Rodeo!

One of our family's favorite times of year is the Houston Rodeo. I'm not exaggerating. Let me put it this way. A few weekends ago I mentioned it was "Go Texan Day." That's the Friday that the Trail Riders ride into town for the start of the Rodeo, and much of Houston wears their boots and hats to school, work, etc. David forgot to wear his boots to clinic that Friday. Disappointed at the missed opportunity, he declared we'd all wear our Texan gear to church on Sunday. So all four Hongs wore our jeans, western shirts, and boots to church that weekend. We really enjoy Rodeo season.

In our busy spring schedule, there was only one Saturday morning we could make it to the Rodeo. As it would turn out, it rained... and poured. So, we set out, each in our jeans, cowboy boots, and rain coats with umbrellas in hand.

Can you see the sheets of rain through the back window?
We parked along a street a block from the Metro rail station, met up with a Korean family (who literally just arrived from Korea a few weeks ago -- they were so excited to go to the rodeo -- even in the rain!), and walked the block to the train. The train ride is always one of the highlights for a certain 3 year old.

We really enjoyed seeing the rodeo with the Shin family this year. It was fun to see things through the eyes of a family visiting for the first time.

I should note that while I call this the "Rodeo," this is the Houston Rodeo, Young Family Version. While David and I enjoyed the concerts and evening rodeo events before the kids were born, we now see largely livestock and tractors. Maybe someday we'll get a sitter and make it back to a rodeo concert again! We have a fun time on our Saturday morning excursions, though.

First stop, each year, is the bees. I don't have a photo of prior years, because it didn't cross my mind to take a photo of Jonathan crying or cringing in fear. He instinctively found them quite menacing, even behind plexi-glass. But this year he bravely stood on the display and took a good look at their hive along with the County Bee Queen.

Abby was totally interested in the bees and took a long look with Daddy.

From there, it was on to see the baby animals. They are always a hit. In fact, two years ago it was shortly after the Rodeo, where we'd impressed Jonathan with an adorable baby cow, that we told Jonathan his Mommy was to have a baby. I'll never forget his reply: "Baby cow?!" Not quite.

Baby lambs...
Baby piglets...
Baby cow...

Riding the pony was a hit again.


Next stop was the petting zoo.

Abby spent quite a while with these patient goats.

Jonathan got a real kick out of this guy.


After a cow milking demonstration, watching some chicks hatch, and a little shopping, we grabbed a bite to eat. Jonathan was quite excited about his corny dog.




Finally the weather cleared and we headed outside to visit the children's farm and market. The kids walk through a farm layout where they milk a cow, gather eggs, harvest corn, pick cotton, pick apples, "ride" a tractor to bale the hay, and then arrive at a market to sell their collected goods. From there, they get to pick a good in exchange to take with them. Both the kids really enjoyed it. Jonathan declared with much drama, "Wow, Mommy, I have a lot of work to do on the farm today!" and sorting each of the collected goods into their correct bins at the end was just on Abby's level. She was quite happy throwing the apples, peaches, and cartons of milk into their correct bins. The tractor ride, of course, was the highlight of the farm trip.



Whew! After so much work on the farm, the Hong family headed home for long afternoon naps!