. As animals in nature would. I know there are people who think this is weird, odd, strange, wrong etc, but...I've researched it, and it's a GOOD THING as Martha would say. She's ALREADY doing better.

On to the fun things:

For Thanksgiving we went to Tennessee, where I had never been. What a gloriously beautiful place. God must have been in an awesome mood when he created the mountains, b/c they are inspired! We did go to Dollywood, we weren't all that impressed (we're Disney spoiled). The time we spent in the mountains was my favorite time. We hiked to Laural Falls and Cataract Falls and Klingman's Dome as well as doing some driving tours. All the pictures from the mountains are on Jamie's laptop, so I'll share some later. We also visited the Ripley's Aquarium, very nice place!
Amazing bird show at Dollywood, that was the big highlight there for me:




Tuesday we leave to spend Christmas at Disney. I know it seems like a lot of traveling, but those who remember or know me know that last year this time I lost my Dad(s). You can read those entries if you like here and here. I decided at that time that we would be going away for the holidays this year. We were very lucky and a friend gifted us a condo for a week to go to Tennessee, so we are able to go away for Christmas also. We broke down and told the kids, after keeping it a secret for a year. Someone leaked it to them at school b/c I had told their teachers when questioned on what we were doing for Christmas and didn't do a good job of telling them it was a secret. They are excited. We're cleaning and packing today.

SO...a few photos, and I'll feel caught up. I hope you enjoy! I promise to blog Christmas when I get back! Love you all and hope you have the happiest of Holy Days. Christmas has lost a lot of it's meaning in this world we live in, and I pray daily that people remember it's reason of celebration. Merry Christmas to all of you.

Putting up the Gingerbread house.

Catching up..kids, cakes and all that jazz

It's been a busy month, no time for blogging. We've been scouting, schooling, birthday partying and all that jazz.
The big event of September was Gabe's birthday. Celebrating their birthdays is bittersweet to me. It means they've achieved another wondrous year of life but it also means they've gotten another year older on me. I love my kiddos, at all ages, but I do love babies. There are NO babies in this house anymore!
So..on September 29 Gabe turned 9 big years old! Nine years of wonderfulness, filled with lots of moments of pure Gabe (which is grouchy at times but mostly great). He's growing into a fine boy, as tall as his sister who beats him in age by 21 months. For his birthday we decided to just celebrate with a friend, so we took one of his buddies to play laser tag, and then had some cookie cake with family. The morning of his birthday I was coming in from an over night event and stopped in for donuts here in Folsom (the best donuts to be found I hear, although I can't eat donuts while dieting). SO...we celebrated his birthday morning with a candle in a jelly donut, much to his amusement.

So with that, his cookie cake, and cupcakes for school and scouting, I'd say he got lots of goodies (and kept his mommy hopping). He also INSISTED we put a candle in his chicken breast that night at dinner, goober boy!
On with our Sarah update...Sarah's event of the month had to be attending the Arabian Nights show. It's a show done to raise money for a children's literacy program. All of the proceeds benefit this program, as it is run by volunteers. Lots of interesting riding done. A beautiful display by a local dressage rider named Ann Hornbeak as well as a reining demo by another local, Nicki Smith. These guys really impressed me:

Ann and her horse, who danced to the music doing dressage movements effortlessly.



Nickie and Catfish, who is superbly trained and ridden

A little cowboy trick riding!


Taking a bow!



I think this impressed the kids the most!! Jumping through the ring of fire!



The star of the show. This show centers around reading. Featuring the book "The Black Stallion" by Walter Farley (an incredible read if you haven't read it, there are about 22 books in the series)

Another big thing in Sarah's month was to start riding a horse she truly loves. Maggie is an adorably sweet mare that boards at Highlands where Sarah rides. Maggie's rider has been nice enough to allow Sarah to ride her for a while. Maggie has changed Sarah's who riding personality, she's becoming the confident rider she was before slowly but surely. Sarah also participated in our local fair with some breads and a craft, earning herself some blue ribbons.

Ms Abigail...since starting school her personality is beginning to come out. This month Jamie and I visited her classroom to do a fire safety presentation. She was SO cute, telling her class she was "show and telling" her daddy.

Ooh, I promised cakes too huh. Well, I will admit, I've made a few, but only took a picture of this one and the cookies that went with it.

SO..that's our little update. Not very fancy, not very bloggy, no life changing experiences, but, it's our life! Hope you enjoy the photos!