Tumbling Show # 4 and a Horse Show

Ali's camp is so much fun. Each week there is a "tumbling show" on Friday afternoon and the kids show off their skills - Ali enjoys performing and getting out in front of her friends every week has been a favorite hgilight from camp! I didn't know Ali had a crush on one of the teachers but I found out this week as she left the floor about five times to run over and give him a hug - very cute (he teaches Kindergarten Fun and Write Right) - this is very reminiscent of the crush the girls had on the Little Gym teacher, Mr. Travis (see a whole blog entry in a certain person's blog, ML)!



So, I have to put in a picture of the show, or Ali would be disappointed! So, here she is mid-forward roll:


We got up very early this morning to go to her first PA horseshow (and first real show) at her barn, Fox Hollow Farm, in Glenmoore PA. We had to be there at 7:30 and it's almost an hour away, so this was a very early Sunday morning.

Here is Ali in the stable before the show hanging out:



Here's my favorite picture of Ali on her favorite pony, Whisper. This pic is a keeper, and I will crop and frame:



The way the show works is that it is broken into different classes: Ali was in leadline with several other girls. They did three events: walk and walk/trot (both on leadline) and then walk (not on leadline). She placed 5th, 3rd and 4th, respectively. Her trotting with posting was superb - I am so proud of my baby girl!




And here she is with her three ribbons! This is great because until age 8 or so, each participant gets a ribbon for each event - what a great way to make them proud - it takes guts to get on a horse in front of a group of people and be able to focus through the event. This is an amazing opportunity for the young girls. And she loves it!

July 4th in the City

Ali and I decided to take advantage of the fact that most people LEAVE Manhattan for July 4th weekend and enjoyed a relatively empty city on the best weather weekend of the season so far. We had bright blue skies and 80 degreee temperatures three days in a row. And after a record 25 days in a row of rain, NY was in the mood to celebrate.





We arrived on Friday afternoon by train, which was Ali's first time, and a big deal, and met Grandpa at our hotel, the Embassy Suites in Battery Park City - Ali's favorite because of the glass elevators, the incredible view and the buffet breakfast. And my favorite because of the larger room and being right on Battery Park City - a block from the esplanade and one of the coolest parks ever. We took Ali to the playground where she got good and wet in the water area, climbed to her heart's content, played in the sand and pedaled on the carousel (last year her legs weren't long enough - she was so proud to be one of the "big kids" who pedaled to turn the carousel for the "little kids").




Friday night, we ate at a family favorite, Gigino's, with its outside tables overlooking NY Harbor. Ali likes it because there is a grassy area right by the tables and she can get up and run around with the other kids of the parents dining there. She recently learned how to do a rudimentary cartwheel and was revelling in trying her cartwheels and seeing how many forward rolls she could do in a row (current max is 5) and awing her grandparents! We walked both ways to the restaurant and back along the water - what a gorgeous way to spend an evening!






On Saturday, we took her to AG to get her American Girl doll with her gift certificate which was her birthday present from Uncle Stan and Aunt Lisa. This is a big deal as Rebecca Rubin's story parallels that of Ali's great grandmother, Frances Wolf (see earlier post). We also took time to walk around Rockefeller Center and have lunch at one of the cafes they put up in the skating rink during the summer.





On Saturday evening, we had dinner at a restaurant in BPC along the Esplanade, Steamer's, where we feasted on wonderful seafood and again enjoyed another gorgeous sunset. We then watched the fireworks from New Jersey - the Macy's fireworks, this year, were on barges in the Hudson River further uptown, and we purposely did not want to be in the crowds. However, our vantage point yielded a good partial view, and they looked amazing. And the NJ fireworks were a treat as there were two sets not too far apart and were beautiful in their own right.







On Sunday, we went to the grandparents' abode and hung out and went to Ali's favorite playground by their house and her favorite Japanese restaurant for lunch. Then, it was time to say good bye and take the train back to Philly where Toto was waiting with her Dad to pick Ali up at 30th Street Station - needless to say, she had a great time but the look of joy on her face when she saw Toto was priceless.... Note the last picture here is one that Ali took of my father and me - I am partially cut off but because she took it, I had to add it to the blog. What a great trip and I am so blessed with the world's best daughter and parents.