Schnepf Farms 2013

I have been fortunate to go to Schnepf Farms each fall for the past 4 years with my grandchildren.  Brexton and Nixin both went to Busy Bee Pre-School with Ms. Nicole. Each year in the fall Ms. Nicole would take her classes to Schnepf Farms and I would have the opportunity to tag along. This year Trey,Jenna and the girls were going and they invited us to come. We picked up Gracie and met them all for some fun!

 Gracie was all about the face painting. Montana wasn't about to let a stranger paint on her face.

 Harlee is such an adorable little peanut. She enjoyed riding the chicken on the carousel

 Our feisty cowgirl Montana picked the horse that looked like a wild bronc!

 Everyone loves to bounce and bounce and bounce and bounce...............you get the picture!

 Who is flying this thing...pilot to co-pilot?

 Its always such fun to pick out just the right pumpkin.

Gracie  heading out with PaPa.

Brexton is Baptized

My grandson Brexton Bradlee Colburn made the choice to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints on November 9,2013. He was baptized and confirmed by his father,my son, Brinton Colburn.

We are so proud of Brexton and the decision he has made to be baptized. As a family we went to dinner the night before to Liberty Market in Gilbert,Arizona. He received new scriptures from Brinton and Allison,hand tooled leather scripture cover tooled by his great-grandpa George Wimsatt and a journal from Steve and I.  He was so excited to have his own scriptures and the leather cover tooled by my Dad, which is a tradition in our family.  I challenged him to write about his feelings after he was baptized in his new journal and he did!

He was surrounded by people who love him very much. It was nice that his Great Grandpa George and Great Grandma Ina, who had not been feeling, well were able to attend. We were all so happy to spend time with Cote. We miss being able to see him and include him in our family activities. 

I have to say it.......Good times,noodle salad!

Waffle Crush- My New Obsession

Did I just say obsession? I'm afraid I did.

Right now the food truck has made a strong comeback.  In fact,when Brinton and Allison were planning their wedding almost a year ago they wanted a food truck for their rehearsal dinner.  It didn't happen because most of the food trucks they were interested in were already booked.

Brinton is the one suggested that I try Waffle Crush one evening.  I wasn't able to that night but I remembered the name when I heard Waffle Crush was going to be at a Boutique fund raiser for a member of our church who has an artificial heart  and needs a real one. Part of the proceeds from this Boutique and the Waffle Crush were to be donated towards this cause. I just had do go and support this cause and try my first Waffle Crush.

So delicious! I had a chocolate filled waffle topped with Biscoff,raspberries and homemade cream. There are all sorts of possibilities,you can create your own,so there is something for everyone. The next week I had to take my friend Teri to experiences the deliciousness and she agreed. I took this week off but hey, there's always next week! 

A Phoenix Zoo Day Is A Good Day

Wednesday is our Phoenix Zoo Volunteer day. This Wednesday was a beautiful day for my mom,Ina Wimsatt, and myself. Perfect weather,good company and active animals.

As we were enjoying our day we were discussing our time at the Zoo. We both feel blessed that we have the opportunity to volunteer.  This is our day to do something that we love! No interruptions and no other commitments. We enjoy the animals and talking with the Zoo patrons and helping them have an enjoyable experience. I love the fact that I get to spend this time each week with my mom! 

These pictures are just a small sampling of what we see each week! Aren't they wonderful? 

Santannah Being a Horse

August 2013

     I love our home in Mesa,Arizona. We live an easy walking distance from Usery Park where we can hike,walk the dogs and I can ride my horses. Living here also allows us to keep our horses here at home with us. Growing up I was fortunate and my horses were also home. I was spoiled. When Steve and I bought horses 17 years ago we had to board our horses. The facility was only a five minute walk from our house but even with that it is just different to board. I love looking out the windows or stepping out on our patio and just watching them. Many of you will find it hard to believe but I actually love the smell of horses! I love caring for them,yep..... even shoveling manure is relaxing for me! 

     Horses have a very interesting digestive system. Their stomach is small considering how large an animal they are. A horse's stomach only holds 2.1 to 4 gallons of feed. Ingested food only stays in the stomach for 2 hours or less. A horse in its natural state grazes for food all day long. Wild horses will travel up to 30 miles a day in search of food.  The horse is designed to continuously eat and his stomach empties and refills throughout the day. We have domesticated the horse and house them in small corrals with infrequent pasture turnout and feed them instead only 2 meals a day. This has created many health issues in our domestic horses.

     Where Steve and I live we share a well with two other homes. We are not allowed to have grass as it could potentially place a strain on our water supply trying to water a lawn during the hot summer months. So no pasture is available for our horses.

     Trey and Jenna purchased a home in San Tan Valley,Arizona on three acres of irrigated land. They have PASTURE! Their cow (Betsy) and two pygmy goats (Gogo and Jabu) needed a little help eating that pasture down. Trey and Jenna invited my horse Santannah to come and spend a fews days grazing in their pasture. It did my heart good to see Santannah grazing as a horse should, in a pasture.

He loved it!

   

Papa teaching Harlee to stick out her tongue.

As far as I know, this is the only time Santannah has hung out with a cow. He wasn't too sure at first but he and Betsy became friends.  Betsy was a little put out when Santannah came home.

George Wimsatt Family Reunion July 2013

This year our family once again congregated at The Buttes in Phoenix,Az for our family reunion.

With our busy schedules and coming from different states it was a blessing that everyone was able to attend this year. Cameron summed up our family while talking to my mom at the family photo shoot. My mother said something to Cameron about being a part of our family now, this loud chaotic mess. Cameron replied, "Oh, but it is such a beautiful mess." I feel the same way! I am so blessed to be a part of this family,this beautiful mess! Well said Cameron.

from left to right alternating back to front
Ryan,Miranda,Trey,Jenna holding Harlee,Paul,Joanne holding Ryann,Steve,Rhonda holding Montana,Justin,George(front row),Joshua,Cameron(back row),Tracy,Craig,Hannah(back row(,Allison holding Presley,Brinton,,Nixin(front row),Cote,Chris,Jeni,Chasity,Christy(back row),Ethan,Brexton,Jared

Pool time is a favorite for all.
We enjoyed a few games of water volleyball,hanging
out enjoying each others company and the sunshine.
Topped it off with lunch. A great day!

Father daughter time.

Tradition and it ROCKS!

Why is it that Allison looks so much more refined than I do? Love Nixin and Presley's swimsuit tutus.

These two started this beautiful mess, Ina and George Wimsatt. Proud to be their daughter!

Ryan,Miranda,Hannah,Joshua,Craig,Tracy,Cameron,Chasity,Christy,Jared. My brother Craig's family.

Dinner at Dave & Buster's with the gang.

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Chris,Jeni,Paul,Ethan,Joanne holding Ryann,Justin. My brother Paul's family.

My parents with their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Now that is truly a beautiful mess!

My parents with my hot mess of a family.
Jenna holding Harlee,Trey,Montana in front,Rhonda,Steve behind my parents George & Ina,Nixin,Cote,Presley,Brexton, Brinton and Aliison (back row).

Love my boys Trey and Brinton!

Steve and Rhonda

My mom,Ina Mae Wimsatt with her great granddaughter
 Harlee Mae Colburn.