Returning to life, as we know it...

Yes, I know I say this every week, but seriously does Monday have to roll around twice as quickly as the weekends?  I'll forever be wishing my life away, I suppose.


Life is slowing returning to our normal pace of hectic and always running behind; or as my grandmother would say, "A day late and a dollar short."

Bailey has returned to college, is living in the dorms, and getting back to being the fun loving kiddo we all know and love.  As much as it pains her to be stuck on the side lines and in the dugout this softball season, there's so much to be said for the power of prayer and her miraculous recovery. 

Just this weekend she was giving her dad and me a full life-size example of how she 'thought' she could just stand on the mound and pitch a little step pitch, to help her team win a few games.  This explanation came with complete body movements of hips, arms, and legs. Who cares if it was on carpet in our house, it was full body movements?  (Secretly I was thinking to myself..."wow, she's gotten so much  mobility back in such a short time.")   The predicted recovery time is a full 2 years, however there's a strong possibility that she will be released to play ball again in the upcoming 2015 Fall Season.  We will see... I believe in miracles and know that nothing is impossible for her to accomplish. 

Now seriously, is there any mother in their right mind that would allow a 19 year old recovering from a full pelvic break and knee reconstruction surgery (4 months ago) get back out in the field to pitch, throw, potentially need to jump out of the way, or just duck and cover to avoid being hit by a fast moving ball?  Uh... NO!!!  :)  But then again, not all softball players are as determined and passionate about the game as Bailey.  However, this is one mom that isn't going to allow her to step back on the mound in a full on college softball game... not yet anyway...I'll probably be chewing on those words sooner rather than later!! Geesh....

While the fear of what could have happened is slowly fading, I'm not at all ready to see her step back in front of a ball yet or step into any dangerous physical activity for several more months. It also doesn't help that the PT at the Dr's office was quick to tell her than her handy knee brace could follow her in life in all kinds of sporting activities.  Such as snow skiing, water skiing, wake boarding, etc.  Uhm... ok, can we not give her any ideas and can you please reiterate to her that this is future activities... far... off in the future, NOT in the next couple of months activities.  ;)

At this point, watching her drive off in her jeep is still cause for concern.   Those 18 wheelers don't discriminate and she's already beat the odds once, I see no reason to risk her luck.  (Wink Wink)   Life goes on, God continues to provide and protect us, and all three of my girls are healthy and happy.  There's just not anything more I could ask.

Proud Momma Brag

What blog post would be complete without a proud momma brag moment?  So.... with that said....I'm going to brag shamelessly on Bailey who is entering her Sr. year in High School.  As many of you know, she has played select softball for many years and is a fierce competitor with most anything she does.  She pitches approximately 65mph and bats as well as anyone, with her fair share of hits to and over the fence lines.

This summer has been a phenomenal season of softball for her.  Bailey has been very fortunate to play on a team with wonderful coaches that have encouraged her and recognized her true talent and heart for the game; one coach in particular has been her own personal cheerleader with college scouts that have come to the college look tournaments.  She has pushed Bailey to step up and become a team leader as well as a more responsible individual. I have been so impressed that this coach preaches the 'bigger picture' about long term goals and success in life - not so much about the here and now, but more about how softball and college are merely a tool to help you achieve success in your life and long term goals.  (I've been saying the same thing for years, but of course I'm just mom, so it falls on deaf ears!)

We really are so very blessed to have been associated with this coach and could never begin to thank her enough for all that she has done for Bailey and for us.  Now with all of that said, Bailey was offered not one, but two wonderful college scholarship opportunities playing softball.  One was at a Division II college in the metroplex and the other was with a Division I college in East Texas.  After much prayer on my part and lots of talking it out and list making of pros and cons between Bailey and her dad, we decided to go with the Division I college.

I must admit that I am probably as excited as Bailey is about this opportunity!  By no means is this going to be an easy ride for her, she is going to have to study and study hard.  There are definite expectations that she is going to have to uphold, but I'm certain that she realizes the importance of this opportunity and definitely appreciates the faith that the college coaches have placed in her and her abilities. The challenges ahead of her are many, but so are the opportunities.

