Yee Haw! Nights Two and Three

Happy 4th of July, dear readers. In the north, and particularly in Michigan, summer is half over. However, here in West Texas we are not even close. We have a mountain of hot, hot, hot days yet to be lived.

Tonight is the last of the four nights of the Rodeo. We have enjoyed ourselves each night although Katie was wound up the second night. I discovered at a later point that Katie had been kidnapping Tootsie Rolls from the parade candy dish ALL DAY long. It explains her out-of-control demeanor. I tell you, some experts say sugar does not affect children. I say come on over and watch my daughter after she ingests sugar. She becomes defiant and basically ignores both Rick and I. Needless to say she is back on her sugar-free diet. Life is just easier that way.

Below are a few pictures from the previous two nights at the rodeo.

 Calf Scramble

The Kids' Calf Scramble was held on June 30 and July 1. In this picture I cannot pick out Katie. She had a pink shirt on, but Thursday was Tough Enough to Wear Pink night so a lot of scramblers had pink on. She didn't get a ribbon from one of the calves, but had fun racing up and down the rodeo ring. On the second night's Calf Scramble she didn't do any better and she was upset. Crying upset. However, she did have fun and I almost had a heart attack. After all of the ribbons were taken, the calves and kids continued running in the ring. Katie was a few steps outside of our box with Rick a few feet away when a herd of calves come running at her. You know, that child did not move. She just stood there and let the calves part around her and seemed to enjoy being in the middle of a running herd of calves. I think she didn't want to miss her chance to grab one of the ribbons. She is fearless. . . or not very smart. I had visions of seeing my daughter being bulled over by the calves and then getting stepped on.  

Katie and Rick after the rodeo. They are standing in the ring.

 Katie and I with all of our friends. It must have been something I said and not how I smelled because I had taken a shower before the rodeo! Actually this is after the rodeo ended and most of the people vacated the arena. Each night after the rodeo a few cowboys come into the ring and attempt to qualify. I don't know why they don't do it during the performance.

These ladies are from San Angelo. They do synchronized riding. It was pretty amazing and made me want to get on a horse. Being in a box seat and right up front, I am amazed at all of the riders and their skills.

Here's Katie with Noel. Last night we invited two friends and their oldest son (Noel) as well as one of our workers and his girlfriend. Katie kept on feeding Kasey cheddar fish crackers. Being the mannered and polite guy that he is, he ate everyone.

That's it for now. Gotta take that shower and make dinner before 7:30 pm. Hopefully I will get that "one" picture of the rodeo that has eluded me so far.