Missing in Action....

Yes, I've been missing again for a while but this time I have a better reason.  Between working, horse shows, motocross races and daily living, I had to have hip surgery.    It's called Femoral Acetabular Impingement - they really don't know if it's a congenital thing that you are born with or if it comes from injuries.  They do see it most often in younger, athletic types.  I'm neither.  But I was one of those types quite some time ago so maybe I just held out on the pain for longer than usual.  What I don't think is that it's from riding horses.  I really don't.  If it's FROM anything, I think it might be from running back in my 30's.

I started a new blog to describe my journey with FAI.  It will be an honest description of what I went through and what I'm going through as I recuperate.  Mostly this is for my own use since I'll have to have my other hip done at some point but if it also helps others, that's good too.  Here is a link:  My FAI Blog

Keeping Kids Safe

This title is a misnomer.  I'm not a helicopter parent and encourage my kids to be as independent as their age and responsibility allows them to be but I do worry about the internet.  I'm totally shocked when I search for something seemingly innocent on a website like Pinterest and up pops all sorts of things that "offend" me.  I know my kids are going to see stuff like this and I doubt its going to harm them for life.  On the other hand, I don't need to make it easier on them.  

I also have issues with TOO MUCH computer time.  I've tried several different types of software and all of them have had drawbacks.  Because I am a working mom, there were times when the kids needed access to a particular website or needed to work outside the time limits I had set but  because I wasn't at home to "fix" their computers, they just had to wait.  Waiting isn't a bad thing.  Just inconvenient sometimes.  

And then a few months ago my subscription to the last type of software was expiring and I went looking for something else.  I didn't have high hopes but figured that I at least might be able to find something equally as good/bad and maybe a little cheaper if I did some hard shopping.  Enter Qustodio.  I still don't know how to pronounce it and I think they are located in Spain but WOW.

Here's a screenshot of the page that allows me to set up the time/usage limits.  I can limit how much time is spent on places like Facebook or completely block them.  Websites can be allowed or blocked.  When time limits are reached, I can block internet use only or everything.  I get regular emails showing me which websites have been visited and when they have hit their limits.  Since it's all web-based, I can adjust on the fly when I'm away from home.  

I'm not one to easily recommend any product but I have to say, this one has me sold.  I'm very happy with it and with a very strong password on my end, Motocross Boy/Man has yet to hack into it.  :)

Here is a link:  Qustodio

I'm not out to make any money but for full disclosure, this link is an affiliate link and I think they do give me a few cents or something.  They do have a free version and I have used both for almost a full year now.  If you don't have much in the way of installed software type games, the free version is fine.  If your kids use installed computer games, you might want the paid version which gives you more options.

And Show Season Practice Begins

And this is what Stanley thinks about it:

Actually, I don't think he minded much at all getting back into the swing of things.  Most of the winter he's been working hard with Equestrian Girl on their dressage so he's stayed in excellent shape.  When the vet was out for spring shots last week, he gave him high marks for looking to be in great shape coming out of a relatively hard winter.  

This year's open shows are going to be decidedly different since EG isn't showing in her age bracket classes. She's only doing the Sweepstakes and Open classes - meaning she will be competing against adults as well as any kids that enter those classes.  It's only a couple less classes but no pattern classes at all (well, unless you count showmanship).  I won't be able to show at all this year, or at least I don't think I will.  As of right now, I'm scheduled for hip surgery in mid-May.  I can't ride right now, it hurts too much, and for sure I can't afterwards for a few weeks at least but possibly as long as 12-16 weeks which would take us right past all the shows....but I need to do it and no time like the present!

School Update

Homeschooling is one of the best decisions we ever made and probably something I don't talk about nearly enough.  Probably because it's become such a daily thing, like eating, that it doesn't warrant much attention any more.  But it should.

Motocross Boy/Man has continued to use Switched on Schoolhouse for his curriculum this year and has done very well.  He's even pulling a high B in Algebra that has us all pretty surprised since math has never been his subject of choice.  He's also continued with the welding classes with neighbor Jeff.  Last week they worked on the math test that is taken by every plumber who goes through the union apprenticeship program.  Since I'm friends with so many plumbers through work, I was given a copy of the test for practicing.

Hopefully by the time Motocross Boy/Man needs to actually take this test, it will be easy-peasy.  I know I sure had to think hard to get SOME of the answers!  

Next year he will start doing a lot more hands on with the welding which should prove to be interesting.  We also found a cool app that is for welding but it's only available on the Droid right now - he needs it for his iPod.  Neighbor Jeff and I think we need to come up with a cool welding game or app that would be interesting and fun for kids to use to get interested in doing such stuff.  Our world is going to be sadly lacking in the skilled trades if we don't encourage our kids in these areas.

