24th of July Celebration...

We went back to Blackfoot, the kids and I, to spend some more time with Greg and Wendy. The kids just enjoy being at Grandma and Grandpa's house and so when Grandma gave them the option of going to the park or staying at her house, they opted to stay there and they had the best time playing in the backyard! She got out the little pool and they played in the sprinkler. Then they got to pick peas and got so into it that soon they had picked them all and then Greg had Luke pull the plants out. He worked diligently and got paid for his efforts. Emma say the money exchange and decided she too wanted to be helpful, so she swept the walks.

Then they had a surprise visit by "Billy Bob". Greg dresses up in the funniest overalls and the funniest fake teeth and a hat with hair and he had them all fooled! Gavin wouldn't get close to him!

Great Grandpa Rose was honored at the Ogden Rodeo because it was cowboy days, so we went and enjoyed that.

Chrystal's husband Chris held BOTH Luke and Gavin so they could try to get a t-shirt!

We went back to Park Valley for the July 24th celebration. It is quite the event there....you start out with a great breakfast, then there is the program at the church. This year they played "Win It in A Minute"...there were all kinds of games that you have to try to do in a minute, Emma got picked to go up for one and she won! Then there is lunch, then all the races, which the kids loved! They got to do the foot race, the three legged race, and the wheel barrow race, and then the rodeo. Emma got to ride a sheep and Luke was brave enough to do the calf riding. I think I was more freaked out then the kids. Bill tried to hold on to Emma but her sheep pulled a tricky maneuver and got away from him. She ended up riding a good distance! When the first kid got out on those calves I was amazed at how big they were and I tried to convince Luke to back out :) He was tough and said he was still riding. He did a great job too and Bill's friend held onto him so he wouldn't get hurt too bad :) Bill was in the rodeo and gave us a scare. He and Amber were participating in the ribbon races where Bill lasso's the calf and then Amber goes and pulls the ribbon off it's tail. Well when he did get the calf by the neck, he was leaning one way and the horse another, and the horse slipped and both of them went down. The horse actually LANDED on Bill! He was on top of him for about 5 minutes before they could get him off in a way that wouldn't crush Bill. It was the scariest 5 minutes! You didn't know if Bill was even alive under there! They put him in the ambulance and rushed him to the hospital. (Rush meaning an hour drive to Tremonton). It was a relief when they called from the ambulance and we could hear Bill's voice. He said he had a bad head ache and his knee really hurt. It ended up that he broke his collar bone is all! The next morning when we saw him the first thing he asked Emma was how her shoulder was after falling so hard off her sheep! Hmmmm, that is the perfect example of how selfless and sweet Bill is! Here he is in a sling and all bunged up and he is worried about little Emma :)

They honored Grandpa at the program for turning 80 this year!

Matt's cute cousins Hannah, Whitney, Katelyn, and Chrystal

Kate and Luke were buds!

Aubrey and Emma at the rodeo!

Then it was back to Salt Lake for a day or two before we flew home. It was sooooooooo fun to be able to go to lunch with my friend Jodi Eldredge Fountaine and her husband Don. I have been friends with Jodi since the 2nd grade when she moved in. Her husband Don and I were great friends in high school.

And then the sad day came when we had to leave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was hard to say goodbye to my mom! But what a great trip filled with wonderful memories!!