LOOK!!

We have PIGTAILS!!!!

Dress Up

Dress up with cousin Lilly and Dad.

Early Wordless Wednesday

It's wordless Wednesday on a Tuesday.

Because there are no words for this. : )

Great Big Mable

It was fun! Can't you tell?

4-H Horse Show

I know this is a lot of photos- but I couldn't choose just one or two. I have over 1,000 fair pictures and that doesn't include the hundreds (maybe a thousand) pictures I've deleted! I had to stop myself posting more than this.

The week was great. All the kids did a wonderful job! Especially the 3 Amigos, as it was their first year in 4-H. All 3 took their dogs, horses, sheep and chickens to the fair.

(Sheep show and chicken pictures coming soon.)

Grandma and Grandpa survived their first year with 5 grandkids in 4-H. It used to be just Wesley. Then it was Wesley and Johnnye. Then it was Johnnye and Jace. Now it's Johnnye, Jace, Trey, Emma and Jonah! In a couple of years there will be 7 grandkids in 4-H!

If we didn't have Grandma and Grandpa there would be no horses, sheep or chickens. They house all the animals and teach the kids how to ride and show all their animals. That's the reason the kids do so well in 4-H.

Emma, Trey and Jonah riding in the Western Pleasure class.

Trey showing in Western Horsemanship.

Johnnye in her Showmanship class.

Johnnye showing in Halter class (which she won!).

Trey won his age division in Showmanship! He was so excited!

Showmanship.

Isabella was excited to wear her new Wranglers and western shirt. She really wanted to ride a horse! Two more years!!

Grandpa giving Trey some encouragement after a disappointing ride.

Grandma with her little girls.

The 3 Amigos.

I have a ton of these pictures- each one a little different. They have such character and I love photos that tell a story.

Even Trey and Jonah's buddy, Kade, came down to watch the horse show.

The next trio of riders! Jarrett, Isabella and Jenessa.

This past Monday (26th) was our 6 month Gotcha Day Anniversary. I wanted to post this then but it's Fair week and 4-H is keeping us busy!

This girl is absolutely perfect and we are the luckiest (although luck had nothing to do with it!) parents in the world. I thank God every day for letting me be her MaMa.

This was the first time we saw each other in the Chinese Civil Affairs Office half way around the world. Her name was Long Xiao Hua and I still remember every detail about this moment.

6 months later she corrects us when we call her Xiao Hua and says her name is Isabella. That makes us a little sad, but I also know that she loves us and fully embraces her life here.

Isabella Hope XiaoHua........

1. LOVES to swim.

2. LOVES Barney (the purple dinosaur).

3. LOVES both of her GeGe's (big brothers).

4. always has a smile on her face.

5. likes to help her MaMa clean.

6. likes to ride the mower with her BaBa (daddy).

7. is fun, outgoing and adventurous.

8. wants a bow in her hair everyday.

9. can be a girly girl or a jock.

10. can't wait to have her birthday party.

The Three Amigos and The Dog Show

It's the week before the fair.

The 4-H Dog Show is always the week before the County Fair and all three Amigos took their dogs. It was hot, frustrating, fun.....and hot.

They did a great job....considering none of them really knew what to expect.

And the dogs just thought it was social hour.

Each one of them had to announce their name, dogs name and what breed their dog was.

Jonah and Gunner.

Trey and Jack


Trey making sure Jack is watching the older kids to see how it's done.

Emma and Keira.

Trey spent a lot of time trying to get Jack to sit.

And then Jonah spent a lot of time trying to get Gunner to lay down.

Grandpa got to see the 3 Amigos get a blue ribbon in Fitting and Showing before he had to leave for a meeting. (Each got a white ribbon in Obedience class).