It's Rodeo Time - 4Wheeler Rodeo, That Is!

So, I haven't blogged since October. I got busy and lazy. But, I am sorry. I know how much blogs have helped me and Trace, and how, with our network of LP buddies, it really helps us to stay in touch, and I miss that. So, let's try this again.

Trace got a 4-wheeler the day after his casts came off from his bilateral tib-fib osteotomies (when he had his legs straightened) in the spring of 2010. Yes, a real, gasoline powered 4-wheeler. I was not excited about it...the kid just got out of double leg casts, and my husband, his father, goes and buys him something that is very likely to put him right back in them! Crazy mother rant over. We didn't let him ride it too often last year, figure 8's around cones in the back yard only - and only when John was home to handle it.

Fast forward a year, and Trace has really gotten to be very good on the bike. The kid has been driving battery powered vehicles since months before he could walk. He can drive really well. Taylor is a different story for a different day - I've got about 8 more years before it becomes a huge panic-inducing ordeal. Trace LOVES his 4-wheeler. John takes him on little rides through our field, and we let him make laps around the house. I even let him ride it when John's not home.

The Doddridge County Fair has a Youth ATV/Mini-bike Rodeo, and we let Trace participate this year. I went out and bought him new shoes and a new shirt (which I attempted to hem the sleeves - FAIL. It seems so simple, but apparently not so much) that color coordinate with his bike and helmet. They ran 3 courses, 2 times each, with one rider on the course at a time. Trace had a blast and ran perfect courses. He can't wait until next year to do it again! We are so proud of him! He won first place in his class (in the interest of full disclosure, he was the only kid in his class, but that's a trivial detail)!!

Enjoy the cuteness!

Applebutter Festival Pageant

Salem has an annual Apple Butter Festival during early October. There are pageants and entertainment, a parade, craft and food vendors, groups making and selling apple butter, and some games. After sitting out the Doddridge County Fair Pageant, Taylor decided she wanted to do the Apple Butter Festival Pageant.

The color red had to be included on either the dress or an accessory, so my very creative and crafty friend, Kelly (check out Llama's Bowtique on Facebook for beautiful hair accessories and ribbon sculptures), made Taylor some bling for her dress and hair! Taylor looked beautiful! There were 24 children in the pageant, ranging from 3-7 years old.

This pageant also required a talent. Taylor and I worked really hard thinking of the perfect song. After much deliberation, and creative word replacement, we had found it: The Apple Butter Slide! We started with Tracy Byrd's Watermelon Crawl and replaced words as appropriate to make it about Apple Butter and Salem!

All the children looked great and did a wonderful job! Taylor got scared when it was her turn to sing, and I had to get her off the stage to sit with me. After the rest of the children finished, Taylor decided she was brave enough to give it a go - and she did great! I am so proud of her! The pageant director disqualified Tay because she didn't sing at the right time, but she had a blast and was SO proud of herself for singing her song!

Here are some pictures, and a video that my sister took, the video isn't great quality, but you can hear Tay's song (for some reason my sister got mesmerized by the judge in front of her bobbing her head with the song, lol)! A certain individual that will not be receiving a Mother-Of-The-Year award remembered the video camera, even charged it...when I turned it on to record Tay, I realized there was no memory card in it!







Because I haven't seen any expose on this, I thought I'd share a little known fact that I learned this past week - because of Health Department rules, the Apple Butter is not made with whole apples, they have to start with store bought applesauce! Gasp!