Draper Days and Ute Stampede Rodeo

Every year around July 16th we have Draper Days and the Ute Stampede Rodeo.  This has been a tradition we have done with Grandma and Grandpa Neilson for about five years now.  We usually miss Draper Days because we head down to stay in Scipio to attend the Ute Stampede Rodeo in Nephi but this year we decided to go over to the Draper Days carnival for a few hours before driving down to Nephi.  The kids had a great time and wanted to buy everything in sight because the Draper Days carnival doesn't have much in the way of rides! LAME!  Dexton bought a Harry Potter Wand and Ocianne bought a red sequin purse and a red  matching necklace with dangle earnings.  They also got their faces painted.  Dex had a big black widow painted on his cheek and Oci had Minnie Mouse painted on hers.  After about an hour or two we piled in the car and headed down to Nephi.  The fun continued on!  Nephi knows how to put on a carnival and a rodeo!  The kids rode rides and ate hamburgers and cotton candy.  We then went into the arena and watched the rodeo.  It was great, as always.  We had amazing seats this year, they were actually in the bleacher section and covered so we weren't in the sun!  The best part was that our bums weren't rubbing up against the strangers legs behind us like in years past and the kids weren't wiping their sticky cotton candy hands on the ladies shirts in front of us!  We actually had room to breath!  Thanks Grandpa for finding us better seats than usual! We had a wonderful time!

Dex with his Black Widow

Ocianne with her Minnie Mouse

Dex is the third one from the left, then Jennaca, Jaylynn, and Kelli

Ocianne and Dawson (you can see her purse here!)

Dexton and Ocianne at the Ute Stampede Rodeo!

Primary Parade

In July the kids had a primary parade.  It was really cute.  The kids all came to the church with their bikes, scooters, roller skates or whatever they had to ride around the church parking lot with.  We however broke all the rules and brought the power wheels Jeep.  Because we had been out of town for much of the month of July we were unaware that they had banned anything that was motorized.  Yes, we were a little embarrassed but we sure as heck were not going to squish it and the kids back into the car to trade it for something else.  We had barley been able to get it to the church as it was.  We were trying to fly low under the radar but of course there were a few people here and there who couldn't resist teasing us about breaking the rules.  One person, however, went a little too far.  They thought they were out of hearing distance and made a rude comment regarding our mistake.  It was hard not to take offense, but we did our best to not let it ruin the fun.  The kids had a wonderful time decorating the Jeep.  Dexton drove it around while Ocianne waved like a true princess!  She already has the wave down for when she is crowned royalty and standing on a float in a real parade one day! It was so cute!  We couldn't help but laugh and comment about her prince driving her around and her smiling and loving every minute of it.  It was if she "knew" everyone was there to see her! It was adorable!  Too bad we didn't quite catch the wave in the picture.

Dexton and Ocianne