Headed to Championships!!!!

Our Junior High Point Champion has decided to take it one step further and is now headed to the Championship Dressage Show in May!!!!! WOW!!!! Not bad for her 1st year showing???!!!! Marissa has worked so hard this year training in dressage and all that work has finally paid off big time! Apparently it's very similar to other sports in that you compete at these shows and then if you qualify you can compete in the championship show among other qualifiers! Well, Marissa had a minimum score to achieve and only had one more test to take when that day arrived! It was the 25th of October and we had a wedding to attend later in the day but altered our schedule so she could compete and possibly qualify for this wonderful opportunity, to compete at the championships (which for the 1st time in 5 years will be held in Medford). So, she headed out to the arena and began her test when all of sudden the bell rings and the judge says "she needs to start over, she's doing it wrong". Well, you can imagine we are confused as we know she is doing the right test and come to find out they are actually confused. No big deal she explains to them what she is doing, they get the right test out and tell her to begin again and they are sorry....so my concern is "great she will be very nervous now"....well not Marissa she is calm as can be. She begins again and does one of the best rides she has ever done....her instructor says "that was brilliant" words I have never heard her say....she then says "you are gonna make me cry, you couldn't have rode any better today" absolutely incredible!!!!! We are so very proud of her and her accomplishments in such a short amount of time, she is just a natural with horses and she is so patient and kind with them, she is truly gifted!!!!

It's Official Now!!!!

No more level 5 training 7 for Becca!!!!! The long awaited time came and went and Becca not only made it to level 7 she took 1st place not only on all around but all events but one and scored well above her minimum requirement!!!!! CRAZY GIRL!!!!

It was October 31st at her gym when she came out on the floor...her first event was vault, she did fabulous and scored a whopping 9.6!!!! HIGHEST EVER VAULT!!!! I guess you could say "Jeff fixed her vault issue" hee hee. She then went on to beam and scored a 9.3, then it was on to bars...keep in mind she just got her baby giant within the month prior to this meet and her flyaway only a week prior to the meet!!! She did a beautiful practice and we were so excited....we knew she could pull this off with a low score on bars so I wasn't too nervous really, and then the salute and she was going....she did great until right after the baby giant....she somehow got stuck???!!!! It was actually a bit comical really we just watched her teeter totter back and forth and then she pulled it off!!! She still scored an 8.25, and let me tell you we were content with that. The last event was our favorite...floor! She was standing there waiting for the salute and all her team mates (down to the Rising Stars....ages 4-5) were screaming "Go Becca" it was so surreal!!!! Then it's her time, she came out and just knocked it out of the park!!!! Her teammates crowded around her with hugs and waited with her in front of the scoreboard as one of her best friends presented it......9.45, that was the BEST meet ever, you couldn't ask for a better team....so supportive and sooooo sweet!!!!!! There you have it....36.55!!!!

I have always thought she was a talented gymnast but with the right coaches and team she has gone above and beyond my expectations!!!!

We're on our way to Arizona now!!!!!!

Outside my window...I am enjoying the wonderful fall colors of the leaves!!!!


I am thinking...of how little time I have to get prepared for the holidays!


I am thankful for...all the blessings God has bestowed on me!


From the learning room...it's pretty quiet, girls only did basics this morning as I was sick this weekend and today and have yet to prepare their lessons.


From the kitchen...I see a few dishes from the day and those large zucchini's I still need to chop up and shred for freezing!


I am wearing...purple lounge pants and a white long sleeve top


I am creating...my schedule for the week


I am going...to rest today in hopes of getting better so we can return to our normal life tomorrow.


I am reading...The girls history books to get caught up with what they are studying this week


I am hoping...my girls stay healthy and Rame and I get better soon along with everyone else that is sick these days!


I am hearing...the crackling from the fire and the girls talking.


Around the house...I see our wonderful fall decorations and a semi clean house thanks to my girls :)


One of my favorite things...relaxing with my family by a cozy fire.


A few plans for the upcoming week...

• Bec has an orthodontist appt tomorrow



• 4-H planning meeting Wed night with Marissa & Amelia



• Girls are spending the afternoon with Amelia to do some party planning and just have some fun



• Marissa has a horse show on Sunday



• Wedding on Sunday for Lori & Mike

A picture I thought I would share:

Marissa and Tez....Junior Champion!!!!!

