Mark it off the bucket list!

After college I had several things I wanted to do in my life. Of course at that point it was just a list of dreams, wants, desires, or whatever we called them. Now it is the "Bucket List". I have already marked off a few like: get a teaching job, travel Europe, get married, have 2.5 children and drive a mini van, cruise Alaska, make a recording, and fly in a helicopter(my trip was planned). Some have not yet been marked off the list like: have a child win their breed class and then the breed championship at a stock show, go to Norway, write a children's book,take the kids to Hawaii, retire, and a few more things. Then there are those things that end up on the list ..... maybe they are the things that belong on the "nice suprises of life" list. Those....."really, why didn't I put that on my bucket list" things. I love those kinds of things. IF you know me, I will try ALMOST anything(well, not harmful things) once. I have experienced several of those over the years. For example, touring the haunted prison in Wyoming, living in "the Middle of Nowhere South Dakota, being a FFA mom. Recently I experienced a few more of those surprises also known as the spice of life! One of those is learning to paint. NEVER thought I would paint...fun stuff not things I would sell to another living soul. So far this year, I have painted 4 pictures. Suzie (yes, you read that name a lot) Traci and I have gotten into this painting....while you drink a little wine! Suzie has painted more times than I can count; I have had 4 classes and Traci 2 classes. I must say....it is fun, and my pictures do not look so bad! The next thing on the NEVER thought would be on the list is our crew owning the Yorkshire breed champion at county. Now may I please take the liberty to say......We have won the duroc breed,black OPB (berkshire)breed, Chester breed, Cross breed, and now we can add the Yorkshire breed. Hmmmm that leaves hamps, Polands and spots (just not going to happen on that one as long as we have Jordan). Okay, I won't brag any more...tonight! So proud of our team! It has been a rough year with the loss of 2 pigs...one to illness and one to walking issues. The kids went into the arena with 5 pigs this year, and all 5 actually qualified for the sale, but you may only have 2 per student. I think Jordan and the kids have their groove back!!! AND then finally the newest "never placed on the list" thing.......I sang the National Anthem at the County Stock Show! I mean like I lead the audience in the singing of the National Anthem....with a microphone....wearing jeans and a sweatshirt....with no makeup on! AND....I got the words correct, pitched it in a good range and added NO trills, frills, or 48 count notes. Sang it Texas style....American Style....proudly. Mark it off the bucket list!

One year, 22 days and lots or patience...