I just have to brag a little....

As everyone knows... it's almost time for school to be out and we have been busy with all sorts of school activities that are standard for this time of year.

First on the list of accomplishments is my precious little nerdy girl (she knows I call her a nerd) has been inducted into the National Elementary Honor Society.  The best part is that she is the first one of our girls to receive this honor in Elementary School - it's always great to be the first at something when your the youngest of 3!

 I have to admit that I didn't know such a thing existed in Elementary School, but obviously it does and we have a certificate to prove it!  :)

The next night of Awards was for Bailey's athletic accomplishments. This year Bailey has been awarded "Pitcher of the Year" for District 13-3A. She has worked very hard this year in Softball and helped her team win the Bi-District Championship for our area and they advanced on to

Area Play-offs. 

Just for the record, she throws a mean fast ball, among 5 or 6 other different pitches!  I can guarantee I wouldn't want to face her at the plate, much less have to catch her!

Here she is all cleaned up and ready for her Sports Banquet.

Of course the one time she's interested in having her picture taken and looks nice, the weather is overcast and gloomy and less than the best picture-taking weather; as usual my iPhone pictures are never as good as with my 'real' camera!  

Alright, there you have it - my shameless motherly bragging blog post!

Come on summer, it's getting harder and harder to raise the dead each morning!

County Fair Time of Year

Yep.... you guessed it!  It is that time of year again when we haul the piggies to the Fair Grounds and hope they make the weight we want, follow directions in the show ring, and  do well enough to make the Sale and win a top spot in their Class.  Oh I know, the excitement is almost too much to handle, isn't it? :)   Just imagine how stressful it is for those poor piggies;  on a side note...if they don't make the Sale, they will promptly become ham and bacon in my freezer!

This year will be Briley's first time to show her pig.  The past 6 months have really been challenging for her, because she's had to put a lot of time and effort into the feeding and care of her pig.  All the while she's had to endure her older sister yelling at her for not doing 'it' right...whatever 'it' happens to be at the moment.  Oh let me just say, we've had our fair share of screamfests in the pig barn! 

After all of the trials and tribulations of raising pigs, Briley is mostly excited about wearing her new boots.  Oh yes, we had to go buy her a pair of new boots to wear in the show ring.  Afterall, what was all of this for, if not to get dressed up in the latest cowgirl gear and be blinged out in the show ring?

Here she is modeling her new boots... and yes, she is wearing her night gown... in the kitchen... in her boots! What can I say?  Nothing is sacred in our house! 

Here's a close of up shot of the boots - which by the way, took all afternoon to pick out! Apparently Briley has some real issues with the shape of the toes, the color of the tops of the boots (even though noone will see the tops)... and the list goes on. 

I'll check back in and let ya' know how the piggies and the girls do after the Pig Show!  I'm sure after Briley gets a taste of chasing after her pig in the Show Ring, we probably won't have to worry about her doing this another year.  I just don't see her persuing this much further, and quite honestly.... I am not going to be too disaapointed.  There are too many other options that she can participate in with the 4-H, besides PIGS!  Oink  Oink!

Spring Break! Let the fun begin!

Are you new here? 

You should have realized by now and after reading so many of my random posts that there was going to be very little spring breaking going on! :)

Oh sure... school is out for the week, but soccer, softball and pig feeding continues.  The only difference is that we don't have homework thrown into the mix this week.  For that, I am grateful!

Every day this week, I still have to figure out a way to get Bailey to and from soccer and softball practice during the middle of the day.  Because you realize she doesn't drive yet, and I work all week... so??? I'm relying on the patience and kindness of other kiddos that have their drivers' license.  JOY JOY!

Every day this week, we still have to dredge down to the pig barn and feed those nasty creatures - twice a day - with a concoction of feeds that is as precisely measured and monitored as if we were making a cake for the Queen.  Unbelievable!!!  Each day I remind myself  that raising pigs for the FFA or 4H groups is most definitely a labor of love for our children.   These little jewels are all about teaching responsibility and I get that, really I do.  HOWEVER, I didn't need to learn responsibility... I have three of my own little reminders of my everlasting responsibility!

