Yesterday we celebrated CK for Father's Day and had a fun and full day! Last week I took the girls to Sunshine Glaze, where they made their Papa a platter with both of their handprints on it and then Sofia wrote "We (heart) you, Papa!" with "2015" at the bottom. I'd intended to take them there a week prior, since it takes about 10 days before they can fire the pieces and have them ready. So, I decided on another little homemade craft and had both girls draw on photo frames for their Papa and put in a picture into each. Olivia made a "rainbow" and Sofia drew a peacock, and a dinosaur saying "Me LOVE my Papa and I think you should too, or I'll eat you." Not exactly what I had in mind, but I let them do what they wanted with the craft. Sofia also made CK a "Papa's Day" card which she'd painted a few weeks ago.
So, we wrapped the frames and card in a gift bag and headed to Meeting at Al and Jill's, where we had to take a detour because the road we normally take was flooded. After Meeting, we headed to our brunch spot, which I'd made reservations at earlier in the week. I wanted to take CK somewhere nice, but so many of the restaurants in Dallas he's been to or goes to regularly and Ft. Worth seems too far away. So, I picked a place that we'd been to several years ago for an event and hadn't been back to since. It's a Mexican restaurant called Via Real that offered a great brunch and the food was really delicious. The only down side is that it is a buffet, which with two young kids is a little bit of hinderance, but not bad. The food was very good and it was fun to try something different. After our meal, CK opened up his handmade frames from the girls and loved them!
After brunch, we drove home and passed the Grapevine train heading to Ft. Worth and decided to check if they do the "train robbery" on Father's Day. We were able to park next to the horse trailer and watched as the "bandit" got ready on his horse. The train came and the bandits attacked, as expected. The girls were a little concerned, especially Olivia and we tried to explain to her that it was all acting and wasn't real. Finally, as the bandits and the sheriff walked toward us after the train pulled away, Olivia finally figured out that it wasn't real and the bandit who was "shot" was just fine. The bandit on his horse gave the girls some bullet shells as souvenirs and Sofia really wanted to pet the horse, but he wasn't in the mood to do anything but head back to the trailer.
After the shootout, we drove home where the girls headed to their rooms on their own and took long naps and CK read on the bed and relaxed. It was a little grey and gloomy and started raining shortly after we returned. It stopped raining around 5pm, so we woke the girls up (!!) and decided to walk Buddy in our neighborhood to stretch our legs. We walked down to the lake and Sofia wanted to go for a canoe ride, so CK and I put our canoe into the water and she and CK headed out and took a trip around the lake. Olivia wasn't so sure about going and decided she didn't want to go. Finally, once they returned from their trip around the lake I convinced Olivia to go in the canoe with Sofia and me. Once we were all in, Buddy was frantic to get in too so CK put him in the boat and he sat directly underneath me. Olivia still wasn't completely sure about the canoe trip, especially when Sofia rocked the canoe and said she wanted to "tip it over" but I was able to calm her down. We paddled around the pond, just as CK and Sofia had done and then returned to take the canoe out of the water. It's very relaxing to float and paddle on the lake, especially when it's cool after a nice rain.
We returned to the house and had pizza and a salad for dinner. We tried a new place and the food was really good, although the girls said they still preferred Papa John's. It was a very fun Father's day celebrating a great Papa who takes great care of us and makes the girls laugh!
A picture of my Dad from when we lived at the ranch
One of my Mom and Dad after working cattle
The girls had fun painting a ceramic piece for themselves
Sofia at brunch - she discovered the chocolate fountain and fruit...
Serious Olivia and her brunch
CK opening his gifts
He loved his card made by Sofia
Olivia and the frame she made for him
This is the picture in the frame - one of my favorites
CK and his girls
Sofia and Olivia
Happy Father's Day!
One of the bandits
Love this picture
The girls and me
Talking to the bandits and sheriff after the show.
Happy Father's Day to the best Papa who always takes us on incredible adventures! We love you!
The platter the girls made for their Papa
The mermaid and horse the girls also painted
Monday, June 22, 2015
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Sofia's Rodeo
Last night, we headed to Ride With Pride to watch Sofia in her rodeo following a week of horse camp that she has done for the past few summers. She looks forward to it months before the end of school and can't decide if she enjoys the horse riding, crafts, snow cones or feeding and petting all the other animals the most. She was so excited to be able to ride her favorite horses again this summer and loved all the crafts they did this year.
