Zach is a junior in high school this year (wow! Can we believe it?) and for the first time ever, he asked a girl to a school dance! He went along with Kayla and her mother when Kayla picked out her dress - and then they went and picked out a tie for Zach. Kayla invited him over before the dance for a home cooked meal (I HATE to cook so it was a double treat - LOL). They had a great time at the dance and are already talking about prom =)
About 12 years ago or so, I was following a Paint Horse message board on the internet. Somehow a non-horse related thread got started and one of the members was teasing the bunch of us about being a bunch of cackling hens. Well, a gal in Louisiana started us out own message board - the Paint Horse Lover's Message Board or the "Henhouse". The members are scattered all over the world - a diverse bunch with a wide range of interests. It has been a great support group when needed, many shoulders to cry on and a great group of prayer warriors.
Well, Lisa and John set out this fall to drive across country from Louisiana and they have stopped and met with MANY, MANY of the hens (and roosters). They were in the Boise area over Labor Day and we had a great get together at Eagle Island state park. My camera batteries were dead unfortunately but did get some photos from some one else.
Zach got up and out before I could take a picture. Planned? Anyway - Aaron still wanted to pose for mom. He has a busy year planned - has been selected as a NASA specialist again, is playing the violin, clogging and continuing in 4-H. He says he can handle it but can mom???
After we got the goats all checked in at the fair, we went and found a good sit down dinner - not alot of time for those once things get going. Then, we headed to the grocery store to get some soda and other staples for the week. As we passed a salon, Aaron spotted a poster and decided that he wanted a haircut! Well the salon was closing but the gals were good sports and fixed him right up! Grandma had her camera and documented the event!
First I will start by mentioning that yes it was HOT! Warmed up just in time for us to hit the road to Boise! I have always said that it was so much more enjoyable to show at this fair than county fair, but this year not so much so.
Aaron started out Friday morning helping to show goats for the judging contests. Four head of each species is "shown" and the kids get to be the judges. Anyway - after he got his goats bathed - he took off to ride the rides. While getting ready to show, he decided he didn't feel good. We thought it was just the energy drink I stupidly let him have. He managed to get through the class without losing his lunch and placed third out of nine kids - I think that is the biggest class he has ever shown in! Then as we were leaving the fairgrounds, he got one of his gushing nose bleeds (they just started getting really bad this summer). We finally got it stopped and got back to RV and he was out like a light.
Saturday morning he REALLY didn't feel good. He managed to get through the show but really did not enjoy it and I am sure that at this point he couldn't even begin to tell you about it! His goats did win three championships, two reserves and two best udder of breed awards. He also won the Sunday Herdsmanship award and the overall Herdsmanship award.
Sunday I got up sick and I have NO idea how Aaron managed to show goats all day - I sure could not have! Needless to say, we were all glad to get home and get some rest! Now we are DONE showing for the year - yeah!
My mother's cousin and her husband celebrated their 50th anniversary back in July with an open house. The food was awesome - grilled zucchini and spinich dip yum! Got to see and visit with cousins that I have not seen since we were kids! And some of our kids had never even met each other!
In photo front row: Brayden, Bryce, Brycen, Nick and Mayson Back row: Aaron, Erin and Zach
Our summer was interspersed with periods of cool stormy days but unfortunately it warmed up to BROIL just in time for our county fair! And wouldn't you know, it cooled down again right after! This year our club members showed goats, sheep and horses - but Aaron only shows goats - so that is mostly what this is - LOL. He had another good fair - won his showmanship class and his animals took both Grand Champion and Reserver Grand champion Jr. Doe titles! He tells me he also won his age group in the watermelon eating contest but I must have been at home basking in the airconditioning while he did that!
I got my turn to show in both the goat and cat adult showmanship class - it was alot of fun! In goat - this just awarded 1st place and participation ribbons - another mom in our club won. But I WAS second in cat showmanship and I have never shown a cat before but I do love them and answered all but one question correctly.
This was my last year as the Cat/Pocket Pet and Small Animal Round Robin superintendant. I have enjoyed it but just kind of burnt myself out and really someone else needs to learn to appreciate what goes into put the shows on for the kids - LOL.
We were deep in preperatins for fair and the weather had us scurrying to get everything done, so I had to pass on going to see our great-niece - boo. But great-grandma got some GREAT pictures of her that she shared! Just can't believe she is already six months old - wow!
June went by in a blur! Heck the whole summer did! Now it is time to play catch up. In June, we participated in both the Meridian Dairy Days (Zach ezcorted a pagent contestant and Aaron showed in the 4-H/FFA Goat Show) and our local Cherry Festival.
Our 4-H club walked their animals in the kid's parade but unfortunately, I don't really have any photos. I POURED rain for a good hour while the entries were judged and lined up. It did quit raining just as the parade began but it was wet and humid and the kids and animals were grumpy and well . . .
This year was the 75th annual Cherry Festival and some very talented ladies worked VERY hard to put together an opening night "gala". Many, many hours were spent on casting and practicing and all members of the community were invited to participate. I tell you - it was a VERY good show! After a rousing rendition of Yankee Doodle Dandy - Aaron opened the show as a 1930's newsboy - there is NOTHING shy about that boy! Each decade was highlighted with a skit or two of either something that happened or a t.v. or radio show or fad or some such.
We live in a small, rural town in SW Idaho. Though Paul has traveled alot with the service and he and I spent a couple of years in California, we are native Idahoans and wouldn't change that fact for the world.
We have two awesome sons and between them, they are involved in 4-H, soccer, varsity tennis, skateboarding, science clubs and a peer counseling group.
The boys also raise a small herd of dairy goats and we are members of the American Dairy Goat Associaton, the Miniature Dairy Goat Association and the Idaho Syringa Dairy Goat Association - be sure to visit our "Dairy Goat Blog" to see what is going on in the barnyard and show ring.
