Here We Go...

 It was a big day today.  Yep, we were all excited.

This little girl was going to be the BIG GIRL at the school.  In the HEDGEHOG CLASS.  And Hedgehogs are fancy.  They run the place.

But even crazier, this big girl's little brother was heading with her to school.

And we're here!!

Walking down to the carriage house.

Into the door.

Ella "signs in."  (And, as you can see, she has vetoed my princess leia hairdo at this point.  Tears, yes, there were tears.  I tried to tell her it was "high fashion," but she insisted that she looked "funny."  Pretty sure she was right).

Swinging while he waits for his Pandas class to start.

And we're in!  There are six boys and two girls in Cooper's class.  Bless this teacher.

Planting kale with Ms. Allie.

Master engineers.  We just left them alone and they constructed this all by themselves.

Cooper and Scotty.  We are so excited that they are in the same class!

And look who's here!  Ella!  I was on the playground with Cooper and almost forgot she was at the school too, and then there she was!

Cooper feels right at home :)

 

Anyone Need A Trim?

You may have already seen these on FB, but as you can see we have a budding hairstylist...

 

 Stepping back to admire his work.

Tuff

My friend from work is pretty much straight off the cover of Town & Country.  She is refined and impeccably put together and we always joke that she probably keeps her appointments in an beautiful, leather-bound book and sips wine and listens to classical music in the evening.  (She has confirmed that most of this is actually true -- including the leather appointment book).  Despite what one might expect from this description, she is also as nice as they come and one of the least judgmental people I know.  Truly.  She is a beautiful, old soul.

So, it comes as no surprise that she serves on the board of a horse farm in Maryland, and is the co-owner of a sweet chestnut horse named "Tuff."  She knew of Ella's obsession with horses so offered to take us to meet Tuff and help give him a bath and groom him.  

What a great time we had.  Ella asks me on a regular basis when we can go back and see Tuff again.

(After our time with Tuff, we all went to a nearby playground.  An ice cream truck showed up, and wouldn't you know it, my friend bought ice cream for every kid on that playground).

Meet Tuff.

On our way back to the stable.

 I love her.

Loooooovveee.

Does this remind anyone else of the famous Dustbowl "Migrant Mother" photo?  Well, aside from the smiling little guy sitting next to Ms. Serious.