Well, where did the last three weeks go?! You know how life gets crazy stirred up and you swear that a whole year has gone by, but really, when you look at the calendar to verify…just a lot was jam-packed into a few weeks?
Some of it fun, some of it not, for better or for worse…here’s what we’ve been up to…
We started our spring break off with buying a horse. Meet Selah!
She is a 15.3 hands mare (girl), 4 years old, and so far, is the sweetest thing! She’s the most affectionate horse Alexia has ridden. We are all over the moon, as this has been a long, patience-inducing process.
Ryan and Alexia flew down to Aiken, South Carolina, to meet with her trainer and look at horses to buy. It’s been a dream come true for our pony girl!
It has taken years for me to even be comfortable with getting this close to these massive animals…
I can see Alexia rolling her eyes at me now. She has little tolerance for my fear of being trampled by a horse. And she kindly reminds me that they can feel my anxiety. To which I kindly remind her that that only breeds my anxiety even more.
We currently are boarding her next door, where Alexia’s passion was developed since we moved to the eastern shore five years ago. However, we will be getting a fence put up on our property this summer, with the hopes that we will have our horses here. At this point, everyone seems comfortable with this idea except for me. 😳
It’s been time to say goodbye to Cash for quite some time. Since Alexia outgrew this pony this past year, as well as his happy place is primarily barrel racing instead of eventing. He’s been good to our girl {mostly}. But even his bucking bronco-ness served a purpose, teaching Alexia how to stay on a pony. There have been tears of frustration (mostly when we forced him to compete in dressage), and red ribbons pinned to his tail to warn other riders to stay back because he kicks out, but man did this horse make a hero out of Alexia when it came time to race around barrels! 🤣
Our next stop for spring break was Charlotte, North Carolina! Almost every spring, we invite ourselves to our dear friends’ house for good weather, good food, and LOTS of laughs. There are few homes where it feels like home and is so peaceful and relaxing and fun, and every meal is like a five-star restaurant meal has been effortlessly served. We love you Meisels!
We played some frisbee golf…
The kids got their fill of playing in the neighborhood…
And taking over the Meisel home for a long weekend…
Upon returning home, we had a day to regroup and Ryan and I got packed up for what has become an annual ski trip (without the kids) to Vail. Our last night before leaving, we took Ryan’s parents out to dinner as a thank you for watching our crew!
The next day we were on our way to Colorado. We met up with our friends at the Denver airport and drove three hours through the snow to Beaver Creek. We arrived around midnight and settled into our condo, which was a hookup by our friends. Uh-mazing.
We really had no business staying where we stayed, other than the Hurleys are connected and extremely generous with those connections!
We had ski in ski out accommodations, which is great, except for the fact that if you are a beginner skier, you will most likely die on the “ski in” icy slope that goes under a bridge and has two large stone walls on either side with which you can crash into.
Morning routine at the ski lockers.
Another year, another lesson…Billy and I are the beginners of the group and take lessons together to ensure we live to see another day on each ski trip…
Partners in crime last year, with our instructor, Tomas…
Another annual photo op…
Last year in Vail, we took a photo next to Albert Einstein…
When we got home from our ski trip, we hit the ground running and got a start on projects on our property. Ryan hired some help and planted an orchard of fruit trees.
We planted a variety of apple and pear, plum, cherry, fig and nectarine. The original property had an apple and pear orchard, but was in pretty bad shape. So we are now finally getting around to reviving what was once here! The orchard is in the true front of our house. We currently have a driveway to the back of the farmhouse, but intend to move the main driveway so that we enter the front of the house. One thing at a time over here…
Last, but not least, we added a few more chicks and two ducklings to the mix. The kids are leading the charge with raising them and taking care of them.
Among other news, today is Josiah’s first day of school away from home! We have the amazing opportunity for him to join all of his siblings and finish the year out all at the same school! It will be the one and only year they will all be together.
And our final not-so-fun event culminated yesterday, Ryan spent the afternoon at the ER with Naiya, and then had to take an ambulance to the hospital for Naiya to have appendectomy surgery. The surgery went as well as it could, they got home at 1am, and our patient slept in until 9:15! (She is my earliest riser, sets her alarm at 6 every morning to have time to herself, have a cup of tea and have her quiet time next to me on the sofa). So 9:15 is certainly sleeping in for Naiya!
Alright, that’s more than a spring break recap, but you get the gist of a year full of life jam packed into three weeks! 🤣 I’m off to pickup some of her requested grocery items!
Happy Monday!!! xoxo
Very exciting for sure .. you didn’t mention that you guys also celebrated (if not exactly as you would have planned) another year of amazing marriage and family life .. perhaps for another day!
Awww, yes you’re right. 18 years of marriage celebrated! 🥰