Horses & Boats & Kayaks OH MY!

Colton and Je'Mari are in love with Inkom.

It was last minute that Mari came with us.

Originally, he was supposed to spend the weekend with his dad. 

But after tears and a bit of pouting, his Mama Lila sent him with us.

These two have "their" horses.

Mari's is Wasabi.

Colton's is Jasmine.

They aren't "their" horses, but they sure do a good job with them!!

Once Matt and I get them caught and haltered, the boys go right to work brushing them out, talking to them, getting their blankets on them and patiently waiting for Matt and I to saddle them up and get bridles on them.

They are both much more confident on them and are really, really good on hills now.

I got on Winchester again.

I was a bit nervous. Matt reminded me not to be nervous and that I was in control.

Chester and I had a little talk about how we would not be doing a rodeo again.

He was a dream!!

We were even able to sneak in a date night and go listen to Kade play in Lava.

He has the most beautiful voice and is so talented on instruments.

Sunday, we went to the lake with family.

Colton was all about getting in the kayaks with Matt.

Matt got him right in and Colton was in heaven!!

Later, he went all around the whole lake with Loni!!!

Aunt Amy took the little ones hiking for a few minutes.

The rest of us grown-ups just sat and watched!!

Everyone took turns piling into Mema's new boat.

Colton, Mari and Coleman went in the tube that was pulled behind the boat.

They had a blast!!!

Little Makayla even tried out the kayak on her very own right next to shore.

She is such a sassy little thing!!

My Rodeo

Matt and I went on a ride by ourselves this weekend.

He rode his horse (Fritz).

I rode Winchester.

This was my second time riding Winchester. 

The first time, he was an absolute dream. 

He has been on all of the rides with us and was a perfect angel.

Well, something went wrong.

There we were, right between a steep hill down and a steep hill up and Winchester decided he did not want anyone on him anymore. I did everything I have ever been taught to do on a horse. Matt was able to get close enough to me with Fritz that he was able to grab the halter and get the bit out of his mouth. I got off of Winchester carefully and got onto Fritz.

Matt tried to get control of Winchester.

It was rough.

He tried to buck Matt off.

Matt used the halter and plow drove him home the whole way.

Fritzy was so sweet and gentle with me the whole way home.

Fritz got to graze on the front lawn while Winchester watched.

The next day, we took Coleman with us.

This time, I rode Jasmine. She's pretty much perfection, but it was my first time riding her.

I love her!

Coleman rode Teddy.

We were going to pony the two wild mustangs, but Teddy wasn't having that!

So, we just enjoyed a nice calm ride.

Matt had to catch two loose neighbor horses.

He did it like it was nothing but a thing!

And all was well.

Shooting & Riding

Matt told everyone that he had two jobs on Saturday: take Heidi shooting and take Heidi out on the horses.

He did not disappoint!!

First up was shooting. 

He took some epic videos of me shooting big guns!

It was the funnest.

I like the 357 Magnum the very best.

I kept asking him to re-load it for me over and over and over again.

And he kept re-loading it for me over and over and over again.

Then, it was off to go on a short horseback ride.

The amount of work that he has to put in to get five people on horses happily is a LOT.

He never complained. He never acted like this wasn't his favorite thing to do ever.

He did it.

I was in Heaven.

Wasabi was a bit naughty, but by the end, she was good!

The weather was perfect.

And this girl was in Heaven!!!!