My task at hand for this week is to clean out my car!  Oh, I'm sure you can imagine the little flakes of pig poop that have made their way into my car are starting to really stink as the temperatures in the car rise... yes.... you get the idea!  Not to mention the bits of pig feed that have spilled out of the buckets and now it smells like a grain barn in the back of my car. 

Remember... this is a labor of love!  Or else I would be considered stark raving mad to allow this craziness to continue!  (See how I have to keep reassuring myself of this fact?)

Anyway, it is Spring Break and that means all of this nasty cold weather and long gloomy days are surely about to end.  Bring on the sunshine!  I need to feel the heat of the sun and smell the flowers blooming.  (Pardon me, while I sneeze my head off.)    Spring time is great!  (sniff... sniff)

Softball season is starting and I am all about sitting in the stands watching Bailey pitch their team to a District Win.  I'm also all about sitting in the stands and listening to Briley whine at me about being hungry, which direction the wind is blowing, and how she is BORED!  Oh yes, the joys of spring time!  (I need to remember to stock up on sunflower seeds to keep Briley entertained!)

Believe it or not, this is my favorite time of year.

Events of the Weekend

This past weekend Bailey had her turn at the Ft. Worth Stock Show.  She and her heifer did very well in the show ring and placed third in her Class.  After all of the poop was scooped...

the cows were washed and blown dry this is what we ended up with...

Another year in the books!  As always, this has been a fun and educational experience for all of us.  Bailey works very well with all of the heifers and continues to step up to the challenge and responsibility that it takes to make it work.  Now on to the pigs and getting them ready for the County Show in March.  The fun just never stops!

As if I needed another project....

Last January Bailey was lucky, skilled, or just crazy enough to catch a calf in the Ft. Worth Calf  Scramble .  Now with this opportunity, challenge, or headache comes a few responsibilities and requirements that have to be taken care of throughout the year.  For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, I'll give you a brief recap.  If a calf is caught, then you are awarded $500 to use towards a purchase of a heifer to be shown in the next year's Ft. Worth Stock Show, in return you are expected to make monthly contact with your sponsor and keep a journal of sorts... IE... scrapbook documenting your year working with and showing this heifer.

This is where I come into the picture - - I am helping Bailey put together a scrapbook for the Judges, in addition to the $500 used to purchase the heifer, extra scholarship funds are awarded for the most creative scrapbooks and an essay.  This past year I have been taking pictures of anything and everything that Bailey has done while working with and showing her heifer and her pig. 

Let's just say that trying to get pictures of Bailey is like trying to get pictures of a raging bull!  Literally!! This child does not like to have her picture taken and most of the time her expression is clearly representing what she is thinking....it's not usually nice either! LOL  (Notice the expression below.  Is there any doubt that she is thinking ugly thoughts about her mother?)

Originally, we were working to put together a more traditional scrapbook with all of the cutting, gluing, paper, and cute little accents, but then I was informed by our County Extension Agent that the Calf Scramble Office really only wanted a 'copy' of the scrapbook?  HUH?  A copy?  I've been cutting, gluing and buying little accents for nothing?  They just want a copy?  CHANGE OF PLANS! 

Now Bailey and I are working on putting together a digital scrapbook which I enjoy doing so much more than the traditional paper scrapping kind.  Basically I like working digitally better because it's less messy!  Yes.... I realize I have issues with things being clean and not cluttered, but all of that paper stuff constantly drug out over my dining room table was about to send me over yet another edge of insanity. Picture it... scrapbook junk at one end, Briley's homework and school project at the other end.  In the mix there is a cat or two taking residence among the constant paper piles and then let's not forget that eating standing up isn't always the best alternative.  UGH... Here's how my mind works... (beware)... If I have to clean up the scrapbook stuff every time I need to use the table, then I will NEVER get in the mood to drag it back out and work on it; I hate to make a mess.  Therefore, digital works so much better for me and I don't feel so overwhelmed with clutter.  ( I know... I definitely have issues! But that's a post for another day!)

