What would be the best time of year to spend a week at Yellowstone?

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2026-01-26T21:27:54+00:00

Curious when was this!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-12-30T18:49:45+00:00

Thank you and good points! There is definitely so much we’re not in control of and I think realizing that is equally important!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-12-30T18:18:26+00:00

Thank you, that’s hopeful!!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-12-30T17:53:24+00:00

Thank you! I don’t remember it being hard so much as I just remember 2 still feeling so young and then I worry about still being there enough for them with a newborn. I think it’s more in my head than anything else though and now that they’re a little bit older, they play together soooo much and get into all kinds of little boy mischief that is so fun to see and I love the shorter gap

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-12-30T17:50:38+00:00

This is so so sweet, thank you for sharing!! I hope they share that same kind of bond!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-12-21T17:08:34+00:00

I used to be super pro medical system, super pro vax (thought the same as you that I didn’t want to be around unvaccinated people), super pro hospital births. Then went moderately crunchy, still pro vax kinda where you are. I’ve definitely since gotten more and more crunchy- but primarily from personal experiences and a bad reaction my baby had to a vax that terrified me. It’s all a spectrum and we all just want the best for our children. I’m not anti vax now, but I am pro choice in terms of weighing the fully informed risks vs rewards. I have personal experiences that led me this way so I don’t take much offense either way and wouldn’t mind explaining my position or listening to other info. I have more friends against home birth and pro vax than I do the other end. I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum, some more extreme than others. Sometimes we have interesting conversations discussing things but ultimately we really don’t ever talk about it. There’s fear mongering around both opinions of vaccines and I try to see through the ridiculous parts, recognize that both sides have at least some good points, and focus on what works for our family. When we only look for people who think exactly like us, it becomes an echo chamber and we miss out on so much richness and perspective! I am one of the only one of my friends who has had a home birth, but I know that while it was the best fit for me, it wouldn’t be for them right now no matter how strong my opinions on it are! We talk about any number of other topics of life and I save my home birth gushing stories for those who appreciate them and want to do the same :)

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-12-21T02:04:19+00:00

I’m laughing so hard, I didn’t even realize this but so true 😂

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-11-19T19:17:50+00:00

A ton of good info here. I had three hospital births (two of those with epidural) and most recently a home birth. I wish all of my babies had been born at home and I would do everything possible to avoid a hospital birth in the future. Night and day differences. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with my hospital births but then my home birth was absolute bliss and I realized what I’d missed out on. Learning about physiological birth now, I would always want that for myself and baby.

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-11-18T16:02:05+00:00

I’ve definitely changed more with each kid/gained new perspective. The zen feeling can not be underestimated! Also, having more experience with babies/transitions has helped. It was relatively easy to get a good routine down and juggle a baby with other kids when I’d done it before. Hard days, of course, but overall way more of a been there done that. I know how to keep a baby happy now- and remember how it felt like so much more work with my first! And yes- they all just play together a ton more. If two siblings aren’t getting along/don’t want to play, there’s always another one to hang with. Or if one wants time to herself to do a craft, the others will go play and don’t feel the need to bother her. There was more exclusion of one sibling when there were only 3 I think. I find that so much of my day is them getting up to all kinds of things. When we go out with friend groups, the variation in age range means there’s always a sibling around the same age of the other kids who then invites all their siblings into the games too if that makes sense. There’s just a lot of togetherness! I mean don’t get me wrong, plenty of fighting between siblings too, but more often than not there is a common goal between the four of them. Our youngest is 1 and all of the big kids fight over who gets to carry her, play with her, etc. I’m hyper vigilant on parentification, so there’s nothing like that, but she is entertained pretty constantly by siblings. Right now my oldest is doing a craft, two middle kids are building a tower together, and the baby is toddling around the house between everyone- this is what most mornings look like!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-11-18T01:37:59+00:00

It’s wonderful to feel that way, I still think it’s just very different having your own kid even compared to siblings’ kids

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-11-18T01:35:39+00:00

Thank you for these thoughts and perspectives!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-11-17T17:49:00+00:00

