Band Concert!

Thank goodness Bubbie had her camera phone ready and in action last night, or else we would not have any pictures to document a fantastic evening! We had our middle school band concert with Nate and Noah performing. They put on a great show with some really good music. It was a fun concert.

Afterwards we had some friends come back to our house for ice cream. I had criticized Mike when he came back from the store with 5 cartons of ice cream and 8 toppings. But the kids loved it and made some incredible and disgusting creations.

It was really nice to have a supportive audience! Cheryl was able to make it after work, Jodi and Drew came ( there were a lot of "barn kids" in the concert!) and Bubbie and Grampa Chuck came back from their Utah trip early for us. Thank you for coming! We love you all!

Pictured from L to R is Nate, Gabe, Madelynn, Brinley, Trey, Sam, Noah, Jonah, and the little one who I forgot his name at the moment!

Status Update

There is always so much going on, I thought I should post a little update even though I really don't have pictures. Sorry Deb!

Sam was asked by Bear Essential News for Kids to read one of his stories on air. He went to Fox 1o Studios on Saturday and read a commercial and also his story. He was so prepared he did it in one take! I was very impressed. He refused to allow any pictures, but is was an exciting day. We are waiting for an e-mail informing us of when they will use his clips on TV.

Nate signed up for Football this week! He has a couple of friends playing on the NYS North Phoenix League who convinced him to join them. I am preparing for some injuries. ugh He is super excited and plans on enjoying it. This behavior is new for Nate so we are super excited for the season to begin after the Holidays.

STILL waiting for the season to begin for roller hockey. Sam has me call every week. I guess there aren't enough players for a league signed up yet. Bummer. Sam skates almost every day, and really wants to play. I might look into real ice hockey for him.

We are off to Tucson this Saturday to watch Noah play in his second State League game! We are excited his team moved up into the State Division. We were a little nervous about playing at this level, but last week's game the entire team played really well and Noah had a shut out! So everyone is a little more relaxed and looking forward to playing hard and having fun. It is amazing to watch Noah in action. He has some great saves and has come a long way since he began playing the goalie position in August.

Halloween Gymkhanas!!!

Jonah and I had a great time at Jodi's on Halloween. We had to dress our horses to match our costume.
Jonah dressed at Nacho Cheese with Snuffy, and Moose and I were Little Bo Peep. So fun!
You can't really tell in the picture, but Snuffy has eye holes painted to match Jonah's.


My favorite part is the rear view mirrow and horn on the cane I borrowed. Cool

Spreading the word one article at a time!

Another article - http://www.thefoothillsfocus.com/111809-Horseprogram.asp - for TRRFCC Horsemanship! The Foothills Focus is a great independent newspaper up here in the North Valley. Unlike the big independent that we do not mention by name....... this paper is always supportive of education and is full of positive stories. So exciting to see our name in print!!

New Moon Premiere!!!

Wednesday, November 17th was the AZ New Moon Premiere! Thank you to the Babbitts for being so cool and taking pictures since otherwise I would not have any. It was so much fun to get all dressed up. Julie Babbitt and I went to Ulta and got our hair done. Since I wore the same dress as last year's Premiere, I felt justified in spending the money. It looks really good in the back! ;-)

We went to a fancy dinner beforehand at Chick Fil A. Yum. The band Meese performed in the Cine Capri theater while we were waiting, which rocked. They handed out CD's, and I haven't switched it out yet in my car because I like them so much. They sound a bit like The Fray. I told Stephenie they really should have had a mosh pit. She said she asked, but they shot her down!

New Moon is an awesome movie. The werewolves look fantastic. I made Jonah cover his eyes in parts that sounded scary. I would have never let the older boys go to a PG13 movie when they were 7 - especially one in which people are killed! But it was a very special occasion. I really wanted to stay after and get autographs on our posters, but the boys were so tired so we just went home. What a wonderful night!!

AZ Republic Article

Presenting the dream team for TRRFCC Horsemanship! Jodi Scott, me, and Angie Burton. We had a great article in the AZ Republic on October 16th. Here is a link to read it on our website -

http://www.trrfcchorsemanship.org/azcentral%200ct%2016.html

Bridle and Bit Article

Jonah is famous! He couldn't wait to share the paper with his class.


