Mutton Bustin'

Jake, Emma, Warren and Mark meeting the sheep before the rodeo started.

We have been trying to convince Warren to mutton bust for a while now, all while trying to find a venue that would work well for him. He is a solid boy and we were afraid by the time he was old enough to ride that he wouldn't meet the requirements anymore. Lucky for us our local rodeo allows kids to ride between the ages of 5-8 and weigh up to 80 pounds. We found a rodeo that would work. I showed Warren a video of someone mutton bustin' and asked if he wanted to do it, he agreed so we hurried and signed him up then let all our family know he would be riding August 11th. We were so excited and decided that we did not want Warren to practice because we were afraid that he would fall off and get hurt or scared and not want to ride in the actual rodeo. We kept talking it up leading up to the event and I even offered to buy him a toy, the day before when he told me he wasn't going to ride, if he would ride. This turned out to be unnecessary because he did great and did not appear scared at all. We spent the day with family and they were talking it up to him the entire day. Warren was talking with Mike and asking if he had ever rode a sheep and Mike told him no and just talked to him about what an awesome experience and chance that Warren had and how he wished that he had been able to mutton bust when he was a kid. It was so great for Warren to hear encouragement  from someone else. Then at the rodeo my dad was talking to him and telling him about how he rode bulls and how he was so excited for Warren to ride. It was great. I was so proud of him. We found our seats and had a great time hanging out with family during the rodeo and before Warren rode. The mutton bustin' event was not until almost the end of the rodeo, there were four events before it and two after. Only one parent was allowed back with the kids so Zack took him over and told me he did great. Then they lined up the kids and took them inside the arena and then they looked around saw their parents weren't there and just kept standing in line because that's what they were told to do. Zack watched from the side lines as two guys held the sheep and someone else put the kids on. Warren's sheep was jumping around even before they got Warren on but they set him on and he rode for a few seconds. Zack and I were so proud of him for getting on, and to have him ride even if it was a quick ride was awesome. He scored 62 or 69 points I can't remember and got stepped on by the sheep right on his back. The person in the arena asked if he was okay, and the announcer said oh he got stepped on his back, you okay buddy, Warren shook his head and the announcer relayed that Warren was okay. Zack said he was holding hid back as he walked out but he never got a bruise and was okay. Zack took some pictures of Warren with his trophy and then they made their way back to us in the stands. I told Warren how proud of was of him and we all cheered him on and he showed us his trophy and he said, I didn't get the big trophy. The child who did hung on all the way across the arena and had to be taken off the sheep. It was such  a good night and we were so grateful for all the family that came  and those who we knew were supporting us but couldn't make it was awesome. Warren had all of his grandparents there, Krystal and Lance, Jessica and her five kids, Amy and Mike and their four kid, Mark, Robert and Ashley and a lady I work with and her family. I also found out later that another lady I work with happened to be there with her family and they were waiting to get a picture of him in case he made it all the way to the end of the arena. It was such a great night and we are so proud of Warren for doing something that made him nervous. We also loved all the support from our family that came far and wide to see and support Warren. There was so doubt he knew it was his day and that he was loved.

These three kiddos make such great friends

Our little cowboy

Zack, Emma, Warren, and Mark with the sheep

Some of our supporters that night, there were a few others I couldn't get in the shot.

I love this family of mine.

These two are such great friends

Warren and Grandpa Lore

Warren and Grandpa and Grandma Ludlow, along with Mark, Ashley and Robert as photo-bombers

Father and Son