Thursday, April 2, 2009

The Rodeo and Concert

I promise, this is my last post about the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show. We just had so much fun, and I took way too many pictures (imagine that). So, at the end of our visit there we went to the Rodeo. It's a double rodeo on the last day. You get to watch the normal 7 events and then the top 4 from each event ride again for the final prize money. It's great having two rodeos for the price of one. I was a little late getting our tickets, so we had a bird's eye view of everything. Everyone looked tiny. The kids didn't mind watching the miniature rodeo. Cowpokette was tired. She wanted to take a nap. Big Cowpoke was thirsty the entire time, and Little Cowpoke was actually being good! The Cowpokes love to go to rodeos. They talked about this rodeo all month long. It was even more exciting that they got to ride in our local rodeo the next day. Here was the line up for the final four riders in the barrel racing. It's a bit grainy. The pictures was a picture of the huge screens they have hanging above the arena. I was really excited about watching all four barrel racers go. They are all pretty competitive.Sheena Robins had a good clean run. I think this was Mary Burger. I am having a hard time remembering who was who. She had a good clean run. That was Jill Moody on the gray horse. She too had a clean run. The last to go was Lindsay Sears. I was really excited to watch her go. She was riding Martha. The horse she rode at the NFR. That first barrel, she was kind of off a bit. Well, at least it looks like it in the picture. I am sure Martha just has a powerful engine and was pushing her up out of the saddle. I don't really know, I only trot the barrel pattern and I probably would fall off Martha if I ever rode her. But here is the rest of her run. Here she is coming into the third barrel. Does anyone else see what I see is going to happen?Well, if you guessed that they knocked the barrel down, you get a gold star for today!! I guess even the best of the best have bad days. She still won a bunch of money from the rest of the runs she did during the rodeo. I was really excited to watch them run. And just a fun fact, did you know that Lindsay Sears used to be a competitive ice skater? That was kind of random!! Now on to my husbands reason for breathing, the rough stock!These guys are traveling partners. The one in the dark blue shirt won a huge rodeo in Colorado and the one in the light blue shirt won the Houston rodeo. They were both so excited for each other. They both had awesome rides. Now, just saying, but if my legs ever, EVER, looked like that on the back of a horse, and I was only holding on with one hand, my butt would be in the dirt. But I was just saying.How about one that bends in half? Holy cow! I think I would have flipped over the front of that horse's head. I know that one was saddle bronc. I had to throw that one in there. The horse was just too cool of a bucker. And you always have to love those blue roans. What are the chances that that little horse has some Hancock blood in him? He was a big mover too. Now onto my husbands love of all loves. The bull riding. These were the top four riders. My husband knew two of the bull riders. He rode with them in college rodeo. He told me to take lots of pictures, that later on he never looked at so I deleted half of them. This is his friend. I can't remember his name. I think he ended up with fifth place. So, close, but no cigar. This was his other friend. He was getting a bit brave, and he started to spur the bull. He looks like he is about to fall off, but wait, there's more!!! Oh no, oh my, I don't believe you are supposed to be riding in the back seat! Yep, the was launched into the air. I thought I had gotten a picture of the flight, but I must have deleted it. He did make the 8 seconds though. But not a good enough time for the top four. The the top four bull riders went. The first three didn't cover their bulls. So, the last bull rider was up. All he had to do was cover his bull and he would win 50,000 dollars.He covered his bull and won the 50,000. If he hadn't covered his bull, all four riders would have had to ride again. Then for our intermission, we got to watch two go rounds of chuck wagon racing!!Those crazy men stand up that entire time that four galloping horses pull the tiny wagon around the arena. The things people do for fun!! The thrill seekers!! After each night of the rodeo, there is always a music concert. We got to watch Brooks and Dunn. While the stage was being put together, we got to watch the calf scramble. It was like watching ants run around! The calf scramble is always fun to watch. I hope one day my kids get to do a calf scramble. Then the lights went down and Brooks and Dunn came out to sing!The stage is a circle and it rotates around as the songs are sung. It's pretty cool. Plus they have really awesome lights. Big Cowpoke slept through the entire concert. Is this Dunn? Well, if he is, then he sang all the songs. Brooks was sick, so he didn't sing any of his songs. I always get the two of them mixed up. When the stage came back around our way, Brooks jumped off the stage and found a little girl to dance with. It was so cute!I would have died!! How exciting to be able to say you danced with Kix Brooks. Sigh.........It was a really great show! The kids all loved it and it was the perfect end to a super long day. The concert ended at 8 pm. Which was perfect for us. We had a three hour long drive home. We put the kids in their pajamas and went home! It was a long day and this was a long post!

