Duke's Pit Stop

One entry on my "Worth The Drive" list: Dukes BBQ.

Other entries include: Carolina, herself, BBQ, itself and Carolina BBQ, in general- but my list is quite long, so let's just talk about Duke's today.

Here are a few snaps from our recent stop at the Walterboro location: 

I love silhouettes...especially of mossy trees:

It's mostly about the food: 

On the way in, we had encouraged Rye to take a "piggy back ride" but she only cautiously pet the piggy. She must have given it consideration throughout lunch though, because as we were leaving she asked to ride the piggy. Happy to oblige.

The Best Part of Waking Up

As a general rule, I don't do selfies anymore. On this particular morning however, I wanted evidence that many a morning I wake to her feet in my face. Evidence for her journal..and for later. 

Of course, she's only helping me kick start my day. Besides, once she has completely conquered the bed-lands, and booted me from the territory, I can steal a few minutes of quiet time and coffee before the remaining risers stake their claim to my day. 

Reading Rye Bird

We Are Learning To Read:

The video of the entire book read thru is 12 minutes long because that is how long it takes us right now to read the entire first Bob Book... we must do a lot of discussing and sounding out and also 'television narration'.  

This past week, Rye watched an art/drawing program on t.v. so thru the entire book, she was looking at herself on camera and narrating the process as if there were viewers, and also as if she were instructing an art program about horses and the moon (because there is a moon in the beginning of the book and instructions on illustrating 'the man in the moon' were featured on the art program...and because she LOVES horses right now) 

YouTube Link: http://youtu.be/mvfMUEKKLUg

Horsing Around

Rye is all about HORSES these days. Therefore, WE are all about horses these days.

 From stick ponies:

On our way back home from a Sunday drive to Savannah, we stopped by Bass Pro Shop.

She also got a lasso:

And carousel rides:

Chandler shilled out the money for baby sister to take a whirl around the mall carousel before we headed back home. 

Hey, Ya'll!

 To galloping and leaping around the house, pretending to be a horse: 

Then finally, FINALLY meeting (&riding) a REAL horse:

Stay-N-Country Ranch has a LOT of horses and other animals too.

Fisher took his turn first: 

Riding like a natural Kentuckian:

Waiting patiently in the Peanut Gallery:

Fisher holds the harness while Rye gets geared up

Moment Of Truth:

"Riley are you ready for your turn?"

'YES! I'm ready to JUMP FENCES?'

GiddyUp & Away We Go!

 Learning to command the horse and identify parts with Mrs. Missy: 

Learning to care for horses is an important part of riding them. 

 Hoof Care is essential, too: 

Sage is a gentle saint

Sage loves peppermint and Rye shows no fear in offering her one: 

Three, Little Bird!

It has been three years since Riley Wren flew into our life. 

Happy Birthday RyeBird!

We Love You!

From Terrific Two to Tremendous Three... Oh, what fun this will be!

Little Shredder

Are you ready to rock?

Students @ Work

Pasting & Sorting:

Got 'em all!

Re-visiting handwriting- because we need to. 

"Aging Ape" Learning the sound of Long A

"Look, he's got a hat. It's a apple one!"

Cotton Candy

We found ourselves at Golden Corral: 

(You should have seen how quickly this fluff melted in the heat and humidity of south Georgia on a Sunday afternoon in July.)

Ballfield Friends

Last of Spring/Summer baseball pics... just in time for Fall Season to start: 

Talking to Baby Addison: