Roasting Marshmellows in the front yard

It was another cold December evening in Ennis, TX. Nick and mommy had spent the day baking Christmas cookies and Mimi's homemade fudge. Once we were done, daddy and Nick made a warm bondfire. So we all bundled up in our hats, mittens and scarves and roasted our left over marshmellows. Of course Nick and Gracie K. took advantage of the warm fire to play outside and run around the yard. Four more days until Christmas. We can't wait!!

I love this horse! (Excuse my sloppy riding here)

Aside from the fact that I am not at all riding how my trainer wants me to yet, my horse is just awesome and is getting all this stuff much faster than I am! I am just going to take a moment to bragg on him here. He was just a diamond in the rough when I got him. These pictures were taken by my trainers daughter, Rebekka Scott. She has a great eye for pictures and took some great ones of Sam. Look at how big a beautiful he is! He has the cutest face. (You would never know he plans to kill me someday.) I just love this horse and have never owned one this nice before. Well, aside from Hannah, but that is like comparing apples and oranges. Hannah just wants to prance around looking pretty, Sam wants to perform.

Nick makes he plea to Santa, Gracie K. still weary of the big guy in red!

Nick and Gracie K. had a great time at the KJT Christmas party. Decked out in their Santa hats, Nick tried to explain who this big guy in red is and why you should get on his good side. Gracie did not buy it however, and refused to sit on his lap for even a second!


Nick on the other hand wasted no time. He quickly jumped up there in no time and got right to the point. A Batman computer is a must along with a Coast Guard helicopter. As you can see, he was very serious, since this is a very serious situation. He had a bad false alarm already this year. He was a little confused the morning after putting lights up and thought it was Christmas day and Santa had forgot to leave anything for him and Gracie! That was a major event and now we have an advent tree to help keep track of the days until the big day! But no fears everyone, Nick and Santa got it all worked out and Nick is pretty confident he will be rewarded for his good efforts throughout the year.

Our New Home in the Country!

Gracie K. and Nick are happy to report that the Strunc family has got the heck out of Dodge and have settled out in the country. Nick loves the 2.5 acres or freedom away from any traffic and strangers. Gracie loves to give an endless supply of carrots to the horses who have learned to run to the fence when they see her. She parades around in her horse boots and says "wow! horsie!"

Marci is having a blast riding her horses. Mia, my trainer, has helped me so much with my riding and Sam transition from a race horse to a pleasure/dressage horse. I have some bad riding habits from my "cowgirl" days that are hard to break, but I am improving. Ken says Hannah is now his horse, but everyone knows Hannah and I were destined to grow old together. I know Ken is just enjoying her while I am busy with Sam. Nick is riding all by himself now. By next summer I bet Nick and Ken will be going out on trail rides together. His horse Shy is old and kind of ugly, but worth his weight in gold because I can trust him with children. "Pretty is as pretty does" when it comes to Shy and his place in our family. He has a home with us until his last days.

We have always known he was a dare devil.....

Well here he is again at the Magnablend picnic, demonstrating just how little fear he actually has. Yep! He was the only 4 yr old to actually climb the rock and enjoy it. I love the fact that he has plenty of self confidence, but please! You are giving Mommy a heart attack! I guess I just have to accept that my little dare devil needs his adventures.

Pictures of the Strunc Family

Here is my cutiepie cowboy Nick! He is just adorable in his real cowboy boots and real cowboy hat. He just melts my heart!
Here is my sweet angel Gracie K. (AKA Mini MiMi) She is such a sweet heart but has Daddy and Big Brother wrapped around her finger.
Ken and Gracie at the Magnablend company picnic. We had so much fun! Can't wait until next year.
Marci and the kids. They are getting so big! Time just flys by. They are both at cute stages right now. Very entertaining to watch when they do not know I am watching them.

Ennis Fall Festival

Ken took the kiddos to the Ennis Fall Festival. Of course, the Strunc kids pretty much stuck to the farm animal section. Marci found a wagon on Craigeslist so Ken had a little help keeping the kids in check!

Look at our Gracie K.! She finally got to go on her first pony ride. She has been waiting a very long time for this. Would you look at the awesome form, subtle hands and centered balance. I am telling you she is a natural!




























Nick on the other hand was bored with the ponies. He rides Shy all by himself you know. So, he enjoyed grooming the goats and other petting animals. I see FFA in his future. Mommy and Daddy better get some land quick!

Here they are in their cute green wagon. They love it. Nick pulls Gracie K. around our little yard when they play outside. Best $20 I have spent in awhile.

We survived Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike was a tropical storm by the time he hit us. We did not get a direct hit so it was not so bad. Gracie and Nick watched from the window as sheets of rain came down for hours. But no damage here. Unfortunately, Galveston was not so lucky. It was totally devastated. I am glad we got to go see it in August before Ike swallowed up much of its historic sight on Galveston's beach line.

Our eventfull Labor Day weekend

Well, what a busy weekend it was for us. On Saturday, Nick had 3 birthday parties to go to. The first party was for his friend Ian. Ian was trurning 5! Ian had a great pirate party at the park. The boys had yummy hotdogs and Ian had an awesome pirate cake. There favorite part was playing on the huge tree covered playground with their starwars lifesavers. Nick told me after the party that "That Ian is a good man!" So, he must of had a great time!


The next party that day was in the afternoon for his friend Kolton who was turning 4. Kolton had a firetruck birthday party at the Corsicana waterpark. Nick had a good time playing in the water and squirting water guns!





