This past weekend, Labor Day 2013, Lily had a few firsts she found much delight and enjoyment experiencing.
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First, we spent most of the week in Red River and so she got to ride her bike all over a town she’d never ridden in before. She rode solo and attached to me, and got to meet a new friend, hang out in parks a good chunk of each day, discovered a new, hidden forest park, and when not on her bike, she was on her scooter, er, horse. 
We were able to attend dinner with Russ’s co-workers a few times, which allowed for some decent town walks, and she was on horse/scooter the entire time. One evening, our waitress, a particularly awesome woman, decided to turn our table into a salon while we awaited our food. Lily stepped right into character and painted the lady’s nails, on a chair, while we talked and waited for our enchiladas. 
Then, the three of us were lucky enough to catch a really great concert the last night we were in Red River. Ry Taylor ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ry-Taylor/114869191878768 ) sang with his side kick while we had wedge salads and quesoflats. This guy’s voice is so smooth and his demeanor is so welcoming, he had Lily crooning. She danced all over the restaurant, almost the entire time we were there. I won’t forget how she leaned on the table, feet from the guys, just watching and listening. THEN, they finished their song and spoke directly to her. Not missing a beat, she told them about her violin, her dancing, her singing, and how she wanted to play right along with them. They invited her to join their band! 
She can even dance on top of rocks. And yes, that outfit is all hers!
Then, she decided that she would take up Spanish… So, we are.
We continue in our Chinese character exploration, and added acrylic paint to the water color collection.
She’s never played with acrylics before… Examples of her creations are sure to be found soon.
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She braided my hair – her first ever human hair braid, and certainly first ever on me. I actually brushed my hair (while dry) so she could accomplish her task. She knows how hard that is for me, and so she took great care of my locks and swelled with pride and esteem that I would be willing to brush it dry just so she could do her thing, and do it she did! Flowers and all. It was beautiful.
She decided to help care for London a good part of each day, and took her on a number of pee outings, etc.. around our condo’s grounds.
By herself.
Including at the top of Upper Valley.
After a wonderful treat of being allowed to ride on the straight car seat all the way up the hill (a first), with a grown up seatbelt no less (another first), she then had the opportunity to take London on a short walk around the aspens and go wood and lost things hunting once at the top. On the way up, she declared she figured, being that she was in a seatbelt on the seat and stuff, that she must be a grown up now. At least a teenager… Her father and I simply agreed with her logic. Sure! Sounds good. Ok!
She also learned how to tend to her own bladder out in the open, without Mama holding her – quite. She’s learning. She did do a wonderful job of guiding ella perro, and just being with her, however. 
In keeping with the grown up all the sudden, or maybe teenager, theme.. She decided this weekend that she preferred to return to her own bedroom too… something about an upcoming camping trip with some friends, and her intent to be the oldest and biggest kid, own room, own space, ya know, that stuff. She has been sleeping in our room since Collin was with us, and the first few months of this year after a lovely experience with a vicious and violent Mor’du left her with some rather difficult dreams. So, her deciding to return to her bed, in her room, is a sign of development, courage, and significant overcoming of fear/insecurity that crept up much to our surprise and displeasure. This is a shot of our new camper – the one that we are bringing in from MI, shipped, for thousands less than we can get locally.. yep, that one.
And if all that wasn’t enough, she got a chance to ride a horse for a while, feed it, and play a bit with it, ornery as it was. I am still awaiting the images and video of this experience from Russ’s phone… We enjoyed our time with said horse… He enjoyed the freshly picked and sorted grass I led him around with. 😉 Even better, this month (September), the stables in Red River has a woman coming in to tend to the horses and she will offer Lily instruction on caring for horses, and riding with and without a saddle. Now, I just have to get her back down there a good bit in the next couple weeks.
