Jonathan the Great

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Today Sara, Jon James and Kristy decided to go out and ride the horses. Jon wanted to get on Bandit to see if he would try to buck him off as he has done with a couple of other people who have tried to ride him. But Bandit didn't. Kristy and Sara were extremely impressed with Jon and his natural aptitude with the horses. He went out there with us and was perfectly willing to hop on Bandit bareback with just a halter and leadrope and then to also trot even though he hasn't ridden in many years. His posture and balance were great, his hands were relaxed and quiet and the horses seemed genuinely comfortable with him. They even let him smoke a pipe and tie a scarf around his head while he was riding. It's seems like we should write more about how great Jon did because we really are so very impressed.

Jon and Srgt. Pepper

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Jon got on Srgt. Pepper and again did excellently. Pepper tried to buck a couple of times but I guess it's hard to buck off someone that weighs almost as much as you do. Pepper didn't actually seem to struggle at all with having Jon on his back.

He's such a good little pony. So cute and fluffly and adorable especially when he trots and his hair bounces up and down.

The TV Dance Mat... ROCKS! (Watch these with sound if at all possible)

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Sierra got a great gift from Phil and Kim for Christmas. It is a TV dance mat. The problem is that she hardly gets a chance to play with it since all of us adults realized how much fun it is. Sara, John and Kristy spent about 2.5hrs playing with it last night. Tonight Jon James joined us as we played some more. The more difficult songs and levels are actually pretty good exercise as they really get you jumping around. So far everyone has considered it to look pretty dumb but then we convince them to try it. They start with a few frustrating attempts but even as they are considering quiting their competitive side of them kicks in for 'one more try' and they can't stop.

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Notice how much Jon has improved after only a couple of attempts. Also notice the difference in style. Some are a little more exuberant and interesting to watch than others.

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Finally we allow the children to join in. It's a fairly competitive sport so when one person is dancing often the rest of us would get up and practice which creates a funny sight.

Dancing John

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John has been our most enthusiastic and successful dancer to date. He danced his way to over 100 000 points to the song "Burn". He believes his sound effects were the key to his fame.

Sierra's 1st Day of School!!!!!

How exciting, the night before her 1st day of school. She had a shower! And then got her clothes ready, hung out with E.D.B.D who sensed the excitement I think and talked on the phone to her daddy who was still out building bins!! She also recorded a message for him, which I don't know how to put on here...anyone wanna help with that? It was a fun night, very exciting and heart wrenching in its 'cuteness'. Enjoy!!

The morning of. Little girl, big packpack and an even bigger smile. It was a great day!

On the drive to school we stopped at.....

Tim Horton's, big surprise eh? It was very nice, she had a bagel, I had a croissant and we both drank nice hot drinks. Good way to start a first day of school don't you think. Especially as it proves I was in good time that morning!









And beside us in line you'll Amanda and her littlest! 1st day of Kindergarten for at least one of them. 

Waiting in line outside school, which they do each day, rain, shine, snow until its time to go in!
(they can play on the playground until the bell rings).
Her cubby, she knows her name now very well and is very diligent at getting all her stuff put away properly on her own...one thing they stressed was very helpful if the kids would do it...no parents haning around helping their kids!!

Receiving her name tag from her teacher. Mrs. H. Great teacher and even better assistant!












The first center she chose was computer, which I thought a bit odd as she doesn't ever really play with it at home. Maybe she thought this was her chance to get in their before I took it over! 

A few of the centers she went to on the first day. Art, house, playdough! The girl beside her was very shy. I told Sierra to ask her to play house with her, so Sierra went over and politely asked her if she'd like to go with her to the house center, the girl looked up and said "no" and went back to working with the dough. Sierra just kind of looked at me and gave a little smile, I was about to say don't worry about it but the other girls mom stepped in and helped her daughter to try making a friend, I think it worked, they hung out a fair bit for the rest of the time there. 

Blocks!

Train Table with her first guy friend at kindergarten. She had first stated when I asked if she was going to play with any of the boys, that yes she would play beside them, but not talk to them. Now I think she's come out of her girl only shell and plays well with both genders.








Circle time, playing some singing game (maybe head and shoulders?), her teacher has many of them (songs, not shoulders) and I think it really keeps the kids interested and on track.










Sierra is standing beside the centers chart where she gets to go and put her name in an open space which says where she is going to be playing. I was so amazed that by the second day she could do it by herself, she just noted the picture and hung up her name and headed over to it. So great! 

The playground, Sierra had great fun and took part in each area of this playground, even in a dress! I love that she loves being girly and still can play for hours outside or in the barn, catching rabbits, riding horses, chasing kittens. She's well balanced!


Break down :) I love taking pictures of Ocean crying, she is so good at it! Not in a bad way really, just too sad to be sad, instead its cute. O.k. I'm messed up. But her mom is very patient with her which will serve her well in the future. 

Coming back in from Recess.
You can see that Sierra is not in class with Ocean or Mikayla, but that seems to be working very well, they still see eachother for recess and some classes, but Sierra has made great friends in her own class and I am so proud of her. In fact the girl she is closest with is one I noticed on the first day and liked because of her personality and how she interacted with her parents! Very cool.

Lunch time (even though their 1st day was a half day, the 2nd Wednesday of every month is...I took some time with them to let them have their first school lunch out by the school field.)









Ocean, Mikayla and Sierra at the close of their first day of kindergarten.

Oh E.D. What do you get yourself into?!!?

Well I can tell you what he gets himself into. A mega blocks container. He jammed it on his head and could not get it off. I had to save him :) What a great mom I am. Anyhow, here are a few pics of that, and the last one is of him and his cousin Sean.
 

Emma riding!! All by herself :)

Emma seriously rode all by herself, out in our small field (I wasn't comletely crazy, I kept them semi contained!)
Then she got stuck in the barn...Srgt Pepper's favorite muddy spot.

Afterwards, she got out again!! yeah Emma, well done!
And she was also very willing to take her turn leading others around. Here Sierra and Emma help lead little E.D.B.D. *Ethan* around. What great fun they all had.

Sierra and Emma...Summer time

Sierra and Emma leading Srgt. Pepper. At first Emma didn't want to be left alone with the pony or other animals at all...but she grew nicely into being a horse girl herself!

Sierra and Emma on the swings...remeber them Emma?






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The three muskateers? not quite, but cute nonetheless!











And grooming, an important part of the horse riding process...they would do this for a long time, braiding his hair and keeping him all dolled up. I think Srgt Pepper liked the attention. 

Uncle Jon and Ethan sharing some quality time!

John with his groupies. The baby is not ours, it is John's cousin Jim and wife Amy who brought this little one to our home for a bit, they also have another daughter...have to see if we have any pictures of her, she and Ethan had a bit of a love hate relationship...very cute!