Little Buckaroo Rodeo 2009

It was rodeo time just recently. Our little town holds a rodeo for kids ages 18 months to 12 years. While all of our kids fit into that category, Joseph did not participate in any events. But the rest of them did!

It started with a parade of all the contestants. The rodeo takes up two nights. They had a little over 300 kids sign up this year. I hear if they get 350, they'll have to hold it over 3 nights. Nathan is the kid in the tan shirt, followed by the girls and trailed by Daniel in the navy blue (in other words, our kids are the one who aren't wearing cowboy hats).

Nathan was first to "compete." He had signed up for the mutton bustin'. The poor kid ended up on the toughest ewe in the circuit. He barely got out of the gate before he had a face full of dirt. She was just as rough on the other kids unlucky enough to be put on her back. But he was a good sport.

Rebekah's event was the stick pony race. She was to run around two barrels with her (borrowed) stick pony and come back. Daniel took her to the gate and then she said she didn't need any more help. She darted out towards the barrels as soon as they said "go" and didn't slow down until she tripped and landed in the dirt. Then she just sat there. Apparently, she was waiting for a rodeo clown to come and help her up. We must get the most from the experience!

Next up was Daniel (notice how the sun has gone down?) He was very excited to ride a calf. He's vowed to never attempt it again. The calf and the ewe must have collaborated before the boys got to them. They both dumped their riders fairly quickly. Daniel flew off sideways and landed on his side, with his arm tucked under. He looked to be a little hunched as he left the arena and I wasn't sure he wouldn't cry. He didn't, but he didn't want to talk about it, either!

Leah was last and the most reluctant to follow through with her event. She had signed up for stick pony goat roping. She made Chad go down with her and I wasn't sure she was going to even participate. Then they said "go" and the competitive side of her took over. She ran out to her goat and threw the rope over its neck before the boy competing with her ever got started. Don't mess with Leah.

All the kids that participated got a couple of tootsie rolls from the rodeo clowns and a little silver belt buckle with the rodeo name and a bronc riding cowboy on it. Sp now we have 4 belt buckles kickin' around the house...but no belts to put them on.

But that isn't all we left with. At the end of the rodeo, they have a Chicken Scramble for kids 5 and younger (no parents, friends, family, etc. are allowed in to help). Rebekah and Leah went in. Rebekah hung around the guy with the camera...as if he's going to protect her from the chickens? Leah ran her little heart out, chasing chicken after chicken. When it came to actually reaching down and really grabbing it, she "chickened out." Fortunately (or is it unfortunately?), someone had more than their limit and Leah happened to be standing nearby. So she got her chicken after all.

You'd think she'd been given a puppy. She and the boys lovingly carried it to the van and held it on the 5 minute ride home. She first named it "Sleepy" but by the time we pulled into the driveway she'd changed it to "Sticky Feet." I know of no other creature with that name.

We already have 12 chickens, but if we put this new bird in with the bigger, older ones, there will be a lot of ruckus. So Sticky Feet lived in a cage on the back deck for almost two weeks before I was able to talk Leah into letting him out and seeing if he could survive the cats and freedom.

He now roams the yard during the day and returns to the cage at night. We lock him up to keep him safe from tom cats. He has started eating cat food, so it's not an uncommon sight to see him surrounded by 6 kittens as he pecks to get his meal. This sure is a crazy place to live.