Just getting into this blog was an expierence. Wow...glad I had hours to work that out! When there is ice on the road you can stay inside and get alot done. I conquered napping today! So....where has the year gone? What have we been doing? Why does Susan keep posting things on facebook like 6 months, 9 months, a year? We have been busy. I remember being busy when I was in High School, but bless my mom's heart, she didn't complain and lived through it all. Guess I better do the same! To begin with.......Makaley is a full fledged driver! She has the "big boy" truck (used the 4wheel drive today to go have my mammogram). We panicked just a moment when she failed the first driving test because she bumped the curb in the parallel parking test. Like she is going to parallel park that honking truck. REALLY? She burns LOTS of gas! Picks up feed, picks up her brother, and picks up lots of Diet Coke at the little burger place down the road. She has taken out a mailbox and the gas tank cover all by herself. She had help with the big dent (a friend hit her 45 minutes after we arrived home from South Dakota...she drove from Perryton home with no problem) and we have a couple "smudges" of paint on the grill. Hard to see over that hood! Next was a GREAT season for Pig Showing!!! There were 7 pigs in the barn during this show season! Domino, Pistol, Gunslinger, Maxwell, Lucky shot (lived up to his name) and JJ(named after Jimmy Johnson). Domino was the only one who didn't get "pulled" by the Judge...that was a story in itself. Makaley and friends took him to Ft. Worth;Kauy and I were going to meet her....then the snow and ice storm hit. She and Domino were tackled at the show by another pig, and so to the trailer he went. The rest of these guys were "pulled"....Gunslinger had a panic attack in the arena and went out in the piggy ambulance...Pistol, JJ,Lucky Shot and Maxwell all brough home ribbons and money!!! You have probably met them on your breakfast plate by now. This summer, Kauy and I spent MUCH time together. Makaley went to two judging camps, FFA officers retreat and STATE FFA convention. Kauy and I ate out and enjoyed time being together. He is such my commedian. I LOVE traveling with him. He is his father's son...an old soul as far as history and old music is concerned. he also go his braces...what a nice smile he has already! The orthodontist wrote a note on his folder that said "very tough case." That boy....he just toughs it out! Yes, we also went to South Dakota......yes, Tony with back for a second round! That man loves the tractors, and Rick had a new one! Now..let me give you a quick rundown of that moment.We arrived in the evening at the trailer house. Rick had the electricty on and the windows open to air it out. We unloaded and decided to just haul water into the trailer instead of trying to hook up so late. Kauy got on the mower and started on the yard and then to the barns. I cooked dinner, made beds and vacuumed. Also found the molded wall in the back porch! yuck. Everyone had a room (Tony the couch because of the breeze in the room)and all went to bed fine! UNTIL....about 1AM, Kauy came to tell me he didn't feel well. As is my norm...I sent him back to bed with a peppermint and a sip of water. Do you know we still have shag carpet in the trailer? Green....and gold/red...and remember......no water! You know where this is going don't you? yep, I heard it splatter in his room (at the end of the hall) and I had NO water for clean up except what we halled in. I made a makeshift toilet (5 gallon bucket and a toilet seat)...changed the sheets and slept at the end of the bed until all was done. I woke up thinking "WE slept most of the morning...good" only to discover it was just 4:30AM and bright daylight! AND........we were freezing. Tony had closed the windows and was piled in blankets. We even wore coats the next day! Tried to hook up water only to find out that since no one lived there for a year, something was broken so........Let me wrap it up like this: Two weeks, no water, no TV, no cell, no phone, no mail, heating up water on the gas stove and washing by hand. We borrowed the neighbors (house about 20 yrds from the trailer) bathroom and laundry room, AND went to the top of the hill to make calls home! AND we stayed.......Two weeks!! The kids had a great time without electronics. Yes, we lived!!! Makaley started school as a Junior...Kauy in the 8th grade. Both in band. This year, the band practiced at 7AM M-Thurs. That girl got up and got there on time. Sometimes she even had to pack her own lunch! It all paid off!!! The band received their first ever first place in Area and marched at the 4A State competition. I got to go on the bus!!! I love being a bus mom....for the most part! Where else do you get to eat a free meal, watch great football..free, and tell other people's kids what to do! Plus the kids love "Momma O" and Makaley is on the bus I am on and she actually acts like we are related. lol. Suzie saved me at the playoff in Midland.......cold weather and NO coffee at the stands. Odessa/Midland have lots of oil, great coffee, and the best of friends. Now, somewhere in all of this, I learned to paint. Suzie started painting with this group called Wine and Canvas. She invited me and before you knew it, I was going to Odessa the minute the bell rang at school so that I could paint with Suzie. We even hooked Traci! Over the Thanksgiving Holiday, Great-Grandma Helen (Kelly's grandmother) passed away in South Dakota. We had visited her this summer, and although we never knew if she really understood who we were and what was going on, we would not have missed the chance to see her. So......2014 was NOT overly exciting...just busy. We have a barn full of pigs ready to start the show season in about 2 weeks. Now that I have this site figured out, maybe I will work at getting things sooner for you to read! IF not, don't worry. Suzie will let me know how long it has been since the last post. AND....if I forgot something I wanted to say, I will get it in .....later! Maybe by then the pictures I tried to add will show up! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

6 months....who's counting?

