2007 in Brief

Happy holidays everyone!  Here is our year 2007 in brief.  We hope you enjoy it!

In January Corrine took a career change and decided to drive school bus.  She tested for her CDL and passed all the tests the first time around including the skills test.  This fall when she went back to work she got her own route and a pretty bus, #34, named Jimmie.

Natalya tested for her Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do in February and passed it all, even the difficult board breaks!  Then Corrine tested in April, then Jay in June.  Corrine and Jay would have tested the same weekend but Jay had been recovering from a broken collarbone he received in October 2006 when he was riding his four-wheeler.  But we all passed and decided we needed a break from TKD.

Jay took several certification tests for his job and passed.  He is now a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), and a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA).  He also completed a specialization in Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server. Jay also took two college classes this year, and only needs a few more credits to get his Bachelor’s degree.

The dogs did very well this year in many venues.  We finished three ASFA Field Champions in April, which was a thrill.  This year we also had two Gazehound Racing Champions, three Senior Coursers, two American Champions, and three Rally Novice Obedience titles.  Natalya trained and showed her own dog to the Rally Novice degree!  We were very proud!  Thanks to Corrine’s wonderful co-owners for making these titles possible!

Natalya had lots of fun at the fairs this year.  She went to Canyon County Fair, of course, since that’s our county.  She took GRAND OVERALL showman in dogs and Reserve Champion in obedience with her dog, Francesca.  She also took third in her age group overall in Poultry Handling.  She placed higher this year than last year in round robin, seventh out of twelve, which isn’t bad since all the kids save one were way older than her.  We also decided to go to Western Idaho Fair.  She took Reserve Champion Junior in showmanship (we didn’t do obedience, too hot) and first place in her age group for Dog Knowledge Skills.  They have a junior round robin at Western Idaho and Natalya took Reserve Champion!  She also got a first in poultry showmanship and placed in the chicken dress up contest (her chicken wore a grass skirt and a bikini top made of walnut shells and stood on a tiny surfboard).  We also went to the District Dog Show but she only placed second in her large showmanship class.

Natalya has placed every time she has shown in Junior Handling this year, a total of 6 shows!

One of our dogs qualified for the Eukanuba shows but we didn’t end up going; it was still a nice honor though.

Corrine judged dog showmanship Payette County Fair in August and had a
good time as usual.

Jay is the kind of guy who never says quit, so after last year’s attempt at 
climbing Mt Leatherman, the second highest peak in Idaho at 12228 feet, 
he went back this July and climbed up to the very top.  
We were very proud of him.

We’ve had a very busy year and look forward to 2008. 
We wish you all love and peace.

Back to Christmas 2007