Violet's Big Day

So I am still catching up a bit from the summer. (And spring, I guess, because I still haven't posted any pictures from our trip to Hawaii in April. To be honest, I haven't even finished looking at them. Guess I'm saving them for a rainy day.) But I really wanted to post these great photos from one of Violet's big events this summer. I won't tell you exactly when her big day was because then you will know how slow I am with this blog (OK, it was in June), but let me just say the delay is only due to my disorganization and not a reflection of how proud we are of her. Which we really are.

Violet started taking therapeutic horseback-riding lessons this summer, and in June, she competed in her first horse show.

Here she is with Daddy, who is helping her get her number all set. Go #63:



Ready to ride, accompanied by her helpers for the day:



Riding past the judge:



Some of Violet's competition! Don't be fooled by that cute smile. Frida was a serious competitor:



Big brother Calvin, keeping cool and watching the show:



In the end, Violet placed fourth in the overall riding and second (!!) in pole bending. She must be a fast learner, because it was the first time she ever performed pole bending. (It was also the first time we ever heard the term pole bending, which is when a rider weaves in and out of a set of poles in a timed event. Yes, we are still very new to this equestrian world.)

We were all very proud, of course, especially Violet's big brother, who offered to carry around her ribbons and told everyone we encountered for the next few days about her big wins.

Here's the little rider, showing off her ribbons:

Calvin's Big Day

After a three-day power outage and a bout of pneumonia (poor Violet!), we are back in action around here. Check out these photos from Calvin's 6th birthday....

He started the day right with breakfast in bed, at his request. He made the very rational point that he has been involved in several breakfast-in-bed exchanges (i.e. for Mother's Day and Father's Day), but has never been in the role of beneficiary, so it was his due time. Smart kid.

So while everyone else was snoozing away, I got up a little early to try and surprise him, which was difficult to do. It was not a very elaborate breakfast (cereal, yogurt, blueberries, and chocolate milk--a special treat we agreed he could drink all day long on his birthday). But I had to work fast because he kept coming down the stairs to check on me, asking me what was taking so long with his breakfast in bed. So much for the surprise. But he seemed pleased, especially when he noticed the chocolate milk:



Digging in:



After breakfast, we started with Round 1 of present-opening (Round 2 and 3 followed later in the day). Here he is, posing with his loot:



Then it was party time, a little get-together with his friends (and some of ours) for cake and a magic show at Barry's Magic Shop.

Um, controlled chaos:



Boys admiring the tricks and trinkets in the magic shop:



The cake, which I am proud to say I made with some tips and a lot of moral support from a professional baker friend (thanks, Lauren!):



And cookies, which Noah and my mom stayed up late to help decorate. We had top hats and magic wands and the number 6 and some pretty intense white bunnies (thanks, Noah!):



Calvin and kids enjoying the show:



Barry at work:



Below, see a picture of Noah and Auntie Frankie as Barry's assistants. Yes, that is a pair of goofy glasses and a cap on Noah's head. And what is under the hat that was later revealed (but sadly not photographed--turns out keeping track of 15 boys in a magic shop keeps you too busy to fully document everything)? It was a mini plunger, like the kind you'd use on a really small toilet, I guess (??). Because what is a magic show without totally humiliating one of the parents?