When my friend Suzie said "it has been 6 months" I was like....okay...I said all I want to say.  Oops...didn't realize that 6 months was May.  What does that say about my life?.....I don't pay attention to numbers.  I am an English teacher at heart!  I look at words, thoughts, literary expressions, and look for the deepest meanings of movies, books, and the such!  Numbers?  Just look at my bank account...or don't.  Haven't balanced my book in 10 years OR more.  Won't tell you which.  If I want to know my balance I call the bank(don't do online), deduct anything written in the last 24 hours, and I have it!
Therefore, I didn't realize I failed to put summer vacation on this blog. Of course you have to understand me a little too.  If I tell one person everything that goes on, that is often good enough.  My running on about this and that is not always interesting.........except to those who love me the most. Ha Ha.
So...summer vacation catch up.....Makaley finished her "class time" for driver's education.  That went well!  However we then have to undertake 20 hours of driving with an adult other than a driving instructor.  Now, that is excitement since that person is mainly me!!! Let's review.....older mom, teenage daughter (who is sure she knows more than her mom because mom is "too old to remember what it is like to be lively.")  Okay, I will stop there.  Anyway, we decided to make the trip to South Dakota....and bigger decision....we decided to ask Tony to join us!  About three days after that decision, Tim and Traci decided to join us, but unlike the normal trips to the ranch, Kelly's parents would not be joining us.  His dad just didn't feel up to the trek so, we would be staying with our family....the Doud's.  In the basement, with no walls, with a toilet in the middle of the floor with a curtain around it.  Oh who cared?  We were going to have fun.
The first day of driving was very uneventful.  We stopped in Garden City Kansas to go through the zoo which is a tradition. Not sure Tony was thrilled with it like we are, but there were baby monkeys, otters, birds, kangaroos etc.  The next day(Sunday), we headed out......this day proved to be a little more interesting!!!  You see, after Garden City is a quaint little town by the name of Scott City. Gas is always cheaper there, after 3 cups of coffee, it is a great potty stop and the place we regroup after rushing to get packed. As I am pulling out of the gas station Makaley receives a text about our youth minister leaving.  I am trying to assure my two that life will be fine.  I pull in the left lane (4 lanes) so that the "hometown" people can have their road and parking spots outside the churches ets. Soon flashing lights and sirens surround me.  Being a good Texan, I put on my blinker, check for cars and pull over to let them pass.  Only to discover that he pulled in behind me.  Of course Tony being all male says:"are you speeding?"  No, I am doing 35.
Let me get my grump on here!  The YOUNG officer NEVER looked me in the eye.  When he saw my license and insurance he said "thank you; you were doing 35 in a 25 mile zone."  WHAT??????  seriously?
I have driven through this town at least 20 times! NEVER saw that NUMBER!!! Never been pulled over AND I was following one of the "townspeople" who was about to turn left.  BUT...he didn't care!  25 mile an hour???? Really........ My daughter eve said, "Mom, in Texas that is school zone only."  Good girl.  when he returned to my car, he read me my instructions, requested my signature and promptly turned back to his car.  Now, I will admit that I was speeding......in Kansas, BUT we we pulled off all was quiet until my kids died laughing.  when I asked what was so funny, they explained that he never looked me in the eye and they knew that makes me blow a fuse!!!!!  Tony said he was quiet because he didn't want to go to jail for telling the kid to "look at her when you talk to her."  So.....the new number spent in Scott City after 65.00 in gas???  Add 144.00.....and even after filing a complaint with the chief of police, it was still 144.00.  After accusing them of a speed trap....still 144.00.  The secretary of the court and the judge are one in the same I think. 
Soon, I decided that it was time for Makaley to get some Hwy. time. (Highway on our trip is 2 lane with 18 wheelers, windmill parts, and tractors. So...why not.  Needless to say......I was placed int he back seat and Tony took over the front. In less than an hour, she killed her first bird, missed the only turn between Scott City and McCook Nebraska, and passed her first truck.  Hello, I was sucking the upholstery up from the seat.  Now I know why Kauy always has his eyes on a game boy and earphones in his ears.  She drove for 3 hours, and made two BIG left turns.  Once we hit South Dakota, she took over the wheel again and drove us to the ranch!  Yep, I missed having her grandparents there to see her do that....and I thought how proud Kelly would have been!  To anyone other than us, that is no big deal, but to her.......It was!
The rest of the stay was wonderful.  Tony learned to drive a tractor, and got up daily to help Rick in the fields.  We picked fresh mulberries,  rhubarb, cucumbers: drank fresh milk and made homemade pizza and bread!  Makaley had a lesson in cooking! We also went to the Black Hills for the a couple of days. Tim and Traci went home(not avoiding Scott City but avoiding the officer) much earlier than we did.  And yes...when we drove through Scott city on the way home.....I drove 15 just to be safe!
After arriving home, a new set of numbers showed up.....8.  That is the number of pigs sitting in our barn right now in the middle of this deep artic cold snap.  8 is the number of pigs my children must go hand water every couple hours.  8 is the number of pigs causing the numbers in my checking account to decline quickly!  Now, you know me.......would I change that?  Probably not.  We love each pig....even the ones that are CRAZY!  We have decided that one thinks he is a miniature bull and out to win the PBR.  Let me introduce you to their names and a little about them.  I was going to include photos, BUT my computer is not allowing me to do somethings so...that will have to wait.   Hopefully NOT 6 months!
We have Domino - the one who thinks he is a bucking bull.  He is CRAZY!! No seriously!  Ask Jordan to see the photo of his leg...or Kauy to see the photo of his bloody nose, or Makaley as he got between her legs and started the "twist and roll" routine.  We started to name him dumbo since his ears are as big as his head!
Next to him is Pistol - named him that before we got to know him.  He is a pistol for sure!
In the next pen is JJ and Maxwell.  JJ had an ear tag of 48.  48 is Jimmy Johnson's car.  Jimmy Johnson won the race the next day then won the whole NASCAR thing.  Guess who this pig belongs to.  lol  Kauy hopes that JJ is a winner in the arena.  Maxwell is the only solid white pig in the barn.  Named because of the commercial for that insurance company!  Little did we know that Maxwell would squeal like that pig does on the commercial.
We have Riata and Lucky Shot.  Riata is our only girl and she is getting pretty big! Hopefully she will go to a good breeder and be a mom some day.  Lucky shot........well, we can only say that we hope he lives up to his name.
Finally we have Gunslinger and Berky Berk.  Gunslinger is tough baby!  I know...that is a great combination.
Berky Berk....is a baby.  He is still tiny and really doesn't have an official name.  He is sooo cute.
We are sitting in an Artic blast and hoping that the Major stock shows will NEVER be like this.  Icy and cold.  I can do cold.....too old to learn ice skating.
On a final note.......my computer is acting STUPID!  sorry for those who don't like that word.  I can't get my cursor to go in and correct mistakes so.......you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.  Excuse the strange wording in places....the misspelled words, and things that make your eyebrows move up and down.  yep.......I teach English Grammar.....this is one of those nightmares. I am closing out because I just can't stand to read this mess any longer!  lol 

