A horse is a horse is a horse.....

.....of course! This is how we celebrated John's birthday. He turned 14 last Thursday. Wow!! 14 years have just flown by. John has been taking horse riding lessons for about 8 weeks and his teacher offered to let him be in a show this last Saturday. We had planned to celebrate his birthday Saturday, so we had a FULL day. BUT what a fun day it was!! We went to the show for John's events and then left. He wanted to stay all day. It hurt my feelings, but I let him stay. I texted him to see if he was ready for me to pick him up. And the answer I kept getting......"leave me alone".

We finally got to have him back about 6pm and went out to eat and to Swaders. It's like a game place with go carts, batting cages, putt putt golf, ya know, that kinda place. Fun Fun!! It was about 10pm when we got home to do presents and mean ole dad said it was too late for cake! But that just gave us an extra day of celebration. John wanted two cakes. A white cake with chocolate frosting and a chocolate cake with white frosting. It was almost more than I could do. It was so painful. Chocolate frosting is supposed to go chocolate cake! It was still good and he was happy! That's the most important thing. He is such a cool kid. I know you are all tired of hearing it, but he has been like an adult trapped in a child's body since birth. It's hilarious when HE gets put out with ME when he thinks I am wasting money. I will just feel sorry for his wife and take her shopping as often as he'll let me. John Thompson we love you and we're very lucky to have ya. It's funny how we call him John Thompson when he is in trouble or we just need extra emphasis. Ethan is Ethan Ronald, Emily is Emily Gayle, John is John Thompson. No idea why. Because he is so cool. That's why! And now that I have said that, when Ethan and Emily will read this and revolt! There is no making them all happy at the same time, is there?

Pocket full o rocks

Mount Everest

Well, ok, it's not Mount Everest, but it sure felt like it by the time I got to the top. The summit. I have been reading a book to the kids at night before they go to bed call Everest. Obviously......about a trip up Mount Everest. So, the John and Ethan decided they want to try it. So, we started small. Went for a little hike up a little hill called Loft Mountain in the Shenandoah National Park. Felt very large. I don't think of myself as a couch potato, but HOLY COW! It was hard work. Maybe I'm just getting old. And, of course, you are now all obligated to post a comment that says "oh, Kathy, don't be silly, you are not old". 'K? We had so much fun. The kids really enjoyed climbing on the rocks. Even Emily. John was trying to help her up a rock and she firmly told him that she was not a sissy. We will have to do it more often. And don't ya just love the picture of the leaning Thompson family. Not sure if it was the camera or we are all just leaners. Emily came down with her pockets stuffed full of rocks. I will have to sneak that picture in b/c she REALLY doesn't want me to post it.