OUR IDAHO TRIP

Ryan had a job interview in Twin Falls, Idaho last week so we all went to look at the area and houses. We also got to spend some time in Blackfoot with Charlene and the family. We LOVED hanging out with them, just like we always do. It would be nice to live closer to them but even if we take the job offer in Twin Falls, it's still 2 hours away, still much closer than now though. Anyhow on Friday night we got to set off fireworks. A first for any of our boys. They loved it of course. I must admit, the ER nurse in me was a nervous wreck but I relented and Ryan and the boys were super careful with a healthy dose of respect for the fireworks. They loved shooting them off with their cousins especially! It's always more fun with family. On Saturday morning we took off for home with a layover in Panguitch, Utah. Amazingly we made pretty great time, the boys were pretty used to driving by that time and we didn't have to stop every 5 miles for someone to potty. We drove into town and registered them in the FFA youth rodeo. Caleb did mutton bustin and was ready as you can tell, he did really well! AJ was supposed to do the rabbit chase and mutton bustin and was super excited to do both, until it was time and then he refused to do either. Oh well. Jake was signed up to ride a calf but ended up riding a steer. I was really nervous and it's a good thing that Ryan went with him behind the chutes and not me, I may have chickened out and not let him ride. He did and even though none of the kids who rode had qualifying rides, Jake did really well. When he fell off he got up and dusted himself off and walked out of the arena like a champ. Such little men they are. Levi did do the rabbit chase but it was more of a rabbit pick up, they didn't run at all so the bigger kids that were faster and got there first, just picked them up. Kinda lame but he had fun just the same.

After the Rodeo... more fireworks. We went to get ice cream and back to the hotel room and sat outside and helped the boys do still more fireworks.

All in all, it was alot of driving with alot of fun. I was a bit worried that the boys would only remember it as too much driving and being in the truck but when we got home they all said they had a great time. Lots of good memories I hope. Thanks to the AWESOME Jensens for loaning us their DVD players, they helped the driving go smoother. Twin Falls did offer Ryan the position and now, we have alot of prayer and research to do before we decide if he'll accept it or not. So, who knows, maybe we'll make the trip again in a few weeks, or at least half of it.

RODEO TIME

We love to go to the rodeos and the boys have been begging to go since October so we went on Saturday night. My spectacular husband arranged for someone to cover part of his shift so that he could come with us since he usually misses things, like the campout the night before. It was so awesome to be together doing something as a WHOLE family! It was Levi's first rodeo where he was old enough to actually follow what was going on and he was enraptured! He hardly moved the entire time and couldn't take his eyes off the action. It was Caleb's last mutton bustin' as he is getting too big, now he wants to ride the calves up in Wickenburg, we'll see. He was determined to ride it to the other side of the arena but his sheep didn't cooperate, he laid down in the chute and as soon as he got out the gate he laid down again. Caleb didn't let go though, it was pretty fun to watch, it was more like sheep wrestling than riding. The clown was great and the drunks around us provided ample entertainment harassing him and a great lesson for the boys about how stupid people look when they are drunk. It was a great weekend! Until Sunday, but lets just leave it at that.