I’ll admit that it’s been a few years since we went to a Fourth of July rodeo, but how is it possible that in that amount of time, this

Turned into this

Walt and some of the other police officers from his agency were working security detail at the rodeo all weekend. On Friday night, Newt and I went out to say hello. Since he was busy looking for bad guys, busting up fights and making sure the drunks fine people coming out of the beer garden weren’t causing any problems, he couldn’t join us for the carnival and rodeo. However, he did look quite nice in his uniform, so I forgive him.
Last time Newt quickly became bored of the actual rodeo and started itching for the Ferris wheel. This time, after saying hello to Walt, I took Newt on the Ferris wheel straight away.
Here is a little photo essay of the experience:

Thank you, Mama. I really, really wanted to ride the Ferris wheel.

Sure looks a lot higher close up…

This is going to be…fun?

Is it supposed to move like that?

Don’t move, Mama! You could shake us!

Don’t take pictures! You could drop your camera!

Don’t look over the side!

Ahhhhh!

Thanks, Mama. That was fun!
(Sidenote: I absolutely love that she calls me Mama.)
After the Ferris wheel it was time for the rodeo to begin.

Newt was mesmerized. She hardly blinked through the whole thing. Even the lady in front of us getting pooped on by a bird didn’t distract her (much). We sat on the hard bleachers for three hours, not hardly even moving until after the fireworks.
Newt has new dreams of barrel racing and rodeo court.
Me? Two days later, I still have a sore bum.
Neither one of us can wait for the next one, but I think I’ll bring a cushion.