Peach is 7.

Our baby girl has turned 7. Somehow I still think of both of ours as little tiny kidlets but then I see their long legs and watch them reading books and doing all kinds of things and realize that they really are growing up. Its exciting, fulfilling, fun, and a little bit heart wrenching. I'm so glad they are still cuddly, even if it is getting harder and harder to pick them up. Just tonight Kai wanted a carry to bed so I proved to myself that I can still carry him, even if he nearly comes up to my chin.

Last year was the bunny birthday. This year T has been all about horses. And just like she negotiated for a bunny for her 6th birthday, she has somehow negotiated for a horse for her 10th. Or at least she thinks she has. We have never agreed to this proposition but she is full steam ahead. The big positive is that it has turned our little spender into a saver. She even avoids toy stores knowing that she'll be tempted to spend some of her precious horse fund. For her birthday this year she wanted only horse stuff, money for her horse fund and a horse party.

She's been riding at a stable since the summer and so we booked her party there. The big day arrived, in the midst of 3 days of storm warnings. We were all battening down the hatch preparing for the worst storm since 1962, according to weather reports. But like a lot of things, it was all about the hype and we were underwhelmed by the remnants of Typhoon Songda. We had some rain, we had some wind, but it wasn't the worst we've seen, even this year. It did prompt us to make some room in the garage to actually get the van inside for the first time since we moved in 10 months ago. Eventually our luck with windstorms and tree boughs and cars in the driveway is going to run out.

But T's party was postponed nonetheless. She was a rockstar about it and lucky for us, most of her friends could make it a day later once the storm had blown over. Unlucky for us is that we were registered for a crossfondo: an endurance cyclocross race, for that same morning. So Greg and I arrived at T's party muddy, smelly and a little bit exhausted. But if you have to arrive dirty to your child's birthday party, best it be in a barn.

The party started with some children and goats and sheep romping in a field. That was enjoyed by all until some of the sheep got a little overly frisky and started leaping nearly over children and throwing themselves into fences.

Then we moved onto brushing and putting stickers on some dear patient mini horses who nearly fell asleep amidst all the loving attention being lavished on them.

The big event was the pony ride. Some of the kids had never ridden a horse before so it was pretty exciting for them. Kai was stoked to be riding again, his first time since our last spring in San Diego. T enjoyed wearing her very own riding helmet which we'd given her as an early birthday gift. She loved that helmet so much that she wore it for about 5 hours straight the day before.

Of course horseback riding was followed by a horse cake and some very loud singing. But a good time was had by all. I should mention this was a twoonie party, so the horse fund was well supplemented. And showers at 7 pm that night felt so good. 

T's actual birthday fell on a school day. She had a birthday sleepover with her brother and came home after school to open presents that she had requested be hidden for her. She opened her new equestrian outfit, hoof pick, horses brushes, horse books, more contributions to her horse fund, and to her delight, some horse lego as well. She had a great day at school reveling in being the birthday girl and then headed out to her riding lesson after school. Our lovely neighbors made her birthday cupcakes so we really didn't have to do anything extra to make her day special. She was beaming from start to finish.  

I don't know if this horse thing will stick but for now it is certainly one of T's #1 passions. She is a tenacious and persistent little one, so perhaps there is a horse somewhere in her future. Its hard to convey in a blog post how much we love our Peach. She adds a special sparkle to everyday. I'm excited for her future; she has big ideas and big dreams and seems to already know what is important in life. But for now, we're enjoying her just turned 7 year old self who insists on reading her comics at the dinner table, never cleans up after her creative art storms, has befriended all of the neighbors (and their pets), is busy building a beaver dam on the school playground, and is the only one in our family who can catch and pick up Snuggles. Best. Girl. Ever. Happy 7th Birthday!