The TRRFCC Horsemanship Character Program in the Cave Creek School District met with Horseshoe Trails Elementary students for the first time the week of September 21st! TRRFCC stands for the six pillars of character – Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. Students are learning how to strengthen their character by applying it to horsemanship activities. In August the TRRFCC arena was built right on school property where students come to class as part of their school day.For the first year all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students are able to participate in the TRRFCC Program, with plans to expand to all grades when funding will allow it. This first week of classes, students learned the importance of “Safety First, Fun Always!” Each safety rule was paired with one pillar of character to help students make the connection between horses and character. For example, fairness was explained by talking about caring for the equipment and keeping everything put away for the safety of themselves and others showing a picture of a lady about to step on a rake lying on the ground. The goal is for them to become good role models for others by being safe at all times. “Butterscotch”, a favorite stuffed pony at Horseshoe Trails, was used to understand how horses see binocular as well as monocular vision. Students were also able to measure using their hands, and understanding what a hand is in horse terms - he is 9 hands tall! Although horses were not involved the first week of classes, the students went to the arena for a leadership exercise. They were to be the horse lead by a fellow student through an obstacle course. Many students commented how it was hard to TRUST the leader because they were to close their eyes to have a feel of what it is like to be a horse looking for guidance. At the end of the session the students take time to reflect on their activity in a journal entry. This will help them to make the connection between their experiences with the horses and their feelings about the pillar they studied that day. All of the journal pages and worksheets are kept in a 3 ring binder to have a personal journal of their accomplishments for the end of the year.
Principal Janiene Marlow says, “I am excited for students to have this opportunity to work with horses to learn more about themselves. I grew up around horses and know that they made me a more patient learner. Horses have a way of making their handlers better communicators. It is up to the student to communicate what they want the student to know and do. The message must be clear, consistent and gentle. It is no different in the classroom for young learners. There will be a lot of similarities between the classroom of students and the arena full of horses. I could not wait to start this innovative program at Horseshoe Trails Elementary School.”TRRFCC Horsemanship is developed and directed by Jodi Scott of Jodi Scott’s School of Horsemanship with the help of community member Liz Covert whose four boys are in the Cave Creek School District, of which one gets to participate in the program. The team is very lucky to have the addition of Angie Burton. She is a great role model to be the classroom teacher as she has a lot of equine experience as well as working on her masters degree in elementary education. The team has been preparing for this moment for over a year. Much time has been spent writing lesson plans, acquiring non-profit status, and fundraising. This program does not receive any money from the school district. All funding comes from grants, donations, and sponsorships. Jodi maintains an equine facility in Scottsdale just ¼ mile from the school, which is located in Phoenix. Horseshoe Trails is part of the Cave Creek School District. Fundraising has been supported by the neighborhoods and businesses of several cities. This collaboration has made a dream become a reality.TRRFCC Horsemanship benefits the entire student body, as well as serves the community at large by offering rental of facilities for public equine-related events. These events will help create revenue opportunities for HTES as well as promote equine-centric activities that will reflect, develop, and maintain the character and values of the community.On October 24th, the TRRFCC Team is celebrating Character Counts week by organizing a desert cleanup partnering with the City of Scottsdale to show good Citizenship. The students and community members will clean the neighborhood roads as well as the equine desert trails. On November 4th, the 2nd Annual TRRFCC Fundraiser is going to take place at Harold’s Corral and Restaurant in Cave Creek. This will include a BBQ dinner, silent auction and raffle, as well as the raffle drawing of a Dynamite Horseman Supply Barrel Saddle. There will also be fun and games where kids can participate in the stick horse races and roping contests. If you would like more information about the program go to TRRFCChorsemanship.org.The Team is actively looking for sponsors, donations and volunteers for the upcoming activities and support of the program. http://www.bridleandbit.com/artman/publish/article_26088.shtml

Combined activity with YM/YW

Last week Nate had a combined activity with the Young Women. The activity included a scavenger hunt to get food stuffs for our St. Mary's Food Drive. The youth spread out over the Tatum Highlands neighborhood and went door to door collecting anything and everything the residents were willing to give. They ended up with some funny stories and "close encounters." When all was said and done we collected over one hundred pound of food stuffs for the drive. Way to go guys!

Cameron's Birthday Outing!

Jonah had a great time at his cousin's house this weekend. It was the first time he spent time away from home without any brothers. And he was just fine (sniff). Cameron invited Jonah to join him on his birthday outing with Bubbie and Grampa Chuck. Jonah had a great time, and seemed to have no problems telling Cameron what he liked and didn't like to do. ;-) Cameron was a very gracious host. I thought Jonah would miss us at least a tiny little bit, but when he came in the door the first thing he looked for was his dog. Welcome home!

Peaches!

