Seaside stroll

The boys and I visited my parents over the weekend.

After a red-eye flight, we drove up to Ogunquit and climbed around the slippery and jagged rocky beaches while we were still half asleep.

Probably not the best of plans, but it was really fun!

All Saddled Up

The girls went horseback riding today. Keira and Katharine each had a half hour private lesson, and Kassidy went on a pony ride, led by me.
There is a place very close to our house called Story Book Ranch. The girls were super excited, and had a great time!

Her they are, ready to see meet the horses:


The ponies had to foals, one of them came right over to us. Keira, who is usually afraid of almost everything, went right for it.


Before they got to get on the horse, they got to brush Jethro down to make sure no dirt would be on him to cause saddle burns, and to familiarize themselves with the horse. Again, Keira knew no fear.


Katharine went first, after the teacher explained to her how the horse get saddled and how the bridle gets put on.


After a short explanation on how to sit correctly, how to hold the feet in the stirrups, and how to steer the horse, make it go, and stop, off she went.


Katharine learned how to make the horse trot today, too. And she did I it.


Here is Kassidy on the pony. She held on tight. I made sure to go slowly. Leading a pony was nothing new to me.


Next up, Keira:


The teacher had to get body stirrups for her, as her legs were still not long enough to reach the saddle stirrups when shortened all the way.


Keira, too, had to do everything by herself. Watching my girl, who is usually so full of fear out there on that horse without fear, brought tears to my eyes. It was the exact same feeling I have watching Katharine dance. I am so proud of her. She seemed to have found a happy place! She too, trotted, but with a little help from the teacher, as her legs weren't strong enough to squeeze Jethro's sides.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

More Hagerman Wildlife Refuge

Here are the remaining pictures that Iria took on my camera.

Quite a cool place!

Monkey on a Stick

Witness the strange and wonderful world of Lennon.

Hagerman Wildlife Refuge

The kids and I have found a new favorite place in the DFW area: Hagerman Wildlife Refuge. 

We took two trips there in the last couple of days, and I am sure many more are to come.

Katharine is studying geology, biomes and the weather, so we are trying to go to as many places outdoor to experience the world around us and to understand it better.

This is a picture from our drive through the refuge last week, after we took a hike. 

The kids loved seeing great blue herons, little blue herons, cormorants, cattle herons, snowy egrets, a field of American lotus and much more! 

What a cool place!

The refuge is at the southeastern end of Lake Texoma. The town of Hagerman was located there until 1943, when the government decided to build Lake Texoma. All that's left of the town is the church ( not the original building) and the cemetery. The refuge covers more that 11,000 acres, and is the Winter home of up to 30,000 geese, as well as bald eagles, merlins, osprey eagles and more.

As we were leaving the refuge, we saw two bucks and two does, the highlight of our day.

These are pictures I had on my phone, there are more on Erik's Canon camera. Today we took the tram ride, watched a movie about hummingbirds, and got a group picture with the refuge's mascot.

Corner Kick

Corner kicks- street ball style.

Credit Lukas with the flag art.

Corner kicks- spectator style.

Lukas can barely watch as FC Dallas takes a corner during a late rally.