National Western Stock Show

Giddy-up- Cowboy!

It's National Western Stock Show time again in Denver!!

We love the stock show.  We usually love to accompany it with the rodeo but we opted out this year since last year was a disaster with Oliver's asthma.  Maybe later, until then, we'll opt for exhibits of big trucks, big tractors, big horses, big cows and BIG HATS!

For years (seriously), I have wanted to get the boys their own cowboy hats.  Clearly, this year was THE year!  It was a tough choice, but eventually, they made the perfect choice.

I love how Kellan is puffing out his chest, showing off his cowboy tough side.

Oliver stretches in prep for riding a real live pony.

Giddy-up Cowboy.  Oliver's like an old pro on the pony.

While Kellan saddled up a pony for his first time and rode it all "by-self"!

Way to Go Cowboy!!  We are so proud of you!

After the pony rides, the boys escorted Jin to a choo-choo ride.

After we hit all of the must-see attractions (pony and choo choo rides) we headed out to the cattle barns.  It's always amazing to see the livestock.  I especially like when they are all clean and fluffy, not like what you really see out in the field.  Then... we saw the cow spa.  Without a doubt, I can guarantee you that I was not put on earth to be a real-live cowgirl.  No-way, no doubt in my mind.

Oliver, Jin and Kellan with the clean and fluffy cows.

Rows and rows of clean cows, just how I like 'em.

Whoa Betsy, that's One Big Bull!

This bull was huge, on all accounts and so sparkly white!!  They were grooming him up but his head stood nearly 7' tall.  No joke!  You can't really tell from this photo, but after we watched them groom him for a while the guy on the left stood by his head and he was a very tall cowboy.  When cows get that big, I give them the credit due and round up to 7'.  The moral of the story, I don't want to find myself on his side of the fence.

Kellan's favorite animals were the goats.  They were a bit more his size and speed.  He LOVED them and all of the kids loved petting them.

After our fill of live stock, it was time to grab lunch.  Keith and I have been on a crazy carb (carb, sugar, dairy, fruit) free diet in prep for Mexico and we get one cheat day a week.  We usually save this for the weekend and this weekend, it was Stock Show day.  MMmmmmmm  Corn Dogs!!!!  There is nothing like a fair-quality Corn Dog!

Kellan was a HUGE fan of the corn dogs as well.  A boy after his Mamas own taste buds.

Oliver is no stranger to a good corn dog.  The boys got taste!

While we dined on gourmet fair-style corn dogs, we watched the 4-H kids show their cows.

MMMooooo Cow!

Jin was loving Oliver while Oliver was playing hard to get.  He would "pretend" that he wasn't interested, but every once in a while we would catch him smiling under the brim of his hat.  I LOVED this photo!  Classic girl meets boy.

When we told Kellan we were going to the Stock Show, he translated that into The Farm.  He kept asking for the tractors so when we finally found them, he was so excited.  What he wasn't excited about was the fact that they didn't move.  We think that he's remembering our day on the Hops and Heifers farm in Longmont and he wanted to head back out to the rolling fields of tractor land.  Sorry buddy, no real test drives today.

Before the day was over, Jin wooed Oliver with some Sprite and they were seen Mending Fences over a soda.  Ahhh... young crush.

What a great day we had at the Stock Show!!!  We are already looking forward to finding some rodeos this summer to get our cowboy fix.