Rodeo 2011

We spent the whole day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, arriving early in the morning even before the parking lots got crowded!  Since we were there bright and early, there was no line for the petting zoo and it wasn't crowded, AND we got a great view of the brand new baby animals that had been born during the rodeo.  The kids loved the petting zoo - Dylan tried to pick up the little goats, and one of the bigger goats licked his arm - you can see him holding his arm, he was surprised!

 Lily was excited to see Miss Moo.

 Lily really enjoyed seeing the baby chicks hatching.

 I would have felt so claustrophobic on this ride, the way Dusty and Lily were caged in with bars above them, but they didn't seem to mind at all.

Baby Sally joined Lily for a carousel ride.

 Lily was not scared of any of the rides this year, and in fact, we learned that the really simple ones like this bumblebee ride where they just go up and then "fly" around in a circle a few times, were too boring for her.  She needed a little more excitement, like the rollercoaster she rode with Daddy.

 Dylan rode one ride with us and hated it.  He was getting sleepy anyway, so he stayed in the stroller looking grumpy while Lily rode the rides and played a few games.  He did go to sleep for 45 minutes or so, which was just enough to perk him back up for the rest of the day.

 Here Daddy and Lily are playing the ring toss game.

 And THIS is the game where they won a prize!

 This slide is dangerous.  I stopped taking pictures because I was too busy watching Lily skid out of control and come down the slide sideways! Meanwhile, Dusty and Dylan were bouncing so high that Daddy had to hold Dylan really tight so he wouldn't fly right off of his lap.  It was REALLY fast!  I know that sounds kinda fun, but the kids didn't really even seem to enjoy it that much.

 By the time we had visited the animals inside Reliant Center, ridden rides and played games in the Midway, had lunch, and gone through Little Farmerville, it was time to head over to the Stadium for the Rodeo.  Lily was completely tired out and fell asleep sitting on her bench in the stroller.  It was hilarious!

 Dylan was a happy camper after he woke up from his nap.

 Once we got into the Stadium, Lily was still sound asleep so we moved her to this couch to keep resting for awhile.

 Our friends Marc and Amy joined us for the rodeo and Brad Paisley concert.  The kids had a great time watching the animals in the rodeo, and by the end of the night everyone was thoroughly exhausted - as you can see by Mommy and Daddy's tired expressions in these pictures!