THIS WAS HIS FIRST RODEO...

the HOUSTON RODEO

is one of my FAVORITE things about living here.

last march,

evan and i got to see keith urban.

i fell in love with the event of MUTTON BUSTIN'.

adelaide and i enjoyed the kid events and the livestock show together.

and it was about this time one year ago,

when i announced i REALLY liked living here.

that was a BIG proclamation for me,

and words my patient husband was quite RELIEVED to finally hear.

there's something about the RODEO that makes me

awfully PROUD to be a HOUSTONIAN.

this year it WAS graham's first rodeo.

of course he won't remember it,

but we laid some groundwork for years to come.

just follow the letters in "RODEO" to learn some of the basics too.

Rodeo fun isn't only for kids

we thoroughly enjoyed a double date with chris and kelli and being up close and personal with horses, bulls, and brad paisley.

Oil, butter, and sugar

if it doesn't contain one of these three ingredients

it probably shouldn't be served at the rodeo.

we ate our share of all three in the form of flautas, fajitas, nachos, and funnel cakes.

Dress the part

you don't have to go buy anything new,

just pick the best western duds you have

and wear them proudly.

elle's grandparents must have been

thinking ahead because they gave graham

the perfect outfit to wear.

Erika makes a fine nanny

if you need an extra set of hands to help wrangle your kids i can recommend our friend erika's services. i'd say she visited at the perfect time.

Oblige to cheesy photo ops

the rodeo only comes once a year,

so make the most of the opportunity to take these family photos that will make you laugh for years to come.