Cheyenne County Fair...

...Round Two

Since we had so much fun on our first trip, we just had to make another trip back over this evening for the BBQ and Jr. Livestock Sale.

Tressie rocked it straight up cowgirl tonight, complete with her turquoise, blingy belt and boots!

The red wagon that we gave the Little Lady for Christmas has been the best gift ever! She much prefers it to her stroller (I think she can see things better and feels like she has more freedom). Grandpa has even figured out how to quickly take the handle off so Grandpa and Grandma can even stick it in the trunk of their car...that's how much she likes it!


Farm Credit (where I work) serves watermelon at this county fair. Tressie loves her some watermelon!


After the BBQ, we made our way over to the sale ring. It didn't take long before the Little Lady had lost her boots and was running around playing bare foot in the dirt! She had a blast playing with all of the kids. Here she is going for a wagon ride with her little pal Ava.


Tomorrow we are headed to Kiowa for the Elbert County Fair to watch our nieces and nephews sale their 4-H animals and then Sunday it'll be another trip to Kiowa for the ranch rodeo. 'Tis the season for county fairs!

Place Your Bets

This morning we ventured to the Cheyenne County Fair for the turtle races.

For the past couple of weeks Grandpa and Daddy have been recruiting turtles (stopping every time they see one and picking it up to bring home, only if it tries to get away from them, we don't want any duds). We've had a turtle dorm in our stock trailer where they've spent their days in the weight room and on the track and their nights eating a high protein diet. OK, not really...they've spent their days doing whatever turtles do and their nights eating weeds and dog food.

But today was finally the big day...time for "Tressie's Turtle Trotters" to head to the big race. (The big race is free to enter and the winner takes home $50 bucks!)

The trainer looking over her team before we head to the races.

The trainer is not quite sure what she thinks of turtles!

Waiting to load the gates.

In case you've never been to a turtle race, here's how it works. Heats of 10 turtles are placed inside the starting gates. Upon the start, the contraption is removed and the first turtle out of the chalk circle wins.

And they're off!!!

There were 98 turtles entered in today's race. Tressie's turtles didn't win, but we still had fun. Maybe those east side county turtles have better genetics or something?!?

Nine Years

Today John Wayne and I celebrate nine {wow!} years of wedded bliss.

I am such a lucky girl...married to my best friend, who just also happens to be a hot, hunky cowboy...who loves me and the Little Lady unconditionally...who provides for us {and supports my shopping habit}...who puts up with our tantrums {mine and T's}...the list could go on and on.




Happy Anniversary Babe!
What do you think the Little Lady will make for us for dinner?!? : )

July Goals Update

So I pretty much feel like I have to be boring you all to death with these uneventful monthly goal updates, so we’ll run through this one quickly.

P.S. Where did July go? Literally feels like the 4th of July was last week.

Drink more water.
Yep, still drinking water…some days better than others.

Stick to a budget.
I’m back on track here and now that I am, I kind of even have a renewed enthusiasm about it again.

Read atleast one book each month.
Water for Elephants…still on it. I haven’t had much time to read lately, but I’m not so into this book that I’m trying to make time either...

Keep my pictures organized.
Is this a never ending process? I don’t know if I’ll ever get caught up…

Start sewing again.
YES! It was a small {very small} project, but I made a table runner for when Mom and I hosted Chevy’s bridal shower. At least we know the machine still works : )

Exercise.
I have been doing pretty good in this department. I signed up with some friends to do the Dirty Girl mud run at the end of September. They’re all in good shape, and well you know, I’m not. So now I have some motivation. I’m alternating the Couch-to-5K program with my Jillian videos. Although I must admit the only time my workout clothes made it out of my suitcase during my recent trip to Seattle was for the plane ride home…I had eaten so much food and obviously not exercised, they were the only thing comfortable enough for the ride home : )

The “d” word.
Remember I don’t diet anymore…

The Little Lady's First Flower Girl Gig

When a 17-month-old is charged with the duty of flower girl, you never know what might happen...but I think Tressie did a very good job!

After much deliberation as to whether or not to let her walk down the aisle by herself, or with some of her older cousins who were bridesmaid/groomsmen, we decided to let her go it alone. The Little Lady never showed much fear. She headed down the aisle, only to quickly become distracted by all of the people to stop and visit with along the way.


So after stopping to visit (with a stranger, none the less!), one of her older cousins who was an usher, helped her make the rest of the way down the aisle.


She quickly realized that she was center stage with a captive audience. I snuck up to the side and was whispering and motioning, "Tressie, come here." To which her response was a little giggle and to run away : )


After we got the silly little flower girl out of the way, the real star made her way down the aisle. Chevy looked stunning! I must admit, I'm not usually a huge fan of mermaid style dresses, but this dress was made for Chevy! It looked so perfect on her, she was gorgeous! (And from the looks of it, I think my cousin Josh, thought so too!)


It was a great ceremony and I'm so happy that they asked T to be a part of it!


You'll notice that she ended up bare foot. She had darling little white dress shoes, but even before the ceremony started they had rubbed huge blisters on her heals. It must be awesome to be 1-year-old and be able to get away with walking down the aisle in a wedding bare foot!

Cutest Little Flower Girl Ever

More pictures and details to come...

Washington Vino

I've been in Seattle this week attending a great conference for work. This afternoon we got to visit Januik Winery for a tour and tasting.

It was really interesting to hear the owner talk about his business...very knowledgable and passionate.

Their building was designed in 2005 and is a very modern design.

The barrels come from France.

The tasting area.

One of my besties also works for Farm Credit and is at this conference...has made it all the more fun!