Braelyn's Christmas Program

Brrr it was cold this morning on the walk. We still learned a lot though. Diane told us she took a shower yesterday at Walmart. When we were all trying to figure that one out she explained she was taking her cart through an aisle trying to go around this post right in the middle of the aisle when her cart hit the corner and a can of Mountain Dew fell off the shelf and hit her cart exploding open showering her and everything in her cart. There was no one around to help and the only thing she had in her cart that might help was toilet paper. She quickly opened that up and started wiping the yellow soda off her clothes, her cart, her supplies but gave up when it came to the floor. She found a lady walking around and that lady 'said' she would call for help but didn't.  When Diane got to the check out she had quite a time explaining why the toilet paper was open and obviously stained yellow and there would need to be a clean up in aisle 7. It didn't help when she said, "I needed something in a hurry!" by this time we are all laughing so hard we could have used some of that 'paper.'
Rhoda arrived this morning with Christmas Gifts. The dogs were pretty sure the gifts were for them.

Emma takes hers right into our bedroom and tries to hide it by Mark's side of the bed then comes over to Darcy and tries to get Darcy distracted to steal hers. Such a funny dog.
Rhoda and Emily were planning on working Evan and Oksana this morning but first the mud needed to be hosed off of the tails. I was pleased to be able to show Rhoda how well the hot water works on mud clumps. She got Evan done first then took him out to warm up

 while Emily and Timothy tacked up Oksana. Below Timothy is hurling the saddle pad up on Oksana.

We are pretty thrilled she acceps what ever is thrown at her. Today was the first time she would be asked to ride double. When Timothy first got on Oksana was not happy and thought about bucking. She is so much like her mother, Eliza did the same thing a couple weeks ago for Karin. Emily decided to work her a bit first then try again.

While she was warming Oksana up Rhoda was asking Evan for a few tricks.

 Below she was only asking for the bow when Evan got the cues wrong and laid down.

Of course that meant she had to ask for the bow again and not let that happen the next time.

By this time Oksana was fine, Timothy climbed up with Emily and off they rode on the trails.

I had to quick go in and change as Anna was due to pick me up for Braelyn's Christmas program. Both grandmas got to come as Gertie now lives so close. This is a HUGE class of little kids.

Braelyn was determined to do well and had a lot of fun while performing. Below is a short 2 minute video of a couple of their songs.

After the program we were all invited to the cafeteria for cookies and punch. Braelyn's teacher gave her a book as a present.

All three girls enjoyed the afternoon. We made it home by 2:15 pm. My next appointment was at 2:30 pm and had already arrived. She waited while I changed out of my public clothes back into barn clothes then we grabbed a halter and lead rope and drove to Middle Grove to check on the horses. Something had gotten tangled up in the electric fence around the round bales and broke the little white temporary fence posts leaving the hay unprotected. A few of the bales had been nibbled on but it is pretty obvious the horses are enjoying the green grass still available this 18th day of December. We had a pretty good hike to where the herd was. I was pleased to see them all together. The colts were back with the herd, Prissy was back to caring for her colt, Sheena had re-claimed her colt but I didn't see that Sangria was back with her's. Walter spent most of his time hanging around the other colts. He always was independent so it may be he spends time with her at night. At least none of them were nursing. The 2 foals still to be weaned are Ella's colt and Hadassah's filly. Both of them were very curious and came right up to us. All 5 of the foals were crowding around us for attention which was nice to see. Ella's colt is adorable. I will need to get updated pictures and a video of him when he is brought in for weaning.  Mark had a late estimate tonight getting home about 6:30 pm for supper.