Blender

We got this blender as a wedding present from my Great Aunt Maryann Allen (Grandpa Rod's sister). It has served us well for almost 21 years. We have had many smoothies, blizzards, and ponokolokers (a word/recipe that Austin made up.

We bought new parts many times, but it finally stopped working.

Goodbye to the blender.

Jill's Grad

Jill got asked to Grad by Max Russell, one of her good friends since we moved here. He came and brought a ton of balloons with a letter in each balloon asking her to grad. He also had pop and popcorn with a note that said, I just popped in to ask you a question.

Jill answered Max with a huge ice cream sundae "I Scream Yes."

On the morning of grad, a big group of dates went to Waterton to breakfast and on a short hike.

Then all the girls had hair and make-up appointments. Nadia Phillips did Jill's make-up and Matlin McMurray (Max's girlfriend - how ironic) did Jill's hair.  Jill had ordered her dress online from a dress boutique in Phoenix.

She looked beautiful. The weather was perfect. 

Tressie Childs, our neighbor, took a few pictures of Jill before her date came.

Then Max's sister took some pictures of Max and Jill before they came to the dinner.

The grad banquet was so good. Good food, good talks (short & sweet), good songs. 

Jill had a lot of fun at the dance at the high school.  After the dance she went to a party in Beazer by the creek. She got home at 3:30 am.  She didn't join the sunrise hike to Waterton.

Southern Circuit Rodeo 2017

Southern Circuit Rodeo season has come to an end. We love Southern Circuit, and we put a lot into it as Austin the President and I am one of the Secretaries. The banquet at the end of the year is where prizes are handed out.

Carly did well this year and placed in all 3 of her events. She won the tiny mite goat tail untying buckle (much to the 2nd place finisher's mother's dismay - she was sure her daughter had one more point). She also placed 3rd in tiny mite barrels and 4th in tiny mite poles.

Jill placed 2nd in Open Poles. Salsa, the rope horse, and Jill only entered half the rodeos but still managed to place.

Hanna won the junior goat tying buckle - for the 3rd year in a row (or maybe 4th?).  Lucy placed 4th in junior goats.

Jill placed 3rd in open goats and Hanna placed 4th in open goats.  (Jill was the photographer of all of the other pictures - you can tell she handed the camera to someone else to take her picture).

Then much to my surprise, Vicki Cahoon and I were given buckles and flowers for being the best secretaries in the world:)  Brad Sommerfeldt and Traci Aipperspach sponsored our buckles and Bailey Cahoon bought our flowers.  It was the nicest thing ever!  I am sure it is the only rodeo buckle I will ever earn.