Let the countdown begin

37 More DAYS until the NFR. Hope you guys are ready because I know we are. Make sure to get your shirt orders in by Sunday if you want to look cool in a Hunter Herrin shirt. We've had alot going on lately. Houston is still liking school and he lost his first tooth!!! I must say he looks even more onery now than he did before. And he's excited to wear his Superman costime to school on Firday for Halloween. School is going good for me as well. I'm really liking alot of the things I thought I wouldn't so I'd say that's a plus haha. Hunter has been to a few rodeos here and there and just left yesterday for the first tour rodeo of 2012 in Kansas City! It never ends! I haven't heard yet how it went but hopefully he'll start the new year off with a bang. This weekend we have our Circuit Finals in Weatherford, OK. He ropes Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Hope to see some of you guys there. Another big milestone has came and went. Houston turned FIVE YEARS OLD!! I cannot believe my baby is this old and big. Seems like it was just yesterday we were bringing him home. He had a superhero birthday party and had tons of fun! Before I know it I'll be carpooling him around to high school games and rodeos! So that's what we've been up to lately, alot of school and not enough fun!!!

Hunter Herrin NFR Shirts!

Okay guys here are the new 2011 NFR shirts! They are safety green color and the lettering is a turquoise color! It looks really awesome and we are going to stand out for sure!!! If your going to order we need your money and sizes by October 30!!! They will not be taken after that day so don't miss out! My email address in ashleyherrin13@aol.com and my mom's address is aozmom@aol.com. Send money to Pam Orf

PO Box 491 Apache, OK 73006 

Shirt Sizes

These are Safety Green

Short-sleeve t-shirt

Youth small- youth large 9.00

Adult small- XLarge 9.00    2XL 11.00    3XL 12.00    4XL 13.00    5XL 14.00

Long-sleeve t-shirt

Adult small- XLarge 13.00    2XL 15.00    3XL 16.00

Crewneck Sweatshirt

Adult small- XLarge 18.00    2XL 20.00    3XL 21.00

Hoodies

Adult small- XLarge 25.00    2XL 27.00    28.00

Okay since the only thing for kids is the safety green t-shirts we added a grey hoodie for kids. Same pattern just in grey. They are 25.00 and sizes are youth small- youth large!

Can we say CHANGE...up!!!!

Wow, time has absolutely flown by! I realize...and have heard, that I am being awfuly neglectful on here! I'm very sorry that I've left you guys hanging for so long with no update. Ours lives in the past month have gone from full time gypsies to stay at home school kids. Our baby boy started Pre-K on August 12. The week leading up to the first day we tried and tried to get H to practice going to bed early, but as most of you know he is quite stubborn and he LOVES to stay up extra late! He's also pretty smart. He'd tell us "actually I have this many days left till school starts, so tonight I can still stay up late." Finally the big night came and there were no more practice nights. He went down with a fight but was out by 10:30. And the next morning he almost changed his mind about school. But finally after "6 more minutes" he was up and moving. I was holding it together pretty well as I got him ready but it's hard not to think that it seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. This day came way to fast. I drove into town extra slow trying to savor my last few school free minutes with him. His mind was far from his mommy though. We pulled into the school parking lot and I started to get out and he said "Oh mom, you don't have to stay. I got this!" After I scraped my broken heart up off the asphault I said "Yes sir I know you got this but Mommy wants to walk you in and you can't stop me." So off we went....him walking ahead of me of course. He was so big and not the least big scared. He tried a few more time on the way in to ditch me but I hung tight. We were the first people in his classroom and he made himself right at home like he'd done it a millon times. He sat down at the red table and got right to work. As more kids started to come in I knew it was almost time for me to go. I kissed him bye and he told me he loved me which made me feel alot better about the situation haha! I headed out and barely made it into my truck before the tears came. I'm not sure if I am the only emotional one out there...but man that was a tough morning. I sent Hunter all the pictures I took since he couldn't be there. I know it hit him hard too. It felt like forever but finally at 11:20 I was headed back into town to pick H up. He came out and sat with his class on the porch and waited his turn to come out to the car. He jumped in and immedietly asked Al for her phone. And that was all we got out of him about his day haha! Oh and that he got to have hotdogs for lunch!! A man of many words. But he was ready to go back the next day! The Saturday after school started Hunter roped at Lawton. It was a packed house and we were all excited to see him rope so close to home! He made a good run and it was enough to split third and fourth!! Sunday I took Hunter back to the airport and it was back to school for H the next day. I had a week left to prepare myself to start school. I applied and got accepted into the LPN program at the vo-tech in Ft. Cobb. I was really excited but also very nervous. Most of yall know how much I hate school! But when the day arrived it went really well and I knew that it was going to be great! We're still getting used to this big change and realize that we can't just up and do something. It has to be planned around our school schedule. That'll make you hyperventilate a little when you're so used to doing whatever, whenever! But anyway were getting used to it. On a bright note, this time last year I was sweating bullets. But I just booked my flight to LAS VEGAS!!!!  Hunter has been doing so great and just consistently winning a little everywhere he goes. He finished 5/6 at San Juan and won Caldwell! He's currently winning Pueblo, CO but it's not over yet. He did well at Ponca City! I hope he continues to do what we all know he can!! He's up at Elk City on Thursday during slack and then Saturday I take him to the airport and he flies to Ellensburg, WA. Then Lewiston, ID on Wednesday, Puyallup, WA on Saturday, Pendleton, OR on the 13th and 14th and El Paso on the 15th, and then hopefully back at Pendleton short round on Saturday. Puyallup is the first Tour Finale and he's setting pretty high in those standings but it wouldn't hurt to win a little there just to secure that spot in Omaha, NE which is the second to last weekend of September! I hope you guys are all well, and I'll post more later this week or next to give you and update on the roping!God Bless

