Yee haw! R-o-d-e-o

Derrick and I love us some rodeos. They a fun time and if you haven't been to one, you are missing out. Yes, sometimes it looks like they are mean to the animals and I wince when they rope the calf from across the arena, but you just have to remind yourself -- cowboys love animals. Animals make them who they are. They know how to rope things correctly so it doesn't injure them and the animals always just get up and keep on going. no worries!

Well I bought Derrick tickets to the rodeo and Dierks Bentley for Valentine's Day. We went last night and it was a blast! Best rodeo we have been to and it definitely surpassed all of my expectations. It was AWESOME. HUGE! BIGGER THAN BIG! (It was in TX... are you surprised?). It was a giant carnival; a state fair; a production - and I loved it. Unfortunately we didn't get to experience as much as I would have liked to because we left a little later than planned and then, after 25 minutes of driving and only 3 minutes away I realized... I FORGOT THE TICKETS. Turn around... drive back... the show started at 7 and we got there at 6:45. Not much time for seeing the sights, we headed straight to the arena.

Now, rodeos are very patriotic and pretty religious. They pray before the event, they always talk about the men at war and love the American flag. That part always makes me so happy to be there... to be surrounded by people who love their country and love God... and love to see some cowboys get beat up by animals!!

On the events for the night was bare back bucking horse (they have to stay on for a certain amount of time and then are scored on that), ride a horse --> lasso a calf --> get off the horse and pin the calf down in record time, saddle back bucking horse (same as above but with a saddle), little kids come out and hold on for dear life to a sheep until they fall off --> the longest to stay on wins a rhinestone belt buckle, a team of 2 --> one lassos the neck of the calf, one the feet, in the fasted time. ride a horse --> lasso a calf --> ties up its legs --> make it stay for a minimum time all in the fastest time, cowgirl barrel racing, and the best part... BULL RIDING. All of this in 2 hours!

Sorry for the blurry pics... when I go back next Saturday, the 26, for the finals I will have my new camera and hopefully be able to get better action shots.

Me at the entrance before heading in

Look at all the rides! And carny food!
Bare back riding - the 2 guys in red help the cowboy get off and then lead the crazy horse back into the right area
All the cowboys waiting to ride
He missed the calf which is why the calf is so far away from him

All the little future cowboys/cowgirls
Us >
Then there was 20 minutes break and Dierks Bentley came out!!
He was great and the night was awesome. All of this for $25 -- can't beat it:):)