Jill's First Horse Show

It has been awhile since I posted so this is a catch-up post. On October 29, 2011, Jill participated in her very first horse show. Her division was pre-academy as she has not been riding a year yet. We could not have been more proud of our little girl - she was AMAZING!!! And Painted Perfect, aka Billy, the love of Jill's life, did pretty great as well. He is a beautiful little pony and Jill has fallen completely in love with him! Enjoy her day in pictures...

Early on Saturday morning getting ready for the parade of future equestrians...

They just don't get any cuter in our book!

During walk/trot Jill was in the ring with seven other riders. Jill is on the paint.

One of my favorite pictures of the day. She looks so professional.

Jill's ribbons - 3rd, 8th, 10th and 1st

After the show, the farm has a costume class. Jill is an American cowgirl and she is riding a pony named America!

We are so very proud of you Jill Taylor! We hope your love for riding and horses never lessens and takes you places that today you only dream of!

Twelve Years, REALLY??!!

I can hardly believe that my first-born will turn 12 on Thursday!!! It seems like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms while we exited Huntsville Hospital but it also seems that I have loved you forever! You will never know just how much your Mom and Dad love you, Eli David. You are one special kiddo and I know that God is going to bless you beyond your wildest imagination! Keep dreamin' your dreams and reaching for those stars. Remember, "if the hard work pays off, the easy work is worthless." Invest your time and continue to be a young man after God's own heart!

My Beast! Never give less than your BEST!

Be goofy and have fun!!!

Work hard...

and play hard :)!

Happy 12th Birthday, Eli!!!

Sweet Summertime

Summer is in full swing and I absolutely LOVE this time of year! June is crazy busy for us but by getting everything done in June we will have lots of time to spend with our cousins in July! School got out on May 26 and the next day we loaded up and headed to the beach for a week! Jamie and I love the beach however our kiddos were done with the sand after about 3 days. We will have to work on them as the beach is Jamie and my favorite vacation destination. I would have loved to get a few pictures of my children on the beach but after years of enduring this form of obvious torcher they balked this year so this is all I got...

After the beach, the next thing on our schedule was Infinity Sports camp at our church. Eli has done camp since 3rd grade and this was his last year to be able to be a participant. Next year he hopefully get to work because he will be a YOUTH! Jill will get to participate next year and she has already decided that baton will be one of her sport tracks.

We had 134 participants and 5 of these kiddos prayed to receive Christ. I had the honor and priveledge of praying with one of those!!!


Because Jill wasn't old enough to participate in sports camp, Aunt Donna saved her so to speak. On Wednesday, we met in Trussville and she took Jill to spend a little time with Anna Beth and Katie. While there, Jill was able to go to their VBS and she loved it. She was also able to help her cousins with a lemonade stand. I am so glad that we live close enough that they are able to spend time together. They are the best of friends!



While Jill was away, Dalton and Dylan came and spent a few days with us so that Michael and Ashley could have some time away to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. I wish that I had pictures to share from their visit but for some reason the camera never came out. I guess becuase we were too busy sword fighting, "falling" in the lake, and swimming in the pool to worry with pictures. We loved having those boys here and I am so glad that they are all such good friends!

This week Jill has been attending VBS at her friend Avery's church and she is having such a great time. She is in a class with three of her friends and Avery's mom, Lori, is their tribe leader. The theme is Pandamania and it is so COOL.


Now all that is left for June is horseback riding camp for Jill and our church's VBS. I love all the fun things we are getting to do but I must admit I am looking forward to a little more down time in July!

beast... i am soccer

This soccer season is coming to an end and I would be sad but summer soccer is just around the corner - Yay!!! And there is NO sarcasm there - I admit it, I really do LOVE soccer! Or maybe it's just that I love watching my boys play soccer - either way, I love it! We had a good season this season and Eli, who has always played defender actually changed positions a played a little offense this year. He scored 5 goals for the season and I am one proud Mom! Eli is a BEAST on the soccer field and never lets up! He is so excited about having the opportunity this year to try out for the high school team. He will actually do camp with them this summer and he cannot wait! Here is a snap that one of Eli's teammate's dads made during our last tournament. (I believe he is making a goal kick and I am so glad that I was not in front of that leg.)

Briarwood Ambassadors U11 soccer team enjoying a little break in Pensacola, FL. We came in 2nd place in the tournament we played there and those were some hard fought for medals! Great job boys - you made us proud!

Jill's 6th Birthday

I can hardly believe that our little princess is six years old - my how the time flies! As you all already know, she is our little horse-lover and so it was only fitting to have her party at her favorite place in the entire world - the farm. Jill takes riding lessons at Cameron Oaks Farm and we have the BEST trainer ever and she helped to make Jill's birthday a day she will never forget. Jill got to ride to her hearts content and so did her family and friends. Enjoy her day in pictures...

Jill showing off a couple of her presents...

Jill on Miss Lylah - the first horse she rode at the farm. Lylah was really tired after having already done 4 lessons this day. She even bucked twice but Jill never missed a beat and of course did not fall off. She let Lylah know who was in charge!

The cake - our poor horse was sinking in the buttercream grass :)

Mrs. Deana and Cameron Oaks gave Jill blue ribbon pierced earrings... now to convince Jill to get her ears pierced!

Meet Blugle - the most beautiful show horse! Jill loves to ride Blugle and they make a great team!

The hayride!

Silly brother Luke with Jonathan enjoying playing with the party decorations - Jill's Breyer horses.

Cameron Oaks has everything - even a playground!

Eli finally gets his turn on a horse. This is Emily!

Our sweet little friend Camryn Mae riding America.

Luke on America. He loves horses about as much as his sister!

Anna Beth on Emily.

Best of friends - Jackson and Jill (or as we like to call them, Jack and Jill)

Party favor time!

Kelsey and Jill enjoying the petting zoo at the farm.

Jill's sweet friend since she was 2, Avery!

Our very own Princess... Carsyn. I am certain she will marry a prince one day!

Thank you to all our family and friends who helped make Jill's birthday so very special! And to my sweet Jill, Mom and Dad love you to the moon and back a million times! Happy Birthday sweet girl!!!