Really...Does It EVER End?!

It seems like lately things just can't go right for J...This kid has had a tough time when it comes to vehicles!! When he first started driving 2 years ago with his farm permit we had a 1980 GMC pickup for him but before he started his Sophomore year we decided he would get to start driving himself to school as he always has crazy practice schedules with his sports! So we sold the GMC because it needed a bit of work, nothing serious but like the blinkers didn't work so it needed a new steering column and the Hubby just thought it wasn't dependable as it was so old! So we bought him a 1994 Suburban, I know...a bit big for a kid BUT I want SAFETY for my kiddos when they are out there on these country roads!! The "Burb" had a bad engine when we bought it so the Hubby replaced it with an engine he bought from some guy he knows that owns an auto shop.



So J drove the "Burb" most of the school year then randomly one day it broke down...Lost all oil pressure and spun a bearing :( So the engine was toast! So then the Hubby decided he didn't want to mess with putting another engine in it, nor did he have the time so he bought J this 1989 Chevy.



I know we went backwards a few years but the Hubby insisted! To be completely honest I was against buying this truck as it would have been cheaper to just put an engine in the "Burb". BUT you know how Hubby's can be! He was very adamant that this was a good idea because this truck had been completely rebuilt by a friend of his about 2 years ago. It had a super solid engine and hadn't been driven much since it was built because the guy had bought himself a different truck. So of course he bought it and I won't even go on to tell you how many things we've had to replace on this truck. BUT not engine things, like brakes, axles, exhaust...Hubby says "well this stuff is all acceptable because I knew it hadn't been done"...WHAT?! Oh my goodness!! So a little over a week ago J and the Hubby replaced the compressor for the AC and the next day J calls while he was on his way to weights and says the truck is acting funny! So Hubby asks if all of the gauges are showing normal and J says yes they are, so they decided it must be something tied into the AC. Well they were wrong...J calls soon after and says "I'm broke down on the side of the road" AGHH!!!! So we rush to get there and lo and behold there is oil and antifreeze/water all over the ground! YEP threw a rod through the block. Engine D.E.A.D~!!! I was so stinkin furious! We paid a bit of money for this truck and now we have to buy a new engine! I just wanted to cry! Just to clarify, J is a very good driver he is not "hot rodding" or anything like that. We have had comments made that he must cause this, well both instances there was nothing one could have done to prevent it!

So for now he has to drive our business service van while we get the engine done. So it's been kind of an ongoing joke that J might call anytime and say that the engines toast.. Probably not a good joke because the call this morning to the Hubby before 6 am was "umm dad I just hit a deer"!! REALLY?! WHY OH WHY?! Thank GOD he was not hurt in anyway shape or form and I am so proud of him because he did not swerve! We have always taught him to just hit *whatever* if it jumps out in front of you because you are likely to lose control and roll if you slam on the brakes and swerve! It was shortly before 6 am, he was headed to weights driving down our dirt road about 2 miles from the house. The van is not terrible but it will need a new fender and grill. He currently cannot open the passenger door because of the fender damage.




Sorry but the birds had already stolen the doe's eyes and tongue!



Hair in the wheel were it hit!



Hubby getting it off the road before someone hits it



PLEASE OH PLEASE can we have a break soon!!

FFA Work Auction...And Yes I Sold my Son Again!!

Last year as a freshman J did his very fist FFA Work Auction. This is where all of the FFA students and faculty are auctioned off to a buyer in the community to work a maximum of 8 hours! Last year when J was auctioned off he was bought by one of the local banks and they did NOT make any of the kids work their hours!! J was thrilled to have gotten off so easy LOL!

About a week or so they held the annual auction and chili feed for his sophomore year, for some strange reason J was very nervous about this one! To me it was strange because last year he was so calm about it! He for some reason was feeling like maybe no one would want to buy him LOL! The Hubby told him to go on stage and flex his muscles and do push ups! J wasn't thinking so!!

So finally when his turned arrived he headed up with a bit of nerves at his side, but that quickly faded and a smile braced his face (no pun intended since he is a brace face) as he soon realized that he had a bidding war going on for him! And NO it wasn't me bidding on him LOL!! One of the bidders was a local organization and the other was his very Best Buddys step-dad! He was so thrilled when his "other" dad won the bid!! So he was told that for his work he and his Buddy will be collecting limbs and they will hold a HUGE bonfire that night! I think that is an ingenious idea!! The boys love bonfires, so this is right up their alley!!

OH SO much better now!!



Auctioneer in action!!




J and his "buyer"

Whoo-Hoo we have Royalty in the Family now!!

So last night I left you a little picture of J with a sash on...Yes there is a story with that:) I'm sure all county fair's do this but our 4H club nominated J for King of the fair this year. Well from the get go he wasn't real thrilled about it, he actually at one point said he was going to throw everything on purpose...Well we had a little talk about respect and making a good name for our club, and I think he got the hint LOL!! So it was a week ago last Thursday that J says to me "hey mom, when are we supposed to turn in my stuff for fair King"?? OH CRAP!!! I totally forgot and the judging was the following morning!! So we went to work putting together his huge packet of papers and a story about himself along with pictures to document his accomplishments..

So that following morning was a Friday and he had to go have lunch with the group of nominee's (which consisted of 3 boys and 2 girls) and the judges. Well I was told that he was chatting a storm with the judges which is no surprise to me LOL!! Then next came their speech, which we were a little nervous about because he didn't write anything down he was just going off what he had in his head!! So he did manage to get his speech done, he had a few blurbs and quiet moments while he kind of froze, but he apologized to the judges then carried on. So then the next step was private interviews with the judges. So he went in and had his interview and they actually told him they were proud of him because he just joined 4H a few years ago and at his age most kids were getting out of it. So the competition for him was a kid that is a senior this year and he had a TON of accomplishments and he had a long speech but it was kind of monotone...Then another nice young man who has great accomplishments as well but he was very shy. So I basically told J that he would win if they went off of personality but if they went by the books and papers then the senior would probably win. Which is what I expected to happen.

J the King!! He's not bored I promise!!!!!!!!



Well last Wednesday night was the announcing of the winners but I had a problem...My Granny's Birthday was that day and we had made plans to get together to have a dinner for her and I totally didn't remember that they fell on the same night... So my dear SIL offered to record it for me so I could at least see it, because she knew it was killing me to not see it. Well I called J before I left town to tell him good luck and he was basically like "what? Where are you going"? He did not realize that they fell on the same night to...Poor kid I know it hurt him because he is used to me being there for everything!!

OK since when do the Kings text while doing there duties!! I had to tell him to shut it off LOL!



So anyhow my SIL was to text me as soon as they did the announcement.....So there I sit in my Aunt's house and my phone goes off with the message that says "He Won"!! I kind of yelled Whoo-Hoo, then I went outside and sat down and cried for a little while LOL!! Yes I am a softy, see I was sure the other kid would win because of his age and experience so when J won I was so sad not to be there!!

J working the Sheep show



So his duties as King consisted of handing out ribbons, selling things at the fair booth, riding in the parade. Oh and much more, he was quite the trooper in doing it all by himself since the crowned Queen had an animal in virtually every class so she wasn't out with him much LOL!! But he had a great week and will be the King till the crown the new one next year...So here we live with royalty BA HA HA LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

King and Queen's ride through the Parade!!