Why Not

So busy these days – not to wish my life away, but if I could take the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas off, I would.

I was putting together the annual Bean calendar – I really like doing this for the grandparents and H.  Looking back at how much she has changed in 12 months is amazing.  I wish I could say the same for trying to get this years holiday card photo.  We ended up going with a super goofy shot – not what I had planned going into the MANY photo shoots, but it does capture who she is now. I really should know better than to try and force my photographic wishes on her, the best laid plans and all, especially when there is a 4 year old in the mix.

While looking for calendar photos I came across this one of her with her Mao – H must have taken it, as I had not seen it before.  It totally captures their relationship.  I know Mao looks grumpy – trust me he is the sweetest thing going.  He just has big eyelids – and is not one to exert much extra energy - including that necessary to hold said eyelids up.

He also has no problem being under the blanket

Cookie Monster look sad/perplexed?

2007 @ Sesame Place – Meeting the Characters seemed like a good idea at the time…

The actor in the costume does a really good job

I permanently moved to NY 11.5 years ago (did I mention I am getting old?) – we lived in apartment in the (ahem) city we work in for awhile, then we bought our lovely home 9 months before we were married.  I have established myself in my professional, volunteer and personal lives in NY.  I adore my home, I love the little town we live in – even more now that a mom and pop place opened in the “*Town* Proper” that serves an excellent diner style breakfast.  The breakfast makes my Jersey girl heart sing.

We vacation with H’s parents in NJ.  I love this state.  When we cross the border, be it on 80 or 78, I feel a little flutter in my chest.  I love to drive here because you actually have to think about what you are doing every now and then.  I love to shop here, and nearly bought a t-shirt that says “Jersey girls do not pump their own gas” .  I also love to walk here – always somewhere new to see, eat here – diners, diners everywhere, and even stop at rest stops along the Parkway.  NY has throughways all over the state, with all kinds of employees working at them.  I have never had an employee at a NY rest stop show me where the family (read: spacious and relatively clean) restroom was.  It happened twice in NJ between Perth Amboy and our vacation spot. 

If anything ever happens to my job, or H’s job we are hightailing it back here.  Insane cost of living be damned.  This state rocks.  Even if you have to go right to turn left, almost all the time.

Now, where is that Bon Jovi CD?

A moment of calm

Just a few short years ago his antics would have set my nerves on edge (not his fault – my previous horse made several attempts on my life – setting me back quite a bit with my confidence).  This year I was able to just ride on.  I even smiled at the end of the first test.  Right before I apologized to the judge for all the noise.  Seriously, he did not shut up for practically the entire test.  Regardless, we have come a long way little gray horse.

We survived

Our second test went much, much smoother.  He was still wound tight, but there were no airs above the ground, nor incessant screaming to his stable mate.  I was a little disappointed that I did not even get one point higher on the second test, but things felt so much better I feel we were successful.  He is such a handsome guy, he really cleans up well.

Although, if you asked him, I bet he thinks he looks better like this:

In his natural state

We set a goal of seven consecutive dry nights.  Last night made seven.  Tonight will be dinner out and a trip to toys for us to pick out a present.

I think I had a harder time with her set backs than she did.  She was upset, but let it go easily, and handled the blank spots on the calendar without a problem.  Several times I entertained the thought that 5 days would be enough, but decided that we had set a goal, and it was more important to teach her to keep trying.  In the end, she is proud of herself.  As she should be.  And I am very, very proud too.  Way to go Beaner.

Ignore the scratched up woodwork. Bad cats.

She swings the horse back and forth just like a band leader

Bean on the balance beam.  I took a ton of photos, and this was the only one that came out even halfway decent. 

I was really impressed with her ‘high kicks’ on the beam.  She did not fall off once!

Last night we were reading Todd Parr’s “It’s OK to be Different”.  We get to the page with a person in a wheelchair.  We talk about wheelchairs, and why some people use them.  Bean says “How do people in wheelchairs drive cars?”

3.5 year old brains are amazing little things.

Bean is growing more and more confident.  Not just with people, but also physically.  She has really become much more inclined to take some risks – well, the three year old variety – calculated risks, but risks all the same.  We were at my parents in NJ for a family party this weekend, and she was standing on my moms chair that has an ottoman.  I could totally see in her face that she wanted to jump.  I suggested she ask Grandma if it was OK to jump on her furniture.  Grandma replied that she could until she was 14 (random?  yes.)  That seemed to be just the encouragement she needed and off she went.  Boy was she proud of herself.  Back and forth for quite a while.

And at the party, well, there were many high-fives given to relatives, one of my aunts even got a kiss.  She and cousin Z got along famously as well.  He was pulling all kinds of stunts to make her laugh, and she did.  She was also Aunt D’s super helper, even with diaper changes.  She is growing into such a fun little person.  It was just she and I this weekend (Daddy had to work), and I really truly had fun. 

The horse has been having some issues with one of the other geldings in the herd.  The same one he was giving the runaround earlier in the year.  Something changed, and now the new horse is literally giving him the runaround, and around, and around.  It has gotten so bad they have been separated.  It is causing me an enormous amount of stress.  My horse is agile and really quick, the other horse is not.  So that is his saving grace right now.  The horse is usually my stress relief, but right now I am worried about his safety, the rising cost of everything – including hay/grain/board/farrier/vet. 

Then I get this photo from the barn owner

And I realize that he just makes me so happy, every little thing is worth it.  Nothing like 1000lbs of dorkiness to lighten any mood.