Riding class

it is 83 degrees outside today. Joshua wants me to tell you he has his bubba, his water bottle. He says there is nothing else to report. Samantha and I went to Churchill Barn this morning. Sam had her lesson, and I had my kissy fest with Manny. Jules had a kissy fest too, only with Samantha, since he is her horse. Ellen, the teacher, said she will switch Sam to Miss Manny (I am assuming this is a different horse from the green two year old percheron I love named just Manny) next lesson. Sam is not happy about that. She is sure that Jules is the best horse in the world. I agree, and so does Ellen. I think she is switching her so Sam can learn to post more easily.

There was something about sitting under the shade this morning on a perfect day, warm, sunny, slight breeze. I just fed an apple to Manny, so I felt like I had made progress with me and horses. Samantha was turning the horse very nicely and paying close attention. She even started to post once, and then went right back to bouncing. I had such a feeling of all is right with the world, so proud of Sam and what she has become as a person.

Last week was April vacation, and I enrolled Sam in Lightning Soccer camp at Tufts. 9-12 every morning for five days. Sam knew no one, but trooped in and waved me off without a qualm. She worked hard, even though one boy shoved her out of her place in line and another little girl played rough and wasn't very nice in general. Nothing fazed Sam. She acknowledged she may have done some things that annoyed the boy, and later in the week, she said to me, " Mom, I think I figured out why Marina is so mean. I think she is lonely. I wish I knew some Russian to make her feel more at home." Samantha is a sweetheart sometimes. I asked her to work her magic on the Shabbat table Friday night, and she did. I wasn't allowed to enter the room while she set it, but when I could see it, just wow! She had put a pretty tablecloth on, turned down the lights, picked some pretty flowers and put them on the table. All the dishes and silverware were on, as well as napkins and napkin rings. She really did give it her own special gloss to the evening.

It has been a special day. Samantha has soccer in the afternoon, and she made two goals and passed for two others. She is a great team mate. Joshua is happy because he got to go to the Y Childcare with daddy. Woowee! He isn't interested in much besides his bike right now. He'll have his own lessons when he is older.