Belle and her Pony, Benjamin

What else can we find to do while Dad is away?

Riding lessons, of course.  Belle started her riding lessons this week.  The teacher is impressed with her balance and feels that she will only need a few one on one lessons with her.  She moved to jumping at the end of the lesson.  

Belle leading her pony, Benjamin, to the barn.

Belle atop Benjamin.

Dans first question was:  "Do I have to look into buying a farm?"  My comment:  "No, just a pony for the yard!"  We will see if this becomes addictive.  Most horse people will tell you  YES!

Dan away from Home

As most of you know, Dan is in America this week working at Caterpillar.  He is enjoying good food and good company.  We are quite jealous as we decided not to go with him this first time.  I should say, I mean first and last time, as we have decided we don't like seeing him on Skype in our home with the rest of the family.  Next time the kids and I will plan on joining him on a trip home to work.   New things happening:  Belle has been riding her big girls bike every night. Dan purchased this bike before we left for England and she is just now big enough to touch with her tippy toes on each side.  As with any new accomplishment,  she wants to ride all the time!  Her school celebrated Mayfayre this past weekend.  They have a large parade of kids dressed in all sorts of costumes who follow the May Queen and her attendants to the school.  There is a Jumpy Castle and a large blow-up slide to play on and they sell cakes and sweets inside with face painting and a toy store.  The kids have great fun and look forward to this every year.  On Sunday we went to the cinema and saw "Ironman".  I thought it was great.  It was Caleb's second time to see it and he enjoyed just as much as the first time.  I love it when they get old enough to sit through a movie and not ask questions.  We are almost there with Belle.  That was our weekend in a nutshell.  

  

Belle as a Rabbit

Belle and Tianda following the float.

Belle on her big girls bike.

Belle and Tianda at the Crowning.

The weekend before Dan left was spent draining the pond and patching holes.