Horsin' Around...

Waaaaaay back in September, on our trip to Utah, we made sure to spend an afternoon with the horses. This is one of our kids favorite things to do.  We had grandpa Matt saddle up  his horse, Tough, and take turns with the kids riding around the stable. 

Cowboy Dieter

Cowgirl Finn

 

 

 

 

Later that week we drove down to American Fork where we checked in on Miles to Run, the colt of Mitch's first horse Sheeza.  Mitch was in heaven, and is looking forward to the day when he can let out that cowboy inside!

The Belmont Stakes...

One item on our East Coast Bucket List was to go to the Belmont Stakes Horse Race.  The Belmont Stakes is the third race of the Triple Crown Series and such a fun race to attend.  People were decked out in their fancy dresses, heels, and hats, smoking their cigars and placing their bets.  We met up with our friends the Psillos' for the day and showed them the ropes of horse racing.  We placed $2 & $5 bets on the actual stakes race and.....Dieter won! He took home a whopping $6.75!    

#12, the winner. Dieter picked him because the jockey had green and yellow polka dots on his jersey!

Our kids love the movie Secretariat about the horse that won the Triple Crown, winning the Belmont Stakes by the biggest margin ever.  The actual jockey was at the Stakes race signing autographs, which was cool to see.  Our kids went home with two Secretariat posters that are now taped up in their rooms.  We had a great time at the Belmont Stakes and look forward to making it back before we move West.

Bringing Out the Cowboy Within...

One thing I remember loving, and doing often, growing up was going to the horses with my dad.  He'd let me brush them, pick the dirt out of their hooves, warm them up around the arena, ride them outside, pretend I was a barrel racer, and then reward them with sugar lumps.  Sometimes I'd bring a friend, but usually it was just us and maybe my sister.  Fond memories I tell ya!  So, it was a must-do with my kids while we were in Utah visiting our families.

We met up with my dad, or Grandpa Matt as he is now called, on a hot hot day.  He saddled up Harley and walked my kids around the arena and around the property.  To say they were in heaven would be an understatement.  They loved it just as much as I use to (and still do).  

We got to meet Zani, the newest member of the Sansom clan, as well as walked around saying hello to all the horses in the stables.  It was a memorable afternoon, and I'm happy my kids can share the same memories with my dad that I had growing up.  Love you Grandpa Cowboy!

Canyon Ride...

The DeHarts invited us up American Fork Canyon for a night of horseback riding, bum sliding, and s'more roasting. It was so fun to drive up the canyon and escape the valley heat. Amy picked up subs, snacks, drinks, and all the fixin's for s'mores. Bless her! We brought up some Reese's. I know, slackers! But, Amy did say she'll never be able to eat another s'more without a Reese's inside...ever tried it?

Finn was in Cowgirl Heaven! She and Saylor doubled up on one horse and had a blast. They were "Yee Haw-ing" and "Giddy Up-ing" all while "pretending to be on a vacation"! He, he, they made me laugh.

We forgot to bring matches, so Mitch was improvising with some paper and a car cigarette lighter. It wasn't working. Fortunately, Amy remembered her 72 hour kit in the back of her car and came to the rescue.

We had a fun ride, and Dieter couldn't have been happier. He was as happy as a clam sitting in front of his Daddy on the back of a horse. I'm sure that made Mitchell proud.

Amy enjoying her s'more, while Dieter decides to bum slide down the mountain. His pants were black and so were his hands. I've never seen him dirtier...he was happy.

It was the perfect night and we owe all our Thanks to Amy and Tyler for providing us with such a memorable evening. We miss you guys, and we miss those Utah summer nights in the mountains.

Griffith Park, I know...again?

It's true, we do love Griffith Park.

My kids love the ponies, even though they are half-dead and to make them go the workers have to chase them.

My kids love the train, even though the conductor sits in a miniature engine with only his head and shoulders poking out the top.

My kids love the random yard art the train passes by, like Snow White and 6 dwarfs, a few deer, some Gnomes, and an old western town.

My kids love running around the grass, even though it is littered with bird poop and yucky garbage.

I have to admit, I love it too because it makes my kids so darn happy! Well, maybe not Dieter, at first.

This was Dieter's first time on the ponies. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the kid is so darn laid back I just thought he'd go with it. He did at first, but then the guy sent him around the track, he realized he was alone, and he lost it. His cute big sister was in front of him, calling his name and telling him it was okay. I love her and all her mommy-ness.

It got worse when he saw me. The other (random) moms were telling me this was their kid's first reaction on their first pony ride too. He he, I was secretly laughing because to me it wasn't sad, but funny! I knew he was safe, and frankly I love when kids have adverse reactions to fun things.

By the second lap, he was smiling and waving. He actually looked like a rodeo queen out there, you know, trying to wave while keeping their balance so they are leaning way over the horn and their hand is waving fast and low by the horse's neck. So cute.

I'm excited for Dieter to have another go at the pony rides. I'm sure we'll be going back sooner than later.

Want a good laugh? Check this out.

Off to the Races...

Something we've been wanting to do since moving to L.A.was see a horse race at the famous Santa Anita Race Track. Saturday that day finally came!

We met up with our friends the Salmons for breakfast at the race track. We sat and ate right by the track as the horses ran around and warmed up. After breakfast, we walked around the huge in-field complete with a large park, betting windows, snack bars, a stall where the horse actor of Seabiscuit hangs out, and lots of green grass.

When the races were about to start, we walked out to watch them present the horses. They walk them around and then the jockey's hop on and ride them into the stadium. As you can imagine, the horses are amazing.

Then it was time to place your bets! Wow, you should have see how excited (or angry) people got as the horses got closer and closer to finishing.

Dieter loved watching the horses. He'd see them coming, grin nice and big, and start clapping.

This was the first race. Number 5 was in the lead the entire time and at the very end, 6 came back to win. One lady in the bathroom had placed a blind bet and put $5 on 6 and ended up winning $300!

Dieter and his buddy Trey.

We placed a few $2 bets.

Aaron thought he'd take a chance and go for the one with 1/99 odds.

He came in last. ;)

After a long day at the race track, Dieter was exhausted! We weren't ready to go home, so we were trying to do whatever we could to keep him entertained. That included giving him the entire bag of Doritos that he continued to spill all over himself and then eat off his own chest. There were even chips in his diaper. Man, what a mess.

We will most definitely be going back to the races.

What a fun day.