Charred Buns and Wild Pigs

Well guys...sorry for the long absence! These last few months have been anything but fun or interesting. Im soaking up the last few days of Spring Break and not really looking forward to going back. But there is some good news in there, only 6 more weeks of school and then I'll be on summer break!!

Hunter has hit the rodeo trail again this week and will rope at Austin tomorrow and Monday and then on to Huntsville from there. He made it out this morning before all the really heavy snow hit, but Houston and I are stuck here in the house. H has been begging to go out and play in it but I'm just not big on snow blowing sideways from all directions. I'm ready for summer!!!

Anyway...We've had a little action these last few days that make some pretty decent stories. I'll start with Hunter and I....Hunter finally decided to let me tag along with him, Blake and Deacon when they went pig hunting the other night. Now keep in mind that I've been hunting my whole life so I'm pretty used to the things that come with it, but I can honestly say I may be permanently scarred!! Houston was staying the night with his Grandma and Grandpa so off we go about 10 pm. Blake has 4 dogs that he takes that do most of the work. Once we got out close to the slick hills he put three dogs on the hood of the truck. They sit and just sniff at the wind until they catch a pigs scent and then bail off to track them. Well as we take off one of the dogs decides to prop her butt up against those vents on the hood and take a big dump that literally gased us out. It was so bad that the next time we stopped Deacon got a stick and scraped it off. Pretty gross but I was definitly thankful. Off we go again...I think we stopped a total of 3 times because the dogs caught a whiff of something only for it to turn out to be nothing. I think it was safe to say I was bored out of my mind, I'm pretty sure I even layed my head down to rest my eyes for a minute. Finally about 12 am the dogs jump off and have something "bayed" (that's where they get the animal cornered where they won't go anywhere, most of the time) right in the middle of the road. We are thinking heck yea, how lucky is this...we won't even have to chase it down. We get out only to find that the dogs have a raccoon bayed. Just Great. After we get them off the coon they take off through a wheat field, hot on another trail. Thank goodness Blake has a tracking collar on one of his dogs. We just follow the GPS and it leads us right to them. So off they went and we hopped back in the truck to drive around the mile section to a gate right in the middle. It took us within 200 yards of where the dogs were and At this point I tell Hunter "Remember...I Am Afraid of the Dark so DO NOT LEAVE me in the middle of nowhere by myself!!" He assures me he would never do that and we take off running. Blake has the GPS and Hunter has hold of Meaty the pitbull. We are running through pretty thick brush and can hear the other dogs chasing a pretty large pig. I mean it sounds like elephants crashing through the jungle. The whole time I'm telling myself "don't slow down, don't slow down", but the farther we went the farther back I was falling. Now I know exactly how a lost kid in the park feels, only I was in a park full of wild pigs and who knows what else. I honestly just stood there and about cried. I could still hear the guys though, and figured out that the dogs had a pig bayed up against the side of a big pond. We were on the opposite side and couldn't figure out how we were going to get around. After I finally caught up everyone decides to go 50 different directions to try and find away around. Hunter hops a fence and takes off and I quickly decided that plan was out for me so I turn to Deacon and tell him I'm with him. He says