​Three weeks ago, the boys went out to do evening chores and found a new heifer calf.  

Raylee is not a bull...she just has an umbilical hernia.

​An umbilical hernia is caused when the blood vessels in the umbilical cord do not shrink as much as they should after birth.  It really isn't a big deal, it just looks bad.  

​We don't normally worry too much about hernia's, but Raylee's was larger than normal.

​Since there is a really good possibility that she will be in the show ring, we wanted to go ahead and get the hernia taken care of.  

Since she is so young, the Dr. Rob wanted to use gas for the surgery, so we had to take her into the vet's office instead of having the surgery done here at home.  

I was the bad Mom because I made Isaac and Walker go to school instead of letting them ride along with Dad for Raylee's surgery. 

Some people may think it is weird for all of us to be so enthralled with cow surgeries, but you have to remember that Isaac was just seven years old when Dr. Rob had him help stitch up Missy after her C-section.  It was a case of needing every set of hands to keep mamma and baby alive.  No one had the choice to be grossed out...we all just had to jump in and do what needed done.  Ever since then, the boys have been all too curious to see anything the vet does.  

​We sent Daniel to the vet's office with orders to take lots of pictures.  

​Raylee was the star of the vet's office.  Everyone was in love with her and was more than happy to get to be a part of her surgery.  

The vet tech's started by clipping the hair around the hernia.

Then it was Dr. Rob's turn to fix the hernia. 

He made an incision, tucked everything back into place and then stitched her back up.

All fixed!

Raylee was still a little groggy...but all better and ready to go home.  

​I love the tongue!

Raylee is back home and doing well.  She has to stay in the barn until we take the stitches out in two weeks.  

Her belly is still swollen, but it will go down as it continues to heal.  

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I sat down at the computer over the weekend to pay bills and finalize our March budget.  

Yes, I am aware March started last week...but sometimes the stomach flu thwarts the best laid plans.  

March is always a hard budget month for us.  It is always full of some extra expenses, most of which revolve around the Ohio Beef Expo.  We plan all year for the Expo, but sometimes the planning ends up more in our heads than in our bank accounts.  

(I don't have pictures of the trade show, so today you get to look at random images that have absolutely nothing to do with this post)

We spend a lot of money at the Ohio Beef Expo.

Of course, there are show entry fees, vet health checks, time off work (sometimes without pay if the vacation days are all used up), and several dinners out with friends we only see this time of year.

​​We are fortunate to be able to commute and not have to stay in a hotel, but that also means some extra late nights and obscenely early mornings.

Late night pizza runs and early morning drive thru stops are just par for the course.

But for us...the real expense is the trade show.  ​

This week, Apollo, our 9 month old bull, got his new bull bling.  

​The vet was out to do health papers for the Ohio Beef Expo and some pregnancy checks, so we had him go ahead and add a bull ring for Apollo.  ​

So what is a bull ring and why do we use them?

A smile is contagious.  

​Especially a smile that reaches the eyes.  

,We are well settled into the long winter months. 

​Sometimes these gray, gloomy days can make a Monday morning really hard to face.

​Another cold day...

​Another snowy forecast...

​More slippery roads....

And Dark evenings....

​But today, here are a few of my favorite smiles...

​To brighten your day...

​But, be careful...

Smiles are contagious...

​And if you aren't careful....

​You will be smiling too, this winter Monday morning.  

A year ago, we were just returning home from our trip out to Denver, Colorado to attend the National Western Stock Show.

While we were in Denver, we rented a car and spent one day exploring Colorado and showing the boys a glimpse of the West.  

As we drove through the countryside, we were surrounded by snow blanketed mountains with ski slopes on both sides of the highway.  

That trip was a weekend packed full of memories, and we added a bunch of items to our bucket lists.  Both boys were infatuated and dreamed of the day we would go back to Colorado to show at the NWSS, explore more of the West and try their hand at skiing.

I am known as the person who always says "NO" in our house.  

I am the schedule maker and the bill payer.  I am surrounded by men that have big dreams and lots of expensive hobbies.  So, most times that means I am the reality keeper.  

It's not like we don't do anything...it's just that there is always more to do.  

It's that time of year when every one is making new year's resolutions and planning all they are going to accomplish in the coming year.  

At times, these resolutions can be overwhelming.  Sometimes it is a struggle just to survive the day, let alone try to move forward and accomplish huge goals.  

I know...little by little gets you where you want to be.

Sometimes I need to look back at what I have accomplished, just to give me the motivation and confidence to know that I can and have accomplished great things.  

Winter...

Cold...

Below freezing temperatures.

I know this is not a news flash to our show family...because I am always the one huddled around the heater...

But, this week, I developed (or was reminded of) a whole new hatred for winter.

You see, I am the mom that is supposed to stay inside and have a hot meal and a cup of hot chocolate waiting for my men when they come in from doing chores.  

I am not  the one that is supposed to be outside getting cold.

To be fair, I have paid my dues.  I had a paper route growing up so I know all about those 40 below wind chills.  

It's Christmas time, and Christmas time means lots of gift exchanges.

Gift exchanges can be stressful, intimidating and sometimes downright scary.  

What do I get?  

What if they don't like it?

Will it fit?

What if they already have it?

Last week we had a department meeting at work and my boss explained all the ins and outs of the Christmas gift exchange to our new employees. 

To be honest, the whole discussion pretty much revolved around my gift.  Because....our gift exchange revolves around my gift.

I love today!

Why?

Because I hate shopping. 

While most people spent their Black Friday at the mall...I spent my Black Friday at a cattle show..

Besides...my idea of shopping is sitting on the couch in my pajamas ordering my favorite things online.  

I love Cyber Monday because I actually feel normal for a day by just doing what every one else is doing...completing their Christmas shopping.

Well....not completing...because I am just starting.