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

Fun with cousins

A week after we got back from California our family we had been traveling with came into town. Warren had been missing his cousins and from what I hear his cousins were super excited to see him and come to "Warren's house." We had made previous arrangements for the cousins to get together and play the day that Warren was riding in the rodeo. We got together at our house went to the Crepery for lunch, then went to Gossners to get some milk and cheese, then we drove past some of my favorite old homes in Logan and went to USU to see the skull of Old Ephraim where the kids got to ride on a golf cart which I am sure was their favorite part of the day. After visiting the university we headed to my favorite park in Logan, Merlin Olsen Park. It has lots of shade, a small river running through it, lots of grass, a volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts along with the playground. We decided to have a boat building contest and let the kids build their own boats and float them down the river, oh man this was a  HUGE  hit! All the kids ages  5 to 17 were engaged and created a boat. They were so excited to race them and we had lots of extra spectators. Roscoe's boat won and he was super excited about that fact. We had dinner at the park then made our way to Angie's a local diner where the kids worked on "cleaning the sink." It is an RV sized kitchen sink filled with ice cream and bananas and toppings and if you clean the sink, eat all the ice cream you get a bumper sticker. I think they took pity on our group and even though the sinks weren't cleaned they gave us two bumper stickers which we sent home with the Brunson and Smith families. Finally we were headed to our main event the reason for the entire day in Logan, Warren was going to Mutton Bust in the local rodeo. We were so excited for him, and I was nervous that he wouldn't get on or that he would get hurt. But, he rode, it was only for a couple seconds but he rode.

Hanging out at the Crepery

Gossners Milk with Grandma

This is the patio area of the Crepery where we ate lunch. Oh and what an awesome uncle Mark is, always playing with his nieces and nephews.

Making boats.

These three worked hard and cleaned about half the sink themselves.

And, practiced hanging spoons on their noses.

10 of the 14 Ludlow cousins getting ready to race their boats.

The race is on....

visiting the campus

The teenagers and their sink

Oh boy did these three love the ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We even got to make a stop at the Logan Temple.

We were so glad to have family come into town to see Warren ride and support him. We had so much fun with our family that morning and now onto the rodeo. And thanks to Jessica for taking such great pictures of all of our adventures in California and Utah, I used many of her photos to document our trip.

Summer Days in July

Our summer days were filled with all sorts of activities and we had so much fun! We were still trying to cross off as many things from our bucket list and help Warren earn his Summer Badges, which we never ended up printing -the book is printed the badges just didn't get completely finished. We spent countless hours playing at lots of different parks, spending time playing in splash pads, visiting our local zoo, playing with cousins,  visiting family, and experiencing lots of firsts. It is a summer for the books and one that we will never forget. I am so grateful to have summers off to get to play with my boys.

Boat Making with Dad

My boys worked together to build a small raft/boat to float down the river. Zack and Warren worked hard to build this and after it was finished and all dry we had to test it out. It floated well and the river was a perfect way to cool off and have some fun. This is our favorite park, it has everything we love; lots of grass, a river, a playground, basketball and tennis courts, and lots of shade.

 Next summer I think these two are going to be making a life size raft and Zack wants to float it Huck Finn style down the Green River.

Demolition Derby

Zack and I enjoy a good demolition derby and on our bucket list was going to another one. This was Warren's first derby and his face shows exactly what he thought about it. It was a nice night and an okay derby,  but the best part was spending time with family.  

 Hiking

There is a perfect trail just about 10-15 minutes from our house and just a short distance up the canyon. We usually hike up past Second Dam and enjoy ourselves. The week before our vacation we went hiking on this trail several times. We would wake up have breakfast and hit the trail. I loved these mornings and how they could transform my attitude. There is something about being in nature that helps me. 

 Cousins and the Willow Park Zoo

Logan has a small zoo here that is home to a variety of animals and right by a park. One day we met some cousins here to play around and enjoy the animals and each others company. That same day Warren and I actually went back a second time after his cousins left because we ran into some friends that were heading there and Warren wanted to tag along.

The kids and Amy and myself thought this albino racoon was really stuck in his cage. But, he tricked us, I guess he hangs out there and looks stuck. These three took off running to find him some help. Such sweeties.

The zoo also had a baby caribou born in May. It was so cute and sad all at the same time. He/She was pacing back and forth while we were there the first time. The sign said the baby was born in May and only about two months old. 

 Family Reunions

July was spent with lots and lots of family. We had family reunions with both the Ludlow and Wiberg families, and even had a McQuivey Family reunion but we were not able to go to that one. Warren had kids his age to play with during each of these reunions and had a great time. It was nice seeing family and got to see aunts, uncles, and cousins that we have not see in nine years. 

Wiberg Family Reunion

For the Wiberg Reunion we had pioneer games, churned butter, the kids played, had a pinata, and went on a scavenger hunt, there were lots of good conversations, some Family Feud, and  precious memories. It was a nice evening spent rekindling friendships and laughing. Warren enjoyed making new friends and breaking open the pinata. 

Zack and his cousin Alan even had a little arm wrestling contest where Zack won with an "Over the Top" move. 

 

Ludlow Family Reunion

For the Ludlow Family Reunion all of Zack's Dad's siblings were in town. This is the first time they were all  together since their father passed away nine years ago. Most of Zack's cousins were there and many of them brought their kids. It was nice meeting some of the Ludlow family that I had never met. While all  his family was here they celebrated  Grandma Ludlow's 80th birthday which is in August. We went to the Natural Museum of History of Utah, the Hill Air Force Base Aerospace Museum, and had a huge birthday party for Grandma Ludlow including games, snow cones and lots of Pokemon Go. 

The Natural History Museum of Utah was so much fun! Warren loved this section where we learned about earthquakes and seismographs. You could jump here and it would measure the waves like it would an earthquake.

Learning about wind and how it changes the land.

Our reflection out on the terrace. 

The Native American exhibits were amazing. These two pieces were placed back to back and made such an amazing picture.

Cousins and free Slurpees on 7-11

Warren playing with his cousin and second cousins one hot July afternoon.

At the museum they were measuring an seismic movement in three locations; Brigham City, Wyoming, and the LDS Vaults in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The most movement that day was recorded in Brigham City.

Most of Zack's extended family at Grandma Ludlow's 80th birthday celebration.

The Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren of Chuck and Colleen Ludlow who were able to come to the reunion.