Jillian & Bryce!

Jillian is the next Grand Daughter to come and spend a few days with us.  She also loved her time here....She learned an immense amount of outdoor life, ...and relearned the love of horses.

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Here, Wayne is "scaring" her.... in the loft of the barn.  What kid doesn't want to spend countless hours exploring a barn with history like this one?

Yep, we are mean sometimes.... we tied her up!

At Cascade's parade

My Son Evan, (Jillian's Daddy) has been working in McCall, so he visits from time to time.

Jillian loves to have her picture taken, so of course I oblige!

Bryce and Jillian

We have this horse that is literally worth his weight in Gold.  He is super gentle, and loves to be handled by children.  All of our Grandchildren have learned a lot from him. 

Every single kid that has come here, has put themselves in this kennel.  I swear we do not do it!

Roping is something they all learn while here, ...to be like Grandpa

Bryce loves his Grandpa

We take salt out to the calves, and the kids get to get up close and personal with the calves.

Jess grew up in Bruneau and riding horses.  It had been years since she rode, but she has the bug again.

Jess has rekindled a love or horses and riding, thanks to "Beamer"  she also spent a few weeks with us, along with her kids.... living this quiet life.

This was Jillian's first ride out into the fields...she loved it.... She rode many times out in the fields...jumping little ditches...losing her hat (yes, I got off several times to retrieve it) and learning to trust her horse.  There were times she didn't want to.... going thru some deep water, but she learned he knew what he was doing, and she was going to go thru whether she wanted to or not. 

This old wagon sits just a bit away from our house.  Each child has spent countless hours sitting on it, and probably imagining traveling across the country years ago....

These kids are "on top of the world"

One of Bryce's favorite things.... to be sprayed by Wayne..

He backed up to Wayne and said "Don't get me!!!"

Could this kid look any happier?

We don't worry too much about them getting dirty.  We play hard, work hard....it's all good

This is another one of our horses that LOVES children.  She needed to "taste test" Bryce's hat.... I had asked him to stand there for a picture...and stand there he did..... he's not scared of anything...and she'd never hurt him.

he's probably thinking "Can I move yet?"

Remember the days of drinking from the hose?  We all survived.... and that is some of the best water around.  Who needs bottled water?

a Flower for Grandma

Jumping for Joy!

We make sure they are in a safe contained area to start with, on their own.

Jillian even learned to go over little jumps on her own.

She's a happy girl!

We like to show them that they can move around in the saddle...and be relaxed.

Then we give them a bit of freedom.  She was out in the fields hunting gophers.  I didn't know that, til she came back and told me.  I thought she was just riding around.  Tell me what kid wouldn't want this life?

One thing I'm determined about, is helping them to do things themselves.  So, she puts her own horse away, and I am only there to help if need be.  Yep it takes more time than it would, if I just did it myself, but she gains a confidence that is more than worth it.  This horse continues paying for himself by his patience.

I know it seems like I talk about my Grand kids a lot,.... but is there anything to be more proud of?  I think not!  There is more to come!

Jessie