Happy Halloween!

OK...so our attempt at a family photo this year was a complete failure....CJ was having none of it. At least the girls played along....




There is a goat, a dog, and a mouse in this photo....but can you find Randi?

Enough of the pictures though....the kitten needed to play!

...and when the kitten and the puppy joined forces, there was no stopping them....

After I rounded up the punks, we headed to the mall for some fun and games! As I peered into my rear view mirror, I saw this...I've heard of book worms...but a book 'mouse'? ...and a horse book to boot....I love this kid!

The mall was quite chaotic. Gma Kathy arrived to join us and I'm not sure how I would have managed if she hadn't! One of us on Randi, the other on Sophie & CJ....I'm not gonna lie, sometimes it both of us on Sophie and CJ and Randi had to fend for herself....but it all worked out.

...and when the punks were finally able to run free in Buzz's Play Park we both let out a sigh of releif....and rested.

Sophie and CJ stayed home Halloween night due to the cold, but Randi and I explored a nearby neighborhood with some friends....it was a gold mine and Randi filled her bag within an hour! I shall not release the name of the subdivision, as we have decided that this will be our Halloween stomping grounds for many years to come....we must preserve this golden nugget and all the candy within from the masses...it's ours....all ours!!! Bwahahahaaa

Happy Halloween!

Leah

Zombie vs. Baby...

Click on the image below to read.

I thought this was timely....and true.

An Indian Princess & Her Pony...

We joined The Jolly Ranchers 4-H club this weekend in some Halloween fun and festivities! It was so nice to catch up with old friends and also see some new faces! Randi and Bo teamed up for some games on horse back, starting with the egg and spoon competition....they did great!


....and we were pleasantly surprised at her combined win with Sadie on board Fancy as her partner in the ribbon race.

...in spite of a slight traffic jam as they changed directions....

Then it was time for some horseless fun....which equals LOTS of running....but well worth it for the candy prizes in the end!

We brought some face paint along and shared with the group....here's my little warrior getting her face paint on for the costume competition...

...and here she is making sure Levi has his on too....

Scary spider!!!! I know he's trying hard, but I'm not sure it's possible for such a cute kid to ever really be that scary.....

You can catch a peek at the feast that our gracious host, Mrs. Kane, prepared for us....her chili is to DIE for!

CJ and Sophie had a great time too....they really got into the jumper course!

...and I couldn't keep them away from the horses....

They haven't spent much time around the horses to date....hard to keep them contained and out of harms way on my own....what I learned here today is their favorite place to be is on a horse tho....

...go ahead....TRY to take him off....see what happens....don't say I didn't warn you! Sophie was the same way...not sure why I didn't capture her 'first ride' on film.....but the way she was acting, there will be many more opportunities for that!

Great day...great friends...thank you Jolly Ranchers!

Back in the saddle again....

I can't even begin to tell you how she did it, other than to explain that Mz. beth can be mighty persuasive when she needs to be....whatever she said, she got the old man in the saddle again...after almost 30 yrs....

...and they killed some trails around Westwood....as a result, Gpa Craig got a rider's perspective and has a new list of 'to-do's' for trail improvements....yay Mz. Beth!

Happy Trails,

Leah

Invisibility Cloak? For Realz?

Yes......for realz! BAE appears to have made it happen in true Harry Potter fashion! The video is pretty amazing and shows an entire tank 'disappearing' into thin air....next step, putting it on our service members....can't be too far away now!

Happy Trails,
Leah

We lost a legend today.....

After a long day of wishful thinking and billions of hopeful prayers, Oliver was put to rest....my condolences to the multitude of people whom are feeling his loss today, and especially to Kerri & Karen who provided him a family of his own in the end......

Horse Show Update! VAHA 10/16/11

The Little Brat took a spin on Fancy this weekend for the final show of the 2011 season! They've been practicing a couple times a week and are starting to hit a groove together....LB is pumped to start jogging with the big kids next year and if we don't sell Fancy and find a suitable POA in the meantime, they'll have eachother :)

For the first time this season, LB won both her equitation and pleasure classes which secured her the division championship....that's my girl! I am one proud mama....

Bring on 2012! Happy Trails,

Leah

One of my Favorite Things...

From time to time we stumble upon special little things that make our life more wonderful and complete.....before these special little things come into our lives, we are just plowing thru life, oblivious to their wonders and beauty.....and once we have found a special little thing, our lives are never the same again....

Case in point: McDonald's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal

As I drove into work one morning, I experienced a craving in the depths of my belly, so I pulled into the McDonalds to see if I could quench it...I was looking for something particular, only I didn't know just what it would be....Bagel egg and cheese sandwich? No....Pancakes? No....What? What's this I see? Oatmeal? At McDonald's? Well how 'bout them apples? That's EXACTLY what I needed....what my BELLY needed! Yummy, sweet, warm, creamy OATMEAL! Quick AND healthy (less than 300 calories)? Seriously? This was too good to be true....but it wasn't!!!