Ah Summer Time

Well with Cowboy Christmas and Calgary behind us you'd think things would start slowing down but it seems like they're just as crazy. Houston and I drove out to our good friends house last night after Hunter roped at Spanish Fork, UT. Clint and Robyn live outside of town and we love to hang out here whenever possible. Hunter and Jerome were supposed to fly out to Salinas, CA this morning but they changed their plans and drove out with Houston Hutto last night. It was a 14 hour drive and they got there about an hour before slack started. Hunter made an awesome run and was 9.4 on his first calf, he's winning the first round right now and ropes his second later tonight. Hopefully it goes as good as the first and he makes the short round on Sunday. Then Monday we're back at Ogden, UT, Deadwood, SD on Wednesday and Thursday and then off to the "Daddy" in Cheyenne, WY on Friday and Saturday and hopefully short round there on Sunday. HOME right after that!! Can't wait, except we are loving this weather we've been in. While in Canada we wore our jackets almost everyday! It was amazing! I know as soon as we get close we're going to be dying though!
So the last time I wrote we were headed to Calgary! Hunter did really good in his set, even though it was a really tough set. He ended up the second highest money winner right behind Shane Hanchey. Hunter won 15,000.00 and Shane won 15,500. Hunter decided not to go back down to the states to a few rodeos in between the second set and Sunday. Since Hunter did so good he went straight to Sunday instead of having to go to the wild card round. Made me breath a little easier. Houston had plenty of friends to play with while we  were there. We had huge baseball and dodge ball games every night in between the trailers. It got pretty wild a few times. When the kids weren't playing ball they had all their ropes out roping the dummy. It was the best entertainment! A few days it rained like crazy, the drains actually got clogged up so the water was deep right in the middle of our playing field. But other than that it was a good 10 days. Sunday was the finals for Calgary, and it didn't go as planned but we still got out of there with good money. Just wasn't our year! When we left the arena we were planning on going half ways then finishing off the rest the next day headed to Salt Lake, well....we made in about 5 miles and the truck was kinda running funny and the gauge said to check the fuel filter. Well there just happened to be a station open on Sunday. So we pulled off and got in line. About 45 minutes later they got to us and started pulling stuff out. The color was awful and said the injectors were pretty clogged. So they got us fixed up and we hooked back onto the trailer. Hunter walked back to check Hustler before we pulled off and he noticed a wheel on the trailer was messed up. So we back it up on the block and sure enough we were close to running it off and had ruined the bearings. We were lucky to find a place to change our filter, so we knew it was going to be close to impossible to find someone to fix that. Hunter got a hold of some people and they gave us a man's name that was about 45 miles away and he said he'd fix us up. So we took off on three wheels...crazy I know! We finally made it and they got us in and out and we were on our way. It officially took us 6 hours to drive 60 miles!!! Ugh! After what seemed like forever we finally made it to Salt :Lake the next day an hour before the rodeo started. It didn't go any better than our day before. It was off to Ogden, UT next. We were pretty excited, my best friend Robyn and her new baby Calder were going to be there. This would be the first time I got to meet him and I couldn't hardly wait. And Houston had a much anticipated birthday party for Addie Mass! They had a pink castle bounce house and a unicorn cake. It was really awesome and we were really happy to celebrate with good friends!! After Ogden we headed straight to Nampa, ID. It was hot and it was crappy too. Spanish Fork was bad also, and now Houston and I are hanging out and Hunter is in Salinas, CA. I just got the news that he was 10.4 on his second calf. So as of right now he is winning the average and making the short round on Sunday! Great news, keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer, Hunter has always wanted to win that rodeo. We are back at Ogden Monday, Deadwood, SD Wednesday and Thursday and then down to Cheyenne Friday and Saturday on Hunter's Birthday!!!! The short round on Sunday would be a nice present! Anways until next time God Bless!!