okay let's go, just run and I wont leave you. YEA RIGHT. Once again I'm bringing up the rear tripping over sticks, logs, holes and wading through a creek. He keeps telling me to hurry up but I know that I had to stop about 3 different times to hock a lung up. Blake came from somewhere behind and passed me so I try to get it in gear and start running again. Pretty soon I can hear Hunter coming up fast so I'm thinking "okay now I'm not so alone" but here he goes again trying to run right by me as if I've got things under control. After I yelled a few things at him, he slowed down a little but just in time for Blake to yell...."LOOK OUT, PIG!!" We both jump for the nearest tree to get out of the way. A pig came from out of the brush and ran right between Blake's legs and around Deacon. After that scare we all gathered together to get another plan because the dogs are on the move again. Well the guys were planning, but I was bent over thinking I was coughing up blood from a detatched lung. Meanwhile the dogs ran over 800 yards in another direction chasing pigs and have gotten them bayed up again. Blake tells me and Hunter to go back and get the truck and meet them over on the other side of the mile section and hopefully they will have caught the pig by then and be waiting on us. Blake points us in the right direction and we took off. This time I made sure Hunter had my hand. We crossed the creek and could hear something hot on our trail, Hunter ran to a tree and got in it...leaving me to fend for myself. He said his plan was to pull me up, but I think he was just as scared as me. It ended up being one of Blake's dogs Talley. We got out of the tree and started walking again but I guess we got turned around in the middle of all that and started going the wrong direction. We didn't realize it until we walked about 400 yards and still hadn't come to the truck yet. Hunter thought we were still right so we kept going until we hit the fence. Well turns out it was definitly the wrong fence and we didn't recognize anything. We stood around for about 10 minutes trying to figure things out and finally decided that we needed to go to our left, cut behinde a house and head to the other fence. This walk felt like it took forever, especially since I had a nice little blister popping up on my heel and a semi sprained ankle. We finally made it to the other fence but once again, it was the wrong one. We took a break and thought things over. I had my cell phone with me, which was almost dead but I didn't have Blake's new number and Deacon didn't have his phone because it was dead. So that was pretty much a dead end. My phone did however have a compass on it. We got it out and figured out which direction we were headed but that really didn't help since we didn't know which way to go. I told Hunter we should just set by the road because surely Blake would figure out we were lost and just drive around until he found us. But right about that time a pack of coyotes started howling like they were right on our trail and we both decided we didn't really want to stick around that spot. We started walking the fence line and about 3 minutes later my cell phone rang making me jump about 2 feet into the air. It was Blake, Thank God!! He told Hunter what directions we needed to go and we took off. I was pretty nervous about crossing the creek again, because I just knew a pig was going to come charging at me and tusk me. But Hunter drug me along and we finally found Blake and Deacon. And what do you know, the truck was right there where we left it. I'm pretty sure we walked about 2 miles out of the way. By this time it's about 2:30 am. We are cold, tired, sore and have no pig to show for it. But what great memories, I just don't think I want to make any more like that anytime soon.

