Slow and steady wins the Race!

Today Michaela participated in her first horse show!
Michaela has wanted to take horseback riding lessons for awhile...so we started her this summer in lessons.
Here she is leading her horse to be judged for showmanship. (I really know nothing about this...so just pretend I know what I'm talking about!) She took a very generous 2nd place in showmanship. (Two kids tied for first and two tied for 2nd).

Here she is riding "Maggie" with a western saddle. (They use both western and english saddles.) She won 1st place in the fast walk. The way it works is you can not let your horse trot and you can't let anyone pass you or you are out. (You are basically trying to pass everyone else while only walking.) Michaela controlled the horse in a nice walk, but she probably wasn't the fastest...just everyone else who tried to walk fast would begin to trot. Michaela was content to just go slow and steady and thus eventually took first place! At one point, a rider almost passed her, but the horse suddenly stopped to poop and Michaela kept her lead! It was pretty funny. She won the slow walk hands down. The object of that is to not pass any horses. The horses wanted to go fast and Michaela had no problem keeping her horse reigned in. The next time she takes forever to get going in the morning...I'll just think of how it paid off when she won the fast and slow walk! Slow and steady wins the race!

Here is Michaela riding bare back. This was the dollar race which she didn't win but it was so much fun to watch. All the riders are on their horses with a dollar bill under their leg. The person in the center gives different commands..."walk", "trot," "turn around", "lobe" and they have to do what they are commanded with out losing the dollar bill. The last one in gets all the dollars!

Michaela was very proud of her 5 ribbons. She received 2 first places (fast and slow walk), a 2nd place (showmanship), and 2 participations (fast trot and slow trot.) Great job Michaela!

"I'm all better!"

Steen woke up this morning and replied, "I'm all better!"

Yesterday he had surgery at Primary Children's to remove his nevus or as he calls it his "birth mark."
His "birthmark" has always really bothered him and so he was actually excited to have it removed. He started to get a little nervous after changing into his hospital pajamas and didn't want to wear them anymore. The nurse came and brought bubbles in for him to blow and suddenly he put his shirt back on and was ready to go. They drew an arrow on his face to show where they would excise the nevus...but it got a little smeared. (above picture) Steen did so good before and after.

Before surgery, they gave him some meds to sedate him so when they wheeled him away he wouldn't be anxious...the nurse had him so entertained as she wheeled him away by diverting his attention to all the paintings on the ceiling that I don't think he even noticed we were gone. In recovery he asked "where am I?" and "what room is this?" and "How did I get here?" but that was it. No crying! Way to go Steen!

Here is the after picture. He has stiches with a steri strip and he's good to go! The second steri strip is just holding the string from the stiches. It should heal up with just a fine line scar. We're SOOO glad it all went well. It gave me an appreciation for moms and dads who go through several surgeries and challenges with their kids...and what the kids have to go through! Thank goodness for amazing nurses and doctors!