Devils Den 2008

Well we just returned from another great vacation at Devils Den State Park in Arkansas. We attended the Pea Ridge mule show again, Judy and Tim were there to watch us and Baby John (Thanks So much). John and Colleen won the High Point Adult and Alexa won 1st Place in the Barrels and Pole Bending 14 & under and 3rd in the flag race. We are VERY PROUD OF HER, her times would have also won the Adult division if her dad and I would not compete. Well anyway she got her dad's Belt Buckle. We told her that we would not buy her one she had to earn it well she did. We rode everyday, but Tuesday and Wednesday because it rained down there. We rode many mile and saw a lot of great sites. There was a wedding down there on Friday it was Ken and Kristine (the couple that we ride with every year he is the trail boss never gets us lost). Very nice wedding. Well that's it for now. Thanks for reading

The Higgins

Alexa lost her first tooth

Hello everyone I just thought that I would let everyone know that I pulled Alexa's first baby tooth out tonight about 8:50 pm she is so excited about it. She can still whistle so she is happy about that. She got a pop sickle when we pulled it that is why her lips are so red. Her other tooth is already up a little behind the baby so I hope that it comes forward. well that is it for now Love the Higgins

August Update

Hello everyone and sorry it has been so long. We went to a mule show in Kansas City, MO and had a great time. We got to spend the night with Judy and Tim, went to supper and had a great time with them. Thanks Judy and Tim for taking care of Baby John and Alexa. Alexa did good on Sunday, but not so hot on Saturday. John did GREAT he beat a Lady that was Bad Mouthing him and Colleen ( you just don't do that) So she was saying to everybody hope that you have your riding pants on today because it is on. Well I thought that he was born with riding pants.LOL So he went in the hurdles and she yelled the hole time,Hurry Hurry Your gonna loose, he ended up missing the last hurdle he never does that, so she went and nobody said anything (like the good sports we are) well she went and well she missed the last hurdle as well. So we went on to the Pole Bending pattern and John was a little upset and I told him to calm down and Smoke Her, That he did he ran a 21 second pole bending pattern that is FAST. So he walked by her and said let's see what you got, Ed Slemp, said she had told his wife that she needed her riding pant as well, so he said let's see your riding pants really loud, John was really quite about it nobody would have known that he said it if you were not right behind him, that is how he is quiet but explosive. Well all she had was a couple of poles knocked down, when she left the arena NOBODY SAW HER, SHE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE TRAILER AND LEFT, I guess she forgot her riding pants.LOL

This past weekend we went to the Iowa state mule show and John, Alexa, and Baby John Showed and I (Ricki) took the Picture at the mule show. It was a very long weekend. Thanks to Cindy, Buffy, Alan, Jacob ,and Shelby for helping so much with the kids and Pictures. John did really well showing, as did Alexa, and Baby John. If you would like to view Pictures of John, Alexa or Baby John you can go to http://www.jrajphoto.smugmug.com/ you can't order from there thought, just email us with pictures that you would like a copy of, and we will get them for you. Alexa is in all the 10 & under classes, and Backdrop. Baby John is in the Lead Line and the Snapshots. Big John is in all the Running events barrels, pole bending, pylon alley, flag race, and backdrop.

I really enjoyed taking the pictures at the show it is a lot of work and I spent the better part of last week setting right here at the computer uploading them to the web site. John even fixed lunches and Suppers for us so I could finish them asap. I think there are close to 4,000 pictures from Friday, Saturday, Sunday not all of them made the web site. Cindy also took pictures Saturday and Sunday.

John and I also celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary this past month. John Sr happened to get back that day from poppin KettleKorn so he and Cindy fixed supper for us and we ate up at their house. We really enjoyed that.

Thanks for visiting back and I'll try to make it back sooner next time.

John and the Kids at the Yellow Rock Overlook
John, Ricki, Alexa, Baby John at the Yellow Rock Overlook

Ken and Kristine our Trail Guide and his Fiance we wouldn't get to see near what we get to without him. Thanks Ken
John and the Kids at the waterfall in Devil's Den
Ricki and the Kids at the waterfall
Baby John and Alexa at the Yellow Rock Overlook
Alexa and Baby John giving each other a kiss at the Yellow Rock Overlook

Alexa and Easy Jet in the Poles

Baby John and Buckwheat getting ready for Halter Class

Baby John tieing up Buckwheat
Alexa running Hurdels with Easy Jet

Carthage Mule Show

Hello Everyone and thanks for visiting our Blog. We are new to this so I'm just trying it out for now.

We went to Carthage MO on August 2 2008 to the mule show for Cerebal Palsy Kids. All of the money the show makes goes to the cerebal palsy center near Carthage MO. John has been going to this show most of his life. Judy (John's mom) was able to make it to the show to watch us all show and to help watch the kids. We couldn't have made it with out her, Alexa was sick with a summer cold a couple of days before that so she was alittle weak still, and Baby John was still a ball of FUN. Alexa showed in I think 9 classes and Won 1st in 8 of them. Baby John showed Buckwheat in the Halter class and did Great but didn't place, the judges were taking to long for him so he tied Buckwheat up to the fence and was leaving the ring. We made him go back to his mule. It was funny all of the judges were laughing and so was the crowd. Baby John just played the rest of the day and rode Buckwheat every chance he got.

Bubba and his fiance Krista were also able to make it. Bubba rode Lovely Lady (our mule the one that Ricki use to ride).

John had to ride in the Super Adult class this year, because he was over 31. So Bubba, Ricki, Marcie Tidd (Sloan), and another kid showed in the Regular Adult classes. John Won High Point in his Division and Bubba won High Point in the Regular Adult division. Yes that is right he beat Ricki and Marcie it was man power that day I guess. Ricki hit a pole and missed the barrel in the flag race. Bubba just flat had it going on that day and I couldn't take it (haha).

It was Extremly hot that day I think they said it was like 114 with the heat index.

Well thanks so much for checking out our new blog hopefully more to come soon. We would like to go to the Kansas City Show, but aren't sure if we will make it yet.