Budding Photographer

"Icy Tree Branches"

"The Windmill in the Snow at Sunset"

Sadie bought a new camera with her Christmas money. She chose a teal blue Kodak Easy Share C813. She ventured out for a little bit this afternoon and took some pictures. We thought these were pretty good and wanted to share them with everyone. Sadie titled all of them as well.

"Pawprint on the Porch"

Dog-gone COLD

As I am writing this it is a crisp 11 degrees outside. Petunia decided to venture out of her house. You can see by the ice crystals on her back that she decided to stay outside most of yesterday despite the cold. I was glad to see she did go in her house last night and that she was still with us this morning.

We have a little bit of snow/ice. It is really dry snow, but at this point we will take whatever we can get. The trees are pretty. If I can manage it, I'll try to take more pictures when I brave the cold to water the zoo animals. One other thing--the TV station changed our high today from 26 to 23--gotta love it!

It tastes like...dead skunk!

Sadie needed to take some cough medicine tonight at supper. She doesn't like the way it tastes. Here's the conversation we had while I was getting her medicine for her:
Sadie: "Eww, I hate the way that tastes. It tastes like dead skunk."
Me: "I wonder what dead skunk tastes like?"
T.S.: "Broccoli."

After she FINALLY took the medicine, T.S. proclaimed, "Now she'll smell like a skunk!"

Craziness!!

This is the extended forecast for this week. Notice the high for today and tomorrow. We are having fabulous weather here. I'm sure if you don't live in the Panhandle you are wishing that you did. Yes, I know it is winter and it is supposed to be cold, but remember we were in the mid-70s last week.

To celebrate the weather we made butterflies this morning (the boys refused the photo op). I'd like to curl up on the couch and sleep but the kids have different ideas and the zoo animals think they should have unfrozen water to drink.

Back to Normal, sort of

T.S. got a really good report at the doctor yesterday. We are down to 3 breathing treatments a day and have started our preventative inhaler twice a day. He is still resisting the breathing treatments and doesn't like the way the inhaler smells (who knew??). So I'm trying to find ways to encourage him to do the treatments and take his medicine. We're trying a sticker chart. If you have any fabulous ideas, please let me know.

Things today are back to normal--if that is possible in this house. The boys are having a ball upstairs and I'm about to have to break the news to them that it is nap time. Thanks to everyone for all of their concern for us this week. Hopefully we are on the road to being well and preventing future asthma attacks.

A Picture of Our Week, so far

T.S. has developed asthma. It seems to be stock-show-dust-induced. We have spent every day but today at the doctor. We've been doing breathing treatments every 2 hours and we're taking oral steroids. A four year old on steroids and albuterol is an interesting thing. He has literally bounced off the walls. The good news is the steroid is clearing up his eczema and we seem to have turned the corner today. His oxygen levels are better. We'll go back to the doctor tomorrow and see where we stand.

We did find out yesterday that he does better taking the treatment if he is occupied, so today he decided to paint during a treatment.

County Stock Show Pictures

Sadie with Leonard after she showed.

Sadie doing an interview on KNNK radio.

T.S. playing in the dirt. Sadie showing Wilbur.

Sadie showing Harry. Why the shot of her back? Please notice her "poop" rag in the pocket. She had to use the rag to wipe "stuff" off of the pig; then she had to keep it with her. She's definitely a serious showman since she put the rag back in her pocket.

Thanks to Connie for taking such great pictures of the pig show after I left. Sadie had a great day and was so appreciative of everyone who helped her. Pictures of Otis to follow, I'll have to get them from my father-in-law because I accidentally deleted them.

Randall County Junior Livestock Show--2009

Yesterday was another great day for Sadie. Otis placed 3rd--he actually beat another lamb. Leonard placed 2nd and Sadie showed like she had been showing for years. Once again, the judge had fabulous things to say about Leonard but ended by saying he was just too small. Sadie did a nice job in showmanship. Leonard was tired and uncooperative, but Sadie never gave up. The judge had more nice comments about her and the lamb.

In the pig show, both Harry and Wilbur placed 4th. She was chosen to come back to junior showmanship and did a great job. We'll post pictures later.

T.S. had a pretty rough day. He and barn dust don't seem to agree. GeGe took him home after the lambs and came back for pigs, but I ended up having to bring him home.

Robby had a great day, too. All of his FFA kids made the sale. He's already left this morning to go to the Swisher County show.

We were so glad that so all the grandparents were there to watch and that so many of our family friends were there to help and share the day with us.

What exactly is keeping us busy?

So it's Thursday and I haven't posted since Monday--what's keeping us busy?

• Laundry--piles and piles from daily life and the stock show
• Sadie--homework, basketball practice 4 show animals
• Volunteering at school
• Grocery shopping--for some strange reason my family thinks they need to eat
• Stock show cleanup and prep for the county show this weekend
• Necklace orders--the dining room table has disappeared again
• T.S.--He had his weekly Bubble Fest yesterday. I wonder if they sell bubble stuff by the gallon

Tonight's agenda: supper with Cowboy 4-H Club as we gather all the animals that will head to the Randall County show this weekend.

Friday: We'll check our animals in at Canyon. The grandparents are arriving from Aledo for the big weekend.

Saturday: Show Day! Sadie is excited.

Overheard at Our House Today

Disney's "Movie Time Monday" movie today was, "Mickey, Donald and Goofy: The Three Musketeers." The kids watched part of it, but not all. I think they watched just enough to decide they needed to sword fight most of the day. This is what I overheard:
"All for one and two for three!!"

There was also much discussion about who was Mickey and who was Goofy. I guess no one wants to be Donald.