Year of the Horse

2020 has definitely had it's moments. 

One of the only things that has gotten me through homeschooling, lock downs, restrictions, social distancing and the noise of this crazy world we live in is my old reliable foundation, my rock... horses. While 2020 is technically the year of the Rat, for me, it's our year of the Horse. 

After a hundred asks, we finally gave our horse-crazy, Brown Eyed Girl a few real lessons for her birthday. After a few phone calls and connecting with an old friend and colleague, I scheduled our Brown Eyed Girl's first official lesson - by someone other than her mother. 

Our Brown Eyed Girl was paired with an amazing, one-eyed, and very special mare named Doll. 

Once a week Doll fosters a new found passion for horses in our Brown Eyed Girl. Blooming beyond just adoring model horses to a full on obsession with them. 

 

Each week improving in her seat, understanding and patience with Doll, this time we spend at the barn is something we look forward to more than ever as the world around us has been transforming. 

 

One afternoon we waked into the barn and were told we would all be going on a trail ride, even Mr Blue Eyes! After an hour in the saddle, I confessed that this day was exactly what my soul needed. 

Truth be told, every Thursday has been a shining light in our week. A few hours to completely unplug, let the familiar barn sounds wash away my thoughts and just escape reality. 

We started talking about horses nearly every day at home. In those conversations, my Brown Eyed Girl and I decided we really needed to start working with Jack and Skip. 

She was finally big enough and was gaining enough confidence around horses that I welcomed my Brown Eyed Girl's help. Truth be told, she was becoming quite the little hand.

Slowly but surely we dusted away the cobwebs in the attic, so-to-speak. Each week Skip and Jack were remembering more and more of training days past. My goal is to turn Skip into my Brown Eyed Girls next horse. Never to replace PC, but take her through her next phase as a rider. 

A bold new adventure, but lucky for both of us, he is a slug! 

What he makes up for in try, he truly lacks for in work ethic. Leave it to a big old red head to prove the stereotypes of horses. 

Motivated by food (check)

Lazy (check)

All this horse motivation has been put to good use! We even spent a weekend cleaning out the tack room and cleaning all of my saddles. 

Yep, right there is the inside of my heart. 

We have also had the opportunity to see and be around a brand new baby at the barn this year!

For a few weeks, I wasn't sure if she was more excited to see this little dude or actually ride Doll. 

She is learning so much about horses, not just riding. The assistant trainers are all so helpful and patient with my Brown Eyed Girl as she learns horse care. 

Doll is a saint too. 

Another surprise a month or so ago, we were invited to a ranch horse clinic! My Brown Eyed Girl was so excited to participate in a mock pattern class where she would actually be judged and scored and then have the opportunity to work on areas in her pattern that needed improvement, as part of the clinic. 

We showed up ready for her debut and found out this old lady would get to participate as well!

I have loved the view from atop a saddled horse, looking down between a perfect pair of ears, my entire life. 

I can not share with you the words I felt. It is something I have waited for my entire life. That moment of  looking down and seeing two pairs of ears, knowing my boot was gently touching hers in an elevated space somewhere between sold ground and heaven.  

The rest of the day she impressed me. Nearly 4 hours in the saddle under a hot afternoon sun. Never complaining. Always smiling and very focused. She met a new friend and I beamed. Some of my most treasured friends were made because of the love of horses. 

I can not wait to see where horses take us the rest of the year. Maybe her first real show this fall or winter? 

I know I will make an amazing Horse Show Mom!

After a lot of consideration, I finally decided to send both Jack and Skip off to the trainers barn for at least 30 days of horse boot camp. Perhaps one of them will be the perfect fit for my Brown Eyed Girl to start experimenting with showing. If nothing else, I hope they will come home ready to be ridden whenever we feel like saddling them up, together, for an afternoon or weekend ride. 

The pressure is on Boys! 

Treasured Art

Since she was able to sit up in her high-chair, my Brown Eyed Girl has loved to doodle and draw. It's no secret, it's in her genes. Ignoring our nagging requests, forever resting along side Handy Man's chair can always be found a sketch pad and a bundle of colored pencils or markers. Our Brown Eyed Girl wakes up every morning and reaches for her sketch pads to doodle and draw while she watches TV. 

