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: