Tulsa...

Here we come

Monday we are leaving for Tulsa, Oklahoma. Here goes nothin'

Little Dates & Puppy Love

I think part of becoming a Kent it is required to be a fan of the Bar J Wranglers. They are five guys that sing old country western songs and crack jokes the whole time on stage. These guys are amazingly talented with their voices and instruments. They usually are in Jackson Hole, WY with their chuckwagon business and on the off season they go around the country doing concerts. Well the little town of Kuna was graced with their musical talent last night. Nathan and I got to go see them at the High School and then went to dinner at the local mexican restaurant. It was a big night for us. After getting home I went to lay down and my puppy was being the biggest cuddle bug in the world, I love it when he's like that.

Glacier National Park

About a month ago Nathan and I had the pleasure of going to a big horse show in Kalispell, Montana. I have never been to Montana before and I was surprised at how tiny all the towns are. I figured for a city to make it on the map it would be a lot larger, but not even a gas station most of the time.

The good part about the show was getting to spend some time driving through Glacier National Park. My brother and his wife had visited this place about two months prior and I loved all of Jenny's pictures from it so I was really happy when we had the chance. The weather wasn't the greatest but still fun to take a drive. We drove the Road To The Sun drive and I was freaked. This road traveled up the side of the mountain with a huge drop off. I couldn't even take pictures out the window because it was so high up.

If only all horse shows were this fun!!

Gem State

There are a lot of things I would like to write about but alas I don't feel up to that much typing. Our day today was spent at the Gem State Stock Horse Show in Ontario, Oregon. Nathan showed Doc Oaks Remedy, owned by Jacki & Mike Massimino, two of my favorite people. I love horse shows for the shear social aspect of it all. Also, I just got a banging new lens for my camera, a 2.8f 70-200mm. Let's just say, I am in love!!!! Here are my fave's from the day....

Words of Wisdom

I found this little snip-it on someone else's blog and I felt it worth reposting...

1. Never panic. Stop, breathe, think.
2. No one is thinking about you. They're thinking about themselves, just like you.
3. Never change haircut or color before an important event.
4. Nothing is either as bad or as good as it seems.
5. Do as you would be done by, e.g., thou shalt not kill.
6. It is better to buy one expensive thing that you really like than several cheap ones that you only quite like.
7. Hardly anything matters: if you get upset, ask yourself, "Does it really matter?"
8. The key to success lies in how you pick yourself up from failure.
9. Be honest and kind.
10. Only buy clothes that make you feel like doing a small dance.
11. Trust your instincts, not your overactive imagination.
12. When overwhelmed by disaster, check if it's really a disaster by doing the following: (a) think, "Oh, f*ck it" (b) look on the bright side and, if that doesn't work, look on the funny side.
If neither of the above works then maybe it is a disaster so turn to items 1 and 4.
13. Don't expect the world to be safe or life to be fair.
14. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
15. Don't regret anything. Remember there wasn't anything else that could have happened, given who you were and the state of the world at that moment. The only thing you can change is the present, so learn from the past.
16. If you start regretting something and thinking, "I should have done..." always add, "but then I might have been run over by a lorry or blown up by a Japanese-manned torpedo".

Region 4

Last week was the Arabian Region 4 Championship Horse Show at the Idaho Center in Nampa, Idaho. This was a huge deal for us Idahoans because usually the show is in Salem, Oregon which I have heard is not a very pleasant place to show. Don't quote me on that because I have never been, it's just the word on the street. Nathan was extremely busy running back and forth trying to show and ride all his horses at home to get ready for the Quarter Horse show this weekend. He did manage to have a great show riding Nobles Top Gun to a championship in Arabian Reining Open and Noble Fantasy to a championship in Arabian Reining Futurity. He had two beautiful runs. I took to the arena with my second reining pattern ever and Top Gun was such an awesome boy for me. I can't believe a stallion can breed non stop for a week and then go be an extremely well behaved show horse. I went top five in Arabian Reining AOTR and learned that I am really not going as fast as I think I am out there. There are always things to work on for next time.

Up next for the show season is the Luc McGregor Memorial Derby this weekend at the Idaho Center and then the following week we will be in Reno, Nevada for the Arabian Region 3 Championship. A busy couple of weeks but hopefully after that we can get a breather.

ShoShone Falls

Sometime ago I stumbled upon a website for Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, it was called the mini Niagara Falls of the Northwest. I have wanted to check out this little place for sometime but when Nathan and I have a free weekend it's usually during the winter months when the water isn't flowing as freely.
My brother and his wonderful wife came to visit last week and I thought it would be fun to check out Shoshone Falls as a little activity. We did some hiking and took lots of pictures. There is also a huge canyon in Twin with a beautiful golf course at the bottom, I think I know what we will do next visit.


It was super fun spending time with them, Friday was Jennifer's birthday and in true birthday fashion we spent the day playing miniature golf, batting cages, arcade games, Toy Story 3, pony rides and pizza. It was like a blast from the past of a kind of birthday we had when we were 5.

