Thanks Alfy

So last week I had to put my horse Little Alf down. He was 18 years old. I have had him for 11 years but remember him from a colt at my grandpa's. I have to make a blog about our story just so I have it written down.
I grew up with horses my whole life, my Grandpa Zundel bred and raised race horses. I remember my favorite thing about going to Grandpa's house was having him come wake us up at 6:00 am to go feed all the horses with him. My grandpa had a Stallion he called Big Alf, he was one of my favorite horses to go see at my grandpa's. I was 6 years old when I saw Little Alf ( Big Alf's first colt)he was about a week old and looked just like Big Alf! My grandpa was really excited about him because he had really long legs and my grandpa said he would make a great race horse. So through out the next two years everytime I would go to Idaho to visit my grandpa I would look forward to going to see Little Alf, he loved carrots so I would take him a carrot everytime I would visit. Krisann, Tyrell, and I loved to play horses when we were little. We would tie ropes across the tramp and pretend they were jumps. We would run on our hands and knees for hours and I would always pretend that I was Little Alf! Little Alf was one of my Grandpa's best race horses, he did really well on the track. When Alf was 3 he got cut really bad and the vet wanted to put him down but my grandpa wouldn't let him. I remember going to visit and Alf was in a stall in the barn with a big wooden collar around his head (just like on Black Beauty!) After taking the winter off, my grandpa tried racing him again but he just couldn't do it. My grandpa then gave him to one of my older cousins, which made me really sad because I never got to see him. Finally when I was almost 12 we got a call from my cousin. He said that everytime he tried riding Little Alf he got bucked off and he didn't want him anymore. He knew that I had always liked him and wanted to know if we wanted him. Of course my mom told him yes! So on September 26th of 1997 we drove over to Rigby Idaho to pick up my horse! He was so hyper and I had a hard time controlling him at first but we eventually found our happy ground and did great ever since. I took Grand Champion at the Wyoming State Fair for 3 years in a row in Jumping and also Took Grand Champion in 2004 at the Utah State Equestrian Show. Little Alf loved to jump, he would jump anything that was in front of him. Alf was my dad's hunting buddy, he would pack out a Bull Elk by himself because it was down in a ravine that they didn't dare take any other horse down besides Alf. Finally this past year he started settling down and my neice Mackezie started using him for 4-H. She did great with him! Thanks ALf for being the BEST horse anyone could ever have! I love you.

Our Fun Week With Brycen!

This week my nephew Brycen came up to stay with me. He is from Arkansas and has the funniest accent ( I don't know if thats how you spell it!). He has such a fun personality, he is definantly NOT shy, that kid can make friends with anyone! He had a blast on the neighbors blow up slide, and we even got Taylie to play on it. At one point Taylie was climbing up and had a hold of the handles on the top but lost her footing, so she was hanging there screaming! It was pretty funny :) Brycen and my nephew Ethan (from Mikes side) became instant buddies. Brycen was wanting to spend every spare second playing games with Ethan. Thanks Ethan for helping him have a fun week! Last night we went to my sister Niki's house and my brother-in-law Jake took Brycen for a ride in his police car. Brycen was so excited. They even got to almost pull my sister Krisann over which she didn't think was very funny but Brycen sure did! Over all it has been a very fun and busy week! Thanks Brycen for coming to visit, we love you little buddy :)

Update!!

So Mike and I have wanted to get Taylie a bike for quite sometime, but haven't been able to afford it. Finally on Thursday, we found a cute princess bike just Taylie's size! She has a hard time peddling, but with practice it will come! She was so excited. Also we threw in a few pictures of Lindsey since she is growing so fast and a lot of people don't get to see her very often :)

Memorial Day Weekend!!!

We hope everyone had an awesome Memorial Day! We had a wonderful weekend. It has been awhile since Steph and I were able to spend a weekend together. On Saturday I went with my parents down to West Valley to help Greg move into his new house. It is a really nice house. When we returned home We went to a rodeo that Steph's brother Aaron was riding in:


Steph and Mike


The Walker Clan


Aaron riding a bull

On Monday Niki and Jake invited us to go up Hyde Park Canyon four-wheeling. It was a lot of fun. We followed the road clear up to almost the top. When we returned to the trucks we went around some little hills and through some puddles. I have never really ridden a four-wheeler. There was one big puddle that was a little deeper than I was expecting. I went full throttle through it and got drenched in muddy water. It was a lot of fun!


Niki and her kids riding the four-wheeler

I went through that puddle a little too fast!

Our neighbors bought a blowup water thingy. It has two slides that go into a pool. Taylie is really scared to go up to the top, so she doesn't go down the slides unless we force her :) Cami's kids come over and play in the pool with Taylie. Eli and Tate are like Energizer Rabbits. They just keep going and going! The kids have a lot of fun together.


Who doesn't enjoy dumping water on someone else? Poor Tate.


As you can tell Taylie didn't really want to go down the slide


Tate going down the slide


Eli getting ready to go for another run

Our Sweet Little Girl!

So last night we were getting ready for bed, and after trying to get Taylie to go to sleep in her bed for about an hour we finally caved and let her climb in bed with us. She was being in one of her cute loveable moods (that are very rare!) and asks me "Mom, do you love daddy?" and I said "yes Taylie I love daddy very much" and she then gives Mike a big hug and laughs "ya me too!" She then leans over Mike and says "Mom, you're my best friend!" She can be such a sweetheart at times. We love our little girls so much, and thank our Heavenly Father everyday for letting us be so lucky to be there parents!!



She loves to play with her friends too. She simply loves playing with her cousin Tate (even though they have their moments after being with each other for a little bit). She had Isabelle over the other day. Everytime she would want Isabelle to come with her she would say, "Come on Jingle Bells!" We would then have her repeat Isabelle's name. She would say it right, but right after that should turn to Isabelle again and say, "Come on Jingle Bells!" Kids! You gotta love 'em. Somehow she got Tate to go in drag!

Taylie and Lindsey Balls

We just thought it would be fun to show some pictures of both Lindsey and Taylie together. It's fun to see there similar qualities and there not so similar ones! Lindsey's pictures are on the top and Taylie is on the bottom.

Hospital Free At Last

On Monday Steph and Lindsey were finally able to come home. It seemed pretty dead in our apartment without Taylie around, but it was good that Steph was able to get some well needed rest. The staples used for the incision had to stay in due to the fact that it hadn't healed from Steph's coughing. The first night back was rough. Lindsey had her nights and days mixed up. She was still a little yellow, so she had to go to the doctor a couple times for a check up. I went to get Taylie on Tuesday night. I am glad that my dad was able to come with. We finally made it to Julie's house that night and Taylie was really shy at first, then she walked up and gave me a BIG hug :). Taylie has been relatively good with Lindsey. The first night after we got home Lindsey woke up crying at about 3:00 Am and woke Taylie up. Taylie stayed awake for about 2 more hours before going to bed. I am glad to report that everyone has their nights and days back on track, Lindsey is a little less yellow, and Steph had her staples out and is doing better. Thank you everyone that came to visit Steph and Lindsey. It was really great to see you. Thanks also to everyone that helped watch Taylie while we were in the hospital and when Steph just needed a break. We are blessed to have such wonderful families. Here are some pictures of Lindsey at home!