Lily's First Riding Show

The build up to this weeks riding show/competition has been like nothing I have ever known. Riding every single day, fittings for costumes, signing away my life and my kids life and not to mention the cash...egads. Lily has been counting down the days and I have to say we were right there with her and the excitement was palpable. Each day at her lessons Frenchie would tell us a little more about what to expect on the big day and last night we found out that she was going to be led around the ring. This was a huge disappointment to Lily and to me as well actually as Lily hasn't been led on a horse since she started taking lessons but the rules of the competition are such, so what could we do. Last nights lesson was at the Equestrian Centre and she rode in the ring. She rode so well and loved every second of it. It really took my breathe away to see my little girl sitting on a huge horse and riding centre stage (even though she was being led).

Lily was up bright and early this morning, 5.45 to be exact but I managed to get her back to sleep for another hour, thank heavens. We left the house at 11.30 and arrived just before noon at the Equestrian Centre. We talked with her instructor and then had some lunch. Our main goal at this point was to stop Lily from jumping out of her own skin and also from getting dirty! We met with our friend Chicken Feet and walked around the stalls and finally Frenchie called us and told us it was time.

She was given a number for her jacket which I pinned on for her whilst she talked to her horse and then she mounted and rode into the waiting arena and they practiced for a few minutes. We all stood by the rails and when I heard the announcer welcome group 136 into the ring I think I stopped breathing. Lily and her lead entered first and a very proud Lily led the group. She did everything so well but lost her stirrup a couple of times. As the announcer asked them to do things she did everything and before I knew it she was finishing up. Her group was quite large and they gathered in front of the judges to hear their scores and in my head I was just begging for her to place as that is what she wanted more than anything. The judge started talking and then said that they were the most important group of the day and that they had all one first place. Very sweet.

I thought it was a kind gesture but I also knew that Lily would be ticked off. I couldn't see her face as they handed her her trophy because the sun was directly behind her but as soon as they left the arena and we made our way over to her. Jacob and I exchanged glances because we knew only too well how she would feel. Right or wrong, Lily is competitive and she had worked so hard for this and to be given a "freebie" wasn't going to go over well with her. When we got to her one of the judges was crowding her and a few other people were talking to her and she was smiling and chatting but we could tell. It was her fake smile. She posed for photos and we took some also. We congratulated her, chatted with the judge, her instructor and lead and each other. After what seemed like forever she was able to dismount. When she knew only I could hear she said, "we all got 1st place". I told her what the judge had said to us but it was going to pacify her as far as she was concerned it didn't matter, she got the same as everyone else and it wasn't a real competition. She wasn't being bratty but she was disappointed.

On the way home we talked and she said she loved being in the ring, she loved the show she just didn't love the way it was judged. I asked her if she wanted to quit ( what can I say, I am forever hopeful!) and she said, "of course not, I love riding". She said she wants to ride in a real show where she can ride alone and earn her own trophy by proving her skills herself. Damn, this kid is competitive.

I have always thought band kids were nerdy but I wonder if she would like to play in the band instead!

As for Miss Rosie Posie, she held her own. She ran about all over the place. She petted the horses and the second Lily entered the arena she fell fast asleep and woke up the second we reached the car!

All dressed up and waiting to go!

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The person behind the horse who you can barely see is her instructor, the girl in the front is her lead, Natalie. We only met her this morning and she was so lovely.

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Checking her stirrups and girth are correct

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Daddy took the day off for the big event. He wouldn't have missed it for anything

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Waiting her turn

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Still waiting

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Pep talk

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The moment she has been waiting for

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Riding over the sounding board. I loved this bit

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Waiting for the judges

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She just got her prize albeit a booby prize in her eyes

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The trophy (she is still very proud of it and gets that she earnt it)

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We are proud, even if she isn't!

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My favourite photo of the day. Lily thanking her horse for her performance.

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Lily and her Goo Goo, our Chicken Feet, who presented her with a single Rose at the end of her performance and took all the phtos of us together. We love her.

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You Can't Change Stupid

This is a conversation that I just had in my local supermarket with the lady at the bakery department.

Her: Are those your grandchildren?
Me: No, these are my children.
Her: Oh my God.

Not sure what she meant by, Oh my God but the girlies said it all the way home.
Just for the record, it isn't the first time I have got the grandma comment but it is the first time it was followed by the OMG comment.
Silly old hag! May the fleas of 100 camels descend on her body.

Meet Gappy

Last night I put Lily to bed and I wearily walked downstairs and headed straight for the couch and flopped down on to it utterly thankful that the day was over. This is not like me at all but I was spent. 100% spent. I had even phoned Jacob at work earlier and asked him if he thought I was getting sick as I was exhausted and couldn't wait for the kidlets to go to bed and it was only 3pm. He laughed and said, welcome to the real world.

I had been been horizontal for about 8 minutes when I heard Lily heading downstairs. She seemed to have alot of pep in her step so I greeted her with what I hoped was enthusiasm and not grouchiasm and she was grinning from ear to ear. "Mummy, Mummy, look my tooth fell out. I was wiggling it and it just fell out."

Her little mouth was all covered in blood but but she was oblivious and I was not about to point it out. Lily is one brave soul but when it comes to blood she goes from calm to freakse-ville in seconds. We did the happy dance and called her daddy to tell him and then she wrote the tooth fairy a note begging her not to keep her tooth because she has a little silver box that her Nannis gave her to keep her first tooth in forever! Finally we climbed the stairs and placed her tooth, oh so carefully, under her pillow and she was ginning her gappy smile and saying that she had to fall asleep as fast as she could so that the tooth fairy could come. We chatted about what the tooth fairy looked like and a myriad of other things before she finally laid her little head down and I crawled back downstairs and hit the couch again. I realised that I had to muster up the energy once again to gather a few dollars, an envelope and a pen to write her a note and take care of business. Once that was done I followed her lead and went to bed. I too was asleep shortly after 10.pm. Unheard of! We we awoken this morning by shrieks of, " I've got money".
It truly is the sweetest thing. And yes I am back to my usual energy filled self. Not sure what happened yesterday but I hope it doesn't happen again any time soon.

Mummy look, my tooth fell out.

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Little itty bitty tooth

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The gap with the big tooth already in it's place

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Snip, Snip, Snip

In case you haven't noticed, Rosie's hair is a complete mess all of the time. We are lucky because she will keep a clip in it, or pretty as she calls it. It is all one length and very very fine. Nannis tried to cut it when we went home but she only managed half of it as Rosie wasn't at all impressed with the idea and was fidgeting around all over the place.

We decided yesterday to take her for a haircut since Lily also needed one and we thought that might make things easier on Rosie since she loves to copy everything Lily does. We popped her in the chair and she sat very calmly the whole time watching an El*mo movie.

Looking a tad unsure.

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Settling in to watch El*mo

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Squidgy face.

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Blowdryer time.

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Ta-Dah

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Lily watching Madagascar

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Daddy went next, at a different location but his piccies were dreadfully unflattering so I will spare him.

I started this post on Monday but couldn't get to the camera wires since I have a huge piece of furniture in front of my desk begging to be finished....will I ever get this project done???