By no surprise, one of her favorite classes in school is Art. This last year she was even selected as a member of the after school Art Club. She is always excited to share her experiences working with some of the new mediums that Art Club allowed the kids to experiment with. 

Over the years, our Brown Eyed Girl has been selected to share her artwork as a part of several art shows and displays. This last winter she had a foil project selected. 

This mom got a little misty eyed when she saw the piece. 

Titled "Love For A Mother" 

Every year the school's staff get's together to select one piece of artwork from one student in each grade that will hang in the Library forever. In January it was announced that our Brown Eyed Girl was selected out of all the students in 5th Grade. 

Just days before the rest of the world would change around us, our last "normal" activity was to attend the evening dedication ceremony for the artists and their pieces that were selected. 

The school's lovely Art Teacher gave a little introduction of our Brown Eyed Girl and an explanation of the piece she had completed. The assignment was to take a shape and repeating it over and over again. She had drawn a friendly monster utilizing a square as the base of her design.  

Together they unveiled the piece. 

I was such a proud momma! 

My Brown Eyed Girl's most favorite teacher in her school was by far the school's Librarian. Since she was in Kindergarten, she has talked non-stop about this special woman. In second grade when the mean girl dynamics plagued her classmates, our little girl really struggled. The Librarian, seeing that she was needing a bit more, started joining her at lunch periodically and taking the time to check in with her. The Librarian said our Brown Eyed Girl would just glow whenever she would sit with her in the cafeteria. 

Over the years the Librarian became an incredible mentor to our Brown Eyed Girl and in 4th and 5th grade they had regular monthly lunch dates together, sometimes with 1-2 other students. They had many conversations about goals, dreams, reading and stories, being good friends, kindness and helping others. Our Brown Eyed Girl so looked forward to these lunch dates. 

That night, the Librarian pulled me aside and confessed that while she has the privileged to get to know all of the students as the "Librarian", only a few students come along now and then that truly inspire you, touch your heart and leave a lasting impression. She said our daughter was one of those special students. She said our daughter was one that rekindles you that fire inside as an educator and makes all the other day-to-day struggles worth while. She said she had a big influence in which art pieces were selected - as they hang in her Library. She smiled and said there was no question who's artwork she wanted to look at every day knowing she would be losing our Brown Eyed Girl to Middle School next year. And with that her eyes filled with tears she said, "Thank you so much for the opportunity to know, teach, and love your daughter - almost as if she was one of my one. I am sure going to miss this girl"

We hope her artwork hangs in the school for many years and we hope it continues to bring a smile to our friend, the Librarian. 

Soak It All In

Day 6: Final day at the beach.

For our last day in Grand Cayman, we decided just to chill. No schedule, nothing planned. We hopped in the kayaks mid morning and went exploring for more sea shells. We took the kayaks all the way out of the bio bay and walked around the point and sand bars. 

Mr Blue Eyes found some awesome coral washed up on shore. 

Mr Brown Eyed Girl found some too!

I just found a bunch of jellyfish...

A last dip in the pool for the girls in the afternoon

Water Skipper ball for the guys on the beach.

The iguana finally made himself present on our last day. 

A week of seeing tracks and looking in every tree finally paid off!

A perfect last day!

Day 7: All vacations eventually end...

My Brown Eyed Girl and I slipped out to the little dock early in the morning, one last time while the boys were fast asleep.  

Sure going to miss this laid back, no worry moment in my life!

I would book this VRBO again in a heartbeat. A great place to stay!

A bounty of sea shells to haul home!

All packed and one last good-bye to Rum Point!

Another first as we left - we got to board the plane from the tarmac. 

And that's all she wrote.

The end of the most perfect family vacation I have ever taken in my life! Even now (months later) writing about the experience and posting these photos I am filled with nostalgia. I cannot express how much traveling and making memories like this fills my heart with joy!

I hope I leave a passion for traveling deeply ingrained in my children's hearts. I pray they take the time to explore hidden spots around the world and make memories with their families some day. 

To more of this - over my next 40 years!