#tbt - South Dakota State Fair

Labor Day weekend for several years was incredibly occupied with the South Dakota State Fair.  It made for a ridiculously busy weekend with more sheep shows than I can count, but a lot of fun.  And, of course, baby sister and I had fun goofing around to break the tension.

 

These pictures are, I think, from the 2008 State Fair, the summer I graduated from high school and about a week before I moved to California to start college.

 



#tbt - Bruce

Bruce [Almighty/the shark from "Finding Nemo"] was my favorite ram.  I realize how weird that sounds, but it's true.  The big guy had a special place in our hearts, and our show schedule!

 

This summer of showing (2007) was made more interesting by the fact that I had recently had ACL reconstructive surgery and was still wearing a huge knee brace. 

 

This picture of me with Bruce and baby sister was taken just inside the barn in Parker, South Dakota at the Turner County Fair - The 4 Best Days of Summer.  I don't even know what to do with myself the 3rd week of August now that I'm away, since every year that I can remember through 2011 was spent there.



#tbt Paris 2008

I'm about to leave for a European vacation and I couldn't be more excited!  In honor of this trip, I dug out a picture of me taken at the base of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France when I was there just over 5 years ago. 

I met a few great guys from Texas in the Louvre one evening.  We instantly hit it off and had fun exploring Paris together over the next few days.  One of them snapped this photo of me.  I was having such a great time, and I can't wait for my next European adventures!

#tbt Besties in Chicago

One of my best friends from home, KT, is a wonderful young woman that I've known since I was just a young pup.  She and I have definitely had our differences over the years, including most of high school, but we managed to grow closer than ever even with the physical distance of me moving to California.

She is constantly inspiring me.  Just this year, she had a beautiful baby boy, graduated from nursing school, passed her boards, and started work as an RN.  She's marrying a wonderful man in a few months, and I can't wait to help them celebrate their day.

The wedding is less than two months away, and I can't wait!  While I'm beside myself with excitement, I'll share an oldie but a goodie of the two of us in Chicago as high school juniors right before we saw "Wicked."