Sorry, Sorry, Sorry!

You know a couple of weeks ago I was telling you that I couldn't blog because I was so into the Olympics and couldn't concentrate on anything else in the evenings?  Well, that was all true.  But what I failed to mention is that our County Fair was the following week, and, well, that's even better than the Olympics. Good thing the swimming and gymnastics were the first week (the week the fair wasn't), or I would have been in a real bind.  But we are back.  And this time, I promise to be better.  Better about blogging, better about e-mails, better about paying attention to Sweetwater.  Promise.  

But it was the fair.  I know most of you are thinking, so what?  That's exactly what my husband thinks. We've been together more than 10 years now, and he still doesn't get it.   My sister and I grew up showing livestock.  There is not one thing in the whole world we would rather do than that.  Not go to Hawaii.  Not spend a week at a spa, not watch my beloved  Broncos in the Super Bowl,  not even design fabric (shhhhhhh...did I say that?)  Only problem is, we are too old to show.  Waaaaaaaaay too old.  But we have kids.  And they like to show.  Well, two of them like to show (more on that later).  

And those two did incredible.  When we were growing up, my sister, brother and I were competitive at shows and once in a while (more like once in a lifetime) we would win a show.  Well, my 9 year old nephew, Bryce, did that.  His first time.  Here he is showing his Grand Champion:

The next night, my niece, Jordan, was so close to her own Grand Champion, but she won Reserve Grand Champion instead:

I can't tell you how excited and happy I was for those two kids.  It does take a little luck to win, but mostly it is a lot of hard work.  They don't play video games, sleep in or watch TV  in the summer.  Their summer is devoted to working with those animals every day.  So I am incredibly proud.  Here are a few more pictures of them showing:

Now, about that one that doesn't like to show.  That would be my little boy, Cash.  I am so blessed to have a happy, healthy, incredibly cute (I'm a little biased) child.  It just so happens that my child hates animals.  I know "hate" is a strong word.  I suppose I could use "detest" or "strongly dislkes", but those words just don't tell the story.  He absolutely hates all animals.  Pigs, lambs, goats, dogs, cats, everything.  You know that picture of gymnast McKayla Maroney that is all over the internet after she won the silver medal?  They say she's not impressed:

Well, this is Cash's version of not being impressed with his cousins' showing:

The thing is, he absolutely loves going to the fair.  If there could be a fair without animals, he'd be all over it.  Unfortunately for him, he has a mom that really (desperately) wants him to like animals.  So I thought it would be a good idea for him to participate in a special event for little kids.  All he has to do is walk in the showring (with an animal), parade around and say his name on the microphone.  He then would get a snazzy little ribbon and a candy bar.  The candy bar should do the trick.  

Well, before the little kid's show, he was complaining all morning about how he didn't want to do it.  He didn't want a ribbon and he doesn't like candy bars.  Yeah, right.  But I really, really, really wanted him to just try it.  Just get the experience of walking around and talking on the microphone.  He didn't even have to touch the goat- Bryce and Jordan would go with him and do that for him.  All he had to do was walk beside them.  What I got was "but I don't like walking beside Bryce".  Again, yeah right.  Cash is on Bryce like white on rice. If it was humanly possible, Cash would like to be attached to Bryce.  

So when all the other kids were parading their goats into the ring, I lost hope and just decided he just wasn't going to do it.  Well, my sister must have felt sorry for me because at the last moment, she scooped him up, grabbed the goat from Jordan and carried Cash into the ring.  Here is the view of this sight from outside the ring:

There was about 20 kids ahead of him, so he had plenty of time to warm up to the experience before he had to say his name on the microphone.  First, Susan got him to actually stand on the ground.  He's still hanging on to her for dear life, but at least he's standing:

Next, there was some separation from Susan.  He's not anywhere near the goat, but he is standing on his own:

He actually starts to smile and (I think) enjoy the experience:

The last step before the microphone?  Hold on to the halter.  Cash did.  In his own way.  He touched it.

Final step, talk to the crowd.  He had no problems with this.

