Cowboy Camp July 11-18 2010

ISLAND PARK . . . IDAHO

Meadow Vue Ranch

This has been the most AMAZING week. . . full of none stop ADVENTURE!!! I dropped my little Ash (OK she's not so little anymore . . . just ask her!) This camp is 7 days . . . Ash has never been without her Mama that long!!! To be honest I was FREAKING OUT and I tried really hard to not let it show! However I was nervous and excited and so was Ash. While Ash was at camp Rick, Austin and I hung out with the Collins at their cabin. We played in the water, went for boat rides, visited Yellowstone and fished.

While we were on "VACATION" Ash was breaking in her cowboy boots and learning the life of a "COWGIRL"! After the first day she called me in tears and said "Mom you shouldn't have paid for this camp!" I said "Why?" She said "They should be paying me!!! They are working us so hard! This isn't fun at all!!! I guess her friend Zailey forgot to mention that there was HARD work at "Cowboy Camp"!!!

I'm HAPPY to report that Ash made it through the week and actually started to have some fun. Her horse for the week was GUS! She loved GUS so much she wanted to know if we would buy him and bring him home! Dah!!! Why didn't I think of that! She learned how to saddle, brush and feed the horses. She also went on a day trip to round up some cattle . . . cows to be exact! She said it's the hardest thing she has ever done!

Ash also learned how to barrel race, pole bend and learned some fancy formations for a rodeo. Ash was in 3 rodeos and carried a flag for one of the opening ceremonies. I was one proud Mama!!! I couldn't believe what she had learned in just 2 days!!! I understand now why her little behind and legs were so sore! They were on those horsed 7 - 8 hours a day!

This was a week full of "GROWING Life Experiences" for Ash!!! It pushed her to grow beyond what she thought she was capable of! I am very PROUD of Ash for making the best out of a challenging week! These are "CHARACTER BUILDING MOMENTS" that are priceless!

Austin even got in on the action! He chased a calf and got the rope off it's tail and won a prize!!! My little COWBOY!!!