a painted pony story.

over the last few months the kids have loved hearing painted pony stories. what is a painted pony story you might ask? well, my dad told painted pony stories to us long ago and his dad told painted pony stories to him long, long ago. honesty, i don't really remember anything in particular about the stories - expect that painted pony - was always involved and that he was always on some sort of adventure.

anyways, over the years i've told a few, but over the last little while the kids beg me to tell them one - even just a short one - each night. some nights there isn't time with dance and baseball and whatever comes up. but on those wonderful nights when we get lying in bed early, i sit or lay in the hall and tell them a painted pony story.

we've added some friends along the way. the friends and adventures usually coincide with what we've been doing...

"painted pony" {a painted pony}

"beltie" {a belted galloway cow - it's a striped cow that we saw a few times coming home from boating} 

"screechy" {a small screech owl - like the owls we had in the backyard}

"mutton" {a little lamb - like the one connor rode while mutton bustin at the rodeo}

"clucky" {a chicken - like grandpa packer's chickens}

"mr badger" {can't remember how he came about, but the next day we saw a stuffed badger at cabela's}

"chinook" {a spawning salmon - nate sent us a video from seattle of the salmon run}

i'll have to ask the kids if that's the whole clan. they remember every detail of the last story and usually have to remind me what their last adventure was. 

we've had stories about exploring caves, playing in the meadow {hide 'n seek is their favorite game}, swimming in the river, going off a rope swing, sliding down a water fall, baking a birthday cake for pony's mom, making bread for mr. badger so he'll be their friend, helping clucky get her eggs back from a sneaky fox, exploring the forest...and lots more i can't think of off the top of my head.