The Riverton Rodeo 2021

Why is the rodeo so dang much fun?  Like, seriously.  Just looking through the pictures of last Saturday night at the Riverton Rodeo makes me ridiculously happy.  Dad and Bev joined us and we just had ourselves a good ol' time.  

One of the coolest, most inspiring things to see is the flag coming down with the skydivers while Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be An American" blasts through the speakers.  Unapologetically American and proud of it.  It stirs the blood.

It's just fun to see Elinor's name as Miss Riverton.

And it was so much fun to cheer like crazy for her and her attendants as they rode around the arena following the Mayor and City Council.  What can I say?  I love my city!  

Abe wore Elinor's cowboy hat she got at the Fort Worth Stock Yards back in March.

Grandpa telling us a story from his teen years when he wrestled a calf.

Of course George caught a hat that was thrown into the crowd.  Were we surprised?  No we were not.  I'm telling you, the boys has radar for swag thrown into a crowd.

Some of the best moments of the rodeo are when they let the kids into the arena for a coupon grab for the youngest group or a cash grab from the cash cow for the older groups.  I don't know how this activity got approved or how long it's been going on.  In todays "safe spaces" culture, it's just surprising that events like these are in anyway okay.  I would like to be clear that I personally DO NOT have a problem with them.  In fact, I think they are hysterical and good lessons for kids get in there and get dirty and risk some injury.  Am I heartless?  Perhaps.  Greta is in the rainbow shirt in this picture.  The youngest group (Greta's) was definitely the mildest mannered.

Here's Peter's group-- chasing the live calves.  Peter was unsuccessful in getting any cash off the cow.  That's life.

Now, prepare yourself for the BEST picture of the evening.  My apologies that it's not a bit clearer, but Abe had to really zone in on it.  Ha ha ha!  I'm laughing already.

I'm a horrible human being-- but look at the poor children being trampled by the hoard of other children.  That's life.  This is why rodeo people are so tough!  

In Peter's defense, he did have shoe issues as someone heeled him and took his shoe off.  That's life,

Competition was extremely fierce for George's age group.  But I had every confidence in him and his collecting abilities.

He did get his hands on some cash-- unfortunately they were two ripped halves of two different dollar bills.  Not much use, but at least he could claim success!  His record stands.

Els and Faith quickly shared in Greta's spoils of Arctic Circle and Chick-fil-a coupons.

Abe was attempting a selfie with Clark-- I like the triple foxy ladies photo-bomb.

My loves.

Surprise, surprise.  George caught a t-shirt.

One more of Grandma and Grandpa with Queen Els.

Why Ride When You Can Walk

 

Elinor's first parade of the season was on Saturday-- the Herriman parade.  Bethany saw a picture and was jealous of how pretty Elinor's float was.  Bethany wasn't a big fan of the city's float her year.  But you know what?  It might have looked good, but it didn't run very well!  It broke down at the very start.  Sadness! 

When your float breaks down-- you hold your head up high and walk  like the queens you are!

It reminds me of a line from one of our favorite children's books-- Pete the Cat-- "Did Pete cry?  Goodness, no!  He kept walking along and singing his song."  

Way to keep smiling, Els!

The Riverton parade is this Friday night, so we're pretty sure they'll have the float fixed by then-- fingers crossed.

Cannon walked along with them serving as their water boy.  I love Cannon's feet and entire pose in this picture-- that boy is a dancer!

We love parade season!  Of course there were no parades last year, so we're pretty happy to be back.  And normally we just do Riverton and Bluffdale-- but we'll make all the rounds again this year to go support Elinor.  Well, support Elinor and the little kids love the candy grab. 

George always manages to collect the most STUFF-- hats, t-shirts, sun-glasses, Otterpops, candy--- if they are giving something out, George always manages to be in the right place at the right time to claim it.  Parades are almost equal to Halloween in being a collector's paradise.