H and Treston Brazile Team Roping at Calgary

Calgary Stampede

Baseball Game

I'm sure telling someone how to play

Love these 2 guys

H hangin like a monkey

Sweet Calder

Riley and H

H, Riley (his girlfriend), and her little sis Payton

Birthday party!

Happy 4th of July

Well Cowboy Christmas has officially ended and there were alot of cowboys who did really great. This wasn't our best 4th ever but altogether Hunter won Springdale, AR and made 5,492.00. And then he placed at Prescott, AZ and moved his total 4th of July winnings to 7,700.00. We'll take what we can get and are so thankful to have kept the winning up. Last time I wrote Houston and I were about to pull out to Greeley, CO with the horses. We didn't get started out very good, the day before we were supposed to leave Hunter took our blue truck back to the shop for about the 25th time. We just had the transmission rebuilt and they assured us that our problems were solved. That definitely wasn't the case as Hunter tested it out just to be sure, before H and I got halfway from home and broke down. The dealership said they could find the problem and have it fixed that same day. Well, they called back and said its the same part we've repaired several times and they just didn't know what was going on. As most of you know, we have to have a truck that will pull our big trailer and haul horse across the country. So it seemed that we were in a jam. But after a few phone calls the manager decided he would loan us a truck that would pull everything. It was a much needed break, but they failed to check to make sure it had a gooseneck hitch in it. That's where Brent Bain came to the rescue! He worked until after midnight putting a hitch and plate in the bed!! So it was a very late night for all of us. The next morning we pulled out of Apache at 9am with all our family seeing us off! The drive was pretty uneventful and H and I made it to Greeley about 930 that night. A few times we stopped and H made a beeline straight to the bathroom, at this point I really didn't think much about it. The next day Hunter and Jerome got in just in time for slack and H and I made our way up to the arena. He started dancing around and needed to go to the bathroom again right then. So we ran and made it just in time. Now I'm thinking okay...I think we have a problem. Houston is highly allergic to peanuts and they either give him a bad case of diareah or break him out in hives depending on the nut and how much he's had. So I'm thinking back trying to remember if there was anywhere he could have picked up something with nuts. I couldn't think of anything and he's usually so careful to ask before he eats anything suspicious. Then it dawned on me, we stopped at Burger King and H wanted a cheeseburger. He tore into it and we didn't think twice that it was covered with sesame seeds. Now we know, Sesame Seeds ARE definitely a form of nuts. So all day during slack and the long drive to Oakley, UT poor H was stuck on the pot!! Now we know though. We've steered clear of burger king since then. When we screeched in to Oakley, UT slack had already started so we were definitely in hurry to get up to the arena. Thankfully H grabbed our umbrella since it looked like it might rain. Sure enough about 5 minutes before Hunter roped it started pouring. So he roped in the rain and his calf ended up getting up. We got soaked and the temp dropped to about 55!! It was a little chilly! The next day the guys took the truck to Salt Lake to fly out to St. Paul, OR. That meant that H and I were afoot. The first day we decided there was a diner up the road that we wanted to try. Hunter assured us it wasn't too far but it ended up being like 4 miles one way. It took H and I one hour there and one hour back. Thankfully H was on his bike or it would have taken longer. On the way back we passed about mile 3 and H threw his sucker in the dirt. He was tired and couldn't go any farther. After a small rest I put him on the handlebars of his bike and I got behind the wheel. I pumped him on his little bike for about a mile back to our trailer. I'm sure we looked pretty funny and H and I laughed the whole way. But we made it back quite a bit quicker. Good thing his little bike had good shocks. After that eventful day we decided we would just hang at the trailer until the guys got back. We went to Red Lodge, MT next and then on to Cody which is where we are hanging out now. Neither place went good for us, but Houston has had a ton of fun here in Cody with the Tate girls! He stayed the night with them one night and I thought I'd never get him to come back home. Then last night we went over to their place and popped firecrackers and watched the big firework show. Right in the middle of the big ones it started raining so I think the grand finale went a little quicker than planned. But it was still fun and great to watch. We were sure thinking of all out friends and family back in Oklahoma who can't pop anything because of the burn ban. So glad it's in effect though because my dad and the rest of the firefighters need a break!!! So today we are planning to maybe go white water rafting down the river. It's running pretty fast since all the snow is melting off the mountains still!! Cross your fingers we don't fall in haha!!! And Wednesday it's off to Calgary, Canada for the big one! Keep Hunter in your prayers that he can do good!!!  It will be awhile before I post anything again unless I find wifi since it cost so much for Internet up there. Hopefully the next time I post we have good news though!! Until next time, God Bless!!!