Hosted by Peggy@ http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/************************


Outside my window...it is sunny and probably warmer outside than it is in my house, typical!


I am thinking...what a wonderful day this is going to be.

I am thankful for...my girls and I going to church this morning, makes for a lovely day!


From the learning room...it's pretty quiet considering it's Sunday, but I will be preparing lesson plans later this evening.

From the kitchen...I see the dishes from a fast breakfast this morning and large zucchini's I need to chop up and shred for freezing!

I am wearing...tan pants and a warm burgundy sweater


I am creating...this new post to keep up to date for Suz who has challenged me to post at least once a week!


I am going...to head outside and stack many, many pieces of wood before the rains hit this week.


I am reading...The Innocent Man, the same book I have been trying to read for nearly a year!!!


I am hoping...my kiddos and family stays healthy, Bec was sick last week with a nasty cold.


I am hearing...Spongebob Squarepants and the crackling of the fire.


Around the house...I see many things that should be put away...been a crazy week and I haven't been home much so today we will spend cleaning up and decorating for fall.


One of my favorite things...relaxing with my family by a cozy fire.


A few plans for the upcoming week...I plan to hit the books hard this week to catch up from last, I'm getting my hair cut finally on Tuesday, hoping to visit with Rame's sister and hubby who are down from WA and enjoying the fact that I don't have to work so many hours this week!!

Here is a picture I though I'd share...


The girls and I taking a break during our falls hike :)

City Family Turned Country Family, Take 1

I always look forward to the first fire of the year, there is just something about that crackling fire in our wood stove that just makes my home really feel cozy!!!! We love sitting by the fire in the morning while we are working on our school work, it's just one of those "perks" of homeschooling, in our jammies, curled up with our history books and hot chocolate!!! Well, on this particular morning we had exactly that....a cozy fire, the girls were curled up in their blankets and reading away with their hot chocolate! Last year I had finally, after a lot of coaxing, convinced Marissa that she "wasn't going to die or burn the house down" if she added wood to the fire as it needed it. This year, I would regret that!!!! Anyhow, back to the story, I decided I would take this opportunity to take a shower since everthing looked under control (or so I thought). Keep in mind that although the living room is very warm this time of year the rest of our house is very difficult to keep warm due to some air flow issues (yes, we are working on that, along with EVERYTHING else). Ok back to the story, I came out of the bathroom and thought the hallway felt very comfortable. I then went into the kitchen which was also feeling a bit toasty!!! That is when I saw it....the wood stove, through the glass I saw the raging fire!!!! I must admit it glowed a nice shade of red!!! I said to Marissa "did you add wood to the fire?" she replied "yes and mom it's a bit warm in here don't you think?". Now, let me set the stage a bit more for you....we have been working on our siding on our house (replacing it that is) along with replacing most of the side of the house (that's another story) and as we are removing wood some of it we kept (2x4's), cut in a nice size and decided to use it for kindling...which we ALWAYS run out of (again, another story....I have a nice scar for that story). Okay, so you got the picture right??? VERY dry (30 years dry) 2x4's!!!! We all know how well those burn!!! If not, you will soon! Back to the story....I then asked her "how much wood did you put in there and what wood?" she replied "about 5 or 6 pieces of 2x4's all I could fit"!!!! Okay so we have a temperature gauge on our fireplace and it read 500 degrees (translation....VERY HOT). So, being that it's early in the season, things are not real wet outside so my concern (among other things) was that the chimney that went outside would catch the trees above it on fire!!! So, I continuously went outside to verify that we weren't causing a forest fire and inside to check the rising temp....now approaching 700 (translation....it doesn't go any higher, you can figure that one out). Okay, so to make this VERY long story shorter???? I ended up removing flaming pieces of wood, took them outside, buried them in the dirt and threw water on them. Meanwhile, my smoky the bear dog was nervously circling it as he always does with our fires (the ones we are allowed to do) and our new kitty was walking through it!!!! Our animals are a whole different story!!! So in the end, I was sending smoke signals and praying the neighbors didn't call the Fire Dept to save me!! It all worked out, but was just another story to add to my collection!!!!! Why is it I am hearing the tune "Green Acres" in my head right now??? Just another day in the life of the Dossers...city family turned "country family" or trying!!!