Looks Like WE MADE IT - Beloved Summer is HERE!

After a long, hard winter (weather-wise, you know?), all of a sudden, out of nowhere, summer has arrived! I am so thrilled! The sunshine these past few days has been amazing! I've only had to clean stalls once this week, and my darling little B's have been playing outside every day after school. It has been fabulous, and I am grateful to my toes! I think the horses are as happy as I am to be turned out for a bit. Brailey captured these beautiful pictures of our boy Alvin. Isn't he so cute?! I really, really love these pictures. Especially the one below... I can't tell you how much I love this horse!
Below, the two "old guys" enjoying their freedom. (Tex and Alvin.)
You might find these strange pictures... Two sticks in the grass and flip flops and then a volleyball. Well, this scene may seem boring to you, but to me, it is priceless. Brailey and Britt have been playing volleyball every night this week. Britt came down with a nasty (worst one he's ever had!) ear infection, and so we didn't go to swim practice on Monday and Tuesday. Instead, we've had the luxury of coming straight home after school, and Britt has been "coaching" Brailey, giving her gold stars for "perfect" passes, and then they made up their own game, which inspired the two sticks you see pictured above, their "net." Mind you, we have a volleyball net, which we need to put up. We are just waiting for the rain to REALLY go away - I know this sun is only a brief reprieve from normal early summer weather. Still, I love their creativity. In fact, it was so darling, I didn't have the heart to tell them it was a bit unsafe, and instead just said a prayer neither of them would fall on one of the sticks and poke an eye out...
Last night, we started our beach volleyball practice. It was amazing! Perfect weather, perfect location, and the girls looked really good. Everyone was so happy! Britt was even inspired to play, before and after practice, and on the way home, he confessed that he actually likes volleyball, and although he doesn't want to play it for real, he would like to hone his skills a little so he can play with the girls. Music to this mama's ears! Before he made the swim team, I was actually going to put him on a Kidsports team, but lucky for him, he found his passion before I was able to do this. However, it makes me so happy that he wants to play with the girls, and they are all super kind to him and seem to enjoy his company, so that makes it even more fun.
Bethani's husband, Neil, helped me with my camera, and showed me some settings I didn't even know I have. Thus, I got some great pictures of Brailey! I am so stoked! I can't wait to take pictures of her all summer long. As I was sitting at practice last night, watching them, I felt so happy and content and lucky. I said to Bethani, "Look at us! Here we are, completely enthralled with volleyball PRACTICE! Are we crazy or what?!" And she said, "What better sport to watch than volleyball? It's fun to watch and fun to play!" Needless to say, we love it!
Britt and Coach Rick vs. Brailey and Nikki.
The great thing about the new setting on my camera is that I can show Brailey little things about her technique that I have been telling her. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words! She is doing really well, and she had the time of her life. It was such a magical evening, and I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity. It is going to be the best summer ever! And if you know how much I love sun and summer and how I adore every single summer, then you know that is a tall order to fill. Trust me when I say I'm going to enjoy every second of it!