More from Missouri

Here are a few pictures from the competition in Madison, Wisconsin. The first day Mark had to make 2 front shoes from two 9 inch peices of steel. He had to draw them out to 12 inches and then shape the shoe, and then punch in the nail holes, and then draw clip on the toe. The second night it's the same process except he had to make 2 hind shoes. Just like people have a left foot and a right foot, horses hoofs are different between left and right as well as front and hind. The first night he had a stranger as a striker and the second night he had Chris as his striker.
Here is the first night.


Here is the second night.


As well as the competition they had a giant horse fair. Like the Round Up Center at the Stampede but all horse stuff. Sorry mom, no vegetable guy. They also had stables with show horses in it. Here is a picture of me with Jake, the world's tallest horse.


Here is Oza. We weren't sure about her name some days, but it has stuck and that is her name. What solidified it I think is this past weekend. We went to Truman Days here in Lamar, wasn't anything too spectacular (sorry no pictures), and there was the cutest little girl who was about eye level with the dog. She saw Oza and started petting her and asked, "What's his-uh-her-uh-hm-hm-e-a-his-a-o name?" I said Oza and then the girl went, "Oza! Good puppy! Hi Oza!" The name instantly became cute and is stuck. If a little girl can pronounce it right and instantly loved the name then we are sold on it too. haha. This is a picture of her sleeping after a long afternoon in the park. She also just lies down like this sometimes just to let you know that she is always open for a belly rub.


I was making some lunch and then walked into the other room to find these two. She is very cuddly!


She loves it when Mark comes home!

Here is a picture of when Mark and I drove down to Branson. We were only there for a little bit and went to a ribs place for dinner. Not as good as Grandad's, but good for the occasion. Branson really got hit by the tornado. About half of the shows are all cancelled till they can repair their buildings. It was pretty crazy to drive through and see some of the wreckage.

Here is the shoe that Mark made for his application for the Calgary Stampede to work as floor crew. I didn't realize how much of a beard Mark had till I looked at the picture. We are hoping that he gets picked to go. He would be around the best in the world and Chris will be there and there will be farriers in the area there either watching or competing. So all around it would be a great opportunity for Mark.

Our first state was Montana. We didn't think to take a picture of the state sign just because we've been through it so many times we weren't even thinking. So we'll just have to get a picture of it on the way back.

The next state was Wyoming!Very very cool. Then we drove to Buffalo, Wyoming for the first night.

Then the second day of travel we drove across to South Dakota! Before we got out of Wyoming we took a detour to go see Devil's Tower! Very very cool.
We then continued to take the scenic route down to Rapid City where Mount Rushmore is.

That was very very cool. You walk towards it and you just get a sacred feeling. If you haven't gone..definitely suggest you do. We were there for quite a while. And even bought a book! Mark was looking for a biography on one of the president's but there was just too many so we decided to get Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. I read to Mark on the drive. So far..very good!

Also in Rapid City we saw these giant wooden sculptures! We just had to take pictures of those too!

We also stopped off at this CRAZY store called Wall Drug. You see signs for it everywhere! We even saw it just after crossing the border into the States. They have signs to go to Wall Drug all over the world! And people go! It is the craziest store. It's ginormous! There are at least 6 entrances. They have everything there...even a dinosaur in their backyard. We didn't get to look at it though becuase we arrived 5 minutes till closing time. But there were signs for it! There is also a church inside as well as any specialty type of store you can think of.

Then we stopped for the night at Mitchell, South Dakota. The third day we drove down to Nebraska to Niobrara.

There is a Newell Knight memorial there. He is actually Mark's ancestor! So we drove down to see his grave site. He died on the trek so his grave site is right next to the river.

The river is actually called the "Morman River". I don't think Nebraska really cares about the spelling, the people in Niobrara get it the idea. Haha, "I'd like some more man please?". Mark and I were making jokes....they weren't very good. Then we drove to Sioux City and entered Iowa!! Man, Iowa is a boring drive! Unfortunately the Iowa state sign is on the highway and there isn't a place to stop to take a picture. Luckily though I got it! :)

Then all the way to Lamar, Missouri!

We stopped off at Liberty, MO to go to the Liberty Jail Visitor's center. It is amazing! Just everything about it and the trial that it was on the men. It is a very personal story told at the visitor's center. They have reconstructed the jail, with as many original materials as they could, and built the visitor's center around it to protect it.

We stayed at the Super 8 in Lamar that night. It is a fancy Super 8! It's won a million awards and the breakfast! They have everything for breakfast for you! It was awesome! Especially after a long trip. Then the next day met our landlord and got set up. And went to the most AMAZING mexican restaurant ever! It's called El Charro's. Mark and I want to be friend's with the owner. Mark even talked with him in spanish. haha. We've gone twice already and decided that we are probably going to go this weekend. haha so 3 out of 4 weekends we would of gone! Those are the pictures of our trip! Thanks to all the maps and books Nana and Grandad gave us we made it here safely. Thanks again!

Next our apartment! See how happy we are to finally be here? We definitely look like we have been travelling.
This is a picture of our back entrance. We are the top left apartment.

We went and got a table and two chairs for the kitchen. It's in the big space in the kitchen that I mentioned in the video. Also, up until two nights ago we have been sleeping on our air mattress. It was going good, but after a while it takes it's toll. The Relief Society president lent us one of her extra beds and two chairs for the living room. Very nice of her, we are very grateful. Also the closet in the living room is my closet...it's a walk-in! :)

Mark has the closet in the bedroom. We've been having lots of fun here. It's been very warm, although the past couple days have been very very rainy. I made this mexican soup from the Yucatan from the recipe book that Nana and Grandad gave me and was a HUGE HIT!! I'll type up the recipe and give it to you guys because it is soooo good! Mark aside from school has; tried to shoot anvils up in the air with black powder(I was there as well...cheering), shot guns (me too!), tagged cow's ears, dewormed cows and gave them their shots, and played guitar with this one guy in the class. In class he has burned his hands and arms A LOT from the embers in the forge, has rasped his hands and fingers quite a bit as well, has gotten kicked by a horse (I was there for that...not very fun), and has missed getting kicked by a horse probably one million times by now. The horses that they work on aren't very well behaved. Most of them are getting work done for the first time ever! Cheap price...cheap horses! haha he is learning quickly the ins and outs of being a farrier!