Back to our Roots...

On Monday, I took the kids (and met Jess) at the National Western Stock Show!  Even though John and I have lived here 6-ish years, we've never once attended this huge event - but have always heard lots about it (especially since having kids).  Let me tell you, it is quite an event to behold - all sorts of ranch and rodeo, smack dab in the heart of Denver! - The largest 4-H show you've ever laid eyes on, for sure.  It definitely reminded me of our Suthern' Illinoiz roots - as Emma put it, "it smells like Indiana!"  :)  (her grandma lives in Indiana :)

Getting to the National Western Stock Show Expo Hall was quite a feat in and of itself.  I followed signs and eventually parked somewhere that was surprisingly cheap compared to the places around it.  After I backed in and got the stroller out, I realized there were two reasons for this:  1)  I parked at an old warehouse mudhole.  By the time we got out of the "parking lot," the stroller had mud caked on the tires, as did my shoes.  But never mind....because 2) I had to walk through the stockyards to get to the Expo Hall!  So there were other things besides mud coating my stroller and shoes, if ya know what I mean.  However, as far as Tanner was concerned, the stockyards were a BLESSING, not a curse  - we laughed and laughed at the cows getting their hair brushed and blow-dryed as they prepared for their showings.  (SILLY COWS! :)

After we finally made it to the Expo Hall (nearly an hour late to meet Jess!), the girls and I headed up to Ranchland.  There, we took a pony ride (Ellery took an illegal ride - I told them she was already 1 :) 

Tanner proudly rides her pony.  I think hers might have been
named Chili? ...but I know there was one there named
TIKI! :)

Ellery's not so sure of her horse, Tex. 
Right before we got off, she decided she liked
petting its hair and kept saying, "HIIIIEEEE!"

After the pony rides, we walked the kids around to look at rabbits, roosters, swans, ducks, pigs, sheep....I think that about covers it!  It was SO fun to see their reaction to all the animals. 

Emma & Gabe check out some roosters. 
Gabe kept Cock-a-doodle-doo-ing at them all :)

Gabe and Tanner admire the bunny rabbits.

I think there's a sheep back there.  Not sure. 
But I am sure there are three cute kids right up front! :)

Tanner, climbing up on the fence to get a better
look at a.....um....who knows.  Maybe that sheep again?

Tanner & Gabe dig the pigs.

Ellery is happy to enjoy the animal sites and sounds
 from her Auntie Jess' arms :)

After strolling around the animals for a bit, we headed over to an indoor playground.

The big kids spun right-round on the tire swing.
Gabe was so dizze when he got off he literally FELL OVER.
We laughed ONLY FOR A SECOND before tending to him.  Promise.

Ellery braves the slide with Auntie Jess' help

After the "park," the kids chose to ride a nearby train.  It was either face painting or train for their money, and they all chose train.  I woulda chosen face painting, but whatever.

Emma's old enough to always know (& care) where to find the camera! :)

Time passed so quickly, and soon it was time for lunch.

I only threw this lunch part in the story of our day because it's a pretty cute pic :)

After lunch, we had to say good-bye to the Janti, but the girls and I stuck around and went to the Petting Farm (the Janti went earlier while they were waiting on us to get there).

The funniest thing for Tanner was that a goat
almost peed on my shoe.  Evidently that is 3-year-old HILARIOUS.

Ellery LOVES animals, and just kept saying "HIIIIEEEE!  HIIIIEEE!"
I wasn't brave enough to let her stand by herself near an animal
while I stepped back and snapped a picture :)

Tanner gives a cheesy grin at the Petting Farm

To get home, we had to trudge the 3/4 mile (I swear) back through the stockyards to our car.  This time, the hub-bub of stockyard prepping was over, and the yard was very empty.  Every now and again, though, someone would walk their steer or heffer through the "walking lane."  The cow would, of course, moo and moo at us, which Tanner though was hilarious.  At one point I told her, "I think that cow is saying, 'MOOOOOve over Tanner and Ellery, I'm coming through!'"  You would've thought I was a comdianne.  I love it when my kids think I'm really funny.  :)  (It's the little things, OK? :)

All in all, it was a really fun morning!  By the time we got home, the kids were wrecks who wouldn't nap...but we won't focus on that :)  I can't wait to go next year, and hopefully attend one of the rodeos!  The stock show is in Denver for nearly a month, and I think we will try to make it an annual event.  After all, my kids need to know their roots! :)