Yee Haw - Stock Show!

I find it very funny that for 49 weeks of the year, the city of Denver tries to refute the idea that we are a "cowboy" town. Then, for three weeks every January, we try our hardest to convince everyone that we are. Gotta' love the National Western Stock Show! In all the years that JZ and I have lived in the Denver area, we had never been to the Stock Show. Actually, I went once a few years ago with my 2nd graders, but that was a whole different experience.

Yesterday, we roped (get it - roped?!?) Team Pouliot into joining us for a day-o-fun at the Stock Show. And what a day is was! We had a great time looking at all of the animals, seeing a rodeo, people watching (seriously, stilettos at a rodeo?), and eating way too many treats and processed foods.

23 weeks - This Baby and I are ready for our first Stock Show!

Noah petting a llama at the petting farm.

Eli found a friend just his size - a pot belly pig!

Grace in her new pink cowgirl hat - that is a girl after my own heart!

The three amigos with Cam the CSU Ram

Steve (wearing his Wyoming t-shirt and hat) getting beat up by Cam. Colorado State is victorious again!

We tons had of fun with Team Pouliot - too many funny things happened and were said to even count. My favorite was when Grace told me that she thought the baby would probably enjoy the lights and music of the rodeo, and that I should open my mouth wide so he could hear better. Genius!

Our only hiccups were two trips to the first aid station (one for Grace and one for me. Who knew we were so allergic to rodeos? Good thing they are stocked with Benadryl!) and almost getting arrested by the rent-a-cop. Oops. We were able to avoid Stock Show jail by the skin of our teeth after we kindly (I use that term loosely) explained to him that we were a little lost and just trying to get to the sidewalk that was 50 feet past his guard shack. He kindly (I use that term even more loosely) explained to us that he didn't actually care that we had three short-legged, tired children, one exhausted pregnant gal, and three over stimulated adults. We were going to have to follow the rules and walk all the way up the hill, through the arena, and back down the sidewalk, fifty feet from where we were, adding about 20 min. to our trip back to the car. Our options were to follow the rules or go to jail. After assessing the situation and the children on our shoulders, we all chose option one. In the process, we had to convince a 7-year-old that we were not, in fact, going to jail, and that Jer was not actually going to punch that guy. Aah, memories!

All in all, it was a successful trip to the 103rd National Western Stock Show. Who wants to join us next year?