Rodeo Clown Roundup

We went to the Rodeo Clown Roundup, a kids carnival-like event where they play games like horseshoes and knocking cans over, get their faces painted, go to a fish pond and other activities.  The rodeo queens were there to give kids rides on their horses and this was definitely Sam's favorite part.  He has always been a big horse lover.

Liam and Tegan.

Grace and Declan.

Sam and Lucy, waiting in line for popcorn.

Keith Isley, the rodeo clown (and a friend of ours! - see previous post) was there to show some tricks with his horse and dog.  It was really fun to watch.  Sam and Liam especially liked the parts with the whip and lasso and since we've been home, they love to try to reinact those tricks!   

At the end he wanted to show how he puts on his clown makeup and Grace got to go up in front of the audience and get made up like a rodeo clown!

Yee-ha!

More Preston

One of the best parts of our trip back home was spending some time with one of my favorite people in the whole world, my grandma Idella.  We picked Gram up and took her out for Aggie ice cream at USU (yummy!!)...

... then went down to Willow Park.  It was fun to go there with Gram again because when I used to have sleepovers at her house in Logan as a kid, she'd always take me there.  It's changed a lot (you can't even feed the birds anymore - and we spent a whole $3.00 at the Wonderbread outlet!)  but we had a really fun time!  After a few hours at the zoo and park we went to dinner at Juniper Take Out.  I'm sure after that experience, Gram was thrilled to go back to the quiet meals at the Lodge!  I love and miss Gram so much.

A few more pictures at Papa and Nana's house:

My kids have the best dad.  He gave them an afternoon of boy paradise when he flooded the sandbox and let them play in the mud.  They would have stayed there all day.

(Note to self:  It's time to tell Liam that crack kills)

And it wouldn't be a trip to Preston without a trip to "Pizza YaYa."  You can get a wee glimpse of Sam and Declan's usual restaurant manners below:

Preston

Man, I took a lot of pictures on our trip!  Here is the next batch.

My boys on the 4 wheeler:

Declan, post Oreo:

Sam and Ray, the greatest dog in the world:

Liam meeting his cousin Trip for the first time:

We had a cookout in my parents' backyard with Grandpa and Grandma Beckstead:

Sam had been anticipating this:

But mostly THIS, for weeks before we left home.  He even told me he had a dream about roasting marshmallows at Nana's house!

Funny man Liam:

Papa and Sam watching fireworks:

And Liam watching fireworks:

Trip getting the smell of campfire off of him:

We all are in agreement that Trip is one of our favorite babies ever!  He has the coolest little personality!  

Our Brush with Celebrity

Our first day in Preston, the three big kids and I took a jeep ride with Papa... 

...over to the rodeo grounds to check out this year's stock.

Papa showed us where the rodeo clown's horses were and we went over to say hello to Cutter...

...and Badger.

(Badger loved Papa and gave him a big horse hug!)

While we were there, who should pull up but Keith Isley, the rodeo clown!  He and Papa know each other and we visited with him for a few minutes, then I asked him if I could take a picture with him and the kids.  He agreed and then said, "Wait a minute" and went over and got out his horse Cutter.  He lifted all three kids onto the horse's back and then did some tricks with them, including getting Cutter to smile....

...and take a bow!  

The kids (and me and Papa) thought it was so great!  When they were done, Keith lifted Sam and Liam down from Cutter, but told Grace that she had to get off the way he does - by sliding down Cutter's bum!  

We were all so excited to be able to meet Keith AND get to ride one of his horses!  When we went to the rodeo, it was fun for the kids to see him and Cutter out in the arena and feel like he was an old friend!  What a great guy! 

RODEO!!

If you are not from Preston, it's hard to explain That Famous Preston Night Rodeo.  It's a hometown event - three days of rodeos, parades, sidewalk sales, and a carnival - and it's a big time for my family.  Since before I was born, a member of my family has been on the Rodeo Committee - my great-grandpa, my dad, and now my mom.  Both sides of our extended family come to Preston for it.  

I have so many memories of rodeo time throughout my whole life and it's something I want my kids to have good memories of, too.  We had a great time at it this year!  (Check out my sister Madi's blog for a much more eloquent post about rodeo time!)  I just realized that even though most of the section B bleachers are filled with Becksteads, I only got a few pictures and none of them have any Becksteads in them... except me, of course!

Garreth's mom and brother Davy came up with Rachel, Leah and Eva (who are mini-cowgirls and obsessed with horses!)

Last year my little cowboy rode a sheep in the mutton busting event.  This year when they announced for all mutton busters to get ready, Liam turned to me with a panicked look and said, "Please don't make me go, Mom!"

Little cowgirls.

Sam, Lucy, and Liam chowing down some cotton candy in the park at the sidewalk sale.

Tegan and Declan chillin in the strollers.

At the carnival...

Watching the parade...

Nana!