Rodeo

Last Saturday we went to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  It's a big production!!!  It's on a property several city blocks long that includes the new football stadium where the Houston Texans play, the old stadium next door, and 2 stadium sized arenas.  We didn't see an actual rodeo because it's later at night and required that you buy a concert ticket, but there was LOTS to see and do.  We had to park in a big lot across from the complex and a tractor pulled us to the entrance.

 One of the buildings was mostly horses with an arena for various competitions.  We spent lots of time walking around all the stalls saying hello to all the horses.  We found a few who were out of their stalls to talk to also.  (For any family members wondering if I got a perm, the answer is NO! - having 2 babies did that to my hair!)

 They had a kid farm thing set up.  The girls got some buckets and got to do various farm-type things, like plant a "seed" (a plastic coin), water it with imaginary water, and get a piece of fresh plastic produce for their buckets.

 They went through the sheep pen and got a little bag of wool and learned about what it's for.

 Then we went through the cow pen and milked a life size plastic cow and got an empty little carton of milk

 Saying hello to the real cows...

 They got to dive into a pool of corn and put a plastic ear of corn in the basket.

 At the end they "sold" all their farm products for a dollar which they then used to buy a treat at the store at the end. 

 It was a great little fun learning thing.  I really love living in Texas!!

 Next was the petting zoo.  There was this cute little baby goat who didn't seem to mind lots of cuddles.

 There were some brushes laying around too...

 One of the highlights was the pony rides!!!  30 minutes in line for a 2 minute, $6 pony ride, and it was worth it!!

 In another building there was lots of other stuff, including a birthing center and this little room to learn about good nutrition.

 We got to meet a real live asparagus!!

 Too bad we forgot to take pictures of the birthing center!!  There were lots of newborn pigs and calves and pregnant mommas about to give birth.  It was really cool!
We made our way back to the horse arena to catch the tale end of a shooting race on quarter horses.  They had to shoot all the ballons at the top of the poles with the fastest time.  The Houston Rodeo is about the coolest Texas thing ever!  I can't wait for next year!!!

Here's a video of Anna on her pony...

By the way, it was rodeo week at the girls' preschool too.  They set up a "rodeo" in the gym with lots of rocking horses and fun cowboy type games, had lots of rodeo arts & crafts, and they had a "campfire" sing.  I blogged about this last year, where they sing the Texas song to the tune of Bingo...

I know a state that's big and great and Texas is it's name-o

T-E-X-A-S

T-E-X-A-S

T-E-X-A-S

and Texas is it's name-o.

YEEEHAWWWW!!!!