Introducing......

I would like to introduce to you Dr. Traci Lyn Merkel Yandell.  Anyone who has worked as hard as she has deserves to have a title and 4 names!!!!  I am so proud of her.  People who know us know that my sister and I are night and day most of the time, but some days we are right on the same hour! I guess all kids are like that.  Fun facts about Dr. Yandell:
She is my little sister...in age, height, and weight.
She is my big sister...example wise.
She almost was flushed down the toilet after she was born, but my great-grandmother stopped that.
She would shiver and shake giving you a 30 second notice that she was about to wet her diaper(before pampers) and you better get her off your lap.  She was done when she smiled. Seriously!!!
She has always been the funniest of the two of us.
She is the bossiest also. That is why she has this degree and I don't.  ha ha
She tattled on me any chance she got, but when I got a spanking, She would sit there and beg mom not to kill me. 

She would put bubble bath in her pixie stix so I would learn to leave her stuff alone, and I would chase her around the house with the vacuum or chicken skin (this was when you had to buy the whole chicken in the grocery store.)
She threatened to "tell my great-grandmother" on my grandmother for letting me drive before I was 10.  Now she is a better driver than I am!
She is the only grandchild I remember my grandmother every threatening to punish. (and I can't remember why that happened)
She studied for her classes.  I learned where the library was during finals.  Consequently, she was in National Honors Society in HS and higher than 2.75 GPA in college.
She has a degree in Dietetics and Education.
She is my rescue number; the number I call when someone in my house needs comfort; the one who called my house EVERY morning for 10 years after Kelly passed away to be sure that I was up and able to handle the morning. She has driven to my house at all hours of the night to help me.
She is the BEST Aunt, sister, nurse, daughter, granddaughter and friend you could ask for.  My life would be nothing without her.
So Proud of you sis!  oops Dr. Sis.  This title is wonderful, but the best title you have is the one of Sister!!!

Dr. Yandell front right!

