I birthed a cowgirl?

Somehow it happened- no one would believe it (including me) but my oldest child says "ya'll", loves grits, and is happiest on the back of a horse. Yesterday, Iwalani became the 4th generation of Friskillos to ride in the Woodstock Saddle Club Horse Show.

This summer I planned on signing Iwa up for some activity and never did. Soccer, little league, dance.. something. I felt kinda bad. Then I realized that she's already signed up for an activity just by being in the family. Kinda like she signed herself up.

I was really surprised how serious she is about this. I mean, she's still a four year old girl, but when it comes to riding horses she's all business.

Here she is before we left the house in her western gear. We're definitely going to have to get her a cowgirl hat. a

Here are Iwa and Uncle Buck getting Savannah ready to ride. She normally rides a 2 year old colt named Snooky but he was just broke and has never been ridden in a crowd. It didn't matter to her, though, because according to her, all the animals at Grandpa's house are hers- she just shares.

She borrowed one of Tootie's hats. All the other kids were matching their lead-in partners but Buck didn't have a pink western shirt with glittery stars. We'll work on that, too.

Iwa and Savannah and the pink halter she "bought" for her (or got Buck to buy for her) because "everything has to match me" and of course that means everything needs to be pink.

Iwa and Buck in the arena:

Iwa and Grandpa Tony and a beautiful sky. We stayed later and rode around and watched the barrel racing. She's looking forward to doing that.

She got 4th place (out of four) but she really had no idea it was a competition. The other girls were on ponys and were all dolled up. She was just happy to be out there...

...and that's how a true cowgirl should be.