Equestrian Girl is finishing up Spanish and Honors Biology at the co-op school and the rest of her curriculum is Switched on Schoolhouse as it has been the last couple of years.  Next year she wants to switch to Global Student Network.

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A friend of hers has been using this curriculum over the past year and is quite happy with it.  They have a little different slant than SOS - you pay for the year and can take as many classes as you want during the year.  They have a huge selection of classes too.  I have to spend some more time looking at it but I do think it might be a good possibility and will offer some more challenging types of classes.  We still need to wait to find out what classes will be offered at the co-op next year.  Hopefully one of them is chemistry.  I think that class has to be more "fun" when you can have an interactive lab experience.  

It's always such a challenge to start thinking about what we need for next fall when we aren't even done with this year yet but it's fun too.  It's cool to see your kiddos growing up and learning to be adults!

The Haul

So I think I mentioned Equestrian Girl and I went shopping at the outlet mall on the way home.....one blouse, three sweaters, three dresses, a pair of slacks and a pair of jeans later.....

Day 3

The last day of a trip is always kind of sad...waking up to 5 inches of new snow on April 12th didn't help matters much.

Looking out the windows at breakfast just made me shiver. It was very cold, very blustery, and very snowy.

But being intelligent strong women, we persevered towards our goal of making it to the outlet mall!  It didn't hurt that I had been smart enough to valet park the car the day before so I could just tip someone to scrape off all the ice and snow on my windshield before we ventured homeward.

We left Petoskey in blowing snow, drove into a frozen tundra where the snow had been freezing rain and then finally into just a very sodden southern Michigan and the outlet mall at Birch Run.  We started at the Tommy Hilfiger Store where EG found plenty to like.  We ended at the Ann Taylor Loft where I hit the mother lode.  By 5:30 we were home and hugging our boys.  

It had been a wonderful mother-daughter trip and one we will remember for a long time.  Equestrian Girl is already talking about doing it again next year!

Spa Day

Day 2 of our Mother/Daughter Trip started with breakfast in the dining room of the Inn at Bay Harbor. The place was practically empty with only one other couple in there - only 8 rooms occupied in the whole place!  But the food and service were excellent.  I had a "Creme Brûlée Oatmeal" that was amazing!

I was glad we had indoor plans for the morning.  The wind was whipping and the skies were very overcast.  The view of the bay into Lake Michigan was beautiful.

And then the real treat began.  The Spa.

We were shown to the "locker room" and our big fluffy bathrobes and then to the "relaxation room" which was well stocked with lemon/orange ice water and hot tea. This furniture was so comfy!  They had the fireplace lit and it felt good- you could hear the cold wind whipping around that door. 

I obviously don't have photos of the rest of this experience but let's just say it was awesome.  We started with massages with an orange scented lotion.  This was Equestrian Girl's first massage experience and while she enjoyed it, I think her masseuse might have been new or was nervous that EG was new to the experience and didn't seem to do a great job. The one who did her facial seemed to make up for it though and was very friendly and chatty.  We wrapped it up with quick pedicures and big smiles.

After showers and changing clothes, we headed out into the gaslight district of Petoskey for a little cold weather shopping.  We fortified with Chicken Noodle Soup at the Grand Traverse Pie Company and hit the streets.

Our deal of the day ended up being this great dress coat for EG that we got for half off. It's knee length and has these awesome "flowers" around the lapel. Hard to see in this picture...but she was obviously happy with it.

After the shopping we drove along the lake to snap these pictures of the ice.  April 11th and still very much frozen.

That's a little light house at the end of the pier.

As the wind moves the ice when it's breaking up it forms big piles that look like ice bergs.

EG just had to get this sea gull in her picture out the car window.

A little waterfall that comes out under the road into the park and drains down towards the lake.

Last we drove through the houses around the hotel in Bay Harbor - some beautiful places there!

This one isn't really tipping over - just bad photography out the car window!

Some are built on "lanes" where the backs open up to the street but the fronts are very close together on walking paths.  The garages are all to the back.  I like this concept although I'm not sure I'd want one of these houses given the soil beneath them.

This is looking back towards the hotel with houses to our right.  Some are rental duplexes.

There are also houses/condo's up on the bluff to the right that look out towards the lake over this little frozen pond.  This is where you can see evidence of the digging that went on here for years as they unearthed the limestone used for the concrete.

After working out in the gym before dinner, we headed back to the hotel "bar" (the big restaurant was closed - probably because there were so few people staying) for an awesome and expensive dinner.  I have no idea what kind of cabernet I had but it was wonderful.  After dinner we turned on the TV for the first time and watched Glee before snuggling into those down comforters one last time.  It had been a GREAT day!