After we parked the car, we headed over to the rodeo arena and stopped by the table where all the kid's crafts were waiting. Sofia found her crafts and showed them to us. She colored a wooden frame and drew a peacock and horse and the frame had a picture of Sofia riding on Dolly, one of her favorite horses. She also painted a door hanger and a small bird house. She loved making each of them and explained how she got the ideas and how she made them. After looking over the crafts Sofia made, we continued on to the barns where we visited with the horses that would not be ridden in the the rodeo. Sofia showed us all the horses and the goats and then we went on to the arena.
Soon, it was time for Sofia to run across the arena to meet her other horse campers and ride in her rodeo. She planned to ride Red, one of her very favorite horses. Olivia, CK and I found seats in the stands and waited for the show to begin. Sofia was the very first rider! Doreen introduced Sofia and Red and said that her very favorite part of camp was doing the crafts. She also said Sofia wants to be a professional horse rider when she grows up! Prior to the rodeo, Sofia told us she planned to trot on Red and was really excited. However, once she got started on Red, it was clear that Red had other ideas. He seemed a little lazy in the heat and didn't want to trot. She did a great job walking him around the barrels and looked like a real rider!
After all the other kids had a chance to ride, it was time for the awards. Sofia got her award and stood on the podium before taking a group photo with all the other riders. She had such a fun time and after the awards ceremony, we headed out to Christina's for some delicious Mexican food. It was a fun horse camp, as usual!
Sofia showing off the frame she made
And the door hanger
And the little bird house she painted
A close-up of Sofia's crafts
Meeting one of the horses
Sofia and the other campers heading out to other side of the arena to get started
Starting off the rodeo!
Riding Red!
Running across the arena after the rodeo
Our sweet girl!
Waiting for the award ceremony to begin
Getting her award
Sofia and all the campers!
After we parked the car, we headed over to the rodeo arena and stopped by the table where all the kid's crafts were waiting. Sofia found her crafts and showed them to us. She colored a wooden frame and drew a peacock and horse and the frame had a picture of Sofia riding on Dolly, one of her favorite horses. She also painted a door hanger and a small bird house. She loved making each of them and explained how she got the ideas and how she made them. After looking over the crafts Sofia made, we continued on to the barns where we visited with the horses that would not be ridden in the the rodeo. Sofia showed us all the horses and the goats and then we went on to the arena.
Soon, it was time for Sofia to run across the arena to meet her other horse campers and ride in her rodeo. She planned to ride Red, one of her very favorite horses. Olivia, CK and I found seats in the stands and waited for the show to begin. Sofia was the very first rider! Doreen introduced Sofia and Red and said that her very favorite part of camp was doing the crafts. She also said Sofia wants to be a professional horse rider when she grows up! Prior to the rodeo, Sofia told us she planned to trot on Red and was really excited. However, once she got started on Red, it was clear that Red had other ideas. He seemed a little lazy in the heat and didn't want to trot. She did a great job walking him around the barrels and looked like a real rider!
After all the other kids had a chance to ride, it was time for the awards. Sofia got her award and stood on the podium before taking a group photo with all the other riders. She had such a fun time and after the awards ceremony, we headed out to Christina's for some delicious Mexican food. It was a fun horse camp, as usual!
Sofia showing off the frame she made
And the door hanger
And the little bird house she painted
A close-up of Sofia's crafts
Meeting one of the horses
Sofia and the other campers heading out to other side of the arena to get started
Starting off the rodeo!
Riding Red!
Running across the arena after the rodeo
Our sweet girl!
Waiting for the award ceremony to begin
Getting her award
Sofia and all the campers!
Sofia's Horse Camp Video
Click on the link below to watch Sofia ride one of her favorite horses, Red!
Sofia's Horse Camp 6/19/2015
Sofia's Horse Camp 6/19/2015
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Olivia Riding Penny at Horse Camp Video
Here's the video of Olivia riding Penny in her mini-horse camp on Thursday. Click on it to watch!
Olivia Horse Camp, 6/18/2015
Olivia Horse Camp, 6/18/2015
Horse Camp!