I would also like to introduce to you my soon to be Sophomore daughter in her FFA "dress".  Sorry it isn't bigger, but she has on a skirt AND black hose!!!! I am so proud of her accomplishments this year.  We have had many ups and downs (ask her Aunt), but she has trouped through it and constantly lets me know that there is more to life than homework, yard work, dishes, a clean room and laundry.  I think she looks pretty dad-gum cute in her little outfit(that I pressed) and her nice straight hair(that took an hour to do) and our second pair of shoes because the others had a piece of silver design on the top.  Very Very strict on this "dress" but I love it!  Ag had been a true blessing. Her friends are either band geeks or Ag kids.  Great choices that she made there!!  I must say that yesterday we all three (the son included) sat around and mourned.  Seriously, I had planned to take her to get her driving permit, and she didn't want to go.  She just didn't have it in her......her day had been flipped with a roller coaster of emotions.  Her first and favorite (not because he is the first) Ag teacher announced today that he will be leaving to take a job out of the Education world (yes....I am a tad jealous).  Mr. Smith was a blessing to our school.  He got things where they needed to be however, I understand him wanting to be at home with his family more.  He has two younger children, and in today's world, I agree that Daddy needs to be there more!!  Bless his heart, he started looking for "stock" in August.  Continued that through the first of October, and taught school, built a barn, and got things on track.  He then attended judging contests, major livestock shows, and MORE judging. In all of this, he set a wonderful example to my children of how you work and complete what you commit to do! Makaley loves "Smith", and I could not have asked for a better way to start our freshman year. The good news is that he will be in town, and we (really Jordan and the kids) still have him to call on and hang with. His daughter shows pigs, and she hangs with "the older girls" most of the time.  We love that family.
Finally.....My pianist showing off their ability.  Makaley played a piece written last year by our neighbor who was 17 at the time.  It is absolutely beautiful and she played it by memory perfectly.  I hope that we will be able to get a good recording of it and on her wedding day (way down the road), she will walk down the aisle to her own accompaniment.

And now..................we are ready for summer!!!!  Pigs are just months away and we are going to rest up!

And in your other spare time......(part2)

Yes it is a beautiful day outside,but I just wanted to get this post in before I get ready to post again.  Hahaha..go ahead and laugh.  You think I won't post for another 6 months, but have I got news for you.  Well, will have for you (and NO, I am not getting married but someone in our family is changing a name!)
And so when you have spare time what do you do?  From my previous post, you can tell that most of my time is consumed by pigs and kids.  Just today, Makaley and I were driving thru town, and she saw a street named "Green Acres"..she started singing the song and then talked about the pig Arnold.  A few streets over was "barrow" street.  She whimpered and said...."I miss my barrows".(yes Jordan, she did!).  And then about 6 streets over is "Grand" street.  She said something about winning "Grand" at a major.  This family is "ate up with it".
Believe it or not, there are other things to do in your spare time besides feeding, washing, and showing pigs.
For example....you can attend Benefits for Breast Cancer Awareness.  My mom, cousin and I traveled to Odessa to attend the Pink the Basin with my other mother's daughter Susan. Go ahead and think on that one! lol.  You know Suzie...friends for 41 years. Anyway, it was a wonderful, wonderful day.  Even the newspaper was pink that day. Food was great, speaker was WONDERFUL, but family and friends...priceless!!!.

Can you guess which one is my cousin Brandi?  Seriously, she would say she is the one with no hair and no boobs.  BUT...that aint the case now!!! That girl has the cutest hair growing in and has bi-racial boobies! She said they didn't have two alike when she was ready, so she bought "friends".  BEST OF ALL...she is free!!! No more chemo, medication, no cancer!!!!!  I am so proud of her.  All of our family(except my dad and kids) attended at least one doctor's appointment or "draw" with her. So I could say...in your spare time you could WHOOP cancer!
Or during your free time, you could create a planet.

