And just like that….she fell in love

Elena’s birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks. She hasn’t made many requests for birthday gifts. Which had me scrambling to come up with something to mark the occasion.

So since Elena is all about horses these days, I asked my sweet friend Anna if she would mind taking Elena to the barn with her and letting her be around the horses for a bit.

She responded with such enthusiasm that it made me feel like I was the one doing HER the favor.

I decided to surprise Elena. That was almost a big mistake. Because when I took her away from playing with her friend Elie and told her we were taking Katie to her friend’s house and then she and I were going to run a couple of errands……well let’s just say that the legendary mad face she has in her arsenal was close to making an appearance.

But she brightened up after I started giving her hints and by the time we got to the barn she was fairly bouncing in her seat with excitement.

Until we got out of the car and she saw just how big horses are up close and personal.

Then she got a little nervous.

She sat in my lap and buried her face in my neck the way she does when she is a little unsure of her surroundings.

But Anna showed her around the barn and let her groom Toby and she felt a little better.

Still……the nerves remained.

She swallowed hard and mounted Toby.

Hmmmmmm. I don’t know about this….

That’s her “trying not look afraid” face.

So is this.

But by the time they’d taken a few turns around the yard a hint of a smile was beginning to emerge.

A walk down the lane

and back

resulted in this.

And just like that, my little girl lost her heart to a boy named Toby.

And given a look at this face,

I’m pretty sure the feeling was mutual.

Thanks Anna. You are a true friend. In every sense of the word. Unselfish and loving to your very core. We’re lucky to know you.