We bought 3 cases of Utah peaches on Friday. A big thank you to my mom for ordering and picking them up for me!

We have been in peach heaven. Peaches are on the menu at the Coverts. Peaches in oatmeal, peach pie, peach cobbler, peach milkshakes, peach salsa, peach jam.... The boys have eaten one case just plain already. Yummmm.

;-)

I can't stop smiling. This was waiting for me on the door thismorning - from my Teen!

Dear Mom, I love you. I want to let you know how much I appreciate you. I hope you have a good day. Love, Nate

TRRFCC Open House!

The TRRFCC Horsemanship Character Program has become a reality! I am so excited!

Sam the Reporter

Hi, my name is Sam Covert. I am a 5th Grader at Horseshoe Trails Elementary School in Cave Creek. I'm so excited about our new program, TRRFCC Horsemanship. T.R.R.F.C.C. stands for Six Pillars of Character - Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Caring, and Citizenship.

We built an arena last weekend at our school. We're going to have a class once a week for all third, fourth, and fifth graders. We will learn the Pillars of Character while learning how to ride horses. It really is going to be terrific!

We have been raising money for a year to pay for the arena construction. There was a big BBQ dinner at Harolds restaurant in Cave Creek. Some of the students helped serve drinks and clear tables. I worked with playing free games for the little kids. It was a great way for the community to help us raise money. We are going to do it again this year!

I have been riding horses since I was five. Horses have taught me a lot about leadership. They act the same way we act. When I am around a horse, I have learned I need to be my best. I still learn something new every time I ride. My favorite thing to do is to go really fast!

Here is what my principal, Mrs. Janeine Marlow, has to say about the new arena. "As Sam's principal I am excited for students to have the opportunity to work with horses to learn more about themselves. I grew up around horses and know that they made me a more patient learner. Horses have a way of making their handlers better communicators. It is up to the student to communicate what they want the student to know and do. The messages must be clear, consistent and gentle. It is no different in the classroom for young learners. There will be a lot of similarities between the classroom of students and the arena full of horses. I cannot wait to start this innovative program at Horseshoe Trails Elementary School."

I am so excited to have horses at my school. It's really cool to have something special at Horseshoe Trails. I'm looking forward to reporting more about TRRFCC Horsemanship to you this year.

Soonabagits

Jonah has a new cult following - if you haven't heard this word yet, what cave have you been living in?! A couple of weeks ago Jonah started exclaiming, "soonabagits!" when things were going wrong. It took me several times to figure out what on earth he was saying. The boys now enjoy saying it, Nate's friends have picked it up, and after we spent a weekend with our friends their family has started dropping it here and there. I guess it's a good word when something like that is needed and we try to keep things rated G around here. Soonabagits! He says he is trying out "sugarbagits" but it just doesn't have the same flavor.

TRRFCC Arena Construction!

We built the arena at Horseshoe Trails this past weekend! Yee haw! I am so excited to have the arena up instead of just a sign. It makes me smile every time I pass it.

Back School Shopping

Shopping for school clothes was more expensive this year. We have 3 boys in men's sizes now. Nate's shoe size is 13! The good thing is, he can borrow shirts from Mike now. That helps a little, but there are only a few deemed acceptably cool enough to wear to school.

The first day of school is August 6th. Summer went by way too fast! I am so happy Nate and Noah are in Middle School together for one year. Sam, Jonah, Mike and I are all at the Elementary School. Fun!!!! My horse program does not begin classes until September, so I will have some free time for a couple of weeks!

Family Reunion!

We had a great time at our Rogers Family Reunion last week. We spent a week on the beach in Oceanside, CA. Twenty kids under the age of 13 in one house, but it was a blast! The kids were in heaven every second.

Thank goodness my brother-in-law Ryan shares his awesome pictures with me, because I did not take one picture all week long. What was I doing? Sitting on the beach reading, boogie boarding, or playing games I guess. It was a great vacation. We were all sad to come home. Especially when it was 115 degrees in Cave Creek when we returned. Thank goodness we have a pool!

Thanks again Ryan! And thank you to Deb, for e-mailing me this over their dial up internet. It must have clogged up your signal for hours. I appreciate it.

Challenger Space Center

The car was packed, the house was clean, and we were ready to leave early in the morning for our trip to Utah. Noah woke up with a high fever, and Mike and I decided we should stay home. It was a good choice, since the rest of us have been sharing germs the past few days. Ugh!

