Saturday, July 5, 2008

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.


Thursday, June 12, 2008

School's Out For Summer!

Who is more excited for the last day of school? The teacher or the student? My vote is for the teacher and here are six reasons why. Hopefully you get a laugh at them. You probably need to click on them to read them. Please excuse my penmanship and grammar.


P.S. The names have been changed to protect the GUILTY.




No I do not wear thong underwear.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Wickedly Hot Date!

Every once in a while I treat my woman the way she deserves to be treated.  Unfortunately, I usually require a little coaxing.  This time was no exception, she actually had to buy the tickets.  However I did give her the go ahead on her first request.  If you didn't figure it out from the title of the post we went to Wicked at the Pantages.  It was the best broadway musical I've ever seen.  Heck, it's the only one I've seen. 
    

Sara was smiling so wide the whole night I thought she was going to pop!  It was cute to see her so excited for the show. 




The usher was happy to take a picture of us.




Sara was happy to take a wicked close up of us.



To quote NKOTB the show was "Wicked awesome!"  Even if you're a guy.  So guys do one better than me and buy the tickets yourself.  You'll look like a hero and you would have probably ended up buying them anyway. 

Monday, June 2, 2008

Smart's Invade St. George!



The highlight of the trip had to be Zion.  We spent two days there.  It was awesome.


Rick and Cher with all 6 grandkids.  In 8 months that number will be increased by 33%.



The always stunning Beetle and Mindy with a view to match.  (In three pictures this is the one where Beetle's eyes were opened the widest.)



Our hotel was a little questionable but the price was right and the kids had a ton of fun in the pool.



The adults had fun too!



Rig got in his last swimming of the summer.  Bummer man!



Livi and Annabelle were using the buddy system.


Caroline and myself were on the buddy system, because Sara forgot her swimsuit.



We got a visit from Steve and LeeAnn who were delivering Joe's bug to SLC.





Our kids wear their helmets to zoos just in case.  I think they have both seen one too many episodes of
"When Animals Attack."



Caroline with Grandpa Ricker. 



We snuck in a visit to the St. George temple visitor's center.
I had to count it as my visit for the month. 
 




Rocky and Sara are enjoying the last of the easy life.




We rode our bikes to the end of the main Zion Canyon.  It was beautiful.  Like everything the pictures don't do it justice. It was 16 miles round trip.  Who was the first one done?  Grandma Cher of course. 





Rachel and Roman were both non-finishers.  They saw the whole canyon only by bus.  Better luck next year guys.



Livi put in two miles of uphill and three miles of downhill, but she looked so cute I didn't mind pulling her and her bike up in the trailer.




Rigdon matched his feat of two years ago by making it all the way up on his own again.  He is an animal!



The whole Smart clan put a hurting on the Godfather's Pizza Buffet like only the Smarts can.



The last three chances to marry into the Smart family.  
Get one while they're still hot!
(Roman forgot his shirts so he had to wear his garments.) 



If Zion wasn't the highlight, then the Bearclaw Poppy Trail was.  Here are my two riding partners.  I don't know who looked more girly Roman in his girlfriend's cut-off jeans and pink shirt or me in my spandex. 


 
Yes, it's as steep as it looks.



Roman taking the plunge. 



Beetle isn't hung-over.  It's just really early in the morning.
Beetle had a sweet wreck right after this, apparently he didn't read the fine print.



I can't decide which is more lame.  That we posed for this picture or that I am putting it on my blog.




Sara woke up early for a dawn patrol Bearclaw session, and when she finished she said "Gimmie some more of that!"



Not bad for a guy in cut-offs so tight they might limit his posterity and if they don't, the landing will.




We went on an awesome hike in Kolob Canyon with Beetle and Mindy and co.



Nursing with a view.  Mindy is a true granola.

P.S. I don't know why the underline is randomly showing up.