HORSERIDING

Josephine is as obsessed with horses as ever (and Coralie too) especially after her ride when we were in Cornwall. My Auntie Jane looks after a horse, and had suggested bringing the girls along one morning to help her groom them and have a little ride. As you can imagine, the girls were pretty happy.

That morning, Phiney told me she didn't want to ride...I think she was excited and nervous and didn't quite know what to make of those emotions. I said that she should wait until we got there to see how she felt, and of course she instantly fell in love with Missy and wanted to ride as soon as she could.

As always, this parenting malarkey is a constant learning curve. Josephine can be quite sensitive and shy at times, and we've learnt that giving her some time to find her confidence (it mostly only takes her ten minutes) is the best way.

The girls both loved grooming Missy and Floyd, feeding them hay and carrots and finding poop to be cleaned away! Mostly though, they loved riding! Phiney rode the most, but Coralie was determined to have a go too, and rode behind Josephine for ages. There was always someone holding onto her (my cousin came too!) and she loooooved it.

We were laughing at how Josephine has this perfect rider's posture - that she could compete in dressage - and Coralie has this nonchalant, cowgirl-esque stance!!

I'm pretty sure horses are going to play a part in Josephine's future - and maybe Coralie's too!

HORSE LOVERS

Our girls looooove horses. From real life ones to unicorns, My Little Pony (not that they've ever watched it!) to their favourite Schleich models. A few weeks ago I suggested taking their current favourite horses (which my Grandparent's gave them when we stayed with them last month) to the meadow and they were thrilled. I love how much it's the simple things that excite them the most. The horses galloped through the grass, went on the swing and were pushed down the slide. Happy days :)

And I just love these photos. Their happy faces as they play together has got to be one of the things that makes me most proud to be their Mama, and which makes me sure we're doing a pretty good job at this parenting malarkey.

FOOTBALL AND CLIMBING: raising girls

On a Saturday afternoon, there's nothing better than grabbing the football and heading to the meadow for a kick about. Both the girl's love football - Josephine is getting really good, and Coralie is starting to realise that she should be kicking the ball not just picking it up and running off with it! We couldn't leave without a quick go on the swing and the slide, and a spot of climbing too. Both our girls are pretty fearless, although I think Josephine's hitting more of an age where she's aware of what could happen if she fell, and she's a little more wary sometimes. Coralie on the other is happy to launch herself off anything, and trusts that someone will be there to catch her...even if they don't expect to. Ben's face in one of the pictures of Coralie mid-air is so funny, and sums up exactly what I'm talking about!

Simple, outdoor adventures like this are what summer and childhood is all about, and hope there are many more lazy days like this to come in the summer holidays.