Adios Oklahoma!!

Well today is officialy my last day of work!! Houston and I will be hitting the road Tuesday! Were all pretty excited. Hunter has been gone a week and made some tracks along the way. He won Northeplatte, NE and split a round in Pleasant Grove, UT and then won second in a round at Reno. Not bad for the first week on the road. Let's hope it just gets better and better as the summer goes on. He'll get a short break here at home and then will head to Springdale, AR on Tuesday. H and I will also be leaving bright and early Tuesday morning, only were headed in a different direction. We're taking the rig and horses to Greeley, CO. Hunter will fly in and meet us there on Wednesday. After him and Jerome rope there then we have to jet out and get to Oakley, UT. It's going to be a very busy week to say the least and will last until after the 4th of July. They don't call it Cowboy Christmas for nothing!! Keep yalls fingers crossed for lots of winning!!!
Last weekend we went on a small vacation with my family to SeaWorld in San Antonio, TX. We were all pumped because the way people talk, it'll just blow your mind. I'll tell ya what it did....just blew my money. I will probably never go back to SeaWorld again. We got there at 930 am, which the gates didn't open until 10. Then once we got into the park they informed us that nothing opens until 11 or later. Kind of not sure why you would open a park if it really didn't open until later. But I soon figured out why...the lines to everything are rediculously long for every single thing there. You've got to get in line early if you want to see the shows. Not a very fun thing to do when you're 4 years old. Or heck I'm 24 and I was ready to blow the joint. Anyway Houston found something right away that he loved. They had a pretty big splash park and he was content to stay there all day long. After all day in the sun and walking in circles we decided SeaWorld wasn't all it was cracked up to be. We got some much need grub in our systems then hit the Riverwalk. The next day we decided floating the Comal River in New Braunfels sounded like a great plan. So we packed up pretty early and headed off. We had such a blast!! Anyway that was our big adventure for the week. I'm sure I'll have plenty more coming up. Keep us in your prayers, especially me and H man as we are headed with truck, trailer and 2 horses on a 14 hour drive Tuesday!!!

Let Summer Begin!

Hunter and H after his homerun game!!

Nice swing H

Thumbs up after his Homerun

diving for his pool tools

These goggles were pretty tricky. The first time we put them on him he paniced because he couldn't breath. I guess he forgot that you can breath through your mouth and nose.

 Houston and I officialy sent Hunter off today! This is the first time in 5 years we haven't left with him. A little sad but I'm keeping my hopes up that he kicks some major butt out there. And Houston and I may eventually fly out but as of right now we are hangin out here at home. Well T-ball finally ended...we didn't win the tournament, not even a game in the tournament but we were pretty successful. Houston hit 2 homeruns in his last 2 games!! They were Huge hits and you would have thought we just won the world series. Heck in my book it was just as sweet as winning it but I'm kind of partial. We were all so proud of him and he loved all the attention he got. I think he made close to 60.00 from all his family. Hahah we have quite a few family members and he kind of robbed his Dad. But you only hit your first homerun once!!! Now that T-ball is over Houston pretty much lives in someone's pool. My parents, Hunter's parents and our good friends John and Diane have a pool so he thinks everyday he has to be to the closest body of water. And it doesn't matter who takes him as long as someone is willing. Here's a list of rodeos Hunter will be. I will add more as he enters them and I will try to keep you guys updated on how he does at each one of them. Anyway hope to see some of you down the road and hopefully I can keep you as entertained as possible with stories from the road!! God Bless

June
15-16- Northplatte, NE
17- Pleasant Grove, UT
21- Reno, NV
22-23- Santa Fe, NM
24- Pecos, TX
29- Greeley, CO
July
1- St. Paul, OR
2- Cody, WY
3- Prescott, AZ
8-11- Calgary Stampede, Calgary, Alberta Short Round is the 16 and 17