Today was the Rodeo Mutton Busting Orientation meeting for Mommy and Dad and me.  There were 275 children and their parents at the meeting.  I think they had applications from 2500 children.  Selecting the children for the main arena is partially done by lottery.  In my case, it was thanks to Aunt Jill.

I was well behaved, of course.  All the kids had on western wear.  Our pictures was taken.  They asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up.  I said I wanted to be on a SWAT Team.  We were able to get tickets for Mimz, Grandma, Andy, Kristan, and Barbara.  Tickets were $18.  Mommy and Daddy get in free!    The night I perform there might be around 20 kid mutton busters.  There will be clowns right beside the sheep and as soon as we fall, the clown will pick us up.  We wear helmets and other protective gear.  As soon as I am picked up, I am to start waving.  A DVD will be taken of my ride and my parents bought two of them.  And there will be a professional photographer taking pictures also.

After the meeting we ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant.  I had enchiladas.

Mimz shared more interesting information about Aunt Jill and Uncle Scott and their participation in the rodeo.  She wrote this:
       "Aunt Jill and Uncle Scott are volunteers, all the people who run the rodeo are.  Jill has been a volunteer there for about 20 years on the Steer Committee.  She finds people or businesses to buy the steers that do not make the auction. They try to make sure the kids get enough money to cover the expense of raising the steer.  She and Scott are both on the International Committee and are host to the people in from all over the world.  It is a fun job but they are required to put in a certain number of hours each week. Rodeo is a big deal in Houston. Jill knows so many people from her many years in Rodeo so she was able to make a call and get Mason in.
       Within each committee there are different levels of "management" so to speak, there are hundreds of committees and thousands of volunteers.
        All proceeds go to student scholarships. It is a huge deal for kids."

The rodeo web site is:   rodeohouston.com 

Thank you, Mimz, for that information.

Mimz went to Kingwood to make her first hike with The Woodlands Hiking Club.  In this picture Mimz is fifth from the left in the purple jacket.  The hike was a little more than five miles in a beautiful wooded area around Lake Houston.  She has been hiking around the lake in her neighborhood park while listening to audiobooks in preparation for this. Mimz did not know anyone when she arrived.  She said everyone was so nice and she is going to enjoy this new group of friends.