round-up

On Saturday, August 9th, I drove myself & the kids to pick up Peter from the airport and from there, we drove northeast for another hour and a half to my great uncle's ranch for the annual "Round-Up" on my dad's side of the family. This is our 2nd time going since we moved back to this state. And I went to a few when I was growing up. It's a lot of fun! It has changed from back in the day; I remember riding a horse for the first time (other than say a pony ride at the zoo) there, and I remember one time, the horse broke into a gallop and it scared me half to death. I remember seeing a whole slew of relatives that I didn't know from Adam (although some of them have that look that gives them away as a relative). I remember driving from the ranch up to Mount Humpy in a sheep truck, sitting on folding chairs on the top level. Nowadays, it's mostly just a lot of yummy food, mingling, games for the kids, snow cones and this year, we had some four-wheeling on ATVs and in Peter's FJ. It's SUCH beautiful country up (and out) there! I don't think I could handle living so far away from a big city though. ...As my cousin said on her blog about this event, what a great way to spend a summer Saturday...! :)

here are my nephews Josh & Tyler, and Brandon coming back down from climbing way up a hill

now you can better see just how far away they were; they went about 2/3 of the way up, i think

here are Josh (& Tyler behind--can't really see him) on an ATV; Josh's first time (I'm pretty sure) driving one...Ethan, my nephew Devin (can't really see him) and his dad John are watching

now it's John's turn to drive an ATV and give my nieces Rylee & Krista (can't see her very well) a thrill :)

Brandon playing one of the games they had; that's my cousin's daughter watching him--they're only 6 months apart

Brandon with his results

and now it's Peter's turn (John's giving him a brief orientation) to give Ethan & Devin a thrill

who knew my brother-in-law John was a natural for lassoing?? :)

behold, our saving grace on a hot day!!

Autumn showing off her snow cone

Jeanine suggested I take a picture of the yummy colors...

me & my girl

aftermath of the snow cone :)

look at these clouds...amazing!

so picturesque

don't really see these clouds down where we live...they remind me of clouds I saw in FL practically every summer afternoon...

awww...she zonked shortly after we headed up the mountain trail in the FJ

storm's a brewin'! that's my parents' car in front of us...

the infamous Mt. Humpy & and old cabin that the sheep-herders bunked in

Mt. Humpy Lake or Humpy Lake...?

gorgeous wildflowers

it had started raining...isn't she so adorable?!? :)

now it was really coming down--Josh and I both agreed that a shot of the raindrops on the lake was essential...so cool