Our Mini Additions

On Saturday, August 23rd, we got two mini horses. These horses were long awaited by both Travis & Patterson. We had not told Patterson that we were getting any yet and when Patterson's Grandma & Papa Danielson pulled into the driveway hauling a horse trailer he jus thought they were their horses. When we opened up the back he said "Those don't look like the same horses you have Papa."
"That's because they are ours." I told him.
The look on his face was priceless, and then he started to whoop and jump around. It was so cute. Travis told him he was going to have to help us with them, and Patterson agreed. He is now the official "pooper scooper" and he can't wait to get started.
Yesterday, I went out and cleaned their hooves, groomed and trimmed their mane and tail, and brushed them down. And guess what the first thing they did after I was done walking them? They rolled around in the dirt and got themselves filthier than they were in the first place. The stinkers.
Patterson and Corbin also got to ride Susie Q (the dark brown gruela). They thought it was awesome, until Susie Q decided she wanted to check out our other animals, especially Never Be Bacon, our potbelly pig. Then I had to take Corbin off because Susie wasn't minding very well.
Our other horse is a pinto and she has an F on her right side. We are undecided on what to call her. At the moment we are calling her Fancy. We feel it would be cool to find a name that starts with an F. If anyone has any suggestions please post your comments. Fancy is a little more skittish than Susie Q, but she is starting to come around. They are both used to being around children, so they are a great addition to our family.
My friend Kara and her kids came over yesterday and I wasn't quite sure what the horses were going to do. But they came right over and started poking their noses out through the fence, begging for pets and carrots. Her kids loved the horses and our other animals.
Both of our little mini's are a little tubby around the middle, so we are going to put them on an exercise program. I want to start taking them on walks, just like you would a dog. I plan to use them to help me train for my runs. It will help us both out. Yes, I am sure I will get some weird looks, as I run down the road leading a small horse, but everybody needs a good laugh.

Travis's Passion

Patterson and Travis are going on their first flight together. Just them. Patterson even got to fly the plane all by himself. Travis has had his private pilots license for about two years, getting it in August 2006. Almost a year ago we purchased a small plane. It is a 1946 Stinson 101-1 that has been completely restored. It is considered an antique and it is a beautiful plane, that Travis gets endless compliments on. It was a bit of a challenge to learn to fly for Travis when he first got it, but he has got it mastered now. Travis has been enjoying flying it this summer. Recently he went to Three Forks, MT to the Annual Montana Antique Airplane Association Fly In. He camped for two nights and had a great time. Currently, all the pictures of our Stinson is on our laptop, so I don't have access to them at this time. I will post some later.

Our fun and silly Past

I love to look at pictures and remember the fun, cute and silly times. Kids are great and I thoroughly enjoy mine. Hope you enjoy the slideshow. There's a lot more to come.

2008 Arlen Q Leavitt Family Reunion - AB, Canada

Fun In Canada

I had so much fun in Canada. Melissa and I left late Thursday afternoon from my house in Helena, MT, with our boys, Corbin, Patterson, Kyler and Steven, yes four of them. We got to the border only to sit for 1/2 an hour before we got through, finally making it to Lethbridge around 9:45 PM. We had to set up the tent in the light of a flashlight. That was fun. Friday we went to Writing on Stone and hiked through the Hoodoo's. (Native Indian dwellings carved out of the rock) Saturday we went to Cardston and saw a parade, then we were off to Waterton for lunch and an awesome hike, then over to Fort Mcleod to see the Foote side of our family, then finally back to Lethbridge. Sunday was taking down camp and heading home. Boy was I glad to get home. It was great to see family and meet family I had only heard about, but there is really no place like home. It was great and I look forward to the next reunion in two years in Seattle.

My first blog

I have been wanting to do a blog for a long time, so here it is. The thought that is foremost on my mind is how excited I am to finally be getting my book published. I am publishing it myself through lulu.com. I found a great illustrator and I absolutely love what she is doing. My book will be released around the beginning of October and I am thrilled. It's a twist on the old excuse "My dog ate my homework." Greta is finally getting her wish. Her very own pet. She has worked hard doing chores and keeping her homework done, but she makes the mistake of stopping at the pet store on her way to school. Through the funny twists and turns, we follow Greta as the pets she likes best, morph into a monster pet that eats her homework. Now what will she tell her teacher. Will Miss Garfield believe that A Piranha Cat Bird Ate Her Homework?