The Balcer Bunch: Mutton Bustin' and The Star of Texas Rodeo

This year, at the Austin Rodeo, I signed up Truett to ride the sheep (better known as mutton bustin'). In the past, when Owen did this event, I had signed him up in the "mutton bustin' mania" which was held in the show barn, and there would be about 50 kids riding sheep. Well this time, I signed Truett up to ride during the actual night-time rodeo, where there was about 9 kids riding sheep during the ACTUAL rodeo. And much to my surprise, Truett won! I'm not exactly sure how the judges "score" this event, but Truett received the highest score and won a shiny belt buckle as the prize!

Truett held onto the sheep all the way across the arena, until the sheep basically rolled over to get Truett off. And in that process, Truett was scared, hurt, and crying and the rodeo clown carried him back down to the shoots. Well, all of that was forgotten once Truett one the belt buckle. He was walking around that rodeo like he had won a gold medal at the Olympics; shaking everyone's hand, flirting with the girls. It was a fun evening and fun to watch. Big brother Owen even did a good job of congratulating his brother.

Prior to the rodeo, the boys took in some carnival rides, rode a mechanical bull (which Truett said was fake and nothing but some tubes and wires), and of course Robert had to ride the rides too.

It was a good time, but expensive. We paid $5 for a box of popcorn! And the wrist bands to ride those silly rides was 25 BUCKS! But I suppose that highway robbery was worth it, because Truett was the champion of the night, and we all had a really good time. Truett even tried cotton candy for the first time, and he was in heaven and described it as something special that melts on your tongue.