The last week or so...

Well nothing like being late.....but here you go....

Ok, Minnesota was not so bad. Being away for that long was no fun, but the longer we were there the better it got. We did start traveling with another school about halfway in, they had girls on their team, and they were really nice, so that helped! I was not sure if I wanted to stay in a room with these girls, but they asked me, so we did. Now, sharing a bed with one if them was really what I was not sure about, the good thing was, by that point in our trip I was so tired that it didn't matter when or where I slept, I just needed sleep. All and all they were really awesome and really helped me all around. I was REALLY nervous about actually going to the Barrow show and ACTUALLY competeing and then having to do the whole reasons thing, but I survived. We did not do so well, but our goal was to not get last, and we didn't, our team got 9th out of like 12. Not too bad for an all freshmen team with NO hog experience! and of course I did not win the show, but I got 3rd on our team and that helped my confidence. It was not near as bad as I thought it would be, hopefully next year goes even better.

When I finally got to come home from Minnesota I had just enough time to do some laundry and get packed to head out to Hutchinson for the Kansas State Fair. Nick was already out there with the cattle so I really couldn't wait to get out there! I packed up my stuff after like 12 hours of being back in Southeast Kansas and headed on my way, alone. More driving, exactly what I wanted to do after the last week of it! Oh, well, at least I could listen to what I wanted and I got to drive my truck! After a little navigation error--made by Nick not trusting me--I finally arrived. I was really tired, and starting to get a sore throat but excited to be there! We did our thing on Thursday and didn't do too bad. My heifer was a pain on the way to the show ring on Thursday, but we will just blame that on the crazy weather that was coming in. Once I got her in the show ring, she did alright. We didn't place so well, only second, but at least I didn't kill her before that. It was a really good time, and we didn't get last in anything this year and that is an improvement. I am kind of sad that we don't show again until December, but it will be here soon enough! On Friday, I was excited because this year we were actually going to have a day to walk around and enjoy the fair, well it rained, and by this point my throat was REALLY hurting and I got this runny nose cough stuff. My mom told me to find and Urgent Care out there, but I chickened out knowing I would be home in a day or two. Well I shouldn't have, because by the time we got up to drive to Kansas City for the Barnum and Bailey Circus, I was not feeling good at all.

Who can be too sick for the Circus--they don't call it the "Greatest Show on Earth" for nothing. It is soooo amazing. That was our family vacation for as long as I can remember, and finally after eight years, my nephew was going to get to experience it, there was no way I was gonna miss that. So I took some medicine and stuck it out. I had a blast like always, and felt JUST like a kid again! Nick on the other hand, well he was a stick in the mud at first, you know, too cool for the "circus" kind of deal, but finally, about half way through we were wearing red noses, eating $12 cotton candy and sharing snow cones out of souvinere cups that were $15 dollars each! It was so much fun, and before we left, he even let me buy some CLOWN SHOE house shoes! They are sooo cute! It was just like it used to be when I was eight....What a priceless day with my family, even if I was sick!

We came home Saturday night, even though we were supposed to stay over night in Kansas City and have some alone time, and by Sunday I was so miserable I couldn't get out of my chair. Nick of course got up and went Teal hunting since I made him miss opening day, and Sophie and I slept in my chair all day. I didn't even shower until like 4 in the afternoon. I was so miserable. I knew this is was not going to be a fun week, been gone the last 10 days and be sick for the next 5 before I get ready to leave again......well that is pretty much it. I got up and went to the doctor Monday morning and she put on me on like 4 medicines so maybe I would be better by the time we leave Thursday afternoon, but who knows. Tuesday was a HUGE improvement from Monday, but I can't say that today has been any different than yesterday, hopefully it will be HUGE tomorrow--that is the plan......

Well that is all here--sorry it has been awhile and this is all at once, but things are busy busy!!