Boot Scootin & Such

Last Friday and Saturday our ward put on a rodeo which involved a hoe down, a dutch oven dessert bake off, a cake walk and hay rides one night, then a 1k and 5k fun run the next morning, along with a flag ceremony, pancake breakfast, parade, fair and then actual rodeo-type activities. We had such a great time!


The hayride involved being pulled around the empty parking lot on this trailer of hay, but the kids all loved it. Whitney said she rode it 14 times!


The highlight of the night for me was the square dancing (that's right, square dancing!). I hadn't done that since about 6th grade, but had so much fun. The only downside for me was that I was wearing flip flops. I had actually thought about my footwear choice before going, but didn't think it would be a problem. Apparently I'd forgotten how aerobic and active square dancing could be!


They had a professional "caller" there who taught us what to do and then called out the steps. The majority of the adults participated, so it was super fun. Later on in the evening they taught us a couple line dances, so now Randy and I know how to do the Boot Scootin Boogie (so fun). We were so tired by the end of it, but we loved it.


At one point, I was talking to Claudia and she said, "Missy, look at the sky" so I turned around and this is what I saw! Could this be more beautiful?! I had been facing the other way and almost missed this glorious view.


Randy got up early to take Landon to do the 1k run on Saturday morning (I was sleeping!). Landon got 2nd or 3rd place in the kids' run. Woohoo!


They did such a great job with the parade. There were so many ward members involved that there weren't very many people there to watch it go by! Whitney rode her scooter in the parade and zoomed by so quickly I almost missed her completely.


Claudia's family and I joined the group at the pancake breakfast, then watched the parade and went to the fair. Claudia was so funny, she said, "Missy, take a picture of me with these trees."


Whitney was in treat heaven this day, and the cotton candy was just the start of it. She ended up getting treats at her soccer game, a snow cone and 2 Popsicles at the rodeo, then a shake later that night for the 2 goals she scored during her soccer game. Oh dear. It's a good thing this was an exception day and not the norm.


The sack races at the fair were a big hit with all the kids and were pretty fun to watch. (Notice Landon falling down in this picture.) We had to leave early though (yes there were tears) because both kids had soccer games at 11:00.


We rejoined the fun at the rodeo after our games were over (I was so tired by that point that I actually debated not going...crazy girl). Whitney and many of the other kids rode the horse-exercising harness thing (I think that's the correct name for it) like a swing as one of the dads pushed it around.


They had snow cones for the kids, but ran out of syrup by the time I got in line (bummer).


They had mutton busting (kids riding sheep), which was highly entertaining and amazing to see because they were rough rides. Our kids didn't do it (I think they were too big, plus the line was very long) but I was shocked to see some of the smaller kids from primary doing it.


It was a long, exhausting, filthy, fun day for our entire ward. We all got sun burned (my nose has been peeling this week dang it), bonded as a group and felt more united. There was a ton of work that went into planning this and it was a huge success. Good times.

Happy Birthday Wende!!!

**When was the last time you square danced?
Do you know how to do the Boot Scootin Boogie?
Have you been to an activity like this?
Have you ever done mutton busting?**