To make up the lost trip to our grouchy children, (mostly our Teen) we decided we would be on vacation until Monday as planned. That means no jobs, (at least for the boys) and plenty of outings, TV, and Playstation. We saw Ice Age 3 in 3D, swam a lot, ate a lot, and last night we enjoyed the fireworks in Cave Creek at our annual Church Ice cream Social. It was awesome.

Here are some pictures from our field trip to the Challenger Space Center. We have always wanted to go there, and now we can say we have. It was not as great as we had expected, next time we will go to the Science Center instead! But we still had fun. We have started listening to books on tape together when we have long drives in the car. Everyone seems to enjoy it but Mike and Sam. They are always grumpy anyway, so we just ignore them!

Giddyup Cowboy!

Jonah rode in his first Gymkhanas with me last weekend. It was HOT, but we still had the rest of the family there to cheer us on. Of course, they sat in the shade underneath the bleachers... only in AZ!

Jonah took this picture of our ribbons, which he proudly arranged on the wall. He did such a great job. It is pretty intimidating riding out in that big arena all by yourself! I did really well this time, but it helped there were only 8 people in my division! We got home after Midnight, but it was a fun day.

Summer Fun

Our extended family, Kiara and Ava. They are getting so big! Kiki starts Kindergarten this year!


Locked up in the locker room. Our cousins Jackie and Cameron, with Sam and Jonah. This is how Nate and Noah keep them entertained so playstation can continue uninterrupted!

Jonah has the coolest headphones ever!

My future architect.

Jonah's would be bigger if he would stop feeding Lucy all of his marshmallows!

And it smells like one, too

We were in the pool with the boys yesterday, and Nate pointed out to his parents how much he is growing up. "I have 5 hairs under each arm, which means I am a man. You need to treat me like a man now! I need to be talked to like a man!"

Hi, my name is Jonah, and....

I came home from a long day of working outside, and went straight to my computer to check my e-mail. Mike made some comment about me being an addict. Out of nowhere a little voice piped up from the couch, "I'm addicted too! To horses. Nope, I'm addicted to ANIMALS!"

Horse Camp

Jonah attended a week of camp with Mom. It was so much fun to spend every day with him. Jonah is a very good rider! He usually rides Snuffy, but this week he rode a different horse almost every day. It improved his riding skills, and he did a great job with all of the different personalities and responses from Tonto, Big Red, Granny and Joker. Plus, he had a great time and wants to do it again. Good thing I am having another two week camp at the end of June! We both are looking forward to it. Hopefully it will stay cool so we can have nice weather this time. It was soooo hot the last week of May!

Way to Go Nate!

Nate shaking hands with all of the seventh grade teachers.

Well I know this picture stinks, but I thought Nate deserved one because this is a big deal! Bubbie and Grandpa Chuck came up and attended the Awards Ceremony with Mike and I. Nate saw us when he came in, and said he got really nervous that we all wasted our time because he didn't think he made Honor Roll. Well, besides making Honor Roll Nate was surprised to be awarded the Lance Armstrong Award for "Hard Work and Perseverance."

We are very proud of Nate!

President's Education Award

Noah with his wonderful teacher, Mrs. Sterner, and our Principal Janiene Marlow

Noah received the President's Education Award by showing a "deep personal commitment to educational excellence." The 5th Grade teachers put out a fantastic breakfast spread for families to celebrate with their students. Way to Go Noah! We are so proud of your hard work in class this year!

Almost as Cool as a Mullet

Nate and Jonah decided they wanted their heads shaved for the summer. I love how each of the boys have such different tastes. Noah wants long hair, and Sam keeps his clean-cut (but not too short). They are such fun boys.

We shaved off their mohawks on Saturday night, but they were fun while they lasted!

Happy Birthday Sam!

Sam is ten years old! Unbelievable how time flies when you get old. Last night we went to the drive ins along with our cousin, Dallin, and friend Alex. I remember watching "ET" there when I was a kids. Great memory.....

We watched the movie "UP", which was not at all what I expected but it was very good. There was no talking for about half of the movie! I liked that, but the boys were a little disappointed. Anyway, it was great to have a sno cone, sit in a lawn chair, and enjoy being outside in AZ. We will definitely do it again soon, especially since Tuesday nights everyone is only $1! Plus, Mike and I seemed to talk more during the movie, so it could be a great date night.

Memorial Ride

Check out ASU Stadium on the other side of Tempe Town Lake! Sam and I are wayyyyy over in the corner! Thank you Kathy for remembering your camera!

