4th of July Weekend

Every year, my extended family on my Dad's side goes to the Oakley PRCA 4th of July rodeo.  We've been going to that rodeo since before I can remember and even longer before that. My Grandpa Foster owns a cabin up Weber Canyon, which is about 7 miles away from Oakley and the Foster family tradition is to go up to the cabin for the whole day and go horse-back-riding, ride the Gator, drink our Cokes on the porch, and have a big BBQ.  

When I was younger...ok, fine, before I got married, I used to spend all my time down at the barn or out riding the horses with my cousin April. We'd go everywhere. Up the mountain, around the pasture, or around the cabins--it didn't matter, as long as we were out riding. 

This year, Ethan got to go on his very first horseback ride. 

 

My little cowboy!

 

 He didn't do so great when he was by himself.

 

He did a lot better with Mommy.

We put Ethan and Blake on the Lexie together. Blake thought this was lots of fun and could barely hold still but Ethan wanted to go back to riding with Mom. 

He also spent time with Grandma Sue down by the irrigation ditch. 

 Blake wanted to go swimming again.

Ethan was teething and running a little fever so he wasn't his normal, happy self.  

Daddy's teasing didn't help.

 

Grandpa loved riding around the pasture on the tractor.

After our BBQ, everybody loaded into their cars and headed to the rodeo. It was fun being at the rodeo again although having a sick, whiny baby wasn't as fun. Ethan ended up falling asleep on my lap halfway through and woke up in time to watch the firework show after it was over. I thought he might be scared of the fireworks but he wasn't. He sat sleepily in my arms while they all went off. 

 On Monday, we set off a few fireworks of our own. Ethan happily sat in his little chair and watched.