We Did It! Well, almost....

The Uintah Basin Back Country Horsemen hold a charity horseride, auction, BBQ and raffle every year to raise money for the Children's Justice Centers of the Uintah Basin and the goal this year was to raise 20 thousand dollars. We just barely missed the mark and raised about 19k. How awesome is that though? We're just a bunch of cowboy hicks on horses but, cowboys and cowgirls with generous hearts (and a few fat checkbooks) and many friends who like to help out a good cause as well.

Here's my honey, dealing poker hands. My kids LOVE the poker part of the whole benefit. Karter had the high hand this year with 4 Kings. He got his pick of the prizes and he went straight for a knife/flashlight set he'd had his eye on from the second he arrived at the campsite. Way to go, you lucky kid you!


You don't have to ride to be a part of the event, but it sure is fun. We ride the Lake Fork Trail just North of LaPoint, Utah on the way to Paradise Reservoir.

Riders heading in.....


One of my favorite cowboys, Kent Morris


We tease Kent alot, but he's got a huge heart. Every year he brings alot of money to spend and he always buys the doll Jackie Robbins crochets. He'll spend between $400 and $500 on her dolls, just because it's a good charity and we like raising money for the CJCs. Kent and all his dollies...*giggle*. Wonder what he does with them all?


Kent in action at the auction...


Where there's smoke, there's fire and when there's fire around Ed Peterson's BBQ, you know it's going to be awesome. The meal is the BEST part of the CJC charity event. Wish I had some of Ed's Excellent BBQ right now. mmmmm mmmmm mmmmm GOOD!

That's Ed on the right with UBBCH member, Ray Messer.


Brandy and Kenyon love Ed's awesome BBQ too. How cute are they? Brandy is my cousin/bestfriend for life. She's Sierra's mom.


More BBQ lovers-
Sue Sawyer and Donnie Sawyer(her brother in law)


Kathy and Rod Harrison (and some guy I don't know)


These are the hicks I'm talkin' about. Good guys! They come with their pockets loaded just to spend money at the auction. They'll easily give $1000 for a handmade quilt or $800 for a handcrafted bench and sometimes they donate it back to auction it off again.





The Wild Bunch...


Ally, Brandy and Wade Robbins


Ally and Darin- cute cousins!


Karter and Kyle Hanke had a great time. They worked, played and we taught Kyle how to play poker. Hope his dad, the High Councilman, doesn't care. LOL


Just as soon as the sun dropped behind the mountains in the West, the temperature dropped too, and the full moon began its ascent out of the East. A beautiful day turned into a very beautiful night.


Hello hat! Where are you goin' with that cowgirl? (Gotta love Kathy Harrison! The funnest cowgirl around)



Just a little FYI- The Children's Justice Centers, in a nutshell, are places where kids who have been removed from an abusive situation (sexual abuse and physical abuse) can go to be in a loving, homey, comfortable environment to give police a statement, get counseling and the love they need after such traumatic experiences. Alot of times, their testimony at the CJC is taped and they aren't forced to endure the scary experience of sitting on the stand in a courtroom, facing their abuser and reliving the trauma that has already been inflicted. Great charity!