All he had to do is say his name and the name of his goat.  Unbeknownst to me, he named "his" (really his cousin's) goat Candy Bar in the 5 minutes prior to the microphone.  He must have been thinking about that candy bar he was about to get.  

And that was it.  He did it!  Well, he kind of did it.  But it was good enough for me.  He even woke up the next morning wondering if he "got" to show his goat that day.  He really liked that ribbon.  He said he wants 4 more.  And just like I told my husband, I won't push him into it.  But you never know if you like green beans unless you try them, right?   Just how I feel about showing.  We'll see what happens next year.

Oh, and there's lots happening at Sweetwater.  In fact, we are going to a retail show this weekend in Loveland, Colorado at The Ranch.  I'll give you more details on that later this week.  Tonight there are no more Olympics and the fair is over, so I better just go to bed!

Comments

[Fran G]

Would LOVE to win the Mama Said Sew scraps. If it is red, it is my favorite. What an awesome line.

[Diane Harris]

I loved this post! I grew up showing calves and hogs in 4-H. Occasionally I won, just like you! What a growing stretching experience for all of your kids, even Cash. Good for you, keeping up the spirit of production agriculture.

Diane, on a working farm in south central Nebraska

[Julie]

Loved reading about your fair and livestock showing...our county fair just ended on Sunday and two of our daughters are now at the state fair this week. Our oldest is a 4H state ambassador and has to 'work' at the state fair before leaving for college and our middle daughter is making her first 4H livestock encampment trip to the state fair to show her runner ducks!

You are right....these kids don't mind doing chores, getting up early, giving up tv, etc...makes me proud. Our oldest has never wanted to show beef or chickens like her siblings...so we were completely surprised when she was helping her sister wash her cows the other day and she actually got out in the show ring with a baby calf! After 18 years of growing up with animals, she finally did it...and I think she realized that she was missing out on some of the fun that her brother and sisters have had through 4H and at the county fair ever year.

Thanks for such a great blog...and wonderful fabric that you create!

Julie

[Janita]

Wow the kids are all growing up. So much goodness at the fair! SOAK IT UP! The kids are adorable in their showing outfits. Janita

[Helen LeBrett]

I'm so happy for you and Cash!! I'm still smiling from reading your write up and seeing his sweet smiling face, especially as he looks up at his aunt: precious beyond words!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful moment with us: I think all of us mom's want our kids to love what we love, and more often they don't, so this pulled at my heart to know that another mom feels the same things as me!! Bless you!!!

[Soreilly]

I loved your story. Congrats to the ribbon winners, their animals are gorgeous; all their hard work paid off. Cash is darling!

[Linda]

Enjoy your blog. I never did thoroughly enjoy the fair bit, but always enjoy a stroll through the fair barns. That's one cute little fella you have!

[Anna]

My friend and I always say "They weren't in our 4-H club" when discussing others with questionable work ethic. It's great to see there are still kids out there being raised this way. Congrats to the kids. Hard work does pay off!

[Eileen]

I completely get how u feel about fair! I never showed but all 4 of my kids did, hogs and a nasty goat one year! My son also had grand chmp hog. There all grown now, and they all look back with fun memories of those days and a strong appreciation for all the hard work farmers go thru. My love has continuedso much that I work there about half the year planning and running new exhibits an contests! Can't wait for mama said sew to come out, I'll need to work it into the quilts or 4h exhibits.

[Stephanie in MI]

Very cute!

[Pam Williamson]

Loved reading this post! Can't wait to see y'all at the Ranch. I had already checked out the vendor list on the website and jumped up and down with glee when I saw Sweetwater on the list.

[Ranch Wife]

We are a lifetime 4-H family and now that the kids are grown, I sure do miss those days! Congratulations to the whole crew! Lots of hard work and priceless memories! I am so glad that you shared and wrote down your story of Cash. When he's older, and begging to raise critters for the fair, this will be one of those priceless stories. Cheering him on!

[Vicki K]

I LOVE this post!! Your niece and nephew are inspiring and it warms my heart to see their photos with their family and animals. How kind of your sister to encourage Cash like she did. That bottom photo totally cracks me up with the goat looking on in such a stoic way - not caring a bit about the marvelous feat just accomplished!