16 comments:

~Rachel~ said...

I was there! With my bullfighter...

=]

The Wife said...

That was a jammed packed day 'o FUN! Thanks for all the pics! Was like I was there.

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

Loved the post and not too long at all!! Awesome photos. You must have a heckova zoom lens for your camera.
The barrel racer on the sorrel, blazed face horse was Mary Burger on Rare Fred. I love that horse. I love Martha too.
Did your hubby ever take ballet lessons when he was bull riding? Lots of the guys got into that to help their balance and coordination. I mention that because I think one of the reasons Lindsay rides so well is because of her ice skating experience. She is so strong and balanced.

Brooks and Dunn? I would love to see them in concert again. Odd, I saw them eons ago and Kixs was sick that night too. Oh well, he is eye candy enough, he could just stand there and I would be happy.;)

Five O'Clock Somewhere said...

Great photos and great commentary. Looks like so much fun!!!

2 LMZ FARMS said...

Ilove watching Mary Burger running Rare Fred. Let me tell ya, some of those barrel horses will throw you up out of the saddle coming out of a barrel not matter how far you have your tail in your seat.lol I meant to ask you if your hubby remembered my cousin Bart Jackson, he rode bulls. I seen him the other night at the rodeo roping. All we had time to do was just yell at each other.lol I can't wait for you to start running the barrels. I make it look easy??lol I do good staying on that crazy thing.lol Thank you anyway, made me feel like a true can-chaser.

2 LMZ FARMS said...

On more thing, did the cowgirl chicks perform? My other cousing,(you know how us MS people are, HUGE families) Ginger Duke, rides with them and does trick riding.

d2cmom said...

I'm glad I got to see some of the Houston Rodeo through your pics. It's funny that I was in Houston and live in TX, but had to see the pics from my bloggy friend who lives in LA. Does LA have rodeos like the Houston or FT Worth ones?

The Wades said...

Hey girlie. You got some great action shots. What a fun time.

Carroll Farm said...

great pics and it looks like a ton of fun. I need to get my girls to a 'big' rodeo - it think that they would be pretty entertained.

ezra_pandora said...

Those were excellent shots!!! I couldn't get a single action shot when we went to our local rodeo. Nothing close to being clear, but you sure did! Love the bucking horse that was basically bent in half. I'd love to see Brooks and Dunn too! I've only been to I believe like 5 concerts my whole life (U2, Metallica, Rush, and Mark Wills twice, (county fairs))

Hey, I'm going to make my blog private because I believe my now ex-employers may be spying for a bit, I could just be paranoid, but in any case, I may make it private for a bit. Can you email me with your email address? kellymclaughlin79@yahoo.com

Pony Girl said...

What a great rodeo! I would love to go to one that big someday. It looked like a lot of fun. I'd love to watch those barrel racers. Lindsay looks amazing! I cracked up that Big Cowpoke slept through the whole concert! That's a lot of noise and lights to sleep through!

The Wades said...

You got some great action shots! Seeing those cowboys riding in a rodeo makes me think back to a post I did. Remember when Max (hee hee) competed not long after surgery?) Gotta love a good rodeo.

Your children are getting great experiences.

Susan said...

We loved the Houston rodeo too, this year was our first time. Pretty cool that you got to see B&D, and yes, that is Ronnie Dunn who sings lead on 95% of their songs.

Danielle Michelle said...

LOVE Brooks and Dunn! I've seen them twice and they are ALWAYS great!

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Whew! After such a busy day and all that action, I think I'd have been sleeping during the concert like Big cowpoke, too! lol!

Awesome photos, especially the little mini horses and people down there. lol
Glad you had such a great time, too.

~Lisa

gtyyup said...

That's a huge day!! Looked like a blast. I'd love to see Brooks & Dunn. Thanks for sharing your day!