So anyway, after than adventure we've just been hanging around the house until Friday morning. We had to make an ER trip. Houston had just gotten out of the bath and ran into the back room to stand in front of the wall heater to warm up. He accidently got to close and touched the metal wires around it. At first it didn't look like it was all that bad just red but we thought we'd head over to my parents house and put some silvadeen on it just to be safe. By the time we got over there it started to look a little worse and about 30 minutes later it was aweful, and I think the pain started to kick in beacuse H started screaming and wouldn't stop. So then we all got a little scared and decided to take him in. The ER was pretty full and the Dr. came over to take a look and he said "it does look like he burned it" I thought well thanks for the late breaking news man. I definitly don't think it was worth a hundred bucks but oh well better safe than sorry.

Hopefully it wont be 2 months before I post again, but I'm not making any promises. Only 6 weeks of school left then it'll be rodeo time!!! Catch Hunter online at Rodeo Austin today and tomorrow. www.RodeoAustin.com Hope all is well with everyone, much love from the Herrin's!!

January....New month, New Start

Hello again....Im thinkin it's about time for a new update. Hope everyone had a great Holiday season...Ours came and went way to fast. It was a short and sweet break, as lots has been going on since..I am now officaly a College Student (again)!! I started last Monday and let me tell you, I'm pretty sure my brian shut the learning section off about 3 years ago and it's having a hard time fireing back up. I am happy to report though, I'm not the oldest person in class, there's a couple of men and women that have about 20-30 years on me. They tend to do alot of the question asking, so that lets me off the hook!!! I'm sure most of you are probably wondering what brought this on and what I'm planning to do with the rest of my life...I was planning to go back to school when H started Kindergarten, but I got a little nudge from Hunter. He said he didn't want me to wait to long and be like 28 before I went back. (H will be starting school in 2 years and I just turned 23, so I won't quite be 28 yet) But I've decided its probably a good thing I get the ball rolling, because the way my brain is working these days I might be on the 6 year track instead of 3. Just Kidding!! :) So now on to what I plan to do, as of right now I am finishing my generals and then plan to sign up for the OU Nursing program. My Aunt is an Amazing teacher there so I'm hoping maybe I can pull some strings and become a Nurse! Now don't write this down in stone or anything, because I've been known to change my mind in the past. Anyway, during the day while I'm at school, H and Hunter have been doing all sorts of cool guy stuff. That's what H tells me! They've been roping quite a bit and soing some house-work (aka...it looks like a bomb just went off in here) But I think they're having fun. H is planning to hit the road with Hunter a little in the next few months. Nothing to long of course. Wednesday they'll be heading down to Ft. Worth, I'll be sure to let you guys know how that one goes. Anyway on a sadder note, I was recently forced to part ways with part of my family....Our horse Cajun has been sold. Hunter told me not ever to get to close with the horses because it's just part of the business. But this horse was like a kid, he ate treats off H's head and loved all over us. Not to mention I've seen him almost die about 3 times and had to nurse him back. It was pretty hard but I'm hoping the people we sold him to, are going to love him as much as we did, at least that's what I'm telling myself. I did make Hunter meet one request before he went and that was we had to take family pictures with him. I'll always remember him and there'll never be another horse quite as good.

Home for the Holidays!!

Hey guys, we are home from Vegas and it's been soo nice...even if my house looks like a disaster zone. We are pretty much buried to our necks in laundry!! And with Chirstmas just around the corner I've been busy finishing up my shopping and wrapping presents so the house is definitly getting the short end of the stick. We had our first Christmas of the season Saturday with the Nunn's. It was in OKC at Connie's and was a blast as always. The kids especially had a great time, as Santa made an apperance and we got to go Snow tubing at Bricktown. We thought we might have been in a bind when we waited in line for 30 minutes and got to the top and found out that Houston had to go down by himself in his own tube. He was a champ though and decided he'd try it out. His face was so funny coming down, he looked scared to death and mad at us for making him do it but when he got to the bottom he screamed "Let's do it again!!" So off we went to do it again...and again haha. After that we went and had supper with my parents and so Houston could spend a little time with "his" puppies. Our male aussie and my parents female had puppies about 4 weeks ago and Houston missed them pretty bad while we were in Vegas. He drug them out as soon as we got there and showed them a little TLC. He's named 3 of the 5, Blackie, Pecos and Wrinkles. Ah so fun. Anyway tomorrow starts Christmas week and it will be pretty busy for us. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas from Hunter, Houston and I. Remember Jesus is the Reason for the Season.. :) Love yall

Hello SouthPoint..

Hey everyone...We finally got to go to the Buckle Ceremony last night. Hunter was 7.1 and slpit the round with Cody Ohl. It was such an awesome night. Its been a pretty long week for us, as Hunter has been struggling to pull out a win. God is good though, all the time, and he knew before it ever started this would happen. We are so thankful to him and to all of you guys. Thanks for the prayers and support!! Yesterday was also Tough Enough to Wear Pink night and we were thinking of all our family and friends that have either went through Cancer or known someone who has. We were especially thinking of our good friend Diane Day who always comes out the first weekend to watch and who couldn't come this year. D you are one strong lady and we missed ya!!

