Riverton Rodeo

 For the past two years, our family has attended the Riverton City Days Rodeo here in town. My kids look forward to it and so do I. I have always loved going to Rodeo's and have fond memories of going with my family as a child. So going to our city rodeo has become a fun family tradition for our family. It is also fun  because we have met up with my second cousin Amber Odekirk and her cute little family for the past two years. Each family brings their own dinner and we sit and eat while we wait for the Rodeo to start. The gates open early and to get a good seat you have to arrive promptly.

 This year, it was a sweltering 100+ degrees and we were dying!! Reaching over 100+ degrees is typically not normal for Northern Utah this time of year. We tend to stay in the mid to high 90's. This summer has been especially warm for some reason! You would think that this born and raised Southern Utah girl could handle the heat but I think I have acclimated to the more mild Northern Utah summer weather. Luckily, we came prepared and we had plenty of water to keep us hydrated and treats to eat while we passed the time waiting for the show to start. 

At 7:45 pm, the skydivers jumped from the airplanes and landed around 8 pm. Just in time for the show to start. My kids always look forward to watching the skydivers! Another favorite is all the kids ages 7 to 11 are called down from out of the stands and they get to head out onto the field.The authorities then release several cows that have dollar bills duct taped to them. The kids then run after the cows and try and get the money. It is pretty funny to watch and quite entertaining. Kaleb has enjoyed participating for the past two years. Last year he didn't get any money and was quite disappointed but we reminded him that there are over 100+ kids out on the field and very little money to go around. This year he was determined to get some money and he did!! Kaleb is getting quite a quick little sprinter. He did an awesome job and we were so proud of him and his efforts. After it was all over, he said he wished he would have used both of his hands to grab the money off the cow. You live and learn!

Karmindy was a little sad she wasn't old enough to run for the money and I was a little glad. It makes me nervous watching those baby cows run around. She seems so little and it worries me that she will get trampled. She is on tap for next year though to participate and when we told her she could do it next year she didn't to be so disappointed. She was so funny to watch during the whole night though, she loved watching all the bull riding and bronco busting. She got really into it! Also, she enjoyed dancing to all the music they would play in between the riders riding the bulls and bronco's. She is such a funny and silly little girl. I love her zest for life!!

Even though it was so hot and we were melting it was a fun night to spend as a family at the Rodeo. You can see in the pictures how hot it was. My hair was wet from sweat and all of our family's cheeks are pink from it being so warm.

We look forward to going next year!!

Little Buck-A-Roo's

On June 29th, we are able to get out as a family and attend the Riverton Rodeo with our neighbors and friends, Jason and Natalie Bradford and their boys. When I was younger my parents would take me and my siblings to the Rodeo in St. George every year. We looked forward to watching the Clowns, The Bull Riding, Barrel Racing and the Bucking Bronko's. My favorite event was the Bull Riding. I loved it! I also loved that we got to stay up really late- like 11pm. That was so late and exciting when you're a kid!

 Mark and I have never taken our kids to a Rodeo before and I wanted them to experience it for themselves. Kaleb and Karmindy were super excited and both wanted to wear their Cowboy hats. Karmindy had a Jessie Dress from her Birthday Party that was perfect and I let her wear that as well. They looked so cute! Before the Rodeo we were able to watch some Skydivers dive into the Arena wearing the American Flag. It was really cool to watch them. The kids thought it was amazing!!

The kids really enjoyed watching all the events! They even had a calf money event for the kids where they attached a ton of bills to a belt that was tied around the calf's middle and the kids in the audience could come down from the stands and chase the calf and try and get the money. I didn't think Kaleb would do it but he did and he did a great job. He is truly motivated by money so he was in the arena chasing the cows for all his life. He was unsuccessful in getting any bills and was quite upset about it. I told him when we got home we would put a few bills in Kozette's collar and she could chase her around the yard. That seems to pacify him  and calm him down until we got home. We still haven't followed through with that and Kaleb hasn't let us forget!

 It was so nice to be able to relive something that I did as a kid and watch my kids enjoy something that I enjoyed when I was their age.