Stephens' Stories: Rodeo

March in Houston is all about the rodeo. I have not been to the Houston rodeo (an actual performance) since I worked at Ernst & Young before we moved to Denver. I have been lucky enough to go to the livestock show and carnival part with Austin for the past 2 years! No really, it is fun, but also stinky - those animals smell! This year I took the boys to watch the trail ride, which is the start of the rodeo weeks. We went on a very cold and windy day to a park near West U to watch the cowboys, wagons, horses ride by and they also stopped for a break.

Then on the last Friday of Austin's spring break week, DiDi and Grandad took Austin, Annabelle, me and Campbell to the livestock show. We saw baby chicks hatch, baby pigs drink milk (all 15 of them in 1 litter), had our clothes eaten by goats and llamas in the petting zoo. Of course, the highlight were the new cars for sale that Annabelle and Austin loved sitting in and pretending to drive :). There were tractors that Austin loved driving too. He also rode the horse that was attached to a merry go round type thing. It was a fun outing and any real Texan should go every year. Can you tell I am in a sarcastic mood?

Our neighborhood had a rodeo party complete with a petting zoo. Austin rode the donkey/horse this year. Last year he would not go near them. Really growing up! Finally, Austin's school had a rodeo party too. He got to wear his boots and bandanna and parade with his stick horse. There were games and prizes, and of course, snacks.

What a fun rodeo season!