Thursday, February 26, 2009

Proud Momma Alert

Nat had a very, very, very good day yesterday. She even texted me from school (during lunch time) with the news. I love when she texts me from school during lunch ;) 

She received the results of her EXPLORE test, which is a pre-ACT test that 8th graders take. She was 100 percentile for her school and 99 percentile for the entire country!!! And... she got perfect scores on both the English and Science portions!! Her reading and math scores were pretty darn good too :) Anyway...I'm pretty stoked for her. The funny thing is that she LOVES standardized tests!! I remember being all nervous and choking on them when I was her age... she'll have none of that.

There was also a section of questions that helps the kids figure out good matches for jobs in the future. Research scientist was right up there. And no... she is not going to be Marine Biologist anymore. That is so yesterday. She is going to be MICRO Biologist ;) Curing cancer kind of stuff.  No more Auburn... maybe University of Georgia??  She is so funny!! We'll see what tomorrow brings!! She is obsessed with this website for searching colleges:  http://www.collegeboard.com/

Today I'm having coffee with my friends Darcie and ReNae. Can't wait! Yesterday I had lunch with Shauna, Jo and Julie. Soooo fun!!! I'm quite the social butterfly lately ;) Anyone else up for a play date?? Please help me avoid doing laundry and cleaning my house!! xoxo

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Home Sweet Home

I'm enjoying a few hours alone at home. Loving it. I feel like I've been running all week. Crazy. I really just want to be home, but unfortunately I will be running off again soon. My life is not my own, but I guess I wouldn't change a thing :)

Natalie is gearing up for a USPC Quiz Rally next Saturday. So that means that I am gearing up too ;) We have been getting together to study weekly since the end of December. Really shoots the weekends, but hopefully it will pay off. At quiz rally, Natalie and her teammates will be quizzed ALL day on their horse management knowledge. There are several different sections to the day... they rotate through different phases such as classroom, barn, mega-room, stations, and a written test. Since Natalie has her C1 rating, the questions are really tough!! We did a mock rally yesterday... they were tested on their knowledge of lamenesses, parasites, types of horse shoes, bits, equipment... you name it. Natalie and two of her teammates are hoping to qualify for Western Championships in August. They have worked hard so I hope they do well.

Had some fun with friends this week... errands and coffee with Shauna on Thursday, lunch with Kimberly on Friday, dinner with Robanne on Friday, and more fun with Shauna last night (another errand and then a stop at Diane's house!). I am so grateful for my friends. They mean the world to me.

After our last quiz study session this afternoon, we will head to Wilsonville to celebrate Ethan's birthday. Nat and Jim are at the barn right now. Jim is such a good horsey dad :) I love when he takes the weekend shift at the barn :) It is a much-needed break for me.

Have had a great time with Facebook this week!! A bunch of my college friends found me! It has been so great to reconnect with them.

Hope you all have a fabulous week!! 

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Long Time, No Blog

I've been a bad, bad blogger. Blame it on Facebook, and a busy weekend. Sorry.

Friday was pony club at DevonWood. Janice taught and the girls did jumper rounds. Lots of fun.

Saturday, I woke up and made heart-shaped pancakes for Jim and Nat. Nat had a clinic at the barn in the morning, then we hauled to DevonWood to school for Sunday's show. That night, we met my family at Chevy's to celebrate my dad's birthday.

Sunday, Nat had the show at DevonWood. It was a little jumping/dressage equitation show. It was kind of a test-run show, very small. I hope they continue to do them. Nat's first two rounds were great. The last one was pretty rough. Felt so bad for her. Memo is a tough ride, but I know she loves her. It will just take more time and I know they will figure things out for good.

Monday, we had a non-horse day!! Woo hoo! We slept in REALLY late! Heaven! We went out for lunch, and then saw Coraline in 3D. Really a unique, creative movie. I thought it was pretty cool.

