Homespun

Our first stop when we visit Vernal is to Rhett's Grandma and Grandpa Madsen's. On their wall in the living room is a display of all the grandchildren and great grandchildren. I have always found it touching and really fun that without fail, the picture wall is everyone's first stop. Doesn't matter how many times we have seen the pictures before, we always go right up to and start finding everyone as if it was the first time.

Another staple, lunch at Grandma Madsen's.

Not spending one more dime on toys for this child. He spent a good portion of the time banging on this tin can and having the time of his life.


The legend continues... I'm suprised this picture turned out as I was laughing while taking it. At least once a year since I have known Rhett I have heard the story about Rhett and his cow counting ability from a young age. The story goes that Rhett was about 4 or 5 (although originally I thought it was about 6) Rhett and his grandpa would ride up and round up the cows on the mountain. Each cow has a number and there is some sort of system to it that even hearing it 12 times, I still don't fully understand. Somehow the calf's number corrleates to the mom cow...anywho...the legend (as I lovingly call it now) is that little Rhett astounded his grandpa by memorizing the numbers on the cow. He knew exactly which cow went with what parent and even when Grandpa Lyle thought Rhett must be wrong, he looked at his notebook and realized he was exactly right. Darling story and very impressive but not at all suprising. Rhett is one of those people who numbers come easy and is baffled by people like me who constanly ask questions like, "Now how many of this 1/4 cup do i need if i need 2/3's?" But as I have heard the story over the years it seems to take on a life of it's own. I think now, he was 3, rode the horse up without grandpa and had the numbers memorized of his own cows and those of a fellow rancher. I don't think Rhett minds the story. Whenever cows come up, (as they inevitably do in Vernal) Rhett will offhandley say, "Yeah, grandma, what was the story again of me counting the cows?"

I always feel domesticly-deficient whenever we go to Rhett's Grandma Taylor's house. There were 3 homemade pies ready for us along with at least 4 dozen homemade rolls. I always want to be better with this kind of stuff whenever I am there. But then I see all the work she does and it makes me tired just watching it. So instead I stuff myself with homemade pie and bread and I feel better.


I found out a few things about horses this time while visting Vernal. One of them being that I am actually afraid of them. And it was really annoying that I felt my horse knew I was afraid of it and was purposefully trying to get a rise out of me. I started to refer to it as the 'devil horse' and have since found it was one of the most calm ones. Pah! Hannah gets her natural ability with horses from her dad. She has explained, in a very rational way, that we could have a horse as a pet and keep it in the backyard if only her parents would let her.


Jackson got into the horses right away. While riding, he was humming the Indiana Jones theme music.



Love generation snapshots. Rhett's grandpa Lyle, Dad Brent and Jackson

How many adults does it take to take 6 kids up and around on horses? Not as many as you'd think! Towards the end we'd look around and realize most of the adults were in the house while the kids and a token big person were making the rounds with the horses! We always have a fun time, and just shows you can always go home again.