Vacation Week

This week is April Vacation week in Mass and what beautiful weather we have had! Like summer really and I wish I had thought to open the pool....but this has been an especially weird winter/spring so who knew??

Liam and Brendan had baseball camp afternoons this week. Lots of fun getting ready for the start of the little league season May 1st. The coach was former Detroit Tiger - Mike Laga and signed gloves and cards for all the boys at the end of camp. Huge hit with L&B!

Aoife started the week competing at the 4H State Horse Judging competition. She was on the junior team from Hampshire County and they placed 3rd. Well done!

The rest of the week has been spent at Pocketful of Ponies farm working with Marley and the big ponies.

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Alan has been home all week doing "honey-dos" - beautiful counter in the laundry room, well tilled vegetable garden with fresh, fabulous compost, happy grass - seeded and limed, new pool outlet, as well as all of the other fabulous things he normally does!!:)

Sunday the 22 all three kids will be competing with the Hampshire Young People's Chorus in the semifinals of the Together in Song program on our PBS station. This program will be available on line and I will put the link up as soon as it is available.





IEA Season Ends

Aoife's IEA season ended at the New England Zones final at Mt Holyoke College on April 1st. She rode really well and made it into the final round. The top 4 riders in the final go onto Nationals and she placed a heartbreaking 5th place. Ack! It was a great ride though and her trainer was pleased with her. Next year, Aoife will move up a level and ride both flat classes and jumping classes. She can't wait!

Busy Weekend!

Friday March 30 - Liam and Brendan presented their science fair projects at school. Brendan's project was an overview of human origins and Liam's was sound waves in music.
Saturday - Liam and Brendan are singing with YPC at the "Big Sing" choir event in Springfield, MA. 7 or so children's choirs from the area are performing together.
Sunday - Liam, Brendan and I will sing the Palm Sunday service then I go to join Aoife and her trainer, Alli at the IEA New England Zones competition.
Updates and photos to follow...............

YPC on Television

Aoife, Liam and Brendan's Young Peoples Chorus was on TV last weekend competing in Together in Song - a choir competition/showcase. Here is the link to watch the performance http://togetherinsong.wgby.org/2012/03/hampshire-young-peoples-chorus-concert-choir/
Liam is not on the video because he had a swim meet that day. Brendan's arm was still in a cast so he got to sing instead of swim.

Happy Birthday Liam and Brendan!

Liam

11 years ago the twins made their way into the world and our hearts. How incredibly blessed we are to have them in our lives.

Brendan

Brendan, Liam

 Brendan, Liam

IEA Regionals

Aoife competed today for her team and as an individual at the IEA Regional Horse Show.
The photos aren't great because you can't use flash in the arena but you get an idea of what she looks like.
She pulled the name of a horse out of a bag and then got on it and rode the class on a horse she had never met before.
She rode in a class of 14 as an individual and pinned First - Hooray!
Then she drew a different horse and jumped on him to ride in a class of 3 for the team points and pinned First - Hooray again!

This is Aoife, in the hat, with one of her team mates.

The next level is IEA Zones where riders from all over New England compete to qualify for Nationals.
Her Heritage Farm team ended up with second place today so won't be going to Zones as a team.
However, Aoife's individual first place finish sends her to compete at  Zones March 31-April 1.
Way to go Aoife!!!

Finally winter....

Our first snow day since October! No school, lots of snow. Aoife went to spend the day at the barn, I went on a big snowshoe in the back and the boys went sledding in the front.

Only about 10 inches but it is still snowing so we'll see.....