This is "My First Rodeo!"

One of the things I love about going home to Oregon in the summer time is the 4th of July. Vale has a 4 day rodeo and the whole town comes alive with cowboys and Oregon Trail Day events. Each July 2nd, there is the Vale Suicide Race where contestants enter to race their horse down this mountain (you can see the trail at the top right) across the river (the people at the bottom of the picture are standing at the river bank) and into the rodeo arena. It is started with dynamite and is super exciting. This year there was a record number of people attending that night. 16,000! That might not sound like a lot, but the town only has a population of 1,600. :)

Very Exciting! Katie and I went on July 2nd and then I took the little girls for their first time on the night of the 4th.

Lauren enjoyed the cotton candy

Brooklyn enjoyed the popcorn, soda and ice at the bottom of her drink!
(notice the ice ring on her finger)

Katie snacked on everything and loved the glow sticks when it got dark. She also LOOOVED seeing the bull riding.

Katie reeeeeeaaallly wanted the bulls to knock over the clowns pink barrel. The girls all giggled at the silly clown. :)