I picked up my perfect little feast and proceeded to work to enjoy my bounty...and I was not to disappointed! This tasty treat combines 100% natural whole-grain oats with brown sugar and a touch of cream. Then it gets a little fruity, with diced fresh apples, dried cranberries and two kinds of raisins. HOG HEAVEN people! I kid you not!

So I ate....and I ate....and hardly a morning goes by that I don't swing thru the McD's drive through near my office and steal me a little bit of this scrumptious .....

Try it! You'll love it!...and if you don't, I'll finish it for you :)

Happy Trails,

Leah

iSad...

Steve Jobs has passed...His technology has changed the world we live in...Steve was driven by visions and powered by passion....his contributions will live well beyond his short time on this earth....I know my teens and even the Little Brat have been forever affected by his innovations.....RIP, Steve.

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do...If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on." he said while delivering a 2005 commencement address at Stanford University.

Words to live by....

I hear it's terminal....

A day in the life.....with no extra curricular activities included...Lordsy Mercy, am I TIRED!

Good Morning!
Mommy up, Sophie up, CJ up, Randi up.....check!
Sophie dressed, CJ dressed, Randi dressed, Mommy dressed.....check!
Sophie's teeth brushed, CJ's teeth brushed, Randi's teeth brushed, Mommy's teeth brushed.....check!
Randi's hair done, Mommy's hair done.....check!
Sophie & CJs food packed, Randi's food packed.....check!
Sophie loaded up, CJ loaded up, Randi loaded up, Mommy loaded up.....check!
Randi dropped off at school.....check!
Sophie and CJ dropped off at daycare.....check!
Mommy to work.....check!
Sophie and CJ picked up from daycare.....check!
Randi picked up from school.....check!
Horses Fed.....check!
Stall mucked.....check!
Sophie unloaded, CJ unloaded, Randi unloaded, Mommy unloaded.....check!
Dinner made.....check!
Sophie fed, CJ fed, Randi fed, Daddy fed, Mommy fed.....check!
Mommy/Daddy/Punk Play Time.....check!
Sophie put to bed, CJ put to bed, Randi put to bed.....check!
Good Nite!

Coggins Required in All Virginia State Parks

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced that effective March 2, 2011, an updated regulation will take effect regarding the Coggins test for equine infectious anemia. The updated regulation specifies that “all horses assembled at a show, fair, race meet or other such function or participating in any activity on properties where horses belonging to different owners may come into contact with each other in Virginia must be accompanied by a report of an official negative test for equine infectious anemia.”

Starting March 2, rangers in state and national parks may check for Coggins papers, and owners without valid test reports could be charged with a Class I Misdemeanor and asked to leave the park. As is currently the case under existing regulations, owners presenting fraudulent paperwork can be charged with civil penalties as well.

READ MORE....

Round Bale Rufians...

My kids were minding their own business and taking a walk just the other day, when out of the blue these round bales tried to start some trouble....you should have heard the taunting...."you are so small, so skinny, so flesh colored!" the round bales chanted....so the kids banded together like any good siblings would do...to show those round bales they were just ignorant masses of hay....


Randi danced upong their stemy heads....


...and celebrated in their imobility...




This twins followed with a good ole fashioned butt-smashin'....take that, you ridiculous rolls of forage!

Happy Hay-days!
Leah

My man is a WARRIOR....

My husband (middle dude) faced the mud, muck and mayhem this weekend to participate in the 2011 Virginia Warrior Dash! 3.5 miles and 12 obstacles in about 50 mninutes....I couldn't be more proud...mostly because I kinda left him hangin' out there and all....we had planned on running this together...that is, before I was afflicted with achiles tendonitis and wussed out on him.....still, he has a great time running with his friends while Randi and I enjoyed a road trip to OH to try out a pony (more on that story as it develops).....

Sorry for abandoning you babe.....let's try it again in May! Promise I'll go....for reals this time.

XO,

Leah

2011 Virginia State Fair!

We picked up Gma Kathy and headed to the Virginia State Fair this weekend....haven't missed it since the event moved to 'The Meadows Event Park" in Doswell....great location and great fun! I paid way too much for rides, of course....but you can't put a price on these memories....

...or on pretending to be a gerbil in a blow up rolly-thingy....

...or on riding fake horses while your real one sits at home....

Perhaps the greatest experience of all this year was seeing The Band Perry in concert....The Meadows does not have a grand concert area, by any means....a small tent and a large field is all you'll get here....but the band was amazing and we had a super great time! This was Randi's first concert....although she would have preferred it was Justin Beiber, she enjoyed herself just the same.

Looking forward to what 2012 brings....the twins will portable enough to go next year!

Happy Fairs,

Leah