Susan and Rex

Thanksgiving, memories & fun...

2008-12-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

We spent Thanksgiving at Korahle & Ron's house. We all helped make part of the dinner. I made pies - chocolate, apple, banana, pecan & pumpkin; and one of the stuffed turkeys. (Yes, the pecan pie is missing a sliver. It HAD to be sampled before dinner.)

There were lots of us around the tables to stuff our faces. However, this was the first year in her life that Alisha wasn't there with us which was pretty sad! She was in Texas where she ate prime rib instead of turkey with friends.

Rex & Susan:

Rex, Sheena, Taylor & Cody:

Cody, Adriane, Grandma, Korahle & Rex:

Brooklyn, Birdie & Zach:Gary, Ron, Little B, Brandon holding Brody, Casey, Christene & Ashli (hiding her belly, baby Kyra is due on Christmas):

Cousins, Taylor and Birdie aka Candace, have become fast friends!! Watch out for these two!!

Adriane was home from Fresno State Univ. for the holiday. I always love having her around. We had a relaxing and fun time....we saw 2 movies, Twilight (Adriane is in love with a vampire now) and Four Christmases - go see it if you need to laugh!! It's really funny!! We did some shopping and we ate, ate, ate!

Cody & Adriane

Sheena & Adriane

Mother/daughter

BUT...

The most memorable thing about this Thanksgiving will be the memories of Rex helping with the dishes. For those of you that know Rex you'll understand!

Look what a year does in the life of a child...

2008-11-19T20:51:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken one year ago

on a beautiful fall afternoon at Murray Park with Taylor.

I remember being amazed that she had no fear of the ducks and geese.

This was taken today, same place - Murray Park,

on the same kind of beautiful fall day

with little Miss Taylor.

Yes, she was pretty much bossing the ducks around! :)

I love being a grandma and spending time with Taylor! I'm so lucky to be able to spend so much time with her and I love watching her grow and learn. As you can see from these pictures, she's sure grown a bunch in the past year. I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful grandaughter...Thanks Cody & Sheena!

***************

Oh, I got to thinking....

If you read my post about my daughters growing up with horses

well, I hope to be starting this again

but with my grandaughter growing up with horses

Problem is that Cody doesn't like horses much and Sheena hasn't had the chance to fall in love with them yet, but...

:) :)Sorry mom & dad, I think she's hooked :) :)

Aunt Adriane teaching Taylor how to ride Rosie

50 years in one place leaves alot of memories...

2008-11-17T20:33:00.000-08:00

Today was a hard day for Beth (Rex's mom). She closed on the sale of her home of 50 years. About a year ago she moved into an apartment at the Legacy Retirement Center. It's a really nice place where there is always someone there if she should need something. They cook and serve her meals in a beautiful dining room, clean her apartment and provide wonderful opportunites for entertainment and companionship. She wasn't keen on the idea of moving from her home, but after a fall where she broke her arm it was evident that she wouldn't be able to live alone anymore. She has been there just over a year and is adjusting to her new living arrangements somewhat. She doesn't participate as much as we would like her to, but seems content. We wish her continued good health and happiness!!

Lots of fond memories of family, friends and love!

2006 was our last Christmas at Grandma's house...

Home away from home...

2008-11-17T20:01:00.000-08:00

Adriane called me to tell me that she loves my blog. I want to tell her that I love her and her 2 wonderful roomates, Jill and Asheline! They make Adriane's apartment like a home...they are cool like that! Also I want to say thanks to them for letting me hang out at their place when I come to Fresno for visits. Thanks girls!!

Because My Daughters Grew Up With Horses...

2008-11-15T23:26:00.000-08:00

I wish I could say that I wrote this, but I didn't.

I see so much truth in it though....and so I wanted to share it

...Susan

"My daughter turned sixteen years old today; which is a milestone for most people. Besides looking at baby photos and childhood trinkets with her, I took time to reflect on the young woman my daughter had become and the choices she would face in the future. As I looked at her I could see the athlete she was, and determined woman she would soon be.

