Horseback riding

We spent an evening at Wade and Bonnie's house riding their horses. We talked about doing this for a couple of weeks before we actually got our schedules worked out. In the mean time we spent a night at the rodeo where the kids got all excited about riding. The rodeo was the reason I planed our vacation when I did. I have missed them over the years and here in Great Falls they want an arm and a leg to go! Anyways, the rodeo was a hit with everyone. So, on the day we went to Wade's once again I was telling Kennedy about getting to ride the horses, so she was so excited to ride in the RODEO! She was a little sad about not getting to be a rodeo queen. I think Trevan was first on a horse. He is on Junior, who by the way always scares me. Kierstan was leading them around and at one point some of the horses got to close to Junior for his liking and so he tried to kick them. It was at that point that Trevan was done, just done! He did try to "cowboy up" and feed another horse Ace out of his hand.

Mason is on a horse that I forget the name of. At first someone was leading them but Mason decided he could do it alone. Yes, the same Mason who was afraid to ride the horses at the fair's in Germany where they just tie them together and lead them in a circle!

Anyways, he loved it. The horse was start to jog a little and he would laugh so hard. Also this (as well as all horses) horse had a mind of his own. He knew Mason wasn't the boss so he would stop and eat whenever he felt like it. At one point he just made his way right into the barn to help himself.

Once Kennedy realized how big horses really are she was not going to have anything to do with them. After being there about an hour we started to try to get her to warm up to one. Ace is a very gentle horse. She was ok with petting his mane but when I tried to put her on she freaked. Here, Wade is trying again to help her warm up.

We decided to just put her on with George. She wasn't too thrilled at first so we told her it was just to take a picture. And that is all we got! She did not want to ride! Thanks Wade and Bonnie for sharing with us!!!! Can't wait to ride again.

We also spent a day on Utah Lake with Mike and Chyleen. That was so much fun. We all loved swimming and riding in the boat and the water weenie. George had never done anything like that before so it was extra fun for him. Mason and Trevan both loved the water weenie. They were both a little worried about when they were going to fall off but quickly found that life jackets really do work. I have to say I was most amazed at my sister Hollie. She was all for doing it all! (if that makes sense?) I never would have thought she would ride the water thing but she did, and she was good at it. I would fall off after a few bumps but not her, she had the death grip and it worked for her. I'm sure she was sore the week after though. Kennedy never did get in the water, but she was not about to get out of the boat! She at first was scared that Mike would go too fast, but a little while into it she was yelling faster faster! Thanks Mike and Chyleen, next summer can't come soon enough for me!

A very special thanks to Laura and Jeff for letting us stay with you guys for 2 weeks! We have such fun memories from this time, sickness included! Which by the way I brought it home with me and was sick for a couple of days! We always had something to do while there, whether it was going on an outing or just swimming in the pool. We brought home with us two very tan kids and one brown boy! (I can't say Mason is tan because he is totally a brown color!)