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

Our California Adventure Day, Beach Time, Downtown Disney, Rubio's and An Angels Baseball Game

Day four was one of my favorite days and this vacation was awesome so that is saying a lot! We had no where to be in the morning so we literally got to sleep in and hang out on the beach all morning and into the afternoon. I woke up earlier than Zack and Warren and ended up sitting with Jessica and Kate on the beach watching the ocean and talking. It was a perfect morning. Zack cooked breakfast while I watched the kids play in the ocean and sat with Kate. We played in the waves and relaxed on the beach all until 2 or 3 that afternoon. The kids had a great time and so did the adults. We flew kites, lost my prescription glasses, played in the sand,  and talked. I can only describe this day as perfect. Warren and Emma held hands while jumping in the waves and it melted my heart. I don't think I will ever forget that image as long as I live. Emma came and swam with Serenity, Ashley, and Shane's brother David. It was quite the feet to jump the waves while holding Emma. I was trying to keep her out of the water and sometimes I could jump high enough to keep us both out of the water but usually not, hence the lost glasses. But, the lost glasses meant that Zack and I got to walk along the beach hand in hand looking for them, knowing we most likely wouldn't find them but that was a perk. I could have 100 days like day four and never tire of them. Beautiful day, so beautiful I didn't even take many pictures, I just enjoyed it. These photos I took from Jessica. Thanks Jess. 

It was so cute to see these cousins flying kites in the ocean and on the beach. Zack even let one all the way out while standing in the ocean, it was cool.

These two were adorable to watch. They held hands and jumped in the waves for at least a half hour,  not letting go of each other.

That same afternoon we went to Downtown Disney and walked around. Shane and Jessica had bought a brick 10 years earlier during the 50th anniversary and wanted to show it to their little kids. So we shopped while they looked at it. Warren loved the Lego store  and got to pick out some Legos and was in Heaven. He could have stayed there all day. After Downtown Disney we went to Rubio's for dinner, again. We were not complaining. It is so yummy, and Zack's parents and Robert and Ashley had not eaten there this trip so it was a good excuse to go again. Then we parked and headed over to the Angel's game. None of us had been to a major league baseball game before and we were excited. The Angels were playing the Boston Red Sox so I was looking forward to the game. We made it around the 4th inning and the score was 1-0 in favor of the Red Sox. Warren just wanted to catch a fly ball and be on the big screen. Not too much to ask for right?!?! Ahh as a mom I was hoping for at least one of his dreams to come true, so each and every time music came on I told him to dance. He did not end up on the big screen or catch a fly ball but seeing him dance and have a good time totally made the game for me. He had a great time. After the 7th inning stretch I was really relaxed, the kids were having a great time and I really, really started to enjoy myself. It had been fun before but it was awesome after. The game got good, and Warren got a hat for only $7, then Jake and Emma came back with matching hats so that required some pictures, and then Robert bought himself one. The game got really good in the bottom of the 9th when the Angels won! It was so exciting! I had never been at a game where it just ended  before the time ran out or everyone was out. After they won there were fireworks, lots of pictures and then we started making our way back to the cars. Our seats were great, we were on ground level just off of the foul pole on the first base side. We could see the plate and the action but far enough away that we didn't have to pay a ton, and we had the possibility of catching a fly ball.

Outside the Angel's stadium, everyone else took off so we just took a selfie.

They are the three Angel's Amigos

We were so close to the field.

I love his faces, not sure what he was doing, but it was funny.

Then Ashley noticed and did an awesome photo bombing.

Me and my  man, so shiny from the sunscreen and sweat.

Warren loves his Angel's hat

Grandma, Serenity, Me, and Jessica

It was getting late and Warren was tired, and really wanted to be on the big screen.

The Angel's won!!! 2-1

We got back to camp a little after 11 pm packed up pretty much everything but our tent in preparation to leave early Friday morning for Sequoia National Park. We were going to drive there and  hope to get a campsite then explore the park with the Brunson Family Saturday.

Our California Adventure Day, Aquarium, Lighthouse, Balboa Island, In-N-Out, and more beach time

Day 3 we got up early to make it to the Aquarium of the Pacific. It was about an hour away and we wanted to get there close to when it opened before it got crowded. It was so much fun, as soon as we walked in there was a huge wall where we could see what type of fish lived in the beach we had spent the last two days swimming in. I was amazed at how large some of those bass can get! The whole aquarium was an awesome experience. I got to touch a shark, rays, and a horseshoe crab. I was a little nervous but got brave and did it. The horseshoe crab was my favorite. They are known as living fossils. Warren didn't want to touch most of the fish but he did have a good time getting stamps in his book  and seeing all the fish. We got to watch an otter show and they are still one of my all-time favorite animals. The jellyfish exhibit was also so amazing! There are so many different types of jellyfish. I am so glad we made the drive up to Long Beach to visit the aquarium.

Zack touching a sting ray.

I actually touched a shark!

Horseshoe crabs, a living fossil. These animals are so cool.

The pictures do not do the aquarium justice. It is beautiful and the exhibits are amazing.

These three are such good buddies.

Amazing jellyfish

This is Warren giving me the "Naughty Mommy lecture" I did not see a sign that said no flash photography but he did.

This tank had a five foot shark and so many cool fish.

Warren experiencing what blubber is like.

After the aquarium we had a picnic lunch near a lighthouse, where our view included the Queen Mary then drove back to our camp. On the way home we stopped at Balboa Island for a frozen banana, a balboa bar, and visited a taffy shop. Zack and I used to watch the O.C. when we were dating and first married and driving down the Pacific Coast Highway through Newport, and visiting Balboa Island brought back different things that we remembered from the show. I was geeking out a little even though none of the places we visited we in the show that we remembered, just implied. We got our frozen banana and balboa bar from the store that advertises that they were the place with the original frozen banana which they started selling in  the 40's I think. We then went to a candy shop and found all sorts of different flavors of taffy to try, which Warren ended up sneaking and eating so I only tried a couple. I guess I will just have to go back and get more another time and get more taffy and window shop without lots of little hands. The drive was so nice, we got to see Huntington Beach and there were several events going on as we past by, as well as several other  beaches that I can't remember their names now. I was excited to drive down part of the Pacific Coast Highway as it helps me cross another thing off my bucket list and make more memories. I still want to drive from Washington down to Southern California all on the One. Someday.

Such a nice picnic spot and the kids got to play Pokemon Go and see the pier so it was a win-win-win-win.

The Queen Mary in the background.

This is not where the O.C. was filmed but it made me think about the show and I got all excited.

mmmm frozen banana and a balboa bar.

Warren trying the frozen banana with everything on it, sprinkles, nuts, and so much more. It was good.

Oh and we found Pete the Cat so that requires a picture.

Shane offered to get dinner at In-N-Out and they stopped  by the Pirate Tower but we just kept going back to camp. Back and camp Zack and I played in the water for a while and enjoyed the ocean and its amazing views and sunsets.