Back from the MOTHERLAND!

Utah was a blast as usual. Here are some of the highlights.

A family who rodeo's together, stays together. Livi and I were the only two performers this year. Rigdon missed his last mutton bust with a broken arm. Unfortunately, I think I was more bummed than he was.

Annabelle filled in for Rigdon.

This is Livi after last year's mutton bust. (It might of been my favorite picture of 2007.)

This was Livi after this year's bust. Though her performance wasn't much better her landing was.

The Bold and Gold could have faired better. We were the second team to get milk but got some dirt in the bottle and so the judge didn't accept it. We got milk again but by then it was only good enough for third place and we were out of the finals. It was a total drag. Our cow was pretty rank. She managed to break my nose but Bram and I got her mugged eventually. That is my eleventh rodeo and only my second broken bone. (If noses even count.) Not too bad, I guess.

I'd like to quit but every year the fan support grows. This year we had fans come in from as far as Idaho.

We did mucho mountain biking. It was epic. This is South Fork in Provo Canyon. Mindy in the foreground with Sara trying to keep up.

Beetle raging on the hard tail.

Beetle raging on the Cheetos. You might think that's not good trail food, but don't worry he has Diet Coke in his Camelback to wash it down.

There is only one word to describe Roman's riding style and he wears it proudly on his helmet.

We made it to Benny Creek in Payson Canyon but we all chickened out of this drop off.

I didn't chicken out of the drop off into the mud pit but I should have. (Roman said I looked much more ripped as a black guy.)

It had been a while since we had done Timp Cave. So we did it. It is a classic.

Livi did the whole hike on her own power. I was proud of her, especially because she said her legs were tired after the first 100 yards or so.

Caroline rode in style to the top but insisted on walking down by herself. It was not fast.

Rock climbing is my latest hobby. I'm not very good, but so far I love it.

Rig couldn't go swimming with his arm so we got him a harness and he came climbing 3 or 4 times.

Sara learned to belay and did a little climbing herself.

Rig did awesome, especially for having a broken arm.

American Fork canyon is a climber's paradise.

Roman and I taught each other how to lead climb.

Roman is a real Huck Finn. He mountain bikes in cut-offs and rock climbs in full length jeans but in either case the jeans have one thing in common: they're butt tight.

If this picture looks staged, it is. That hold I am reaching for is actually the camera. However I am 70 feet up.

This one is staged also. Not quite as good of rock climbing face as his old man.

Livi wanted to get in on the party. She really needs to work on her face though. She appears to be hugging this rock.

Sara usually celebrates her birthday with my family and I usually celebrate my birthday with hers. This year was no exception. Happy 3 Oh!

We rode Ricker's motorcycles in the foothills. Rig loved them. With car seat laws these days, I don't know if this is legal, but everything feels a little more legal in Utah for some reason.

We walked the loop at Silver Lake by Brighton. Caroline did it on her own power.

Our kids were excited to find the last of the Utah snow.

We did a hike to Stewart Falls. Maxwell's seat went from bad to worse when Benson pooped in his diaper.

The kids found some spelunking along the way.

Rig wants to be Huck Finn just like his uncle Roman.

Playing in the falls.

All those of us who were willing to let the water fall permanently part their hair. (Roman in cut-offs again.)

The whole Rick Smart family except for Rick Smart.

We made him stay home and make dinner.