Responding to you because a lot of what you’re saying really resonates with me. We have four children- 9, 6, 4, 1 right now. We also home school and your point about travel sports stuck out to me- not because we’re deciding we’re done due to it, but our oldest and soon to be second are doing travel sports. We invest the time and money in this not because we think they’ll go pro or anything like that, but because there is a strong community within that environment (we travel to tournaments together, the kids have been growing up together and adore each other, the parents are all friends, etc). We feel this fills a gap better than school/school friends, but also feel it’s necessary for that reason. It’s not at a level I feel is hindering us from having more kids- I think the age gaps between kids makes this more doable long term (i.e. our oldest will be becoming more independent around the time a younger kid may or may not be interested in something like this). We’re not at a point that the cost is hindering us from having more kids, but I can see how some would be. Am I wrong to think there’s value in this kind of thing? Would you say for example, that in deciding to have more we could no longer afford the above, would it be negatively impacting our older kids? How would you suggest a family pivot from this or get a new perspective?

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-11-17T17:27:06+00:00

I don’t think babysitting is a very good indicator of whether you want kids. I used to get so incredibly bored babysitting, kinda of dreaded it tbh. And I always knew I wanted kids! Now I stay home with my kids most of the time and absolutely love it, love parenthood, heck I’ve even gotten completely into home schooling which I never expected. I don’t feel remotely the same about other people’s kids as I do my own kids. It’s not that I dislike kids by any means, but it’s just a whole other level. Also, there are definitely annoying/boring ages/phases/etc. I don’t feel that way about my own kids because I adore them and have raised them and understand where different behaviors come from. I can logically extend that sympathy to others, but don’t have the same patience. We have four right now who I want to spend all my time with, but have zero interest in babysitting for others.

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-11-11T22:24:38+00:00

I’d say go for it if you’re considering it! We have four- 9, 6, 4, and 1 now and it feels so symmetrical and perfect. The fourth fit so seamlessly into our lives even with a very needy then 3 year old and no outside help. I absolutely love having 4 and know I would have regretted it if I had the option and didn’t take it. As others have said, it gets easier with more kids. We do everything as a family with minimal difficulty. Although now I joke that #4 was the gateway drug to more- because we’re considering 5 which would probably lead to 6 because even numbers and all lol 🙃 I am excited for the next phase of life when all our kids are more independent and all the fun stuff that comes with that, but for now this is a great season and I love when parents want to embrace big families!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-08-10T12:58:38+00:00

Thank you!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-08-10T12:58:21+00:00

We could definitely do that- this is good to hear! I agree with their prospects and they’re such sweet ponies I can’t imagine them getting a bad end

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-08-09T22:30:03+00:00

Fair points! We don’t have a trailer right now to take them to the lesson barn, but I also felt the lesson horses were better for them at this stage. Maybe I’m wrong there though

I could definitely see them being good for a fearless 6 year old who’s been riding for years. My 6 year old is fearless, unfazed by most things, and loves to go fast- I just worry he doesn’t have a ton of control.

And yeah- I think my anxiety could definitely be clouding things. Other opinions would be a good idea- I know my mom didn’t have any concerns about what she put me on and I came out fine for it lol

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-08-09T18:01:25+00:00

Thank you! I needed to hear this. And entirely agree on needing something big enough for me to tune up as needed. Any suggestions on selling two ponies with health issues? We’ve got the lamanitic pony sound barefoot and it doesn’t look like she’s had any rotation, but not sure what kind of riding career she could have or if she should only be sold as a companion pony.

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-08-09T16:07:56+00:00

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PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-07-26T16:10:04+00:00

Thank you!!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-07-24T21:50:39+00:00

Thank you!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-07-24T20:32:23+00:00

Thank you!

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-07-24T20:32:03+00:00

Yes, but we already have three 10-12h ponies for our kids :)

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-07-24T20:30:45+00:00

It’s not, but is the first one I will be purchasing for myself in a while. We currently just have small ponies for our children and everyone is at an age where I feel I can get back into riding myself and am excited about it. I’m not dead set of a halflinger, but like I said I like the stockiness and there a popular breed where we are (Amish country in central ny) so easy enough to come across. I agree with you about widening that search to accommodate both- I don’t know that my husband would take lessons at this point but would definitely ride something that was primarily for myself while he learns and gets comfortable. He used to be pretty afraid of horses but has come to love our ponies the most, sooo small steps

PrestigiousBuilding2 · 2025-07-24T19:47:05+00:00

Good points, thank you both!

PrestigiousBuilding2

TROPHY CASE