This is Kauy's science project. He designed it while sitting in a pig pen in Ft.Worth. It was ready for class a week before it was due.  Yep....I thought I had returned home with the wrong kid! of course, with the name of the planet being "Planet Goodyear", with a NASCAR theme, I knew it was the right kid!! Notice the ring around it..Next to the Flag is a NASCAR race car. There were moons(not in this picture) called "the intimidator" and "Junior", and Lake Lagano.  He did a great job and received an A.  Most expensive A ever made I can promise!!!  I am saving it incase NASCAR would like it for their museum.  At this price, I need to get lots of wear out of it.
Now...if you have some real good spare time you can have surgery!!!! Makaley was diagnosed with scoliosis in November of 2011.  By 2012, the curve had changed 15 degrees and was at a 64 degree curve and the bottom one was about 30 or so.  It was decided that we should correct this since if left untended, it could become a severe health concern.  Like it wasn't already?  Hello!!!  As a mom, I was sick to my stomach.  I wanted to reach into her back and fix it for her.  I wanted God to let me act as one of His apostles, lay hands on her and fix it.  But I couldn't.  I cried myself to sleep one night because I needed her daddy.  I just wanted to snuggle up to him and say, "Aren't you nervous?"  But you know...when that can't happen, you do the very best thing....Snuggle up to God and tell Him.  We prayed for our Dr. by name.

I had no idea that my baby girl was in so much pain until a few days before surgery. She never once said anything close to wanting to put this off, being scared, or having second thoughts.  She was a ROCK! Her doctor, Dr. Rathjen is amazing.  She also had a "Dr. McDreamy" who woke her every morning.  He signed her back the morning of her surgery.....they know your face, but I guess everyone looks the same from the back!  So he wrote his name so he was sure they had the right girl.We told her she didn't have to wash that spot for months if she didn't want to. They also decided to only put one set of rods in after visiting with each other. My girl was up and moving the day after the surgery. We walked the halls, and walked the halls again.  AND I cried and thanked God for wonderful doctors, and prayer warrior who carried us to His throne daily and during the surgery. We had great friends who came to the hospital and visited. I didn't do this alone....My sister Traci went with us.  I have the MOST WONDERFUL sister!!!! Scottish Rite Hospital is WONDERFUL.  We had the greatest experience there! Not because the surgery was successful, but the people there LOVE their jobs and it shows in their every move.  We felt like the queens!  Below is a picture of her hospital room, and then a picture of her 3 weeks after surgery, the Sunday before she returned to school for 1/2 a day. Fast track girl.

Look Mom...I am 1 1/4 taller!

If that doesn't take up your spare time, sign up for scoliosis research with your doctor.  Makaley decided to be a part of the ongoing research the doctors at Scottish Rite do.  She was excited even after she found out it was mainly just paper work to keep track of her.Oh, and the doctor apologized that he was unable to take some of the "teenage temperament" out of her while she was on the table.  Said that would be my problem to take care of!  Thanks....

Or....if you aren't into research, invest $386 in driver's ed.  Yes folks, she will begin driver's education in May.  I am full of mixed emotions again.  I told her she has to sit up straight behind the wheel and be proud of that new back! I can't believe she is ready for this because I'm sure not.  lol

I know that I missed a few things like..........going to NASCAR.  Kauy went with Suzie and Bobby....AGAIN.  They promise me that he acts great when he is with them.  I want a video!  That boy keeps us laughing and still holds my hand.  Gotta love him.  Of course, he isn't 15 yet.

I guess you could say that my spare time has been well spent!  We have had our valley moments and our mountain top moments, but God has blessed us through all of it.  I miss my grandmother so often.  Would love to hear her "smart" remarks on this past year! 

Enjoy your spare time!  I have!!!

When do you get spare time? Part 1

Spare what?  When I have spare time, it is either while I am in a show barn, a doctor's or dentist's offfice, or sitting in line somewhere.  And of course, those places do not accomodate you getting dinner cooked, laundry done, or a house cleaned. I promise, I don't sit around and eat ice cream bars!
So...let's talk spare time in the show barn.....go ahead and dream that is so.  If you have spare time in the barn, you can make the most uncomfortable chair the best "napping" spot ever.  And of course, all the kids take you photo and tell you you snore.  BUT...I was alert enough to get the score card right.  Here is the final outcome of this years pig shows!
Meet Squeaker: 5th in Ft. Worth and Pork Producers hat and bonus  Kauy's pig,Throwback, threw his back right into the "farm to Market" trailer. 

Meet Warfare(left) and Swagger(right)

This was the daily morning greeting.  Warfare was Champion Barrow at the Wylie Show, Reserve Cross at Taylor County, and Second in his class at San Antonio(placing in the sale.. plus another Pork Producers cap and bonus!