On Sunday, May 31st we had a family and friends ride in memory of Bill Scott, Jodi's Dad, who passed away last month. He has owned Papago Stables for over 45 years! Over 60 people showed up, and about half of us rode through Papago Park on a beautiful hilly trail. It was great. Only Sam and Jonah came with me, and my sister Kathy joined us as well! Her horse bucked a couple of times, but she is a cowgirl and had fun. ;-) We were about the only riders wearing helmets, but I will take safety over a hat any day! I am lame and didn't bring my camera, but good thing Kathy got pictures of the Coverts!

Afterwards we BBQ'd and played cards until the boys were tired and wanted to go home. Jodi had a slide show going with a projector that had so many pictures it was about an hour long. Bill did so many fun things between his stables in Wyoming and Arizona! The night was a great tribute to him and his cowboy life.

I'm a real cowgirl!

Last night I participated in my first Gymkhanas event! I had so much fun, even though I didn't get home until after 1 AM! (I usually turn into a pumpkin after 11 PM) It was suprising how many participants there were during the Holiday weekend, but with the economy the way it is and the perfect weather we are having....

I rode in 3 patterns - the Cloverleaf, dirty Triangle, and the poles. I rode Hugh, the horse I am leasing now. Hershey hurt his hip and is taking a vacation. Hopefully he will be back in commission soon! He is exciting to ride because he thinks he is a race car! But Hugh has more experience and is more reliable. He doesn't usually go faster than a lope unless you really nag him, but he was so excited doing the barrels he did a pretty fantastic gallop to finish off our time. Very impressive.

So this Cowgirl is excited to brag that Hugh and I earned 2 ribbons for 6th and 1 for 5th Place. Yeeeeehaw!

Farewell Easter Chicks!

We came home from school on Thursday to discover Mac, Noah's little dog, had killed all of our baby chickens. The latch on the gate to the chicken coop was loose, and it must have blown open during the day. We are all very sad, as this batch of chicks were so gentle and friendly and cute. Jonah lay sobbing with his dog, Lucy out back all afternoon, alternating between Mac and Noah to yell how much he hated them both.

The good news is, the five remaining grown hens are loving this weather so much they are all laying about twice a day. Amazing!

Happy Birthday Jonah! Oh, and I am special, too!

I had the best Mother's Day ever! I love that I got to celebrate Jonah's birthday the same day. Our morning began with breafast in bed from Mike and Nate. Mike put an orchid corsage on my plate for me to wear to church. Jonah gave me the silent treatment for a little while because he did not want to share his special day with me. But no one can stay mad at me for long, (of course!) and we had a great day! AND, I came home from church to find Jodi had left me a beautiful boquet of flowers on the table.

Below are the poems two of the boys wrote for me. My boys are so wonderful - funny, smart, and talented! I feel very loved. Lucky me


WHY MY MOM IS THE BEST by Nate

Why is my mom the best? How does she manage to be better than the rest?

My mom is the best because she knows everything there ever was.

My mom is so great - she has an awesome son named Nate!

My mom takes great care of us, even when we start to fuss.

My mom can do anything, she might even be able to grow wings!

My mom makes great things to eat. She brings a smile to everyone she meets.

As you can see my mom is the best she can be.

My eye is black, my brother's blue. If we thought about it we shouldn't fight because we have you!

Who is someone you can love all the time? Who is someone who still cares if you whine? Who is someone who can't help but be perfect? Who is someone who got a pool so we can get wet? Who is someone that is such a great nurturere? Who is someone that makes me maturer?

The person who can do all these things and much, much more ...... my Mom!



MOM by Noah

I am your favorite child
I wonder if you love me
I hear you yell at me
I see you walk me to school
I want to see ou
I am your favorite child

I pretend to be like you
I feel happy when I see you
I touch your clothes when I hug you
I worry you will die
I cry when you punish me
I am your favorite child

I understand why you punish me
I say I love you
I dream of you living a long time
I try to please you
I hope you love me
I am your favorite child.

Soccer Season

We had 3 boys playing on 3 teams this past Fall. (yes, I am a little late posting pictures, as usual) This was the first time Noah and Sam were on different teams. It was pretty busy schedule, but a lot of fun! Jonah spent most of his time counting blades of grass. Every once in a while he would get into the action though. They all play very well and had a great time. Sam is great on defense, and Noah is great playing forward. Noah discovered his favorite position is goalie!

April Fools Day Dinner!

