The highly anticipated picture...

I finally had time yesterday to get a picture of Chica's brand with my tattoo... so without further delay, I present this masterpiece to you:

My heart, and my foot, belong to Chica

Chica and I are going on 13 years this February- it feels like she has always been in my life, and it's hard to remember a time before her!

While trying to yoga myself into position to get that picture, there was something going on behind me... something far more sinister than I would have ever imagined...

*cue Jaws music*

It was Sienna, and she was playing with my hair. And also making me incredibly nervous as I stood behind Chica's back feet, balanced on one foot, bracing my other against her hip.

Meanwhile, in the other pasture, Rosa was wondering why I was holding a black box up in front of her face:

Sometimes she likes me

I was sick all last week and I'm still recovering, which is the reason for the glasses... as I was getting over my cold, my right eye decided it needed to catch it from me. It seems to be clearing up now, though, just in time for my last first day of school!

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A brief reprieve during a surprisingly cold winter

One day last week, the weather decided to remember that we lived in Texas and warmed up for about a day. I took the opportunity to attempt a picture of my girls (by myself) (with no one else to help hold them) (or distract them into pricking their ears forward). This was about as good as it got:

Even Sienna is bored

Sienna is usually my super photogenic one, always pricking her ears and appearing bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. However, all she wanted to do was take advantage of me crouching in front of her, not holding the leadropes, and try to graze. A lot of yelling ensued. The timid Rosa surprisingly took it all in stride, although she didn't want to get any closer than necessary to the older girls. This may perhaps be because Sienna dove at her earlier with her teeth bared, thus necessitating a switching of her and Chica.

Perhaps one day, when it isn't rainy and/or cold, I'll be able to get a better group shot. For now, we can all look at this one and appreciate my valiant, if not foolish, solo attempt.

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Winter 2013, in pictures

Guys. It's 2014.

Where did the year go? I can remember like it was last month my New Year's Eve party that welcomed in 2013... and now here it is, a year later.

I'd say this last year has been pretty productive- I started my Master's program, which I will be finishing in 4.5 months, for instance. And I've only made one B so far in all of my graduate classes- a great feat if you consider my undergraduate grades (please don't). I also acquired my third horse, which was possibly done during a moment of insanity. And, things on the job front may soon be moving and shaking.

I just started back to work after a wonderful week and a half break (another monumental feat in itself) that was busy and went by way too fast. For starters, I took a couple of days to stay home and get some things done before heading to my parents' house. On Christmas day, we went to my grandparents' house, and then the next day I drove back home. The next day, I went back to my grandparents' house. And then the NEXT day I drove back down to my parents' house to hang with Philip for a few days, who came to Houston for New Year's. Here is a pictorial representation of the last couple of weeks.

The weather warmed up and I was able to give my yearling (now 2 year old) a bath- possibly the most dramatic moment of my horse career. "WHAT IS THAT!? WATER IS TOUCHING ME!!! I'M MELTING/GOING TO CHARGE YOU TO MAKE YOU STOP!" We made it through, but it was rough going for a while there.

Pouting while drying off

Philip came to CS and we did fun and exciting things like visit Santa's Wonderland and go ice skating: 

This was after I asked Santa to step away so that we could get a picture of just the two of us...

Blake took this most flattering picture at my dad's side of the family's Christmas eve party, and yes, I am posting it for all to see:

Taken while pretending to take a picture of myself...

Megan and I Vogued it up on the way to Nan-nan and Gran'dad's house in our designer sunglasses:

Megan so fly.

Romeo and Fiona snuggled one night while I got ready for bed:

Apparently Fiona needed a sleep mask

And I grinned through the pain of getting a tattoo:

Maybe grimaced is the correct verb

 

In the peeling stage, you're welcome.

  It's a shout-out to Chica, my love, who has the same thing branded on her left hip:

We are coming up on our lucky number 13 anniversary!

For NYE, Philip and I party-hopped to three different parties around Houston/Richmond/Katy, which was incredibly exhausting and will not likely be repeated again anytime soon. But we had a great time, and I am looking forward to the new year! Hope it's a great one for you!

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