[Kate]

Great story about the fair and the pictures were wonderful of the kids! Thanks for sharing!
And.. I just moved to Colorado and am so bummed I missed the fair!

[Anna]

What a fun week for you. I absolutely loved the story about Cash. Thanks so much for sharing. I was in 4-H and at the fair every summer. But we lived in town and no animals for the fair for me. Oh, how I dreamed of wearing bluejeans, boots and a calf at my side. Somethings... are always just meant to be a dream.

[a maiden hair fern]

Too cute . . . just way too cute . . .

[Janet]

We were Olympic junkies also; glad the USA faired wonderfully well. Loved your story and could totally relate to Cash's feelings. Life is all about taking little steps and experiencing the really great feelings of success at the end. You're wise to be patient with the little guy.

[Claudia]

Love that story -- all of it. Just awesome. Love seeing pictures of the kids each year too. So cute and such beautiful animals. Thanks for sharing. I wish I had a sister. :-(

[Susan Jonsson]

I grew up showing horses in 4-H.....No one had to coax me....My two sonss wanted nothing much to do with horses....Always wondered what a horse crazy daughter would have been like. Thanks for sharing your story of Your children showing your animals at the fair. I wouldn't give up on your youngest, just yet.

Susan

[ina]

I love the name: Candy Bar! That one will be remembered for a long time. ;p

[Mary Chamberlain]

We are fair folks too. However we stick to the dairy barn. My husband and I both used to show (my in NC him in OR...yeah it's a crazy love story). Our little man is only 3, but he seems to like the idea. You don't want to show open class? ;-) It's certainly not nearly the same. Maybe some farm/fair themed fabric for all of us fair junkies?

[Barbara (WA)]

Cash is a doll (I raised two boys who are now in their 30's, sniff.) !!

[Johanna]

I love going to the fair and seeing the kids with their animals. It is so much fun to see kids snuggled up in the barn with their cows and ponies like they are my cat, just a little bigger. I had a goat when I was a kid, his name was Trouble. He earned that name to say the least! I would have loved to work with him however, his name was Trouble! He finally went to live with a friend of the family on a real farm. He had a good life there. Maybe we should have changed his name to Lucky.

[Suzy McQ]

Having just sent my oldest off to college 1200 miles away, I'm a bit sentimental today, but encouraging kids to step out of their comfort zone, even picking them up and getting them to the zone, is such an important aspect of growing up. I saw plenty of kids whose parents (and knowing aunts) didn't "pick them up" so to speak and they grew up hesitant to try new things, take on challenges, and tackle seemingly difficult tasks. Congrats to you and your son for the wonderful nurturing job you are doing with him and your other kids. It's the hardest job, but there is nothing better!

[Melissa Corry]

Congrats to your wee ones!! So exciting and they look great with their animals!!

[Jeanne]

Oh my stars! That is just about the cutest thing ever!! I absolutely love that first picture of your son. His face is priceless! Thank goodness for aunts/sisters who come along and save us!!

[Mary @ Ms Redo]

Absolutely adorable! He may have caught the show bug since he's asking for more - I think we'll see him next year in the ring :) Your pics are amazing, what kind of camera (asking because I'm in the market for one). Thanks, Mary

[Diane J.]

I totally love the picture of Cash not being impressed. It's priceless!!! Glad he finally felt comfortable with showing an animal. Looks like he had a great time & I'm glad it made your heart happy!

[laura huffman]

oh so sweet. awesome to have siblings who know your heart. love this story, and so glad Cash was able to experience a show. and congrats to Bryce and Jordan= hard work pays off. good job. and I love the Olympics too. was glued to the tv for 2 weeks. even on holidays we all watched it. have a great week.

[Marj]

... and so is your son :)

[Marj]

you're adorable!

[ga447]

I love the story and so proud of the ribbons. What a great up bringing.

[lori weigel]

Ok, so that was the cutest story...better than the Olympics, which is really sad that they are over, but your little was a shining star, a gold medalist!