For April Fools Day, everyone in the house (well, except for Mike) participated in pulling pranks on each other. Some were funnier than others, but everyone had a good attitude about them. (A couple of the boys woke up with pink fingernails, and Sam went to school with remnants of facial hair drawn with marker on his face) I wanted to do something fun together without one person feeling picked on.
On familyfun.com, the best website ever, I got the idea for an April Fools Dinner. We had a nice family meal with Bill and Alex joining us. I listed all the items on the table on slips of paper(including utensils and condiments), and everyone got an envelope with their papers. For each course, we all drew 3 slips of paper. Whatever was listed is all that you got. Jonah was thrilled to get frosting and a brownie for his first course. Sam got cheese, pepper, and a drink. However, since he didn't have a cup yet, he drank from the pitcher! For the second course, Sam got salt, frosting, and a fork. He was not very happy because he was hungry! It ended up being a lot of fun and something we will make a tradition to do again each year.

Easter Chicks!

Our Uncle Bill and cousin Alex are visiting us this week. The boys are in heaven! For some reason they think Uncle Bill is really funny, and Alex- she just rocks. Bill took the boys to get some new chicks we saw at Ace. They are so cute! Lucy has adopted them. She will stand guard for an hour at a time, just watching over them.

Fiesta Days Parade

Our TRRFCC Horsemanship team rode in the Fiesta Days Parade in Cave Creek yesterday. It was so much fun! We painted the Six Pillars of Character on our color-coordinated saddle pads. Awesome exposure for our program, and we all had a great time. You can hardly see me in the picture, but that is OK by me! Mike didn't see us in the line-up, he was distracted by the library's big book worm. ;-)

Mutton Bustin'

It's Fiesta Days in Cave Creek this weekend! Jonah participated in the mutton bustin' competition. It was so much fun! He stayed on for 11 seconds, qualifying the finals today. He was super nervous, but still decided to do it. Even after the boy in front of him in line burst into tears crying for his mom. I was certain that would break him. but Jonah was feeling the pressure of having a large cheering section in the audience!

I think the best part for Jonah was that his big brothers had to sit in the audience and watch HIM for a change!

Family Pictures!

A huge thank you to the best photographer ever, Becca Hansen! She has been bugging me for literally years to get our picture taken as a family, but I always had some excuse to put it off. She finally just said, "today is the day!" The boys would not stop grumbling the entire way about getting their pictures taken. Becca made it so much fun they were soon running around finding great photo ops for her. All four boys wanted to pose several times by themselves, too. It was great! We love you, Becca!

Swimming Season has begun!

The boys have been in the pool for the last 2 days straight. Come on over and join us! The pool temperature is up to a toasty 67 degrees. You won't see me out there for a couple more weeks, but the boys are mighty happy! I will post pictures as soon as I remember to take some...

Jonah's Friends

Jonah got a new kitty for Christmas. We all miss Friday, our black cat. She got out one night and didn't come home in the morning. We all knew what probably happened to her, but we put up posters anyway to appease Jonah. Granny felt bad for him, and spent a great deal of time calling and visiting pet rescues to find just the right friend for Jonah. "Cutie Dandelion" was a perfect match, although the big boys in the house convinced Jonah to shorten the name to just Cutie. He is very friendly and playful. The only problem is, he hates dogs. Poor Lucy keeps coming inside, and gets all excited when she spies the cat. Friday and Lucy were great friends and would even sleep together. But Cutie hisses like crazy every time he sees the dogs, even through the window. Hopefully they become a little more tolerant of each other with time.

This horse's name is Snuffy. Jonah has been riding him over at Jodi's house across the street. Jonah was a little frightened at first of going fast. He loves trail rides, and enjoys going out in the beautiful desert near our house. But before mounting he always checked with the other riders to make sure there would be no trotting. One day Jodi convinced Jonah to try out trotting, and she even ran alongside him and Snuffy to help him relax. (it shows what an incredible teacher Jodi is, because she hates running) A few minutes later I heard Jonah exclaiming, "faster, faster"! I think I liked it when he was scared, because now he won't slow down!

Halloween

Ok, so it's a little late. But I loved the boy's costumes this last year, so I still wanted to post my pictures.

We spent a lot of time online researching costumes to make. After finally choosing, we were shopping at JoAnns for supplies when the boys found these masks. At our Cub Scout Pack Meeting the week of Halloween Noah and Sam would not stop slapstick fighting. It was so funny and so annoying at the same time. They were really proud of their costume choices.

On Halloween we went trick-or-treating with a group of friends, and a couple of kids kept teasing Noah/Obama. He finally went home early because he was upset about being pushed. I guess it was a small glimpse of how passionate voters were this election season.