When do you get spare time? Part 1

Spare what?  When I have spare time, it is either while I am in a show barn, a doctor's or dentist's offfice, or sitting in line somewhere.  And of course, those places do not accomodate you getting dinner cooked, laundry done, or a house cleaned. I promise, I don't sit around and eat ice cream bars!
So...let's talk spare time in the show barn.....go ahead and dream that is so.  If you have spare time in the barn, you can make the most uncomfortable chair the best "napping" spot ever.  And of course, all the kids take you photo and tell you you snore.  BUT...I was alert enough to get the score card right.  Here is the final outcome of this years pig shows!
Meet Squeaker: 5th in Ft. Worth and Pork Producers hat and bonus  Kauy's pig,Throwback, threw his back right into the "farm to Market" trailer. 

Meet Warfare(left) and Swagger(right)

This was the daily morning greeting.  Warfare was Champion Barrow at the Wylie Show, Reserve Cross at Taylor County, and Second in his class at San Antonio(placing in the sale.. plus another Pork Producers cap and bonus!

Makaley and Warefare and they battle for first place. Second made us just as proud.

Kauy and Swirl.  As a team they placed 9th in San Antonio! 

Rudolph and Swagger.  Swagger was Breed Champion and Grand Champion at Taylor county.  Rudolph was 1st  in his class at County also.  However, you can see them again at your local HEB.  They went straight to the trailer which was VERY hard on the old mom!
   

Finally meet Jorge....long story on that name...but this dude won 5th at the Star of Texas Show in Austin Texas.  Yep...put a few miles on the old Tahoe huh?  But they were fun miles I promise!!!!!!

We had a wonderful, wonderful year.  Our "team" set goals and achieved them! Our "team" represented our breeders very well whether we won or trucked right to the trailer.  One thing I have tried to instill in my kids is that you are a winner for even getting to where you are, and there is no need to blame a judge or pout when we didn't make the top nor is there reason to gloat for a win.  Kauy has a lot of his dad in him and that drives Jordan crazy sometimes.  When he wins, he just grins, takes the ribbon back to the pen and heads off to other things.  He lets the rest of us act the crazy fool!
And so...in this moment of spare time that I had(due to bronchitis) I want to say a few things about my spare time in the barn.  I LOVE it!!!  Thank you Jordan and Ashley for getting us to this point!  Thank you for loving my kids even when they are not doing what you want.  Thank you for wanting the best for them and "keeping on keeping on" when you think they don't listen.  We miss our pigs!  Just saying....
Thank you breeders....Jason Lackey, Will Winter, Craig Bessent, The Cobb Family, The Jones Family and Dirk.  Thank you for checking on us during the "growing" period and being at the shows to cheer for us.
Thank you Cody Smith, our new Ag teacher!  Wow, we loved working beside you.  We love the fact that you and Jordan had serious moments to study and advise! I am glad that you don't teach driver's ed., but if I needed anything, you were there in a NASCAR minute. And in Kauy's words..."Your not any Sacajawea." Thank you Suzie and Aunt Traci....probably Bobby and Timmy also.  You two were with us all the way.  Suzie didn't miss a show(from county to Austin, Jan. to March) and set with me while my nerves were on total edge!  Aunt Traci wasn't actually at a couple shows, but still didn't miss one because she watched them on line.  She would text me and say "tell that kid to"....whatever she felt needed to be done.  Thank you to the Phillips and Cagles who showed up or cheered from their living room chairs.  I think they also got a little Leighton time.  Thanks to you who listened to us ramble, or liked our photos on face book.
Finally, thank you to my prayer warrior, Margaret.  She began praying for Jordan and the kids as the pigs were being purchased.  She prayed the pigs through the spells of health issues and then prayed for us as we went to each show.  She is a single woman who understands the love between people and their animals...even if they are pigs.
Now, that is all the spare time I have today.  Dinner must be cooked, clothes folded, and homework completed. Yes, my kids could do all of that....could being the operative word here!
Hang on.....part two is coming soon.  Suzie, remind me in about 2 weeks.