Summertime Catch Up - 4th of July

My favorite holiday is 4th of July. I have a picture of my kids every year lighting sparklers. Why I have this obsession, I really don't know.

I love fireworks. We sat in the bleachers and the fireworks went off just past the arena. We were so close and it was soooo loud. But they were awazing.

For the holiday weekend, we were at a rodeo in Pangutich. I know you are all very surprised.

It was a good rodeo on Friday. Racheal won her first breakaway roping. She has placed at several rodeos but it was really good for her to be first.

Brent did well in Goat Tying and he caught is Breakaway Calf.

A Lesson In Tie Down Roping

Since Brent turned 13 before January first, he had to move up in an age group in one of the junior rodeos associations that we belong to. I was worried about him having to rope and compete against boys that were already in high school. He also had to add a new event Tie Down Roping.

Some of you may have seen this event before. The cowboy backs into the chute. He comes out and ropes a calf. Then he jumps off his horse and runs down the rope. He throws the calf and then ties 3 of his legs up. The one who does this the fastest is the winner.

Brent has never tid down a calf before. I was really nervous before the rodeo. It is the first time I had ever hoped he would miss. So here it is play by play.
First he backs into the box.
Then he jumps off the horse with the calf tied to it.

He runs down the rope and tries to throw the calf.

He gets the calf down and strings three legs.

He ties it tight.

Then he jumps up and puts his hands in there. WOW. He placed 5th.

I love the last picture. It makes me smile.