A Horse Called Moon

We've had a bad couple of days around here.  Rae's great Moonshine horse died yesterday-very suddenly.  Poor Moon and poor Rae!  The sad thing is that Rae had just decided the day before to go ahead and try out for Rodeo Royalty.  She had originally decided she needed to work with Moon more and get them both whipped into shape this summer.  Because she broke her elbow last summer, she wasn't able to ride much and she and Moon both needed more time.
Well anyway, she just decided to go ahead and try for it anyway this year and called Grandpa Barry to see if he would bring Moon up to our house the next day so they could get started.  The next afternoon when Grandpa was supposed to bring her up, he called instead saying she was sick and he wouldn't be bringing her.  His next call was - I'm taking her to the vet - come and meet me.  They did tests and tried to figure out what was going on until late into the night.  No answers really.  The next morning she was gone at about 9:30 - after another visit to the vet and realizing there was no hope.  She had bad stomach stuff going on - they called it Colitis X (x meaning they really have no way of knowing exactly what nasty bug decided to attack her from the inside).  90 - 100% of horses that get this die.   How sad.
I started looking at iphoto for pictures of Moon to post - and realized just how many there are!!  Definitely more than there are of me or Kelly!
Looking at these pictures made me so sad!  Everyone knows I'm not a huge animal lover - but I LOVE RAE, and I love Moon for being such a good friend to Rae.  They had some great times.
So here's a few pictures remembering Moon and the fun times she and Rae had --

MORP 2012

 Tonight is MORP for our high school.  Rae asked cutie boy Payton Dunn to go with her.  What a great kid!  His dad is Grandpa Barry's good horse friend Shawn Dunn.  Payton and Rae have been friends for a long time - and she always said she'd take him on a date when he turned 16 - so I guess she's making good on her word.

 They were meeting a big group of friends for dinner, movie and dance later.  But of course I made them stop by our house for some pictures!  Rae's friend Makena Johnson (yep - Sandy's cutie girl) and her date Ian Anderson rode with them. 

 Shelby wanted to be in the picture too - I don't think Makena was expecting that!

 Ian the goooob!

 They met other friends at Shay Schwab's house for a barbeque.  Great fun!  It snowed most of the morning - so we were happy that the sun came out and we could be outside in the sun!  It wasn't too warm - but a beautiful evening.

 Da girls ---- and Da boys. 

 Chow time.

 Now Rae is the gooob!

 What great kids!  I'm so glad that Rae has such a fun group of friends to hang out with.  As I've gotten to know them a little bit, I have decided that they are all really good kids, who have a good time, enjoy life and make good choices!  They have gotten to know that I am really annoying with my picture taking!!  : )  They don't like it at the time - but are good sports - but they really like looking at the pictures later!

SBO Election Week

This week has been good ole SBO election week at SVHS.  Do you remember that?  Kind of a fun, crazy week.  DJ (Martha and Jeff's second oldest) decided to run for 2nd VP - and asked Rae to be his campaign manager.  They had tons of fun and DJ WON!!  YAHOO! 

 Remember the red team?!?  So funny to watch them now and remember doing the same thing.  Wow!  I'm so so old.

 Rae gave a great speech for the Deeeeej

 He didn't do so bad himself.  It was giving all those youth talks in church. 
They paid off.  : )

 Good 'ole Napolean!  We love him - don't we?  DJ did a great job of doin' his dance!

 Rae was the host for the red team's "So You Think You Can Dance" skit.  It was great.

They really had a fun fun week.  Way to go DJ!!!

Brannen

Brannen loves his friend Daniel - and I love Daniel just as much!  He keeps Bran occupied on those days when I need him to play with someone else but me!

 They have had so much fun playing together lately.  Cutie boys!

Love my Bran!

Dance Recital - Rae

Rae had her dance recital last night - so fun! 

 She did a jazz solo to a song called "Boots and Boys" - it is kind of her anthem!!  : )  She did so so good!

 She also performed her jazz dance that they've taken to competition and done well with.  Great job girls!  I think those costumes are super cute.  They are sassy!

 And they also did their lyrical number to "Bring on the Wonder".  It was beautiful!

Nice job Rae!  Now you can stop stressing!!! : )

SPRING!!

We've already had more days of spring this year than we ever did last year - and it's still April!  Yahoo!  We are loving the few sunny days we are getting - and have to celebrate each one with a bike ride, walk, round of golf, you name it!  We love sun!

Oh yea - speaking of golf - Brady finally did it!  He played a round with Kelly this week and TIED him!  First time ever!  They just had time for nine holes - and they both shot a 38.  Brady was a little bit happy. : )  I'm thinking that Kelly's winning days are numbered!  Brady is quickly catching up with the old man!  They are pretty tight lately.  They have been watching many ball games together and working out together, and golfing together.  So much fun. 

Easter

Catching up with my blog -- seems I've missed a bit (as usual ; )  ).

 Fun Easter baskets!

 Look at Bran's expression.  This says all you need to know about that kid's personality!

 Kelly was a great moving ladder for the eggs high up.

Bran got to go to Build A Bear Workshop on our spring break trip and he had to have this camo bear that they had there.  He named him Hunter Bear (of course) and he matches his pj's that Grandma Chris gave him.  When he wears these pajamas he's always saying - you can't see me, can you mom!?!