Makaley and Warefare and they battle for first place. Second made us just as proud.

Kauy and Swirl.  As a team they placed 9th in San Antonio! 

Rudolph and Swagger.  Swagger was Breed Champion and Grand Champion at Taylor county.  Rudolph was 1st  in his class at County also.  However, you can see them again at your local HEB.  They went straight to the trailer which was VERY hard on the old mom!
   

Finally meet Jorge....long story on that name...but this dude won 5th at the Star of Texas Show in Austin Texas.  Yep...put a few miles on the old Tahoe huh?  But they were fun miles I promise!!!!!!

We had a wonderful, wonderful year.  Our "team" set goals and achieved them! Our "team" represented our breeders very well whether we won or trucked right to the trailer.  One thing I have tried to instill in my kids is that you are a winner for even getting to where you are, and there is no need to blame a judge or pout when we didn't make the top nor is there reason to gloat for a win.  Kauy has a lot of his dad in him and that drives Jordan crazy sometimes.  When he wins, he just grins, takes the ribbon back to the pen and heads off to other things.  He lets the rest of us act the crazy fool!
And so...in this moment of spare time that I had(due to bronchitis) I want to say a few things about my spare time in the barn.  I LOVE it!!!  Thank you Jordan and Ashley for getting us to this point!  Thank you for loving my kids even when they are not doing what you want.  Thank you for wanting the best for them and "keeping on keeping on" when you think they don't listen.  We miss our pigs!  Just saying....
Thank you breeders....Jason Lackey, Will Winter, Craig Bessent, The Cobb Family, The Jones Family and Dirk.  Thank you for checking on us during the "growing" period and being at the shows to cheer for us.
Thank you Cody Smith, our new Ag teacher!  Wow, we loved working beside you.  We love the fact that you and Jordan had serious moments to study and advise! I am glad that you don't teach driver's ed., but if I needed anything, you were there in a NASCAR minute. And in Kauy's words..."Your not any Sacajawea." Thank you Suzie and Aunt Traci....probably Bobby and Timmy also.  You two were with us all the way.  Suzie didn't miss a show(from county to Austin, Jan. to March) and set with me while my nerves were on total edge!  Aunt Traci wasn't actually at a couple shows, but still didn't miss one because she watched them on line.  She would text me and say "tell that kid to"....whatever she felt needed to be done.  Thank you to the Phillips and Cagles who showed up or cheered from their living room chairs.  I think they also got a little Leighton time.  Thanks to you who listened to us ramble, or liked our photos on face book.
Finally, thank you to my prayer warrior, Margaret.  She began praying for Jordan and the kids as the pigs were being purchased.  She prayed the pigs through the spells of health issues and then prayed for us as we went to each show.  She is a single woman who understands the love between people and their animals...even if they are pigs.
Now, that is all the spare time I have today.  Dinner must be cooked, clothes folded, and homework completed. Yes, my kids could do all of that....could being the operative word here!
Hang on.....part two is coming soon.  Suzie, remind me in about 2 weeks. 

A lot can happen in 8 months....

