Admittedly, landscapers have the upper hand when creating beauty, but the natural beauty in my back yard from an irrigation ditch is pretty unbeatable (with a little help from Earl)!
How can life get any better? Having the opportunity to experience the workings of the vacuum cleaner with the vacuume expert is definitely living the charmed life!
My Dad has had minature ponies for years. We have had family pictures taken with the ponies and pony cart. As it has become increasingly difficult for him to get out and tend the ponies, he has reluctantly sold some of them. I have been the fortunate recipient of his kindness and selected the first minature he purchased to pull the cart. I also got the last of the little boys from last year's crop.
I named the older female, "Lou," after my Mom, because she loved to go out and brush and comb the ponies. The grandkids named the little boy, "Jake," because they wanted to.
The baby boys -- Evan and Eli -- were introduced to Lou and Jake and I think they liked them.
We started our "getting to know you" session by feeding Lou sugar cubes to coax her over to us and get used to the kids. As soon as Ellie decided it was her mission to train Lou, she got a bucket of grain and began brushing and talking to her. Next came the lead rope and lessons in leading her around the pen. Now, she is in charge of catching Lou and letting the other kids pet her. It is definitely a charmed life!
I love it that Ellie wants to have the ponies be part of her life. She wears her boots and a western shirt and jeans out to spend time with them. She actually coaxed Jake up close enough to give him a quick pat today. Just that knowledge in a little girl's mind that animals can be your friends too is part of living a wonderful life.
Don't be scared! Ellie really is not going in the creek headfirst while Luke looks on! They are hunting for snails on the rocks in the creek. That's what I call a charmed life!
The "GRAND"kids! They look happy -- don't they? This was after I told them the lesson in life on willows and bare legs -- promising the joy of experiencing it first-hand if I didn't get cooperation from each of them! Learning obedience from really being motivated is part of living a charmed life!
Ellie Jo -- my favorite first grand-daughter!
Luke - my favorite first grand-son!
Tess - my favorite little mini-me!
Mia - my favorite little ball of fire named after my Mother!
Noah - my favorite little "McNeil-natured" child. Don't try to break a McNeil -- because you can't -- that is unless your Mother is a McNeil and then....holy moly!!! Watch out! It is a battle royal!!!
Elijah and Evan - my two favorite baby boys! I'm a little scared for the future -- because what one doesn't think of, I'm afraid the other one will! Jack and Rajko are the only grandchildren missing from this post, so we'll have to catch up with them next time they're here. As for me....as you can see -- I'm still livin' "the charmed life!"
10 comments:
SOLD!!!! We are packing our bags and moving up there right now!!!
Oh, I LOVE your charmed life and I love the charmed life you've given me. I love that Jack will get to be a part of that too, and already is. I can't wait for him to pet Lou and Jack this week and to have some of the memories I have of growing up with the farm animals at Grandpa and Grandma's.
The yard looks beautiful and I do love this time of year up there.
Rob has always had a special bond with the grandkids, and I'm glad he can impart some of his wisdom on them!
We love and miss you and can't wait to see you this week!
Oh crap, that comment was actually from me!
And you always talk about me being contemplative on my blog...
I will admit that you do have a pretty "charmed life". A beautiful house and yard, and great husband, FANTASTIC children, wonderful grandchildren. Thanks for sharing that charmed life with me and my children.
I can't believe that in one week we have gone from dropping the sugar cubes on the ground to catching, brushing, and walking the pony. She needs a project and this seems to be her fix! I just can't believe how old she is getting. I can remember saddling Lacey all by myself and being so proud. I thought I was going to be a rodeo queen when I was younger. Now that is what I call the charmed life. You are always so good to document all that is going on. I love to walk around your yards and see all the trees and how they have matured. I hope I can give my kids as much as you gave me!
I'm not really sure that I have the emotional stability to comment right now....you have me in tears. I'll keep it short but please know how much I love your post. It is beautiful and it is probably my deepest wish that Rajko will get to live the charmed life with his cousins. I want him to wear South Summit sweatshirts and play with the ponies, play in the creek, play with his cousins, really know Rob, learn to farm, live surrounded by that beauty, and the list goes on and on...I'll just keep praying that life blows us back that way. For now, I'll just keep looking at this post and crying...
You do have a charmed life and I know how you feel, the greatest joy comes with those grandchildren and letting them experince the simple things in life. It doesn't have to be technical to have fun and be out in the open and pause to see all of God's creations, and know that they are safe at Grandma & Grandpa's and having the time of their lives getting wet, riding horses, chasing bugs, and smelling flowers. It is truly a charmed life and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Dixie
My dad wasn't one of those brother in laws that ever said that right..... lol. Your family is so blessed to have a mom that makes it possible to live a charmed life and to pass on all the simple pleasures of the lifestyle that you love and grew up with. I think it runs in your family? Grandma did a good job making sure that all of her children could enjoy the way of life she loved and could live thier own charmed lives and it has obviously stuck with a few of you because it is still being passed on...
Evan loved meeting the new ponies, but seemingly not as much as he loved crawling on the trampoline. Thank you for all the time and energy you spend on making your grandkids love being at grandma's house.
What a great post Billie Sue! I always love reading them. I think it is great how much time you spend with your grandchildren and what amazing memories you are making with them. They will always remember your fun activities and playing on the farm. I think that every child needs to experience farm life and should spend their summers outside! Your family is lucky to have you!
Hey Billie Sue! It is me Nichole Luke, well now mackey. I was just looking at Giselle's blog and thought that I would take a peek at yours. Your family is so wonderful. I hope that everything is well with you! Tell everyone HI for me!
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