A special thanks to Elinor's Aunt Katie for coming in to save the day with a quick dress alteration last week!  The girls looked gorgeous and I love how they are coordinated with the float.  

Celebrating Twenty-four Years

 

Abe and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary recently.  We went to dinner and then we went to see In the Heights in the theater.  We stayed away overnight and left the children to their own devices.  Everyone survived and played video games and watched movies to their hearts content.  And Abe and I had uninterrupted time to enjoy one another's company.  It was a win/win!

And he sent me 24 roses for our 24th anniversary.  He's a romantic.

Cannon wrapped up his ballet summer intensive with absolutely beautiful performances Friday and Saturday evening.  I've never seen him dance like he danced this weekend.  He has progressed so much and all the hard work is certainly paying off.  I enjoyed this show so much.

George wasn't in this show as he has done the intermediate summer intensive, while Cannon is in the advanced group.  

Greta maintains a style all her own.  And usually multiple styles a day.  

Elinor and Faith are currently off at youth conference with our ward.  They went out to Flaming Gorge for rafting, hiking, and cliff jumping.  I'm sure they are having a blast.  They have THE BEST youth leaders!  I am so grateful for all they have done to make this experience wonderful for our girls and all the youth of the ward.

I'm so glad that our own Shawn (Faith) and Gus (Elinor)-- a Psyche reference-- get to have this adventure together, especially since they missed out on youth conference last year.  

Abe and I snuck away for another date night Monday night to see Bluffdale Arts production of The 39 Steps.  Oh, it was so good!  I would definitely enjoy seeing this show again.  

George is learning to juggle.  I have no doubt it will be a successful endeavor.

Allison made this awesome custom shirt for me!  I love it!  I think I've earned the title of Queen Mother:)

The Greats Visit Nauvoo

 One of the absolute highlights of the summer thus far was an event I wasn't even present for--- A couple weeks back my parents and my Uncle Spencer and Aunt Michelle, Aunt Oakley, and Aunt Jennifer all went to Nauvoo for a visit and COMPLETELY surprised Bethany when she came on stage!  Oh, the pictures and videos and reports they sent back to us were magnificent!  I was so happy just thinking about what was happening in Nauvoo for those three days.  

My dad isn't in this picture because he flew in one day later than everyone else, but this is after the first show of "Sunset on the Mississippi".  Aren't they the most beautiful people in the whole world?  And why are they so beautiful-- because, no joke, they are the kindest, most loving.  

Here they all are together.  They told us they were "Bethany groupies"-- they followed her around to all her shows.  My dad and his siblings have the most remarkable adult sibling relationships.  Grandma and Grandpa Cannon must be very pleased with the love and support they've shown of each other and each other's families over the years.

This is right about the moment she saw Uncle Spencer stand up during the military tribute  Army song and wave to her.  He said, "As if her smile could have gotten any wider than it already was!"

Now check out these next two pictures of them at the different angles

Is that not the sweetest picture ever!

Bethany got to be their guide for Trail of Hope.  

Here is the compilation of several videos Uncle Spencer sent me.  The very first one begins right as Bethany has just seen Uncle Spencer for the first time.

We were delightfully inundated with pictures and I want to remember them all-- so I'll just throw them up here.

I think I may have put this one up on another post, but it's pretty much my favorite.

Nauvoo Singers

Bethany as Anna Amanda in "Be Your Own Hero".

Now here are a few more pictures that weren't from my family, but other families of the missionaries have shared on a Facebook group and other dear friends who have been to visit.

I love this picture of Andrea and her mom, Kimberly Grant and Michelle, Kara, and Rachel Johansen.  They ended up there the same night and in honor of Abe and his selfies, they took this awesome picture!

We are a part of a family book group that has really become our third extended family.  I love that Dave Young was able to visit Clark on his mission, I was able to visit Corrine on her mission, and Andrea could visit Bethany.  

Bethany with Rachel and Kara-- her dearest childhood friends.

And now for the "best" picture of the week