Chadron Fur Trade Days 2014

I have to start with a little newsflash.  Clint has "retired" from running, which has been such a change from all the miles and training that he's been doing for forever the past 15+ years.  It's kind of weird for all of us.

Last weekend was our annual trip to Chadron.  We left Friday morning, and we stopped in Scottsbluff at the Riverside Discovery Center (or Scottsbluff Zoo).  It's teeny tiny, and not very expensive, but it's also not very well maintained and sort of run down.  But, it was a good way to enjoy the morning and luckily for us, it was very cool and cloudy, so it was the perfect weather for seeing the animals.

"Chani, why the long face?"

Clint and I have decided we really, really like going back to Chadron to visit.  We loved living there, it was a great place for us to live as newlyweds, and grow up a little, and grow our little family.  We really enjoyed seeing Clint's grandma.  She's a gem and my kids adore her.  She is such a good sport to let us stay with her (even though we're loud and CRAZY).

 It's fun to see everyone, but we really go back for the Colter Run.  Clint has run the Colter Run 14 times now.  It's a tradition that I don't know that he'll ever give it up.  That said, he was really on the fence about running all last week.  Without any substantial training, he was afraid that he wouldn't do well.  He'd only been beat on the course one time before (the 10K) and never lost the 5K.  It's a really hilly course, but after a lot of consideration, he decided to run the 10K.  It was his first ever "fun run" and he did great.  He took 4th over all and 1st in his age group.

 Before

After

After the 10K, we wandered downtown for the parade.  It's fun to sit at our friends car lot  and visit with people we miss from Nebraska. It's the perfect small town parade.  It never lasts more than an hour, the same Shriner Car guys come every year, they throw tons of candy, a couple of floats spray water at the crowd (mostly reunion floats), and one group hands out Otter Pops.

 Asher fell asleep on the way downtown, and slept through the fire trucks, the shriners cars.  But not through the lawnmowers (suped--Clint assures me this is the correct spelling--up for the lawn mower races earlier in the day) after being drenched by a float of reunion people.

 Chani and Saya waiting for CANDY!

Clint, Emery, and Asher, also waiting for CANDY!  Doesn't my husband pose so nicely for the camera?!

I can't resist this one last picture.  Clint and I test drove a few cars while we were at the car lot.  Emery sat the entire time in this chair reading Calvin and Hobbes.  He loved it!  We're going to have to pick up some comic books for him.