Rodeo Weekend

It has become a tradition for my family to get together over Rodeo weekend in Preston. The Coombs were here this year which is so fun for all of us. The kids love their cousins!! Cara is willing to follow Emi in any devious plan including chasing my moms chickens to pull out their feathers, "thinning" the carrots in the garden, and splatter painting in the dining room. (I'm sure none of those things were Cara's ideas. :)


They were very cute in the matching skirts that Connie made them.


My dad goes to great lengths to get pony's for the kids to ride. Caleb thinks he is a cowboy. He wears all of his cowboy cloths and he spends hours begging to ride horses. He was crying and begging to get off about 30 seconds after he got on.


Caleb and Cara look forward to going to the rodeo all year.


Of course my mom spoils the kids too. She had "bug catching" kits for each of them. She even embroidered their names on the pockets of their vests. They loved them.


Ali was pretty sure her net was a hat.


We hiked up to Willow Flat Spring. Andy did the whole hike on his own. Pretty darn good for a two year old.


It was beautiful! Hiking is such a great family activity.

The 24th of July

The 24th of July landed on Sunday this year so it created 3 days of celebrations. Luckely I bought four boxes of glow sticks to get us through Saturday, Sunday, and Monday nights. With an awesome new camera Josh got some fun pictures. There are none of Andy since he cries to go to bed as soon as there are any signs of fireworks.











Every year since Josh and I got married (so the past 9 years) we have spent the Saturday of the 24th at the Mendon Celebration with his family. His mom does a Navajo Taco stand and uses us as slave labor. I used to hate it, but I have come to the conclusion that it is just part of being a Kirk. This year we had the stomach flu on Friday night and Saturday morning so we were not able to attend. When the alternitive is a house of sick people I REALLY wish we could have been there with the Kirks. We did make it out in time for the fireworks and in time to use up a box of glow sticks.