Don't Mess With Texas - Part III

Alert: post-lost-in-the-Draft-folder! Repeat; post-lost-in-the-Draft-folder!

It just occurred to me to scrounge around in all the blog drafts I (we) have begun, but have never seen the light of day. Imagine my surprise when I uncovered this one; the third and final installment from our San Antonio / Houston getaway from earlier in the year!

Hmm...let me see if I can remember what we did. Just kidding, we had such a good time, I will never forget!

After arriving at "Auntie" Megan and "Uncle" Drew's home in Houston, Grandma Gigi babysat little E (much littler at the time!) while this fearless foursome navigated the Houston traffic and experienced the World Renowned Houston Rodeo.

For years we had heard about the sheer size of this event, but it seriously needs to be witnessed firsthand to be believed! There were people everywhere (repeating this; EVERYWHERE!), but oddly enough it wasn't the kind of crowd that annoys easily. It was more of a large group just eating & drinking, enjoying the sun and hanging out. There was a lot of denim jeans on hand; many with chewing tobacco rings in the rear pockets.

The livestock building was stuffed with prize-winning animals of all breeds (BTW, I had two preemptive zanax to keep my esophagus open!), an exhibit where live animal births could be witnessed (from chicken eggs to cows!), and historic tractors galore (both restored and un-restored!)

The roof of this massive structure contains a split in it and it opens in both the North & South directions, like the sunroof on a car!

Inside the large building we found our seats and enjoyed the bulls & blood, dust & mud, the roar of the Sunday crowd....oops oh wait, that's a Garth Brooks song! But that's what they call it...they call the thing rodeo!

Among other things, the events menu included chuck wagon races, bull riding, and lassoing. But the highlight of the evening, yes maybe even more entertaining than the highly-talented, easy-on-the-eyes Taylor Swift concert, was the mutton bustin'! If you've never seen this event before, let me tell you, it is highly entertaining. Picture little kids in protective helmets, elbow and chest pads riding sitting on the backs of sheep and hanging on to their necks tight as the sheep race across an open area. It was nuts! I am almost tempted to create a future post on mutton busting alone!

Auntie Megan with little E! I remember hearing (perhaps in my head) "Quick, take a picture, Megan is holding Ellena!"

Uncle Drew and E watching the tube, probably ESPN's Sportscenter!

Playing in the yard. Hey this grass is different from our grass at home - it's green! Yeah, thanks for noticing honey.

And I'm down. Little help here!

In the shuttle on the way back to the valu-parking lot. Take a look at those little red eyes! Yes pun'kin, we pretty much always feel this way after a vacation. It was a fun experience, but it's nice to be back home! If I remember correctly, she was asleep before we paid to have the car released from the lot!