County Livestock Show 2016

Taylor Man had a great 2016 County Livestock Show!  Red, his steer that he got from Greg Eilers, was named the Overall Grand Champion steer.  The calf did look the part even though he was one of the lighter steers in the show.  Taylor has now shown both the champion and reserve champion steer in our county in 2 of the 4 years he has been showing.

This was Presley's last year to show in the PeeWee showmanship contests since next year she will be old enough to show in the regular show.  She decided to show pigs and made the finals again this year. She will have a steer in 2017 and we are a bit nervous for her, but she seems to have a passion for showing.

Taylor also showed a Charolais steer and a Polled Hereford at county.  He took the Poll to Ft. Worth and placed 9th in the middle weights and made the Sale of Champions, which is the goal at Ft. Worth.  During the remaining show season, Taylor showed at San Antonio, Houston and Austin .  Red did not place at Houston and hurt his stifle coming out of the show ring so they decided to floor him and not bring him home. His Charolais steer placed 3rd in Austin, one place out of making the sale!

Taylor and Toby getting the hair blown out!

Nice view, Red!

Getting those feet set just right.

Taylor's Polled Hereford steer.

Grand Champion 2016.  Proud of you Taylor!

Presley in her pink pig showing shirt.

The Pee Wee's get a randomly selected hog to show.  Thankfully, this 

pig was pretty good.  They all get tired after about the second go-around!

Answer the judge's questions, darling.  Just like we rehearsed.

She made the finals again this year and won another pig brush.

Sale night

I think most kids hate to get up in front of the sale crowd.  Because of the 

weather, the champions were not physically brought through the sale this year.

Taylor's newspaper ad thanking his buyers.

The entire Hamilton FFA crew got into the picture!

The brand of a winner, the much wanted F.

Headed back to the stalls after a successful show.

When It's Christmas Time in Texas 2015

One of our favorite George Strait songs is Christmas Time in Texas.  Now Texas Christmas weather is rarely snowy like you might expect in other parts of the country, but it's not about the weather anyway. Christmas is all about family and getting together and enjoying each other, spoiling the grand kids and good food.

Christmas 2015 started out a little rough when we found out that Beverly had breast cancer.  After several diagnostic visits to Scott and White and a biopsy on December 8, we got the bad news a few days later.  In the beginning we had high hopes that a lumpectomy and radiation would be the course of treatment but later the doctors felt that it would be necessary to have chemotherapy as well.  News like this has a tendency to kill the Christmas spirit but through a lot of prayer, tears and faith, we were able to just enjoy our time together as a family.

In addition, Jeremy and Annie were unlucky enough to hit a deer on the way home from Denver and messed up their car pretty extensively.  It happened outside of Dalhart and they had to spend the night there so that Jeremy could make a few repairs in order to make it to our house and subsequently on to Annie's folks house in Houston.  They were very fortunate to find a repair place that was able to repair it, paint it and get back to them in time for them to return home.

We are looking forward to Christmas 2016 with hopes that it will be much better than 2015.

Jack is trying to cheer up his Bebe with his latest trick, holding up his pants with his belly!

Look Bebe.  Do you think Pawpaw can do this?

Jane is a great big sister to new brother Sam.

Jordan went on a aoudad hunt in far west Texas in December.  

This one had horns that measured almost 29 inches. 

The Denver bunch, minus Annie, about to head to Houston.

Jeremy, looking good!

Sam, his first visit to Hamilton.

Beverly decided to change up the tree decorations this year.

She always does a great job.

This is about all the snow you get in Texas!

Jennifer bought all the kids animal print t-shirts.  Jack loves dinosaurs!

Jane loves unicorns!

Leighton wanted a microphone this year.  She is quite the performer!

Presley with her new pencils and coloring book.

Jack enjoyed playing with some of Taylor's old toys.

Remington enjoys his breakfast time!

Jeremy has a captive audience as he reads from one of Jane's new books.

Ashley studying her new Pioneer Woman cookbook.

Taylor trying out his new markers and coloring book.

Bebe modeling her new vest.

Remington's new gas pump for his Cozy Coupe.

Looks like Pawpaw is surveying the damage!

Presley going through her stocking goodies.

Looks like Santa left more stockings!

Sam will understand this more next year.

Taylor says underwear was just what he wanted!  Not!

Annie, Jane and Jack checking out their stockings.

Ashley and Leighton 

Random Fall 2015 Happenings

The fall of 2015 was filled with a variety of activities and birthdays.  Fall is a busy time for birthdays in our family with Jane, Taylor, Remington and Toby having November birthdays.  We also decided to start a kitchen remodel so we were really busy.  Here are a few pictures from the Fall of 2015.

Taylor and Pawpaw at Grandparents day, 2015

Leighton enjoying her sand box area

Elsa, the new queen of the house.

Leighton was a good bird dog, retrieving doves for Jordan

What a deal.  Sit in your backyard and dove hunt!

This was the start of a long kitchen remodel.  She started it so I had to finish it!

I put this paper up and now I'm taking it down.  Will she ever be satisfied?

It's only been about 15 years since we put it up!

Presley helped do a school poster on veterans.  Bev's dad served

in the U. S. Navy in the South Pacific in WWII.

Bev's Dad, John Hefton (far left) at one of his Navy reunions.

Doug Sliger was as good as they come.  Great man that we called friend.

Our little Sambo.  

For his 12th birthday, Taylor chose chicken fried steak.

The boy can eat a lot of these, let me tell you.

Taylor's trick candles!  Help, I can't blow them out!

Remington's birthday party.  Camping /outdoor theme was too cute!

The two Pawpaws, Danny and Donald.

Taylor, Presley and Jennifer

This boy can eat.  He's saying, "let me at it!"

Looks like Remington likes his off road Cozy Coupe!

Remington and Pawpaw having a cooking lesson!

Remington and Pawpaw having a little bonding time.

Posing for pictures before heading back to Abilene.

Presley in costume for her school play.

Celebrating Jennifer's birthday at Circle T.

Just like the old days, Jordan and Danny looking for show barrows.

Fall colors in the Bradford pear.