Today it is back to the grind. I'm spending quality time at the VW dealership. My car is getting its 100K service. Hard to believe I have that many miles on it... I guess that is what happens when you live in your car ;)

Please continue to keep Shauna in your prayers. Check out her blog for the latest on her fight.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

February Birthday Shout-Outs!

Happiest of birthdays to my Dad, Darcie, Drew and Ethan! They are all February babies :)

Today is my dad's birthday. We will probably all get together on Monday to celebrate. Love ya, Dad!

Tonight I'm celebrating with Darcie at the Cheesecake Factory. Cheers, Darcie!

Sent a care package out to Drew in Colorado for the 27th! Happy 21, Drew!!! Woo hoo!!

Ethan's birthday is the 23rd. Hope your day rocks, little man!!

Sorry so short and sweet!! Love to you all!! xoxo

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Sunday Update

So I've added some tags at the bottom of the page so you can now easily find my blog posts that have recipes, menu ideas, or simply related to food. If only I would have been smart enough to add these as I went along. Oh well, live and learn.

Sadly, I did not sign up for the CSA (community supported agriculture) for the upcoming year. Too hard to give up such a chunk of change this time of year. Their price went up too :( I will miss it, but have decided to make the effort and stop at the farm stores on the way to/from the barn or get to the Farmer's Market to get my produce this summer. We are so blessed to have such access to incredible home-grown fruits and veggies. I *heart* Oregon :)

Jim and Nat are at the barn. Memo will get a good ride, then Nat will work at the barn. We will tag-team and I will pick up Nat at the barn and take her to Pony Club quiz study at 2:00. Then it is back to the barn to finish up chores.

Nat is off to a great start in school for the new semester. She LOVES her new math teacher, and is enjoying her new electives of Book Arts and Ceramics 2. They are currently doing forecasting for next year's classes and she found out that that she has made it into Advanced Vocal Ensemble! Way to go, Nat! She also got her report card and received straight A's with the exception of a B in Theatre 2. The theatre teacher usually only gives A's to those who are in the school plays. Oh well. We were really excited that she got an A in Music Theory!! That was one tough class and she worked so hard!!

Rumor has it that they are doing a JUMPING schooling show at DevonWood next weekend!! DevonWood is a really fancy dressage place so it will be great if we get to jump there! There was a schooling show on Saturday that some of Nat's friends participated in. She went up there as a volunteer, running test score sheets from the judge/scribe to the office. Quite a few of the CMPC girls volunteered... we are always so appreciative to DevonWood for letting us hold our mounted meetings and Rally at their facility. They rock!!

I have begun a new project: Extreme Home Makeover, Bathroom Edition. I'm redecorating both the master and Nat's bathrooms. Painting will have to wait until it is warmer, but I made some really good progress yesterday. Found some great art on Etsy!! Some horse art for Nat, and some nature art for ours. I'm going for a spa feeling in our bath. Peaceful and serene.

Guess I better get back to laundry mania. So much to get caught up on around here after being sick!!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Thursday Thoughts

How on earth is it February already?? Not sure what happened to make this past week go so fast.

Nat gets to ride Memo today for the first time in a week. Hope that goes well. Her foot still hurts but it is much better.

I've been fighting off a nasty bug... headache, earache, sore throat, swollen glands, coughing. Pretty sure I had a fever. Ick. No fun. Hopefully I'm near the end of it now.

Looking forward to having coffee with Robanne tomorrow. Congrats to her daughter, Hayley, who just passed her driver's test!! How'd she get to be 16 and driving???

Congrats to my cousin Michelle and her husband Alan... they welcomed a baby girl to the world. Can't wait to meet you, sweet Erica Kay :)

My highly-motivated daughter has decided that she wants to go to Auburn University... the only college out there with a PhD in marine biology AND an NCAA equestrian team. Evidently, they offer a Presidential scholarship that covers all of her expenses. All she needs is above 3.75 GPA and a 33-36 on the ACT or 1440-1600 on the SAT. No prob. If anyone can do it, it's my Nat :)

Okay, enough random thoughts for today. I need another cup of tea. xoxo