Riding the Range

So Alyssa is officially six.  We had several days of celebrations - she got to take in barn owl cupcakes to her daycare.  She wanted to take them to Anser since that is where they are studying birds, but one of the other girls in class brought in the same cupcakes for snack a few weeks before Alyssa's birthday.  We had already searched the internet and decided what we were taking in at that time, but she wanted to be original, so that derailed our plans.  Alyssa was pretty upset, but she came up with a good solution all on her own, she decided to switch the cupcakes around - so the owl cupcakes went to KASP on Friday before her birthday and rainbow cupcakes went to Anser on Monday after her birthday.

On her birthday (Sunday) Alyssa really wanted to go horseback riding.  I found a place about an hour out of town that does trail rides and they would take riders six years old and up, no experience required (their horses are very well trained).  Anyway, I reserved an hour and a half ride for all six of us - Alyssa, Katelyn, Mike's Mom, my Mom, Mike and myself.  We started with a birthday breakfast at Cracker Barrel - complete with birthday cake (because who doesn't eat birthday cake at 10:00 a.m.!)

After breakfast we headed out of town.  The girls and the grandmas watched Wreck It Ralph in the back seat on the way up to Garden Valley.  And then it was time to get on the horses.

Alyssa's horse was named Rosie; Katelyn's horse was named Moose (he was a big boy!):

And of course the Birthday Girl was the first in line:

We had a good time; the ride was scenic; we spotted several deer...but man, that was a painful experience for my behind!  I'm only now able to sit without cringing.

When we got back to Boise we went out to dinner (where Alyssa got a birthday Sundae) and when we got home she opened her presents:

At the end of the day I was rewarded with a "Mommy, this was the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!" - I'm not sure how you top that, but I'm guessing we will try next year.