The first meeting of the "Pony Pals Club"

(Today, I was thinking about the fact I'd not yet shared this detail, and I'd better hurry up and do so considering I'm about to publish the second meeting very shortly.)

And the very first ever meeting of "The Pony Pals Club" was in session last month (already?).

Three girls joined our daughter, all eager to form this sweet club for discussing all things horse, horse riding, and more during the club's all girl once-a-month fun to come! 

One could feel the excitement in the air, mostly for this NEW and unknown club idea our daughter had dreamed and brought forth this meeting day. She worked hard to prepare; gathering, organizing, and baking beforehand over the week prior to the club meeting.

Four young girls brought their business part of the meeting to order. 

As the meeting rolled on, I haven't a real clue what they all formally discussed, but I do know anything about "horses, or horse riding" is very serious to these gals. 

Occasionally I did hear squeals of delight and a bit of excited laughter. So many ideas were being voiced at one time, great ideas at that, all necessitating someone to act as secretary for jotting them all down on paper.

And then the crafting began...

Small unfinished treasure boxes were to be decorated, using plenty of crafty supplies before them, including many paint color selections and brushes, and all went to work displaying their personal artistry.

These treasure boxes will serve to hold the small goodies the girls will pool together for gifting one another over the course of the months to come; horse stickers, small horse plastic replicas, horse hair things, and so forth.

What's a meeting without a snack? 

During the week our daughter baked a batch of sugar cookies, and wouldn't you know it, the horse cookie cutters were very popular this day! 

A simple dinner enhanced their time together because all had not been able to gather until later in the day with their prior committments to their own horse riding schedules, plus one gal wasn't able to join the fun because she had to be somewhere else. 

And just to keep the topic flowing well, a round of the board game; "Horseopoly", along with a few short films about horses ended the evening. We found these videos at the library which were quite rare and almost unheard of to all of the girls (BONUS!), making it a surprise and very fun ending to the first "Pony Pals Club" meeting.

The remains of the day included fine artistry, with a small plastic horse gifted to the girls for their treasure box's first goodie.

Didn't they all do a great job?

A birthday party; it's all in the details

" Mom, Can I decorate the dining room for my birthday this year?"

"Sure, what do you have in mind?"

"Streamers, balloons, and some other small details. And I would like to do it all by myself."

 

Okay then. 

That's really what she said to me, and she was serious, and organized, and feeling extra crafty as her birthday and pony pals club meeting fast approached.

 I had to contain myself a few times while noting this horse just hanging here. It looks like a stork delivery to me. :)

Streamers were wrapped around each chair.

My Roman, or maybe they're Greek pillars, well they were wrapped in blue too.

I've always enjoyed encouraging our children to create their own table centerpieces. We've had some real originals around here folks. 

So, what's a horse crazy party without a horse in the dead center of the table, used as the theme centerpiece? 

Because after all, having a BLUE theme included represents her chosen personal color theme for her accessories at the barn, and if this had a horse theme, it was to reflect her color preference there.

At least I think that's what she said, and meant for it to be ...

Oh, and she set out BLUE candles, for added ambiance to the meal.

 

And gold stars sprinkled about just like fairy dusting.

It's all in the details is what she said to me, and I believe she did a mighty fine job of it all.

But wait! There's much more to come!

LOVE is in the air...

 

Today, we are celebrating LOVE ...

... the love for our daughter, and her circle of horse loving friends who are gathering for the second "pony pal club" meeting / slash / and birthday party for our daughter. 

Our baby turned "12" (gasp!) on Thursday this week. She feels so grown up now, and her organizational skills have been amazingly active this past few days preparing for such a big day ahead. 

I'm so impressed with her, and all her attention to details!

With the exception of one gal over for her birthday last year, she has not had a birthday party in five years, something a large family doesn't really require with a full house already, but this year is really special for her because she has a few really lovely friends, all horse crazy gals like her, who all decided last month it would be a great idea to blend the next club meeting with a birthday party in honor of our daughter. How heart warming is that? Special I tell you, just special...

They are such a sweet bunch of lovely young ladies, and it's wonderful to see the friendships blooming.

 

Today LOVE is in the air, evidence aplenty with all the red, pink and white hearts festooned about the house to represent the "Pony Pal Club meeting theme", but the dining room and kitchen are blue, to represent her birthday and chosen personal colors for all her own horse accessories at the barn (all the riders have their own individual and varied colors at the barn). :) 

The "Pony Pal" gals who will be present today, will be making a few crafty things to bring home, and many more surprises await them.  

It will be such a fun day!

It's really cold outside today, wind chill factor ridiculous on the thermometer, maybe think of me as I am supposed to venture out during part of the party to take them all ice skating at our outdoor rink. Brrrr....

Who knows? 

Maybe we won't end up going if the wind doesn't ease up, and then again, we know most children think COLD is fine when they're moving around on ice. 

We'll have to wait and see! 

In the meantime, we're having a party just as soon as all the gals return home to change and prepare for their meeting, all having horse riding lessons beforehand.

Can't you just feel the LOVE represented here? 

Smiling at you because I saw you grin, even if just a little wee bit....