Oh Happy Day

Got this awesome picture today in my inbox.  The subject line was, "Gracias por apoyar a mi niña!!!!!!!"  I adore this sweet girl and chose her as my "Leader of the Pack" this quarter.  The work she produces is phenomenal, and she has character and integrity oozing from every teeny tiny pore. Her parents are amazing; her mother scurried into the classroom before parent teacher conferences began with a giant container of salad filled with veggies, telling me that it was a long night and I needed to eat. 

I love my job.   Let me restate that, I LOVE MY JOB. 

A snapshot of a brand new 7 year old

Mia's teacher has all kinds of really great authentic reasons to write.  She has a binder for kids to write about their new shoes, lost teeth, birthday parties, etc.  This is Mia's entry in the "New Shoe" binder.  Blue cowgirl boots ARE very cool.  That last sentence says, "I wear them to horse lessons." 

This is Mia's entry in the "Birthday" binder.  "I went to Casa Bonita.  I got to sit at the Cabana.  My favorite present was a Rainbow Loom.  I made a fish tail."  Thanks for the bracelet making kit Nana!

Mia's first painting with her new oil paints and canvas.  A horse.  Of course.  I now have oil paints on the carpet thanks to an eager little brother.  I keep reminding myself, 'I'm raising children....not entering my home in a show home contest."  Thank God because stains now dot the playroom floor. 

A rider is born....

Maddie is taking riding lessons with Mia and these two are just about the cutest little riders to hit the barn. 

They are learning English, but they are starting on a Western saddle to learn to post.  Mia is such a tiny little thing that starting really small kids in a Western saddle gives them more support as they learn to move their body up and down with the horse.  Posting is a very intuitive movement, but hard to master.  Each horse has a distinct gait and you must learn to feel it and move in stride.  Mia's barn pony had a really distinct gait and when she got off she said, "Wow that horse has a bouncy gait!"  She has been studying riding and horses by checking out every book at the library possible.  This kid knows her stuff already!

As kids work on posting, they will lift arms one at a time to get the feeling of lifting their body without the aid of their upper body. 

 

 

To be there in the barn, hearing my girl click her tongue firmly and press her legs into her horse's sides to ask her to trot took my breath away.  She was confident and I could see her eyes bright with the excitement of it all.  When it was me on the back of the horse as a kid, I felt as if I were speaking a native language of mine that I couldn't speak anywhere else.  I love that she and I will share that understanding, that she will explore it all by herself. 

My Mia and Foxy, her first barn pony. 

A part of learning to ride is learning to be accountable for all of the equipment.  It is such an awesome responsibility - riding.  It requires such diligence and attention to detail.  One must be accountable and principled.  Responsible.  Flexible too.  Confident.  Strong. Here is Mia heading back to the tack room to return her pad.  Her trainer explained that this is a part of the world of riding.  Mia eagerly took it all in and squared her small shoulders against the physical work of it all.  I remember aching after riding lessons, but feeling so capable and competent. 

Post workout grooming session.  Mia is in heaven. 

It's a 7th Birthday Party!

Mia is 7!!!!

To celebrate, Mia chose to have a big family dinner with all of her cousins who live here in town.  We noshed on tacos, Mia's favorite meal - and request.  We threw some giant balls out back, bought some wine and margaritas for the adults, and began to celebrate!

This cute thing started horseback riding lessons earlier in the day and really truly felt special.  We had a great family dinner at Casa Bonita the night before, her actual birthday, and opened gifts.  A new bike, a rainbow loom, a painting easel and art supplies, and some new clothes made her feel like she was on top of the world.  If we could all turn 7 again. 

Luca handled all the excitement pretty well.  There were a couple of moments where he struggled with the whole concept of celebrating ONLY his sister, but I was pretty impressed overall.  We kick it 70s style around here.  There are no "sibling gifts" or "sympathy parties".  We are learning to celebrate those around us  just as much as we learn to celebrate ourselves. Even if that means I say through gritted teeth, "You be happy for her because your day will come soon and you will want her to be happy for you." He learned it's a pretty great gig being the sibling of the birthday girl....all the fun and cake a brother can want.   

 

Naturally, a cookie cake emblazoned with a picture of a horse.  My girl is obsessed currently.  I might be sending out an all call for donations to support her horse habit one of these days. 



We loved having our aunts, an uncle, a nana, and a lot of our cousins around us.  It felt home grown.  Authentic.  Just as it should. 

Her bestie Maddie joined us for the party and for a sleepover afterward.  She declared this THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER.  But she says that every year. 

Birthday Performance in Boots

My girl had a musical "informance" at school on Friday, October 18th, her birthday!  She was over the moon about performing ON her special day in front of parents IN her brand new cowgirl boots. 

She had several singing solos and here she is moving and grooving to the beat, next to one of her good friends, Samuel. 

All eyes on Mia.  Solo time!

I'm telling you...put a kid in some boots and confidence just seems to bloom!

Nana, Luca, and I cheered Sissie on!   

Soccer Stud

The Littles

Dinner date with some of our besties.  Baby Amelia is fitting right in. 

It's officially fall....school pictures have been taken