So far, Bailey and I have about 12 pages in the digital scrapbook completed and I need to make about 12 more to make myself happy with her submission of the project.  Oh and one little detail... it's due Feb 1st!  YEP... that's right.... as always we are rushing around to make this happen.  It will be great I'm sure - it has to be - we've actually had to get along for a few minutes to make it come together! :)   And just in case you are wondering, YES she is going to be trying for another heifer in the Calf Scramble again this year!  JOY JOY!

 

The Baby Pigs Have Arrived

As usual for this time of year, we are the proud owners of two new baby piggies, to be fattened up and taken to the County Fair in the Spring.

This year Briley is going to show a pig for the Jr. FFA in our District.  This is her first year to actually get in the ring and show by herself.  To say she is excited, is quite an understatement.  Briley has already named her pig Hershey; yes, the black one is hers! :) 

Another change we've made this year is that we are keeping the pigs at the school's barn, so we will be closer to them and it will make the care and feeding of them easier than driving down to our friend's barn in the next town over.  So far, the girls and I have to get up about 30 minutes earlier each morning and we stop by the school barn to check on these little oinkers.  Bailey is shoveling poop each morning before school and Briley and I are taking care of the feeding and watering them.  I don't know how long I'm going to be up for the morning pig duty?  Obviously I didn't read the fine print somewhere? UGH! 

Every other evening, the girls will be going to the pig barn with their dad to start working with the pigs to get them use to taking directions/orders when told to move or whatever it is they teach them.  All of this effort is in hopes that when the pig gets into the show ring, they don't act like a completely wild animal -which of course they are?  Go figure?

So far this has been the extent of Briley's participation...let's just say she's gotta step off of her bale of hay pretty soon and get dirty! LOL

This morning when we went to the barn, Bailey quickly announced that her pig had the 'runs'!  Oh lovely!  This year of pigs is off to a good start - NOT!  Pig Runs - Pig Diarrhea - JUST LOVELY! 

Stay tuned for more pig adventures...

15 Years Ago Today - during my Soap Opera...

Bailey was born!  Yes, her arrival into the world happened right in the middle of The Bold and The Beautiful!  I gotta tell ya, I was a little irked with her for a while, especially when the Dr. told me that I had to turn the TV off so I could push!   Well... I guess it all turned out for the best and now 15 years later, I've got a beautiful young lady that I couldn't be more proud of and the drama between Brook and Ridge still exists in the world of daily soap opera drama. :)

Ironically, Bailey was born on my sister's birthday and those two definitely share a few of the same character flaws traits! When no one else seems to understand Bailey, I have no doubt that my sister will totally get 'it' or completely understand Bailey's way of thinking...that's just how they are?

So Happy 15th Birthday to my sweet girl - and yes...we will be having  a double decker chocolate cake with chocolate icing - just the way she likes it!

Oh I almost forgot - I must get busy and order the driver training manual thingy - you know she's going to be nagging the life out of me to get her learner's permit.  OY!  I feel a need for more Xanax!

Let the fun begin...

It's finally Fall, so for our family that means cows, softball, pigs, and whatever else we can squeeze into our busy life!

This week 'we' are heading to the State Fair of Texas for Bailey to show her heifer.
All of the preparations are in place, the heifer has been washed, blown dry, brushed, fluffed, and probably folded too?


 Seems to me that standing behind a cow holding it's tail and brushing might be considered brave or STUPID?

Bailey is the only one of my daughters that seems to be made to do this 'cow business'. She is not afraid to get dirty or stepped on.  She's not afraid to crawl into a pig pen and do whatever it takes to make these animals ready for the show. 
She has gained so much self confidence in the past couple of years since working with these creatures - it's a great feeling for this Mom to see her walk out into the show ring strutting her Cow's stuff! :)  I am amazed at how much she has learned in such a short time, but then again she is truly interested in working with these animals and the fact that she is actually learning something hasn't really sunk into her head.. ya' know?  She just considers it "having a good time"!  HA HA HA.... who am I to tell her differently?

