Last month my friend, Tim, invited me and Madelyn to go horseback riding at his place. He is a competitive team roper in his spare time and always has an extra horse or two to spare. I warned him that it had been years since I had been on a horse and Madelyn only had been on a horse twice in her life so we needed gentle, nearly dead horses to ride. Each of the horses are used for team roping but are gentle giants when not competing. Interestingly the horses that Madelyn and I were on were not fans of the horse Tim was riding and anytime my horse got near Tim's he would start jumping around and acting like a fool. So Tim thought it would be best if we traded. Talk about change, the "new" horse would barely walk without being kicked let alone walk. I was surprised he was the main horse Tim rode for team roping, apparently he knows the difference between work and pleasure. Reminds me of our old horse Byrd. She knew when my dad was on her it was time to work when DeAnn or I were riding her it was time for play.

 Meeting "Heavy Duty." He is definitely a gentle giant.

Tim adjusting her stirrups

 The view from my horse

Saying good bye.

 

 

We enjoyed our evening of riding horses. Madelyn LOVED it and was ready to get out of the arena and go to the pasture for riding. But I wasn't quite ready to let her have that much space to roam when she is just learning the "ropes" of riding. She continues to ask when she gets to ride Heavy Duty again and maybe in the spring we will schedule another ride.

She's Gone Mad

This year for Halloween Madelyn decided she wanted to be a Mad Scientist. Quite frankly I think that was a very fitting choice. Her entire costume was borrowed which made the choice even more ideal.

I helped out at her classroom party and did my job by embarrassing her when I busted out the moves when the Thriller song was played. She won't soon forget that class party.

Ryan and I took her treat or treating with our friends, the Slussers, and hit the usual hot spots and then went door to door. She had enough after a couple hours and then handed out her candy to other trick or treaters. She isn't a big candy eater so my co-workers will likely get the left overs.

 Maddy (ugh that name makes me cringe, but some of her classmates call her by that name),the Mad Scientist.

 The school parade

Her 4th grade class

Madelyn and one of her best friends.

How many grapes can she stick in her mouth?



The Pazzies always hook her up.

 



Pumpkin Patch 2012

Aubrey at almost 5 feet tall

Madelyn a little closer to 5 feet tall

naughty girls

Jump! Jump!

Just  a swinging

This is my fav pic of the entire day.

"Jimmy Cracked Corn" This was only funny to me and my sister.

 

 

A couple weeks ago Madelyn and I went to Walter's Pumpkin Patch with my parents and my sis and her fam. It was a windy, but beautiful October day. There is so much to do at Walters and picking out the pumpkin seems to be Madelyn's least fav part.Thankful for the fun memories made with my family.