She did it!

My girl has been saving her money for nearly two years. She has put every Christmas, birthday, allowance, and extra chore cent in a jar...awaiting the day she could buy herself a very special treasure. Today, she took her hard-earned, and earnestly-saved, trove to the Apple store and BOUGHT HERSELF an iPod touch. 

She was proud and thrilled! 

She explained to the salesperson exactly what she wanted it to do for her and how much she had to spend, then made the decision herself. I am so proud of her ability to set a goal and see it through. 

This one small act shows that this child has 

the perseverance to reach her wildest dreams. 

DREAM BIG, MY DEAR!

Embree's Rainbow

Embree, Brice, and I sat in the rain this weekend for the Parade of Breeds (the Grand Horse Parade). Just after returning home, the skies cleared and Embree noticed a huge rainbow right above our heads. It was one of those rare occasions when the entire semi-circle was visible. Here are a few images she captured...

For me, Embree is all about rainbows. Before she was born, before we knew she was on her way to us, I was on my way to the very last fertility treatment I would ever endure. That morning, as we drove, there was a full rainbow in the sky...brilliant colors, bright sky. I took it as a sign that our baby was coming. Obviously that day in the doctor's office was not meant to be our path, but a week later we got the call. 

Our baby girl was on her way. 

Sappy? Yes.

 But she is my rainbow whenever skies are gray. 

The hippie in me might've named her Rainbow...

Life here...

Each year, during the first weekend of October, the main street in town is closed for the Festival of the Horse. Of course, the favorite in our house...the three parades...

more specifically three parades worth of candy.

Awaiting the start...

Brice: "Where's the candy truck?"

 We love living in a small town. There's just something about homemade costumes...

 fancy pick-up trucks...

kids on horses...

old men on tractors (I want this tractor!!)...

and pride in the town icon...

that says REAL PEOPLE...SIMPLE JOYS...HOME.