Ivy went along on the trip with John to Michigan. Talking to her you’d never guess that they were there for Storms surgery, nope, clearly in Ivy’s world the trip to Michigan was all about the pony ride.

It comes up in conversation (or out of the blue) like this:

-“MOM GUESS WHAT? …  I got to ride a pony!”

-“MOM you know what I did? … I rode a pony with Uncle Jim!”

-“MOM you know what feel you better? … Riding a pony!”

-“MOM I rode a pony with Uncle Jim like at the fair.  …. It was better than the fair.”

-“MOM we go to Michigan again and I ride a pony?”

Clearly the pony ride was a big hit!

Only two things can compete with the pony ride.

The stuffed pink poodle that she got as a gift that she actually threw(? lost? dropped?) out the window on the drive home. Lucky for Ivy Dad was the hero and went back for it.

“Mom, my puppy flew out the window, and you know who turned around and got it? DAD! And it wasn’t even dirty!”

Since it’s rescue it has accompanied her everywhere and has been called either Grandma Mary or Finley, she might not be sure of the name but it’s not getting let go of long enough to fall out a window again that’s for sure!

And my favorite, her story about the kitten:

“Mom you know what I did?”

“I held a tiny kitty, I held it like this” – mimed cupping hands against chest

“It was soo tiny and so black Mom, it was so black”

“And, and it’s eyes were closed!”

-I asked how big it was-

“It was NOT big Mom it was TINY!”

After our conversation I saw the picture, she was right it was tiny!