Pioneer Day

Pioneer Day is a big deal 'round these here parts.  I mean, this is Wyoming and the actually trail went right across the top of the valley.  So, we celebrate big.

For us, the day started early at the Pioneer Day 5K in Lyman.  Brandan was the only one who actually ran in the race, but the kids and I had the major responsibility of cheering him on while looking sympathetically supportive of the other runners who were getting destroyed by our Daddy.

Brandan was so far ahead of the other runners he had time to give hi-fives to his support crew.

After the 5K, there was a kids 1/2 mile run.  Dash and Colt loved the competition and spent the afternoon retelling their race step-by-step to anyone who would listen (or just be quiet enough for them to get the story out).  Sport enjoyed the race as well, but he got distracted a couple of times along the course.  First, by a bunny, then some flowers and finally a corralled horse caught his eye.  He put on a burst of speed at the end though.  Just in time to beat his little buddy from his Primary class.

Dash and Colt came back to cheer Sport on as he came down the homestretch of the race.

After the race, we only just had time to run home and change and hurry back to Lyman for the parade.  Dash and Colt rode on the Primary float (Sport opted out - you get more candy as a spectator) and I walked with the YM/YW float.

Dash and Colt in the parade.

This was our Youth float.  I'm modestly waving from behind the little pony.

Our day ended at the Pioneer Day Rodeo where the boys chased chickens, rabbits, and kittens and I participated in the Goat Milking event.

Sport in the rabbit chase.

Colt just finished his rabbit chase.  He was pretty disappointed he didn't catch one, but since the prize was the rabbit, I could only be a little sympathetic.

Dash lined up for the chicken/kitten chase.

Dash running after a chicken.  The boys tried hard, but we didn't come home with any animals this year.  Too bad.

This was the goat milking competition.  It was a crazy event.  About 50 women in teams of three lined up on one side of the arena and the goats were set loose on the other side.  When the signal was given, everyone raced over to a goat to try and get enough milk into a cup to drip out onto the judge's hand.  My job was the runner, so I just watched as my teammate and 12 other women swarmed one goat.

Kristi handing me out our cup of milk.

Running to the judge.  We took a measly 8th place, but it was kind of fun anyway.  Especially since I really didn't have to do anything.