Where one season ends and another begins

Today was Ruth's last cross country meet of the season and her first horse show. She had very little time between the two events and literally had to change clothes in the car. She pulled off the transition flawlessly! We are so proud of all her hard work during the cross country season and for the ways she has improved and the friends she's made. The riding season got off to a great start, and we look forward to all it holds.

A strong finish to the cross country season

Ruth and Charming in the Walk/Trot class

Ruth and Blue in the Walk/Trot/Canter class

2nd in W/T and 4th in W/T/C

Sibling Week

Ruth's cross country team invited younger siblings to join them at practice this week and then participate in a special one-mile race at the meet today. Max, who was born to run, was the only one of Ruth's brothers to get in on the action, and he loved it. Both kids performed very well today, and we are proud of both of them!

Hitting it hard

Off they go!
(Apparently a lot of little brothers felt the need for speed!)

Focused on the finish line!

Arches

Let me start by saying, sometimes it's totally worth it to get up for the early run:

Sunrise

Good morning, sunshine!

They don't call this neighborhood
Rim Vista for nothing!

Sights and smells of the morning

Little Bunny Foo Foo

Later in the morning, we paid a visit to Arches National Park. Wow! What an amazing place! It is so incredibly beautiful and unlike any place we've ever been. We took a couple of short, easy hikes and saw Park Avenue, Double Arch, Turret Arch, and The Windows up close. We also drove down the main road of the park and viewed from there lots of other interesting formations, like Balanced Rock and The Petrified Sand Dunes. We can't wait to go back tomorrow and do a longer hike.

Park Avenue

Petrified Sand Dunes

Balanced Rock

Making arches under Double Arch

Double Arch

The Windows

Turret Arch

I don't know if this formation
had a particular name, but I called
it The Three Wise Men.

This one I called The Lion

Until tomorrow...

Field Day

Our CC campus got together with several other CC campuses in the area today for a huge field day. The weather was perfect, and the boys had so much fun hanging out with old and new friends, running races, and playing games which included Tag, Tug-of-War, Thieves, and Capture the Flag! 

Sometimes you just have to hold your mouth right to get away from whoever is "It."

And, apparently sticking out your tongue while running is a family trait.

But sometimes the tongue stays where it belongs, but the dimple comes out!