I started thinking about some girls we knew in our town who were already pregnant, pierced in several places, hair every color under the sun, drop outs, drug addicts and on the fast tract to nowhere, seeking surface identities because they had no inner self esteem. The parents of these same girls have asked me why I "waste" the money on horses so my daughter can ride. I'm told she will grow out of it, lose interest, discover boys, and all kinds of things that try to pin the current generation's "slacker" label on my child. I don't think it will happen, I think she will love and have horses all her life.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has compassion. She knows that we must take special care of the very young and the very old. We must make sure those without voices to speak of their pain are still cared for.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned responsibility for others than herself. She learned that regardless of the weather you must still care for those you have the stewardship of. There are no "days off" just because you don't feel like being a horse owner that day. She learned that for every hour of fun you have there are days of hard slogging work you must do first.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned not to be afraid of getting dirty and that appearances don't matter to most breathing things in the world we live in. Horses do not care about designer clothes, jewelry, pretty hairdos or anything else we put on our bodies to try to impress others. What a horse cares about are your abilities to work within his natural world, he doesn't care if you're wearing $80.00 jeans while you do it.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned about sex and how it can both enrich and complicate lives. She learned that it only takes one time to produce a baby, and the only way to ensure babies aren't produced is not to breed. She learned how babies are planned, made, born and, sadly, sometimes die before reaching their potential. She learned how sleepless nights and trying to outsmart a crafty old broodmare could result in getting to see, as non-horse owning people rarely do, the birth of a true miracle.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she understands the value of money. Every dollar can be translated into bales of hay, bags of feed or farrier visits. Purchasing non-necessities during lean times can mean the difference between feed and good care, or neglect and starvation. She has learned to judge the level of her care against the care she sees provided by others and to make sure her standards never lower, and only increase as her knowledge grows.

Because my daughter grew up with horse she has learned to learn on her own. She has had teachers that cannot speak, nor write, nor communicate beyond body language and reactions. She has had to learn to "read" her surrounding for both safe and unsafe objects, to look for hazards where others might only see a pretty meadow. She has learned to judge people as she judges horses. She looks beyond appearances and trappings to see what is within.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned sportsmanship to a high degree. Everyone that competes fairly is a winner. Trophies and ribbons may prove someone a winner, but they do not prove someone is a horseman. She has also learned that some people will do anything to win, regardless of who it hurts. She knows that those who will cheat in the show ring will also cheat in other aspects of their life and are not to be trusted.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has self-esteem and an engaging personality. She can talk to anyone she meets with confidence, because she has to express herself to her horse with more than words. She knows the satisfaction of controlling and teaching a 1000+ pound animal that will yield willingly to her gentle touch and ignore the more forceful and inept handling of those stronger than she is. She holds herself with poise and professionalism in the company of those far older than herself.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to plan ahead. She knows that choices made today can effect what happens five years down the road. She knows that you cannot care for and protect your investments without savings to fall back on. She knows the value of land and buildings. And that caring for your vehicle can mean the difference between easy travel or being stranded on the side of the road with a four horse trailer on a hot day.

When I look at what she has learned and what it will help her become, I can honestly say the I haven't "wasted" a penny on providing her with horses. I only wish that all children had the same opportunities to learn these lessons from horses before setting out on the road to adulthood.

...Annonymous

And...horses are still a part of their livesRex, Alisha & Susan in front of Alisha's office
at the American Paint Horse Association in Fort Worth, Texas

Adriane competing as a horsemanship rider on Fresno State University NCAA Equestrian Team

It's About Time

2008-11-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

I've decided to get with the program and start my own blog. My family is spread out so this will be a fun way for me to send you each a bit of "back home".

Winter seems to have come too soon this fall. My daughters, Alisha & Adriane who live in places without snow...Texas & California...say they miss this. However, my son Cody is ecstatic I'm sure so that he can soon hit the slopes on his skis! I think I could do without it until Christmas.