Horseback riding pics, fishing and wading

Took the girls horseback riding for 2 1/2 hours. Note: Horseback riding might leave some muscles sore that you didn't know you had. So that's why cowboys walk like that ;)

Danielle was placed on her horse, Casey - the brown one just like she wanted. She immediately grabbed the reins and the horn and motioned with her feet for the horse to move forward while clicking her tongue. Our tour guide, Shelly (who was incredibly hot btw) was amazed. Madison was her polar opposite and had to be convinced that she'd be fine. After a couple of minutes on the pinto she calmed down considerably. Within 5 minutes on the trail Madison was following Shelly talking her ear off. Danielle kept petting her horse and smiling. I mean SMILING. It amazed me that she kept trying to get her horse to go faster. I mean her feet weren't even in the stirrups. I was terrified she was going to fall off. I asked her several times if she was tired of riding horses. But no, she'd click her heels and say "Faster Casey."

Here's Danielle on Casey:


Here we are on the Great Sand Dunes. It's very windy there. Now I know why cowboys wore bandanas.


After the ride Danielle got to feed the horses treats. There she was surrounded by 6 horses not in the least bit intimidated. She was in control making sure each horse got exactly two. Petting their noses and just as happy as she could be.

Madison liked throwing rocks into the river. Not skipping them. Throwing them.

See?:


Madison also liked wading and looking at the rocks and the fish and the birds and the frogs. She just liked being in or near the river. She spent as much time as she could doing this:


They both enjoyed fishing. Especially Madison. But Poppa took this really cute shot of Dani.


I caught a 16 1/2' brown trout. I even wore waders and fished in sub 50 degree temps. Madison caught a 14 1/2' brown trout. She was so excited.

The grandparents and I made up clues to a treasure hunt. They were riddles and math and trivia questions. The kids loved it - it was like Christmas. They were so focused on finding the next clue that they waited to eat their treats along the way. They worked pretty well as a team too. There's nothing like a treasure hunt. =)