These cousins had the opportunity to play together in a basketball tournament this summer.  With Camille living in Valentine about 2 hours from Gregory this was a fantastic weekend.  There were some tears and many more laughs.  We hope they continue to play this sport throughout their high school years and beyond. 

Yes, these girls also play ball in the summer.  They work very hard throughout the summer and have two practices a week and two games a week.  This is also around cheer, dance, and gymnastics and all of their chores and for Lydia summer basketball camp and tournaments.  Milking has been Lydia's responsibility this summer while Elizbeth has to wash, brush  and dry her heifer each day.  

The girls were finally confirmed.  It has been a struggle to get a minister at our church to stay for more than a few months for a couple years.  These girls were anxiously awaiting the day they could join the church. 

We headed an hour southwest to celebrate Hank's cousin's birthdays.  We road tubes down the Niobrara River for the day.  It was a little chilly however the downtime was much needed with these crazy schedule. 

Elizabeth headed to South Dakota Farmer's Union Senior Camp.  She has been looking forward to this return all year.  A week of relaxing and learning before coming back to the grind.  

We had a busy Saturday moving cattle to the other side of the pasture as grass is still very short and we are trying to limp through waiting for God to give us the gift of rain.  

We headed to Redfield for the South Dakota Junior Angus Show this weekend.  Elizabeth didn't get the results she was hoping for but learned some more continues to grow.  It is a big day with a 5AM wake up call.  She did join the Board of Directors this year and we are hoping some leadership skills will be gained throughout the year. 

The girls both helped South Dakota Farmers Union County Camp.  They both had their own stations the youth stopped by for all the information the girls could give in 10 minutes about their rabbits, swine, poultry, donkeys, and cattle.  Mom provided a station on how cows are milked. 

We headed to Sioux Falls to play some competitive basketball.  It is a lot of responsibility to travel to tournaments 3 hours away to prove your basketball team should be looked at for their hard work. They played hard and landed where they needed.  They know they have to work and can improve while still knowing they have a place at this high level of standard.  

We are pateiently awaiting these babies.  She is getting pretty miserable and Lydia is getting tired of waiting. 

And that's a wrap for winter shooting sports.  If you missed out shotgun (clay pigeons) and skeet start in June.  Elizabeth had a personal best in BB Gun this weekend and had the best BB Gun State Weekend to date.  Her .22 Rifle and .22 Pistol Score can use some work but she moved to senior level this year and is shooting pistol one-handed which is quite a bit harder and takes more muscle.  She will try to qualify in archery next year and will continue to work throughout the year. 

We had a Grand Champion Senior Special Foods Contestant this week.  Elizabeth had a big win making "Better Than a 50s Burger".   If you are gettting ready for this contest this year in South Dakota the book has changed and MyPlate is gone.  Please take time o revise to handbook prior to the contest.

Do we like it or not?  Well it has been a time sucker this spring and a lot of extra trips to town.  I think next year Lydia will just come home and run a mile.  She loves to run but not competitively and is using it to stay in shape for her true loves, backetball and softball.

Elizabeth headed to Pueblo, CO to attend the National Mini Lop Show.  She was able to travel with her Mini Lop family (Reada, Randy, and Taylor). She competed in her first royalty contest which was a big step for her.  She had to relearn showmanship and take a written test.  We had no idea what was on the test.  Apparently we studying the wrong thing entirely.  So she hopes to enter again next year so a year to practice.  She did have rabbit that placed 4th in class and was excited for that high of a finish.