The final birthday party was at Chick fil a. This was Thomas's 4th birthday also. Wow, what a live bunch showed up! They had soooo much fun on the playground and enjoyed yummy cake and icecream! Nick met a bunch of new friends and so did mommy!








The next day was Sunday and Daddy and the kids took Mommy out to A BIRTHDAY lunch and shopping to spend her birthday money! Mommy got some very pretty Brighton Jewlery, and a crystal browband for showing her horse Sam in. Mommy sure enjoyed blowing money on herself!




Monday, we went to the beach. It was a nice warm day and we headed to tge beach at Bardwell Lake. Gracie Kay is starting to really like the water. Nick, on the other hand was born to swim and loves to go to the lake.


By the end of the day, the outer rings of Gustav were starting to make its way to Ennis. Gustav had hit New Orleans where Uncle Dan and Aunt Julie live with Cousins Maddy and Mathew early that morning. So far the levies have kept up and we have no reports of major property damage, so we are still keeping our fingers crossed.

Meet Reksi 8-19-08

Well, like our lives where not crazy enough.... We got a dog! Poor Reksi (Finnish for Rex) needed a new home when my Finnish dressage trainer, Mia, moved to a different stable. Since we where going to be moving into a new house with more land I told Mia that we would love Reksi, since he is 2 and good with hyper boys! (Mia's son Mishial, was 5 when they got Reksi and is now 7, and also very active) Well, we are still in the small house with the postage stamp of a yard but hopefully not for long. At least he is old enough to be done with all those puppy issues and young enough for Nick to play with. He is very sweet, but right now scared to death because his people just left him. Don't worry Reksi, we will be your new people and Nick is soooo happy to have a big dog to protect him from those "bad guys" he has been talking about so much lately.

(Next morning) Well, Daddy came home from work at around 3am in the morning and mommy was asleep on the couch with Reksi on the floor next to her. And did Reksi prove that he was protective. He jumped up and growled a scary growl at Daddy while standing between Daddy and Mommy. Once Mommy said it was okay, Reksi backed off and befriended Daddy. I think he is going to keep us all safe when we move out into the country.

Nick and Mommy went for a walk with the two dogs this morning also, so Reksi could get a feel for his new neighborhood. Nick had Scooter and Mommy had Reksi. We had a great time and enjoyed the sunny morning after three days of rain. Reksi was a good boy and Scooter did not seem to mind the big guy coming on his walk. Now, they are a force to be reckoned with in the neighborhood dog wars! Unfortunately, poor Scooter is not the king of the house anymore. Oh well, Nick still loves you too Scooter. On the plus side scooter... You have a big dog to help you guard the backyard from all those toads, cats and birds that just drive you crazy!

Galveston Beach Adventure 8-08

Marci and the Kiddos packed up and headed south to Galveston to meet Uncle Dan, Aunt Julie, Maddie and Matthew. The seven of us sure had some fun in the sun for two days. We swam at the pool and at the beach!
Nick had a great time body surfing while Maddie and Gracie Kay payed on the beach. Matthew enjoyed the beach tour from Mommy and Daddy's hips. Maddy and Nick stayed up late talking about all kinds of things. Marci and Julie actually got to enjoy coffee in the lobby while Uncle Dan watched the kids in the hotel room four awhile. Thanks Uncle Dan!

Camping at Bardwell Lake, TX.

The Strunc Family went on a camping adventure. They staked their claim to a shady campsite at Bardwell Lake and endured the 105 degree temperatures by including an air conditioner on their list of "must haves" while roughing it.





Nick and Gracie spent some some great times four wheeling on the plains of Texas. Nick reports sightings of Coyotes and Bears. At night he prepared for their unlikely visit by standing guard with his failfull BBgun. (Gun does not work, only shoots out daddy made bullets made of aluminum foil)



To escape the heat, The strunc family made good use of the beach and even created a private shady water spot at their camp. Much fun was to be had splashing around under the big shade trees!



Marci reports that a good time was had by all and promises to do it again. Maybe when the heat wave is over?

Cooper turns 2

Happy Birthday Cooper! You are just as cute as can be. Gracie Kay loved your swim party! We all thought it was cute when you shared your birthday cake with her.

Gracie at Mara's 2nd Bday party

Gracie Kay was seen at the July birthday bash of Mara Seppler. The party was held at Extreme Jump in Red Oak Texas. Party goers were seen jumping and running out of controll. There were some unconfirmed reports of children actually sticking to the walls. Gracie Kay reported, with squeals of excitement, that she had a great time and enjoyed the company of all the other bouncy toddlers.

Nick's Calvery Dreams come to an end

Nick sadly reflects on the news that the US calvary no longer rides the plains of Texas. Nick and his faithful stead, Shy, had been practicing for their career in the US calvery only to be disappointed in the news that they are about 120 years to late. Nick is obviously devistated by the turn of evens. However, Shy admits he feels relief due to the fact thathe is no spring chicken. (There have been some reports claiming our old Shy was actually alive when there was a US Calvary.)

Farmer Nick produces first crop

Farmer Nick produces his first crop this year. Planting season started in March when Nick and his Dad cleared out a the field on the side of the house (Previously known as the dog run). Among the plants to be planted were tomatoes, peppers, strawberries. Nick also started from seed with pumpkin, watermelon, squash, sunflowers and carrots.