Queens and Boots

Doing a rodeo recap from last Saturday night has me intimidated. Instead of give up completely from feeling overwhelmed, I'm going to break the fun into chunks. Gotta love chunks.

I guess I should take a minute and explain that we (Galloping Grace) were asked to put on "some type of kids rodeo thing" before the big rodeo started. Max and the Dustin, the man putting on the rodeo, decided that rides for children and some type of roping activity would cover it.

Max loaded up portable panels, four horses, saddles, and helmets and headed to the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho. Meeting us there were several dedicated volunteers. Seriously and truly--our volunteers are the best! What giving, caring people. I'll save gushing further about them for another night. On to the royalty.

The rodeo queens (and princesses??!) were a big hit with all the kids. It was so cute seeing little cub scouts going up to shake their hands or ask them for a picture. All three ladies were so friendly and willing to help out.

Two of them gave roping lessons while another fit helmets--probably the happiest I've seen children while getting helmets plopped on their heads. Dear sweet queens who probably will never read my blog, thanks for your help.

Phoebe, Claire and Miki posing with the ladies.
Later during the rodeo I heard the announcer talk about Galloping Grace Youth Ranch and Max Wade. I thought he was just discussing the riding activities from earlier in the evening. I didn't realize my handsome hunky hubby (Lisa--that alliteration was for you) was in the arena receiving an award until Deborah, a volunteer, pointed him out to me.
He was nominated for a Standard of the West award for his work serving children. (Something like that--just don't quote me.) He didn't receive the grand prize, a trip to the World Finals Rodeo, but he got some nifty black boots with a special embroidery. On Dan's blog he wrote that Max was a finalist in a national rodeo humanitarian program and that he came in second in the nation. I don't know his sources, but it sure sounds impressive.
Congratulations, honey.

In case you're keeping track, Max had to report back to jury duty today. He was not selected for the jury because he knew the man on trial--a former baseball coach of his brother Roy. Roy, last week Terry provided the out being a big wig in the FBI--this week you came through. Brothers are the best.

This is Max's last week serving unless he gets selected. Tom, be prepared for Max to throw you name around as well. He has no qualms doing so.

By Golly, They Did It!

See these four brave young ladies? They did something a couple weeks back most adults surrounding them did not think was possible. It all started early one afternoon during spring break while we were at our family cattle ranch. Miki, Claire, Brooke and Kylee got it in their minds that they were going to sleep in the scale house down in the pens. They worked quite a while sweeping it out in preparation for their big camp out.

In order to give them their proper credit, I must say that the scale house (which is just basically a Tough Shed on a foundation) is not near the house. In fact, it is a ways away. Yep, a good ways away. It probably takes at least five minutes to walk to it from the bunk house. It is nestled in a maze of cow pens, which require heavy gates to be opened to get to it.

I threw these random shots in so that you can get a sense of the pens and gates I'm talking about. Big, heavy stuff. The girls would have to walk through probably four gates, in pitch black, to get out of those pens.
In my attempts to find a picture of the scale house, I found this one of Brooke and Max taken several years ago. No, it doesn't show the building very well, but seeing Brooke that little about broke my heart so I had to share.

Stacy and Misha and I were pretty surprised that they even thought this sounded like a good idea. Being that the ranch is in the middle of no where, it was mighty dark outside. Another strike going against them was that it was a terribly windy weekend. The moms were imagining how loud the wind would sound to the girls once they were all alone in the scale house. Thirty minutes, we figured, and they'd be back.

Jeff, our friend and Kylee's dad, walked the girls down for their big sleep over and so kindly took the following pictures for me. Thanks again, Jeff! When Jeff came back to the bunkhouse after dropping them off, we half expected him to come back with four scared girls in tow. Nope. They stayed down there. Jeff also let us know that Hank, who had walked down with them, stayed with the girls. He plopped down on the porch and didn't budge when Jeff walked off. Later when Jeff went back to check on the girls and make sure they wanted to stay for the entire night, Hank started barking at him as to protect the girls. Not only was I proud of my two daughters for being so brave, but my heart swelled with pride at our dog for having the instinct to stay and protect them. The girls didn't even know he was lying outside on the porch until they heard him bark. He got to sleep the rest of the night inside with them.

Don't they look so proud?

They should be!! Three of the four girls made it the entire windy, cold night! I know their brothers even respected their brave accomplishment.

I'd like to take my hat off to some very brave little ladies! You said you'd do it and you succeeded. From the looks of things, there's no stopping you now.

T-Shirts

Well, it's Sunday just after midnight. In my mind, that's the perfect time to show the winning design for our Wade Ranch t-shirts. Last year we started the tradition of letting children design the art work for our annual shirts. This year there were several pictures that would have made an excellent winner. I had about fifteen people give me their votes for their favorite front and back. This takes the pressure off me deciding who the winner should be. Brilliant, huh? Oh, and fair. Just because I like something doesn't everyone else will.

This year there was a pretty clear cut winner for the back.

Mikki L. drew a picture of three cowboys sitting on a fence. The artist at the printing shop liked her drawing so much he just scanned it into his computer and used it as it was. Mikki, excellent work! I hope you can see the detail on this front design modeled by my niece, Jessie. It really is so cute and creative. Miki C. (yes they are both named Mikki/Miki) came up with this adorable idea. Our brand is the "w" and an open "a." Miki took the "a" and made it a calf's bottom. Miki, congratulations on your winning entry that I happen to love so very much.

I wanted to thank all the artists who took the time to submit an entry. There were some excellent ideas! I cannot wait to see what gets turned in next year.

Have a great week.