Anyway Houston, Al and I are about to go to the Shark Aquarium over at Mandalay Bay. It should be another fun day here in Las Vegas. We have to try and squeeze in the lion exhibit over here at the Mirage for Al too. Hope we have more good news tonight. Miss and Love yall

Posing with our buckles

Lacey Dale, H , Bob, Me and Hunter

Hunter getting his buckle and bottle of Pendleton Whiskey, sorry guys that stays capped haha

Bob and H

H, Bob, Me and Hunter...not sure what Hunter said that had us all cracking up

Hunter is talking it over with Randy

Up on stage

Here they are watching the rodeo play back on tv, the calf roping is on and they are discussing what happened. We again got kicked out of this spot by security, i think they were scared H might order a cold one and hit a jackpot.

H and Hunter posing for a back number pic

H and Hunter at Southpoint

Houston kept asking Hunter for quarters. He wanted to play so bad, but a security gaurd kicked us out not long after this pic haha

The strip at night out our window

H and Al being silly

Houston and Aunt Ally

Houston and Aunt Cari

Hunter watching the bronc riding, getting ready to rope

Houston and his Bestfriend Riley, they ride up to the arena like this just about every night

Day 4 here in Las Vegas

Hey guys, we kicked off the day at Elevation Sunday this morning. It was amaazing. The turn out was really something. Stran Smith and David Key gave their testimony and it was quite emotional. God was really working this morning and I know it lifted my spirits!! Hunter hasn't placed yet heading into today but I'm sure things are going to turn around for us. God works in mysterious ways. On the other hand, our good friends Clint and Robyn Robinson are kicking butt. Clint won the round last night and is only a few thousand behind Trevor now. Thanks for all the prayers and support guys! We really are thankful to have so many great family, friends and fans!!! Hope everyone at home is good, we miss yall!!

Keep Emma Swanda in your prayers, she is my sisters bestfriend's cousin and is at Childerens Hospital trying to get some things figured out.

Houston during the grand entry waving the flag and waving to his Daddy

Grandma, H and Al

Thomas and Mack. This is the laser show that kicks the rodeo off

Houston wanted his Aunt Al to bowl with him. he was sure glad to see her when she got here yesterday.

Hunter and Houston

Hunter and Houston at The Gold Coast Celebrity bowling tourny for Charity. Houston had the most fun and definitly kept everyone entertained.

Walking up to the arena Houston is waving his Oklahoma Flag and singing National Anthem.

Houston and I during the National Anthem. Houston was of course singing!

The Pool here at the Mirage
A view from our room, thats the Rio

So cute, ready to go!!

A nice shoe shine

Houston getiing a massage today, he said he needed to get right before he ropes tonight

The view outside our window

Hunter waving to us on his way out

Grand Entry, Cowboys tipping their hats to the crowd

Some of the fan club holding up our signs. H kept hitting the people in front of us with his flag so we had to take it away.

H and I at the Rodeo


Hey Guys, we are having lots of fun out here in Vegas and wishing everyone could be here with us! Hunter didn't place last night but it wasn't to bad overall. Trevor went out of the average which is good for us, but with 9 rounds left anything can happen. Houston was tired by the time the rodeo started, he fell asleep during the bull doggin and missed his daddy roping, so im in the process of getting him down for a nap as we speak. It's not going so great at the moment haha!! Anyway tomorrow Hunter is competing in the Celebrity Bowling Tournament for Charity so I'll post lots more pics then. Hopefully Hunter wins the round tonight so i can post Southpoint Pics :)

Until then, we love and miss yall!!!

Let the Festivities Begin...

Hey guys, we are just 24 hours away from Round 1 of the NFR!!! It's about to get exciting. Houston, my mom and grammy made it to Vegas about 4 and it was soo good to see my little man. We've really missed him but are thankful he gets the chance to fly, 2 hours is way better than 18!! He's been a wild man so far, and lovin that he gets to stay in the Hotel! We took him down to Freemont Street tonight. I've never been down there either, and the light show is by far one of the coolest things out here. Unfortunatly Houston fell asleep before it started. He's still runnin on Oklahoma time. Stayed tuned in...hopefully i have awesome news tomorrow!!