On Monday I dropped both girls off at Ride with Pride for Olivia's very first horse camp and Sofia's fourth go at it. I'd signed both up at least two months ago and they were both very excited at the time. However, in usual Olivia fashion, she "didn't want to go" when I went to get her ready on Monday morning. Sofia was so excited and kept telling Olivia how much fun she was going to have. I finally got Olivia dressed and we headed to the stables so that Olivia could be there by 8:30am. There were only four other girls signed up for Buckaroo camp which is 3-5 year olds and only runs from 8:30 - 10:30am. Sofia's camp started at 9am and finished up at 1pm. After I signed away all my rights in case of injury, both girls went into the little classroom and Sofia started playing with all the horse and barn toys. Olivia was not so sure and stuck with me. Her instructor, Miss Sarah, kept trying to lure her away with coloring books and other fun, but she was having none of it.
The Buckaroo camp started with all the kids going outside and sitting at the picnic bench to paint a little bird house. Again, Olivia wanted nothing to do with it until curiosity finally took over and she sat next to Miss Sarah and instructed her how to paint her bird house. By then it was 9am and I said goodbye to Sofia while I snuck away. When I returned at 10:30am, Olivia had had so much fun and could hardly contain herself as she told me all about her day and Flash, the horse she rode. It was so cute how much fun she had. I asked her if she was excited to return the next day and without hesitation she said "Yes!" We picked Sofia up at 1pm and she rode Dolly and Red, two of her favorite horses from last year. She'd had a very fun day too and really loves horse camp!
Because of all the rain expected on Wednesday, Doreen cancelled horse camp for that day and then added an extra hour to Olivia's camp on Thursday and Friday and an extra two hours to Sofia's camp for both days. After her camp finished up on Thursday at 10:30am, Olivia and her fellow Buckaroos held a mini-rodeo. Each kiddo was able to ride Penny once around a small arena before the awards ceremony. Olivia loved it. At the awards ceremony, Olivia was given a horse trophy and her photo frame, door hanger, and small bird house that she made during camp. She had so much fun and said she wanted to do it again! Guess that means they are both ready for next summer's camp already!
Practicing on a plastic horse
Our two cowgirls are ready for camp to begin
Sweet girls
Waiting for class to begin!
Love this picture!
Olivia finally getting comfortable with Miss Sarah and making a fun craft
Painting with Miss Sarah. I left right after I took this picture.
Sweet girls
The Buckaroo campers
Getting her award at the end of camp
Olivia with Miss Sarah
Olivia's crafts and photos
The frame Olivia colored
The photos taken during camp
The Buckaroo camp started with all the kids going outside and sitting at the picnic bench to paint a little bird house. Again, Olivia wanted nothing to do with it until curiosity finally took over and she sat next to Miss Sarah and instructed her how to paint her bird house. By then it was 9am and I said goodbye to Sofia while I snuck away. When I returned at 10:30am, Olivia had had so much fun and could hardly contain herself as she told me all about her day and Flash, the horse she rode. It was so cute how much fun she had. I asked her if she was excited to return the next day and without hesitation she said "Yes!" We picked Sofia up at 1pm and she rode Dolly and Red, two of her favorite horses from last year. She'd had a very fun day too and really loves horse camp!
Because of all the rain expected on Wednesday, Doreen cancelled horse camp for that day and then added an extra hour to Olivia's camp on Thursday and Friday and an extra two hours to Sofia's camp for both days. After her camp finished up on Thursday at 10:30am, Olivia and her fellow Buckaroos held a mini-rodeo. Each kiddo was able to ride Penny once around a small arena before the awards ceremony. Olivia loved it. At the awards ceremony, Olivia was given a horse trophy and her photo frame, door hanger, and small bird house that she made during camp. She had so much fun and said she wanted to do it again! Guess that means they are both ready for next summer's camp already!
Practicing on a plastic horse
Our two cowgirls are ready for camp to begin
Sweet girls
Waiting for class to begin!
Love this picture!
Olivia finally getting comfortable with Miss Sarah and making a fun craft
Painting with Miss Sarah. I left right after I took this picture.
Sweet girls
The Buckaroo campers
Getting her award at the end of camp
Olivia with Miss Sarah
Olivia's crafts and photos
The frame Olivia colored
The photos taken during camp
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