Conversations about Santa

Conversations at the family Christmas party today.

Clara asks Shelly some questions.

Clara: Where did you go when Santa was here?
Shelly: I was over there by the punch bowl..next to Brad.
Clara: Huh uh....
Shelly: Sure I was, right over there...see? Here's my punch cup.
Clara gives Shelly a stern gaze.

Then Riley has a few questions for Uncle Ron.

Riley: Were you Santa?
Uncle Ron: No silly, I was right here...remember?
Riley: Oh yeah, so who was Santa?
Uncle Ron: Santa was Santa.
Riley: No really....who was Santa?
Uncle Ron: Why don't you think Santa was Santa?
Riley: Cuz Santa had hands like a lady.

Hmmmm....I guess next year Santa should wear gloves.

Cows & Kids

Meet Max & Wiloughby.

Max is one of my favorite kids, he calls me Auntie Shelly but we're not related. He's been showing cows at the fair for about five years now...and he's been winning for that many years too, the kid has the magic touch. He works hard at it ...don't let this casual pose trick you into thinking that he's not going to be all business once he walks her into the show ring.
Isn't she a cutie?

Howdy missy, nice to meet ya.


There are a whole bunch of kids that take this thing pretty seriously, they've been working with their animals for months...training them to lead, cleaning them up, clipping them...even getting their hooves all shiny.

See what I mean? This is Max in the show ring...this is serious stuff.

Oh, and here he is with Petunia...another showgirl. I think Petunia had a bit of a runny nose, it was miserable in the show barn...100 degrees at least...I was a sweaty mess just sitting there watchin, looks like the heat was getting to Petunia too, her nose was running.

Oh my, this is the judge...I remember when he was just a little tiny kid. We were still in the cow showing scene with our own animals, he called me "Cowboy Mans Wife"...now he's all grown up. Yikes.......time sure does fly.

Whooops! I know, I'm supposed to be taking pictures of Max...but dang...these girls are just too cute.

That's Max on the left.

Conversation:

Max - Hey man, sure is hot in here.

Other kid- Sure is, hey...do you know that lady taking all the pictures?

Max - Yeah, that's my Auntie Shelly...she does this a lot...just pretend you don't see her.

Other kid - But Max! She's taken about a hundred pictures by now.

Max - Probably more than that, like I said - just smile at her...eventually her batteries

will go dead and she'll have to stop.

Other kid - Okay..but it's kinda freakin' me out.

We have a winnah folks!

Congrats Max, You did it.

Again!!!

Amazing Kids

I don't have children so I tend to pay a lot of attention to the offspring of my friends and family. I know so many cool kids right now it's sometimes overwhelming. I know their parents worry and struggle and are sometimes disappointed in their behavior. I mostly just see the good, they give me hugs, they're always polite when I tease them or joke with them... they're cool kids but it's also because their parents raised 'em right....to respect their elders.
I just got a text message from my niece. She's in the big city going to University, we've always been proud of her. Her text gave me the warm fuzzies like you wouldn't believe. It said "I'm 15th in line at the arena to see Obama, I'm so excited".
I LOVE that.
I love it that she's excited to be where she is.
I love it that she got up at O-dark-thirty to go see him...this kid is NOT a morning person.
I love it that she sent me a text message to share her excitement with her middle-aged auntie.
I love it that she is actively participating in the political process.
I love it that when we talk about politics and issues she's open and honest, she's not stuck.
Yup, I'm one happy auntie.

Groovy Girls

My friends Riley and Clara got
these boots for Christmas,
they are sooooo cute.
The girls...annd the boots!
Oh....I remember a long long
time ago when I was young
and shoe shopping was so
much fun.
There were only two questions.
Are they cute?
Can I afford them?

These days, it's a whole new system.
Do my orthotics fit in them?
Can I walk for more than five minutes in them?
Do they hurt my sore toe?
Do they feel stable or will I roll an ankle?
If the answer is yes to all of the above....the
shoes are NOT cute...but I buy them.