There are lots of things that can happen in an 8 month time period.  I could have gotten married or had a baby, sailed the ocean blue, written a country song, or even written a book.  Just to set the record straight, NONE of that happened.  Instead, we had a great but busy summer and almost finished a semester of school.  Let me start with summer first....strange things happen when you have a teenage daughter.  When she invites me to do something with her, I put the rest of the world on hold and grab her hand.  She asked me to go with the youth group to McAllen ( haven't read my last post, but if I wrote about this already...fast forward or walk down memory lane with me...just don't hit the close button yet.)  I was the lone female sponsor for that trip.  Our first night there, we drove to Wal Mart;I broke the kids into groups(with another adult as the leader) and gave each a shopping list. I  stayed in the produce section selecting the "good stuff".  It is amazing how many adults do Not stick to the list.  However, almost everything was eaten during our time there. I will say that other than serving the Lord alongside my daughter, the greatest thing there was the homemade Mexican food.  Oh heavens.....I know that these ladies who prepared food for us will be serving their dishes in Heaven.  The week after we returned from the mission trip, I sponsored the group to a Ranger's game and Hurricane Harbor.  As for the game....it was a nail biting winning game which was delayed by rain and a bolt of lightening that struck one of the poles outside of the stadium.  That woke 'em up!  As for Hurricane Harbor....I should have gone ahead and busted out my bikini. I decided that times are different than when I was in high school  Wear a bikini even if you can't see the strings because they are pressed into your skin so tightly that they become part of the roll above and below. Yep....we were definitely NOT the norm there.
We like that game so much, that two weeks later, we went to another game...WIN and then yet another!  We had just soooo much fun!
Now during that time, I was shopping for an Alto Sax for Kauy and listening to Makaley groan about how she didn't want to go to band practice in August and wouldn't stay in band longer than a year.
So that brings us to the end of August when I bought the kids glasses, and we all started school.  Makaley began High School and Kauy started Middle School.  Excuse me but it would be nice if the schools talked to each other about scheduling parent night, paper work, and supplies.  By the end of the first week, I had not seen my house but on a Wednesday night,, had writers cramps, and was just about flat broke!  Can we say that since August to today, I have purchased my High Schooler 10 T-shirts!!!  TEN.  For the love........I will be able to make everyone in our family a t-shirt quilt when she graduates!  Yes, that is in 4 years just so you know.  Kauy had to have a zillion supplies for his saxophone.  And for those of you who have children or grandchildren who want to be in the band, have them play tuba.  All you buy is the mouthpiece.  A sax mouthpiece was 149.00. That was a three digit number with two zeroes after it. Still broke...
Pigs began coming in, excitement filled the air and then it happened.  Makaley had to look me in the eye(seriously since she is my heighth) and say these words to me....Mom, you were right.  Band is so fun and I love it.  Guys, I almost had that put on the billboard alongside I20.  She marches every Friday night, and Kauy and I go to every game. Here again she invited me to chaperon the bus to one game, and then asked if I could chaperon to the State UIL Marching contest when they went in November. I couldn't say No...so off we went.  The short versions is...Kauy was left behind to tend hogs and attend school.  I was assigned Makaley's bus and her room at the hotel.  The first night we were there, the girls had a swimming pool size leak in their room.  After getting them to their new room and finally getting back into my bed, the fire alarm went off in the hotel and there was a voice in my "dream" saying "We have detected an emergency in the building, please do exit using the stairs"  So...down the stairs we go only to notice that my daughter was not down the stairs.  Up I run to floor 3 (glad to have lost some weight so I could do that) only to find that the alarms had not gone off on the third floor.  All the "security" tapes were on the doors.  About that time the alarm went off again and they heard it on the third floor....took only seconds for the tape to rip off.  Although sleep was interrupted, and the temps were high, the kids marched with perfection and few were grumpy. 
The next week, Kauy made the UIL Social Studies team and I immediately told him that I would travel with him too.  He wasn't that thrilled.
Now...here we are.  We have pigs in the barn...Squeaker, Throwback, Jorge, Warfare, Swag, Swirl and Rudolph.  Jordan worked hard to find us these guys, and we are excited about them.  We are looking forward to the Major shows that will begin after January. 
It is funny how we measure our lives by the activities that we do. After pig season is over, we will journey down a road that we have never traveled.  Makaley will be having back surgery.  Her scoliosis changed 15 degrees in less than a year.  Moved right on over to the surgery number.  I am very anxious, and she is very ready to have great posture.  We like her surgeon who is at Scottish Rite Hospital.
Please pray for our family.  The part I haven't mentioned is that my cousin Brandi is working toward victory over Breast Cancer.  She is giving Uncle Timmy a run for his money on the shiniest scalp!  My sister Traci is working hard to finish her dissertation for her Dr. degree, and was recently in a wreck with a goober so they had to purchase a new car, and now we prepare for Makaley to have surgery.  We are ALL good....acting like my precious Grandmother and laughing our way through it.  God will provide for our needs....doctors with steady hands, doctors with the right knowledge, cars, and friends to help us through. 
This has been long I know.  AND...Suzie, it may be another 8 months before I do this again, but I hope not.  I hope we will have winning pigs and then I will have a week of just sitting with Makaley and will try to blog her progress along with the before and after pictures.
May you...those of you who read this crazy blog be blessed with many blessings this Holiday season.  Now you may hit the red X at the top right corner!  lol