Now that the heifer is almost ready for the show, I have to get Bailey ready!  She has to have new jeans and a new "show shirt" to wear, and let's not forget that every fashionable cowgirl must have new bling-bling chunky jewelry to wear that will match the cow's halter?  DUH?? How can you possibly show a heifer without the appropriate accessories. 
 
The chaos continues....

This Little Piggy Didn't Make It To The Market...

This little piggy went straight to the processing plant!



We aren't exactly sure what happened this year, but Bailey and the pig were both off of their game? Bailey didn't place well enough in her class to make the Sale, but that was really okay with us - we already had big plans for the porker and OUR plans were for her to go straight to the slaughter house and then straight to my freezer!


The expressions on both of their faces tell it all - neither Bailey or the pig were 'feeling' it that hour??? :)

All is not lost, we did discover a new fashion accessory that is sure to start a whole new trend in the Swine Show world.... A blinged out belt with a brush placed in the back pocket, for that unruly swine hair in the show ring.... or the occasional poop that needs to brushed off the pig's behind (while the judge isn't looking, of course?).

Not sure where we are going from here with our animal adventures? I hear talk around the dining room table that there is Heifer somewhere in the next county that has Bailey's name on it? Now Briley wants in on the action and has decided that she can raise and show Rabbits? Uhh....not too sure about that one either?? OY Vey!

This Little Piggy Went To The Fair (version 2010)

It's that time of year again...time for the County Fair. Again this year, Bailey is showing a pig and this year she has chosen a Hampshire Pig. We are all proud that this pig didn't get sick like last year's bacon in the makin', but this Hampshire pig hasn't been without it's challenges. Apparently, she's quite moody - the pig not Bailey - and won't eat on a regular basis. We've learned all about different types of oats and concoctions that are supposed to make this porker want to eat.

The latest theory on fattening up a pig came from yet another 'pig pro' that suggested we use powdered baby formula mixed with water and somewhere along the way we were supposed to pour in a bottle of straight corn oil? All of this is mixed with the regular high dollar pig food and should fatten this girl up! I say we should just save the money on pig food and feed her the same stuff I eat everyday, 'cause it's obviously fattening me up - with little or no effort!

Apparently all of the suggestions have worked and Miss Piggy is fat and ready for the Swine Show this afternoon. She made the weight class we were hoping for and at last count, I hear she weighed in at a whopping 237 pounds!

I should have pictures of Bailey and the pig later today. So hopefully I can get those loaded for your viewing pleasure tomorrow.

Stay tuned for the next pig story which will hopefully end with ...This Little Piggy Went to the Market!

Bailey's Calf Scramble

What's a calf scramble? You ask? Well.... for lack of a better way to describe it, it's simply a bunch of teenagers in the rodeo arena chasing steers and trying to capture and halter one. Why do they do this? Well.... it's all about money and scholarships! The winners receive money to apply to their next show animal and some eventually win scholarships from these sponsors.

Here are all of the hopeful participants, waiting for the signal to start scrambling!




It's a fun time, if you're lucky enough to catch one. This year was Bailey's first time to give it a try. She ended up catching one after three tries. Now before anyone starts judging my photography skills, my defense is that I was on the wrong side of the arena, as usual and I was jumping up and down hollering and really was having a hard time focusing my camera. I was trying to take pictures with one eye and watch the action with the other...not the best idea I've ever had! LOL



Let me interpret this blurry mess.... Bailey is actually dragging the steer by the tail, but this slippery little fellow gets away while dragging her around the rink.


The next strategy she tries is to just fall on top of the steer. Uh this didn't work out so well either and Bailey comes away with a hoof print on her left cheek.


BUT...the third try is the charm! Bailey was determined to scramble up herself a calf...(did you like that rodeo talk?) :)) Notice the look of sheer determination!


Here we are back to the 'pull the tail' method!


It worked! She caught the steer and is putting the halter on it.



Ahhhh... sweet success! The calf is haltered and the Judge is there for the hand-off!



Whew! She did it! Now we are heading to the San Antonio Stock Show for their calf scramble! OH and the stepped on cheek was just slightly bruised, but it makes for a good story to her friends at school. :)