Kamryn and Liv came for a short visit the end of this week. They went to the last day of VBS in Jordan and we able to go to Linford's to see the baby colts. They are so cute! We got the girls used to the mares that are the three-year olds and two-year olds. They were so friendly and we gave them "cake" to eat out of our hands. I didn't take pictures of that, but the girls just relaxed around them. Then we walked over to see the saddle horses and two of the five LOVE peppermint candy, so we got slobbered on a little. Liv didn't like that very well!
Just a pass by before they decided they could come back!
Oh, would not it be nice to have one of those around? Cowboy tells me that it is hard to get them grown as they get in the wire and all kinds of serious trouble...
Pretty easy going baby and curious. Cowboy says that this little one is saying, "When I grow up, I am going to be BIG horse!"
They keep coming for a little treat from the pickup Jack drove in there.
Getting a little closer...
Nuzzling Wendy...
This is one of my favorite pictures. Kamy is relaxed and this little one just is so curious and wants to have a good sniff and be friends... Kamy is busy stroking one of the mares.
As Jennifer says, "Dad really likes the colts too!" He reins in his feelings with practicality and says, no colts.
Sunday was the last day at the ranch for the girls. Sunday morning was for riding. Since the stirrups had to be let down for Kamy, Liv got to ride first. She was instructed to pet and talk to Doc so he could get used to her and her voice.
A few more times around the lot.
Now she is on her own and the instructions begin... My palms are sweaty for her. Grandgirls so want to please their grandfathers and to do it right the FIRST time when we all know it takes time in the saddle to get some of those lessons. That is just the way it is...
Still working on the "steering"...
Kamy's turn to get acquainted with Doc since she grew up on "My Joe" and he has been her horse forever.
That small saddle is almost too small for her and the way she is shooting up, it will be sooner than later. Doc was a good teacher, but Cowboy thinks he would flimflam these kids before long. You know how those gentle horses can be.
There is nothing like being on a horse, smelling them, smelling leather, the feel of them under you. I was always so horse crazy myself. My maternal grandfather had lots of horses, so I must have inherited some of that love of horses. I could not get to the ranch soon enough in the summers so I could ride. Oh, I had lots of mishaps and buck offs and falloffs. Luckily I didn't have any broken bones. Now, the thought of mishaps and creaking bones...well, you know! I was so thankful Cowboy PopPop took the time this morning to saddle the horse and take the time with the girls as he was due at a branding at Joe's. These are the moments they will remember. Those fleeting moments when telling Mommy and Daddy about riding the horse!
There isn't anything like it and I feel sorry for those that have never gotten to experience being around horses...
Miss Sydney does not get to Montana very often and I have been saving these pictures for a day when I could pick and choose the pictures to post. Of all our grand girls she lives the farthest. If we had the funds we could "jet" everyone back and forth. But, we do lots of phone talking and the newest thing is getting on "Skype" and I think it is the BEST.
I hope I don't get in trouble for posting this as I have everyone's name listed. It was too precious not to share.
Cowboy PopPop, Auntie Cari, and Sydney tailing them...
Don't you love sequence pics...
From the back Cari and Tristin resemble. (For those of you that don't know, Tristin is Cari's niece).
Joe has got to be the all-time kid horse. He is so friendly and he is so gentle and kind. In the pecking order of horses, they ALL still pick on Joe. I just hate it for him. But this is such a sweet picture of his nature and to a small child, he must seem enormous!
Miss Sydney gives Joe a pat. Notice the "horse cat" walking the top of the fence. Tiggy thinks she is in charge of everything on the ranch!
Finally! Horseback!
Look Mom, I am sitting on Joe...
PopPop was trying to get the cow to eat "cow cake" out of his hand. Grandpa took them to go look at cows and calves. They also saw some sage hens with the roosters drumming, but between the dog and Sydney they were a little bit too noisy for the hens. Meghan was not able to hear them drumming. It is something neat to hear and witness.
I wish I knew what Sydney was thinking...
Bonnie brought bunny ears for everyone and the kids loved them. Grandma Margaret brought up plastic eggs with candy in them and the kids loved playing with them and hiding them and opening and eating the candy! There is nothing quite like getting to play with cousins. We were glad that Maggie and Angus came for part of the Saturday before Easter.
Maggie and Angus are VERY busy dying Easter eggs. The table is spread with freezer paper. Much easier clean up. Cookie day has us trained on what works best with kids. As an aside, when I put the leaf in the table I found green frosting on the edge from cookie day that had been in December... Ah, well, I had a quick walk down memory lane.
Rachel, Tristin, and Sydney getting ready to dye some eggs. I dye eggs even if we have no one for Easter. I love the colored eggs and we all like to eat deviled eggs. Why doesn't one fix them more often? One of those questions that float by.
I think Cari is helping one of them get their egg out of the dye...
Sydney helping Mommy and PopPop swing gates before they brand the new bulls.
Easter morning...
We had hot cross buns. I tried Martha Stewart's recipe and it is definitely a keeper and better than the one I was using! The table topper I made to be used at Easter. It is so bright and cheery. I used some of the Nickel packets. I saw the pattern in one of the quilt shops and decided I wanted to try it.
We went to the church service at Sand Springs. They had a potluck before the service, so after the service there was dessert to be had for our sweet tooth people! You know who you are! Tristin, Rachel, and Cari left after the church service to get back to Billings and Bozeman respectively. We still had Sydney, Meghan, Erin, and Nicole.
I love pictures like this... What little girl doesn't love horses? Look at those curious "boys" looking at that wee little girl. There is nothing so soft as a horse's muzzle...
This ends our time with Miss Sydney and I saved that picture for last. It makes me sad typing this as she is so far away and I would like her to touch those horses a little more often... Our babies all grow so fast and as we get older we see the days just fanning by. Weren't we all just 30 something not long ago?
One last thought on the picture. Cowboy likes to say, "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a girl." I took the liberty of changing that a little. I think that quote is from Will Rogers or someone else. Does anyone know for sure?
