1st day of school

CB first day of 7th grade

ZB first day of 10th grade

My boys are 1/2 way thru their first full week of school.  ZB has been studying for a European country test and CB brought home Algebra last night...ICK

CB has his first football game tomorrow night.  Exciting!

Texas Porch

 Nearly a month ago I made a fast trip to the panhandle of Texas.  I went with my super cool, Great Aunt V.  Unfortunately it was for a funeral.  I have GREAT memories of this little town, Stratford.  I had lots of family there growing up.  My mom was and still is very good to visit family.  When my sister and I were little and even as we got older.  My mom made it a point to make sure we knew our cousins...for that I am so grateful.

Anyways...my last relative(cousin) passed away.  Her mom and my Great Grandma were sisters.  The Smith Sisters.  There were 5 of them.  How I loved them all! They were classy, sassy, fun, beautiful and witty!  It was a sad trip for me...there is no one left out there that is family. That was a hard thing for me to accept.  On the other hand, my cousin is rejoicing in the heavenly realm in her new body!  

As we drove into town, I began to think back to my childhood and how I LOVED coming out here.  There was always good food, good laughs and lots of love.  The emotions flooded me when we pulled up to her house. So.Much.History.

There was the porch.

The porch that belonged to my Great Great Aunt and Uncle. Then it belonged to their niece and her husband. A big beautiful home that I remember staying in.  The twin beds in the back room with our own bathroom.  The big kitchen where all my loved ones gathered to talk and laugh and of course eat wonderful food.  The den where my uncle's desk was.

 

Then there was the porch.

I could not help but think about the porch.  It looks exactly the same as when I was a kid.  

I {love} that porch.

There were lots of pictures taken here

There were lots of hugs given and received here

There were lots of laughs and tears shared here

There was lots of love shared here

There were probably some spankings given here

I will always remember the porch. 

I hope the family that moves to this home, enjoys the porch

as much as my family has.

Wordless Wednesday

County Fair 2012

Our County fair was a week ago

It was about 107 degrees for 3 days of our fair

It actually cooled off to 85ish on Saturday evening

Then there was lightning

and Thunder

and eventually some of that wet stuff

RAIN

about a 1/2 inch to be exact

Not complaining but stating a fact

it hardly settled the dust

we'll take more

anytime

CB ended up the Grand Champion Intermediate Showman

I was a bit surprised

He did good...I thought he could have done better

sorry, just keeping it real here...

but apparently the judge thought it was good enough

I about fell over when he went over and handed CB the

GRAND Champ BUCKLE!

This is CB's lamb #39. See, our boys are past the point of naming their lambs

They are simply called a number. Their ear tag to be exact.

It's almost James Bond like.

Or not.

{smile}

ZB moved to Senior Showmanship this year.

It's a bit more competitive...to say the least.

He assured us he was ready.

He was.

But his flashy little ewe, #13 was not.

See how she is squatting in this pic?

NOT COOL

She literally just had a come-a-part as the judge put his hand on her

Not sure what her problem was.

Maybe the heat???

Who knows. Unfortunately that little incident cost him.

He never got a second look.

There is always next year right?

CB and #39

Rock stars in Showmanship!

Did I mention it was about 110 on Friday night?

ZB and #13 again.

This time, we're NOT in showmanship class

We are in the crossbred market class-lightweights

 

She was pretty enough to win her class!

(it really isn't a beauty contest)

 

She was good enough to be

Crossbred champ overall!

JB and I were shocked...we knew she wasn't very big

but our sheep kind of quit eating for the last month...

it's just been too hot..

We thought 2nd Blue would be ok

they never pick the lightweight lambs for champs

NOT! 

 Here is the judge telling ZB he needs to take her to the State Fair

We can't.  They had to be registered back in June.  Who knew.

ZB had both of his lambs in the Grand Champion drive.

Pretty cool year for us.

Considering we started out with 5 lambs

Ended up with 3

(death loss was high this year)

That were not as big as they should have been

Because they didn't want to eat

Because it was too hot

Because we are in a drought

Because....

Fair.

Glad to see it come, glad to see it go.

Hard to believe we are about to start another 4-H year

ZB's 9th...CB's 6th

Great news @County Fair

I am a proud momma of a Grand Champion Intermediate Sheep Showman...AND
a Crossbred Champion Lamb...well, I'm not the momma of the lamb LOL
But...My oldest did GREAT with his lightweight ewe...she was the breed Champ!

Sorry...no pics...yet.  I'm home for just a bit and had a few extra minutes to share, the camera with all the pics...is still at the camper {grin}

Life is flying on by fast and furious...our fair will be over on Tuesday and then it's time to get serious about filling out enrollment papers for school {sad face}

More to come later...and pics.

Have a blessed Sunday folks...we are off to 4-H church at our fair!
p.s.  we got a half inch of rain last night~hallelujah! Thankful for anything we get!
Oh yea...and it's not 110 either...it is 70 ish this morning...only going to be 95ish today.