break "officially" started this week....

Well, Mercer's break technically started last Friday the 27th (Thursday was the "last day of school" - but - as a teacher I had a few extra days to work + Isabella went to "teacher camp" while I was working.  So... for she and I... our 1st day of break was on Thursday June 2.  

I worked up to the last minute - seriously - most people went home when they finished cleaning up their rooms + turned in their keys that morning, but I had soooo much to do (+ while I had childcare) I knocked out a bunch of things that I wouldn't have to take care of during the summer.

Granted, I have a few things to still complete -- but I got a LOT done those teacher work days, so was satisfied to leave on a productive note WITH the ability to unplug for a bit!   

I just found a photo from a couple of months ago when we were in the throws of project work!  Quite a bit different -- the "before" and "after!"

One thing that I had to do was to go on an "externship" - since I'm in a career field - we have to make sure that our programs are staying current with industry.  I came from industry unlike most of the architecture teachers, so I felt a bit cheesy, but the guys I met with were chill.  

We knew several people in common and they actually checked my background / knew all about what I did / what I was doing before I arrived.  I also met with a woman briefly afterwards on a different team which was helpful / I was able to ask her several questions about residential.  I had to take a "selfie" in front of their sign to prove I was there.

I wanted to include this b/c of the blocks behind me... there's a cool story: the owner of the company is a wood-worker and has made this sculptural piece with different length blocks -- each block represents an employee.  Some blocks are taller because those employees have been at the company longer.  The folks I met with say that the blocks move around / people stack them / make different configurations.  I think it's an interesting idea.... definitely a unique conversation piece!  

We did not do much our 1st two days of break... cleaning & organizing the 1st day... and errands the 2nd day.  I scored some "real" riding boots for Isabella during one of my errands.  She wore them to riding lessons that afternoon.  

The following morning, she had a little horse show and really looked the part!  The boots are a bit big, but she has room to grow.  :)   Here she is getting to know a different horse at the stable: Pearl.

At her previous lesson 2 weeks ago, the instructor changed the horse that she was riding.  The previous one, Waffles, was getting a bit "wild" with her.  According to the trainer, the horse likes to be lazy.... likes to be led by the handlers rather than having to learn to navigate what the rider wants.  Previously, Isabella was being led by a side-handler.  But, she got to the point where she could control the horse on her own, so the side-handler would be nearby "just in case."   Waffles recently started to canter instead of trot.  Found this online:

Trot:  At the trot, the horse moves its legs together in diagonal pairs.

Canter:  The canter is a three-beat movement that has a distinctive ‘moment of suspension’ where all four legs are simultaneously off the ground.

So, they moved her to a different horse (the DAY before the horse show!)  Isabella's new horse that she takes lessons on is Pearl -- an older and arthritic horse that is slower.  Ha!  She did her thing.  (Unfortunately, Pearl was getting bitten by something on her back leg.  She kicked up her back leg a couple of times and tried to turn to bite at her back leg.... so the side-handler had to jump in.  But... she did well.  She didn't even flinch.  The event she performed in this time was called "equitation."   Found this online as well:

In horse shows, equitation classes focus on the skills of the rider, rather than the talents of the mount, and many beginning riders like to start out in equitation classes so that they can master the art of riding before progressing to more challenging styles of riding.  The rider's ability to ride correctly and the position of the rider while mounted is what is monitored during a horse show.

She really loves the horses and riding - even if she doesn't look like it.  She looks so serious!  She came in 3rd place in this one.  (The previous show she came in 1st and had 2 blue ribbons).  We through she would be upset -- and still aren't sure -- but commend her for controlling and riding the horse that she was only paired with the day before!

She said her goal was to ride this new horse which just arrived to the farm earlier this spring:  Chevy.  It's the biggest, but she says he's a real sweetheart!

(The woman at the store where I got the boots was introducing us and showing us videos on different types of horse-riding.  Who knows -- after Isabella does English style for awhile, she may want to try Western or something else?!)  

Todd and Mercer stopped by for her demonstration, but as soon as she trotted on her own, they had to leave for Mercer's baseball tournament.  She was excited that they were there.  (It was the least they could do... how many baseball games has she been to??!!)   

Mercer is only on 2 teams at the moment:  the All-Stars for East Marietta (which the majority of them are 14u "Spikes" players).  He also plays on the 15u Spikes team.  Funny thing - the 14u All-Stars are going to scrimmage the 15u Spikes.  Which team is he going to play on during the scrimmage?  (He's the only kid "playing up" in age!)  

This should be interesting!!

Just a quick mention to remember with a photo Mercer took Friday.  He walked up to the square with 2 neighbors / friends.  They got junk food / bubble tea / and played on the top deck of the city parking deck.  Boys being boys!  sounded like he had a lot of fun on this last day of the 1st week of break.

Also this week:  the war in Ukraine rages on for a milestone - over 100 days.  There was a glimmer of hope in the Ukraine this week as their professional soccer team was vying for a position in the World Cup series.  It was wonderful to see images of people enjoying themselves... even if only for 1 1/2 hours.   They lost in the World Cup qualifier to Wales. 

There have been heart-wrenching interviews with people following the Uvalde shooting.  

Two interviews that have just stuck with me was 1 - a father (or possibly step father) who was a first responder finding out - after talking to a little girl covered in blood as she came out from the school talking about how her best friend was dead.  He asked the little girl of her friend's name and it was his own (step)daughter.  

The other story that really sits with me is of a funeral home worker who was approached and shot at by the gunman before he went into the school (obviously he had no idea that the gunman was going to do what he did)... but he says he feels so much guilt.  He says that he wishes he could have stopped the gunman.  This gentleman was interviewed and was crying on camera that he had to dig the grave, set up the tent and lower the body into the ground for a different little girl who was a member of his extended family.  

One (possibly) positive thing that is finally happening - gun control on automatic military-style guns.  It's been tried before, but one side, the GOP, has resisted.  But, members on that side are finally saying "enough."  

London was in the news - BIG TIME - this week as all of the pomp and circumstance was laid out to honor the queens "Platinum Jubilee" - the 70th anniversary of her serving as the queen. 

There are some fantastic images of the 96 year old Queen Elizabeth II with great-grandson 4 year old Prince Louis - who absolutely stole the show!   This was the most iconic - during a fly-over by the Royal Air Force.    

Obviously, this will be the queen's last jubilee celebration (Silver = 25 years on the throne, Ruby = 40 years, Golden = 50 years, Diamond = 60 years, and Platinum = 70 years.)   

The streets were crowded for just a glimpse of members of the royal family.  Concerts and star-studded performances trailed on for days.  The queen did not attend all, but did make an appearance at the closing of the celebration.  (in bright green!)  

It was nice to see some positive news on TV!

And - finally - here are some funny photos of Isabella hugging Hip-Hop.  Funny way they were positioned -- looked like he had a wig!