Cressey's 1st Pony Camp & Show

Since she could talk, Cressey has wanted to go to pony camp with her sissy. She's taken three lessons over the last few months, whenever we could get her a lesson (we are on the waiting list for a regular spot). While she gets braver and faster and went further each time, all she's done so far is ride around the ring. 

She joined Helen Grace at pony camp this year AT LONG LAST, and man, she was ready an hour early EVERY DAY. Despite the extremely high temps, she came home each day super super excited about getting to ride her horse and running through the sprinklers in the ring at the end of the day. As the show approached on Thursday, I was worried she'd be too nervous to perform, but she was super duper excited to show us what she'd learned. 

On the morning of the show, HG was supposed to ride at 10:30 and Cressey at 11:00, and as soon as we got to the barn, they all abandoned me and had much more fun with their barn friends and horsies. As the morning progressed, the outside ring where HG's show was got a little behind schedule, and wouldn't you know that HG started riding at the exact same time Cressey's group started?! When the girls in Cressey's group started riding, her nerves appeared, and she got very quiet and nervous. She was third in her group, and the wait was tough. Spiffer, Granddaddy, and I were on constant rotation trying to cheer for HG and comfort/encourage Cressey. Finally, HG's turn was over, so I was able to run in and pump up Cressey. By the time she got on her horse and headed for the ring, she was calm and at least somewhat put together. And do you know that girl (after three days of lessons at pony camp) could get in a two point stance, trot at a good pace, and even navigated through an 'obstacle course' (won 1st for that!). She was SO SO proud of herself afterward, as were we! Both girls won 1st and 4th, and HG got an extra 3rd place. I think Cressey officially has pony fever!

No looking back on Day 1 (Cressey had an old friend that she hadn't seen in a loooong time that was at camp with her, but they were in separate groups. When I left her that morning, Cressey was sitting quietly on a quilt with her group- all new friends and counselors- and while she was quiet, she easily said goodbye.) Meanwhile, HG is like 'please, Mama, don't make me take a pic.'

Day 2

Day 3- they both got really into the accessories that morning and wanted belts, etc. Luckily, I had just gone to the tack shop to get some cute clothes for the show on Thursday.

Day 4- show day!!

HG at her first show in 2015, Cressey in 2021

OHH, the joy!!

Last Day of School

Cressey's last day in uniform for JK was Tuesday, May 25, and her silly mama forgot to take her door pic until after school, hence the straggly hair and bare feet! She will be joining the ranks of the lower school next year in kindergarten and will finally get to be dropped off at 'the big girls' door.'

Helen Grace's last day of 6th grade was Thursday, May 27, and she wanted to go to every last minute of school to be with her friends (and they had a lot of fun on those last days). She got a little teary eyed when I picked her up that last afternoon. She's super excited about middle school and BOYS, but I think we will all miss the lower school teachers, classrooms, togetherness of friends, etc, of lower school! It's definitely the end of an era for her.

Each girl has grown 4 inches since their last birthday!!

We had lunch with the Smiths and Bennett that Thursday.

And we had a funeral for HG's saddle oxfords. They literally tore apart at the seams several weeks ago, but I refused to buy her new ones that close to the end of the school year. We were all happy to see those nasty things go in the trash at last!

HG's Big 'Tiny' Birthday Getaway

For HG's birthday, she wanted to get out of town and go on a little getaway with fresh air and sunshine. So we hopped on AirB&B, found a cool 'tiny house' to rent outside of Chattanooga (Tracy City, TN), and invited her buddies for a weekend road trip. We went into Chattanooga one day and explored Rock City and Coolidge Park (and had dinner with Mere Mere), and before we came home, we trekked to Foster Falls. The girls spent a lot of time hanging out in the hot tub, doing face masks, playing with balloons, or just singing loudly and hanging out. We ALL had a great time and loved celebrating Helen Grace!

We stopped at every Sonic we passed between here and there. 

The big girls shared the king bed upstairs in the loft, and Cress was PUMPED about having the top bunk of the bunk beds right outside my room. She finally learned how to back up and over the ladder and get down all on her own.

The outside space was wonderful, and the weather cooperated and was so nice.

Even a spot for Bunny Monkey

 

Checkers while we waited on dinner Saturday night

Nothing Bundt Cakes for the win

These experienced big sisters were so sweet to play with and include Cressey.

Waiting for our time at Rock City

Coolidge Park

Walnut Street Bridge

ANNNND she's done...

Hair chalking

Foster Falls: I thought that Google told me that this hike was something short like .3 miles on a concrete path and had room at the bottom of the falls to splash and play in the water. So before we hit the road on Monday morning, I thought that would be the perfect amount of hiking to do in normal clothes/shoes and in plenty of time before we started our drive home. I told the girls to just wear their waterproof shoes/ sandals and regular clothes (not swimsuits). Maddie was the only smart one who wore tennis shoes. Wellll....we soon realized that I must not have read the whole review on Google and that I must have just seen the distance and description from the car to the viewpoint of the tip top of the falls (see below). Come to find out that the trail from there to the bottom of the falls was a STEEP and rocky .5 mile hike down and then .5 mile back up. Cress thought it was an AWESOME adventure on the way down and did great. We all loved the swinging bridge we had to cross to get to the falls, and it was a fun experience to wade in the water....and then Cress tumped over and fell in the water. You would have thought her arm got cut off. She wailed and wailed. I was so mad I didn't plan for that and bring another outfit or swimsuit. She was so mad and OVER it, but we had to get back UP the mountain! Whew, it was not a fun trip back to the car! But we all made it, and it was the big girl's favorite part of the whole trip. So fun to explore, see new things, and get some fresh air and sunshine!

Starting our descent

From the bridge, looking back up at the trail we just came down

From the bridge, looking down toward the falls

Before things went south

HG tried her best to calm her down