Branding at the Box K

For Memorial Day weekend we went down to St. David to visit Grandma Sue and Grandpa Paul -- and Karina and Duane & Shirley's family too!  We lucked out this time because the Welkers and Jeff & Kelsey and Phebe were also in town.  On Saturday the kids took turns (due to a horse to rider ratio of 4:12) helping with round up and then we all met at the corral for branding.  Brad and Carter both roped a calf and we all enjoyed Grandma Sue's chuck wagon lunch.  Carter tried his first taste of Rocky Mountain Oysters.  He wasn't too impressed.  The best part of the day was that it was beautiful weather.   Then after some 4-wheeling and pond canoeing we grilled hamburgers and had a couple of rousing games of knock-out.  Just to keep up my reputation (tied for 4th grade Knock-out champion with Tim Bryce) I made sure to win one of them.  The kids slept awesome that night.  I think they were a little tired.

Sheldon, Jeff & Alex

Eve

Eve and Brad

Preston, Brad, Carter, Eve and Sophie take a drink break -- hopefully they washed their hands first!

Preston, Audra, Karina, Carter, Alex, Kurtis, Gpa Paul and Jeff

Sheldon & Gpa Paul showing off their roping skills -- they're after the heifer that went through part of the chute rather than the gate to get away.  If I can remember when that chute was new it might be time to replace it Dad : )

Brad

Alex and his girls -- Sophie, Camille & Eve

the girls picked some flowers for me.

Cowgirl Camille

Camille & Sophie at Gma Sue's chuck wagon.

Eve takes Rhett on his first horse ride -- it was a very short one -- you have to work up to the big ones.

Rhett and Gma Sue

Carter roped one and Audra and Preston help him dally her in.

Sophie tries on Dad's cowboy hat

Alex took on grill duties while everyone else enjoyed a few games of Knock-Out.

Sophie borrowed Mom's sweater and made a great audience

Pepper, Grandpa Paul, Rhett and Lydia enjoying the Knock-Out game from the sidelines.