I Dare You Tires

Sunday on our way home from Malad we were hauling the horse trailer in our new truck, which I should post pictures of. We had two mares along with their week old babies to bring to Boise to breed. About a half our from home all of a sudden we heard this loud bang and sure enough we had a blow out on the trailer. So we gimped up to where we could pull over, jacked up the trailer, and changed the tire. Once we were home and unloading the horses we heard another noise, a hissing sound coming from one of the other tires. There was a large leak in another tire.

The next day Nathan and I went and got both tires fixed and again proceeded to change both tires on the trailer. I now feel like I am queen of flat tires. I dare any of my tires to go flat on me, I can handle it!!!

Malad Football

Malad Highschool had an alumni football game on Saturday night as a fundraiser. I knew Nathan would be pretty pumped at the chance to suite up again. They were in full pads and it was a full contact game. At first I was pretty nervous for him to play but it was so fun to see him in his football outfit, I thought he was pretty adorable. There team lost but it was all just for fun and no one got hurt.

Different Approach

I have decided to take a more personal approach to this blog, because really what is the point of having it if I'm not going to use it. Since Nathan and I don't have more adventurous lives outside of traveling to horse shows, getting ready for horse shows, and training for horse shows I am going to use this forum for my personal use and the off chance that we do something blog worthy you can catch those here too.
One of my New Years resolutions was to read a lot more. Reading was something I struggled with for a long time, not because I was a bad reader but I just didn't have a huge interest in it. And while your reading textbooks all the time it doesn't leave much desire for recreational reading. One book I did pick up while still in college is Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. I loved this little gem of a story about the 1920's traveling circus. I enjoyed it so much that I read it a second time a little less than a year ago. The second time I read it I found myself picturing the scenes as they would be in a movie. Low and behold --- they are now filming the Water For Elephants Film starring Robert Pattinson. I could not be more excited about this and I have been obsessed with the blog and the photos that are coming from the set. I also just happen to be a huge Robert Pattinson fan.

So for your viewing pleasure.... www.waterforelephantsfilm.com

Enjoy

California Trip

I recently gave myself a much needed vacation and decided to visit my family in Sacramento. It was a jammed packed event with my family and friends. On Tuesday I joined Jennifer in the gym (so I wouldn't be so out of shape when I got back home to Kickboxing) and then hung out with Jessica, went to lunch and a movie. On Wednesday I went back to the gym with Glenn and we went miniature golfing with Glenn and Jennifer and her brother, fiance, and nephew. It was an extra special outing because I was able to beat Glenn on the second set. On Thursday my dad and I went to Red Hawk Indian Casino and lost our money in waaaay too short of time. Last time we went I won 200 bucks on the penny machines, so I was thinking I could do it again. Little did I know the casino had a different plan for me. Then we decided to get some lunch and do a little golfing. It was one of the few times I have played an actual course and I did pleasing well (Even ask my dad). I pared about three or four holes and beat my dad on two of them. On Friday the same group that went miniature golfing plus some went to Ice House reservoir to have a picnic and let the adorable puppies run around and play in some snow. It was great to feel the sun on my back and get to relax in the fresh air. Once we got home I went to a Sacramento Rivercats game with Jessica and Calder. My newly engaged best friend whom I am so excited for. Saturday was spent with Katie and Tiffany out at the Arabian Show in Rancho Murieta. I used to show there every year when I lived in California. It made me want to go get my horse. Sunday was a great day spent with my dad we went bowling and lounged around and played some games. And then it was time to go back to Idaho on Monday.
These are just some photos I took while at the lake. I love my time with my family.

Easter

I realize I am a little behind in updating for Easter, but better late than never right. For Easter, Nathan and I went to Malad. Saturday I was able to go my friend Mitzi's baby shower. She is a friend of mine from Salt Lake that I haven't seen in a very long time. She is also the cutest pregnant person I have ever seen.


On Sunday we watched Conference and had a great Easter dinner followed by an Easter Egg Hunt. I haven't hunted for eggs in an almost ten years and it was so much fun to hunt especially when some are filled with money.

Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

I originally attempted to write in detail about our trip to Scottsdale, Arizona. And as the post grew my fingers began to cramp and I quit half way through. Then my wonderful sister in law, Lisa, posted this handy little image on her blog so I decided to steal it. (Hope it's okay Lisa) This pretty much sums up the trip.


The best part of the trip was Nathan's HUGE win on Noble Fantasy. He won the Scottsdale Purebred Reining Futurity. It is an amazing accomplishment for everyone involved. I can't wait to see the after effects of this. I am so proud of my awesome husband!!

Dear John

This is not what I intended to have as my catch up post. Starting with the new year I have really enjoyed reading. This is something new for me, I have tried several times in years past and it would take me months to finish a book, if I even did. I don't know what started it all but I think I get it from my dad who is an avid reader. About a year ago he gave me Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. Sparks is one of my favorite authors writing great ones such as The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, and The Choice to name a small few. I read Dear John in one evening and cried my eyes out the entire time. It was an overwhelming love story.

There have been many books made into movies and I usually end up being sourly disappointed. Movies have such a difficult time enrapturing you in the story and characters that you feel as you read. Dear John is the most recent installment in the Nicholas Sparks movies and I had the opportunity to see it on Saturday with my wonderful sister in law, Jenna. I had a good feeling about this one, even the trailer got to me. Just listen to the soundtrack playing in this clip, the song speaks volumes.