Better than BreyerFest

In May of 2011, my family traveled to St Louis to visit Seth's brother, Jason, his wife, Katie and their daughter, Liliana. Lilie was only two and a half, but she already had the makings of a true horse girl. 

We bonded over a carriage horse named Dan, and later I told Seth that she should have been my daughter.

Four years later, Lilie and her family came to Colorado for Thanksgiving

The weather was terrible, but we went to the barn anyway.

Lilie rode Santana until her lips turned blue and her teeth were chattering. Even then, I had to forcibly remove her from him.

After we went home and warmed up, I gave her a Breyer horse.

She named him Trooper, and he was her constant companion for the rest of the trip.

After they left, I told Seth again, "That one should be my daughter."

In the years since then, I've watched Lilie grow up on Facebook. It's clear that she is still my kind of kid.

Liliana at horse camp, 2017

She's almost eleven now, which is the perfect age for an extended visit. Seth and I offered, and Jason and Katie accepted. In a few hours, I'll pick my niece horse daughter at the airport. 

I am so excited! I can't wait!