Eddie Macken clinic

This past weekend was the Eddie Macken clinic. I had never taken his clinic but had heard that it was amazing. It really was. Eddie is Irish and is one of the only people in the world to have won the Aga Khan Cup three years in a row, four consecutive Hickstead Derby wins, two individual silver medals at the Show Jumping World Championships and an individual silver medal at the European Championships. He has won many grand prixs and has been to the Olympics twice to ride and once to train. And I really have to say he was one of the nicest people to ever take a clinic from. He really made you want to get to the point he was trying to teach you. As one of the riders said, he didn't need to break you down only to build you up again. He worked with what you had, encouraged you and really made you feel good.



We all went out to Rancho Nicasio for dinner Saturday night and he was so nice to the kids. He said to Evan and Ford, "Hey, what's that under the table?" He had wadded up a couple dollar bills and thrown them under the table. So, so nice.



The gals - Barb (riding Gabby), Rondi (riding Woody), me (Rhett) and Jane (riding Irish).



The legend himself - Eddie Macken



Rhett and I having a good time!

For more photos, check out this Kodak site....

TPSC

Kiira played soccer for the first time this past October. We weren't sure how it would turn out because she is not particular the aggressive kid but she ended up having a great time. She played with all her friends from Reed which was nice since she doesn't see them as much being at her new school. She was petrified to play the first two games but after that got right in and ran her little heart out up and down that field! Go rocksharks (their teamname)!

Halloween 2010

Kiira carved her little heart out on this pumpkin (with some help from mom) and colored in the bird all by herself. She worked hard cleaning off all the pumpkin seeds too so that we could roast them. It was a nice mommy/daughter time :-)



This year we were sporting a butterfly and a karate kid. Truth be told the karate outfit was from last year but Evan had a fashion crisis last year and decided to be a cowboy. So....mom saved the karate outfit for this year.



As usual, the children sprinted off for candy and the stuffed animal house. As usual, Alan was late and missed the party and half of trick or treating. Thank goodness for Jenny and all the other mamas who helped look out for my sprinting kids. BTW - I am Velma from Scooby Doo.

Andrew's BIG birthday bash

Our trainer Andrew turns 40 this weekend so a gaggle of us gathered at the Buckeye to celebrate. VERY entertaining!

Check out our slideshow on YouTUBE.

Demo time!

We have been watching the house one street down from us go through the process of renovation. First story poles, next cutting down some big eucalyptus trees that were close to it and now demo. It took less than a day for this whole thing to get knocked down. We were all fascinated.

Nanny time

The kids both got good time with Nanny but it is still hard to see her go after having her here for over a week!

Last day of school - Reed

End of the year first grade trip. Although Kiira didn't know it, first grade was going to be her last year at Reed. During the middle of the year, we had decided to change schools. Although Reed is an excellent school, we decided it wasn't the right school for Kiira. It is an academic school that, like all the others in the area, must perform to all pre-determined standards that a public school must. And although Kiira was doing well in all subjects, the fact that there was homework in 1st grade just didn't sit well with Alan and me. And, the fact that my poor child had been throwing up and getting headaches at the beginning of the school year did not sit well with me (all because of anxiety - she was worried about not being able to do everything expected of her in first grade). So, a good friend of ours with a child in Kiira's class turned us onto a new school in Sausalito. It was a Waldorf school, very small and very interesting to us. Ultimately, this is where we decided to send her.

The kids did their end of the year picnic at Belvedere park and enjoyed face painting, tug of war, football and lunch. Thanks Reed for the friends we have made, the skills Kiira has learned and most of all, starting a new "community" for us in our own town. For that, Reed has been invaluable.