Valerie Auction 2016

Tournaments, Banquets, Auctions & Promotions

Here we are just into June already. And I cannot tell you where May went. (Or April for that matter!) It seems that end of the semester slide just picks up speed. And if we are not running along side it, we are sure to be under it! Where do I start?

Rex had a paintball tournament in Las Vegas. Michael coincidentally had a job there so they flew in together. I gather that Michael stayed at a separate hotel from the team but hooked up daily and took photos. They did very well and made it into the playoffs. So, while they didn't come away with the amazing cash deal they did for shutting everyone out in Carlsbad earlier this year, they still well. Rex looks really good. Paintball is definitely his passion. He is quite the marksman as well as the team gun tech from what I gather. He is a Mr. Fixit just like his dad.

Here are some photos of Rex and his team.

 Just in case you don't recognize him, he is the center bottom below.

Valerie's market sheep kept everyone quite busy this spring. She had her sheep for the fair, Stumpi, and her "back up" sheep, Marsha. Marsha was a neurotic mess. As Valerie put it, "She just looks for new ways to try and kill herself." As a result, that meant lots of repairs. Here is Marsha behind the bar Michael had to place in the window through which she broke. She had a knack for getting herself locked into the sheep shed.

Valerie had her end of the year FFA banquet the same night as Amira's open house. Michael and I had to divide and conquer. Michael took Amira to her open house where he met with Amira's teachers. Looks like Amira is being put into a high level math class for Junior High. Yes, I'd like to brag a little. What a smart cookie!

Valerie scooped up some awards at her banquet. She is a Star Greenhand. 

Valerie was also one of two freshmen to be elected to an officer position for next year. She will be reporter. So here she is with the next year's officer team for FFA. They are already planning their officer retreat in August.

 We had such a delightfully wet spring that there was a major frog hatch at Rancho Wilhelm. Michael put together a habitat for the budding tadpoles and mosquito fish. In fact, Valerie won a gold fish at the fair (again) this year. It also resides in the below water feature on our patio. So many little frogs! Amira helped Michael pick out the plants.

Speaking of Amira, she continues to enjoy her horse lessons each Monday. I have been lucky to get lessons with her. Starting in June Valerie will take my place for the summer. In the fall I hope to again resume them. It's such a peaceful way to end the day on Mondays. Here's Amira on Snickers taking a stroll.

Meanwhile, Valerie has worked hard all winter long with her mentor, Carol, and "Drill Sergeant" Hailey to learn how to properly work with and show a market lamb. Here is Valerie at the Silver Dollar Fair with Stumpi. She showed in the 2nd of 9 breaks and was one of the top two people in her break pulled for the final drive. 

So out of all that she placed 6th in the final drive. This is a huge deal as while she was learning all winter long it seemed she rarely made a cut. But hard work paid off! Here she is with her showmanship ribbon with Hailey and John (who helps work and shear the sheep). Valerie was in Hailey's 4-H Club until she moved on to FFA this year. But Hailey is always right there for Valerie and a huge wealth of knowledge and talent. Hailey is almost always grand champion and has the award winning sheep.

 Valerie worked very hard with Stumpi. When he got to the fair he weighed in at 150 lbs, which is the maximum weight for auction. That was ideal. And Stumpi came in fourth in his class.

 Valerie had many long days at the fair between set ups, practices, weigh-ins, shows and auction. Grandpa Alligator came on auction day. Valerie was lot 478 out of 498 which meant she went at the very end of the day. Alligator came at the beginning of the day and stayed for a long while until he realized he was going to be in the stands until dinner time. He came back at the end of the day. 

Bids opened at $10/lb. We do not even know the people who bid on Stumpi, but he fetched $15/lb. She kept coming back to the fair to help her 4-H friends show their market and dairy goats. It's a supportive group of kids and parents all backed up by the amazing Carol Albrecht. We are going to be excited to have Carol and her son Josh in the FFA chapter with us next year.

In the middle of all this fair hoopla, Rex turned 16. I can hardly believe it. Here he is with his boysenberry pie which followed a delicious steak dinner and potatoes and salad from our garden. We had Alligator, Susan and John over to celebrate with the family. Michael took him and his friends go cart racing on Saturday in Sacramento. Again, we had to divide and conquer as that was the day of the auction at the fair. Amira was off with some friends that weekend. There was so much going on my head is still spinning. 

After a three day weekend of fair, birthdays and friending Rex came back to school for final exams. Valerie went back to Carol's for "sheep camp" to prepare the wool sheep for their trip to Eugene in a couple of weeks. Michael took off for New York. Amira returned for her 6th Grade promotion ceremony. She got a new dress and shoes and jewelry for the occasion. Neni came down to watch the ceremony. Following the ceremony all the 6th graders went roller skating for the rest of the afternoon. Then after school she went to a swim party. This was an action packed week, I tell you!

Here is Amira with her friends Sarah, Marissa, Juliana and Ally after the promotion ceremony. In another week they will be the station aids at the Girl Scout camp for June Jamboree.

In other news, Rex officially has his driver's permit. He has put in many hours of driving this week already. I think he likes it. He does not like driving the van (or, the Swagger Wagon, as we call it) and seems to prefer the Leaf. I have to agree with him. The Leaf is much more comfortable and a little more zippy and responsive.

 There was a nifty display outside the 6th grade classrooms on the last day of school that had photos of all the students with their career goals. An interesting one was"bread delivery guy". That's not pictured. But here you can see Amira in the upper right with her dream. To her left is a girl who has already been on national television more than once for her dancing ability.

 Amira and her friends doing their last walk at 6th graders.

 Junior High, here we come!