Cattle Drive 2013

This year we loaded up the little cowboys late Friday night to head to the cattle drive.

We made it half-way and stayed in a hotel, then drove the rest of the way Saturday.  By the time we got there the next afternoon, the little cowboys were plump tuckered out.

But they bounced back pretty quick when their cousins showed up!

The long awaited reunion with Henry!

The first part of the cattle drive consists of the cows being unloaded off of the semis.  They are held in a little open field on the side of the highway while the baby calves pair up with their moms.

At this point all of the cowboys in attendance, including moms and babies made a human fence of sorts to hold the cows in until we are ready to roll.  My boys were into it this year, they took their job of holding the cows in quite seriously.  I couldn't get over their cuteness.

At one point one of the bulls started coming towards Caden, I wasn't right by him at that moment so I hustled over and found him waving his little orange hat at that bull saying, "shew bull, shew..." totally unfazed.  Let's just say he's quite a bit braver than I was on my first cattle drive.

With Ethan we had to rope him in a little so his aggressive cow holding dance moves wouldn't start a stampede.

Many people stopped and took pictures of all of us "real cowboys."  One lady stayed for quite awhile taking several pictures of Clark on his horse.  She said to him, "so people really still do this? wow, what an interesting job."  He informed her he wasn't an employee and that this was a family affair and she was even more amazed.

Then the cattle drive began!  Clark was leading the parade this year.

At this point the real cowboys start working, and the moms and kids just try to stay out of the way and drive the cars in.

Ethan joined several cousins to ride on the cow chute behind the 4 wheeler with Delanie.

Once we got to the property we had a picnic, horse rides, 4 wheeler rides, and lots of fun!

Cute little Abby was loving the horse.

Abby and Quinn on their first cattle drive!

Quinn's first horse ride!

I love that we get to participate in this fun tradition!