We had a fun 4th of July this year, with just our little family of 4. We started the morning off with delicious red, white, and blue pancakes.
Then we finally made it to The World's Oldest Rodeo in Prescott! We've lived here for four years and this is the first time we actually made it. The first year we lived here is when we learned it existed but didn't do anything about it. After it was over we felt like we missed out so we decided we would go the next year. When the next year came along, we tried to get a group of friends to go see it, but it never panned out so we missed it again. Then last year we tried to go but were having trouble buying tickets online so we just showed up and they were sold out. So this year we made sure to get tickets a little early and finally made it!
It was fun, but it would have been a whole lot more fun WITHOUT the kids! Conner loves horses and being a cowboy so we thought he would have fun (at least for awhile) and we wanted to take him. Since Conner was going, there was no point in getting a babysitter for just Caleb so we brought him too. Caleb was just how we expected, a little restless but manageable until the end when he was getting really tired. But sadly, Conner was in a bad mood and wanted to leave from the very beginning, and was just annoying the whole time. Cade thinks Conner didn't like the first event, (cowboys trying to saddle their horses the fastest and it involved pulling the horses to the ground somewhat violently). But this picture shows that Conner was already grumpy before we even got to our seats.
For future reference, we learned that even though you are not allowed to print your tickets at home and must pick them up at the will call, they don't have enough people giving out the tickets and you must arrive at least a half hour early or you will miss the beginning. That was irritating, but at least we made it in time for the prayer. I had forgotten that rodeos are probably the only place left in America (that isn't a church event) that begin with a prayer. I don't know why they do it, but its so refreshing to see there is one place left that prayer and tradition haven't been outlawed from and that people from different backgrounds can come together and be respectful to others' beliefs.
This isn't a good picture, but Caleb had just started sticking his tongue out in the cutest way and we tried to capture it. A few days later we learned it was because his first tooth was coming in and he kept feeling it.
When it comes to sleeping, Conner and Caleb are complete opposites. At about Caleb's current age, Conner would take 2-3 hour naps in the morning and again in the afternoon (and sleep through the night!). But Caleb doesn't find sleep so important and if he falls asleep in my arms for 2 minutes and then wakes up when I transfer him, he has taken his "nap" and we are screwed. That's what happened on our Independence Day. So Caleb went to bed early and missed out on fireworks. I didn't want to fight crowds and traffic by myself to see fireworks with Conner, but luckily we have a great view of the fireworks from the end of our block, which is up on a hill. So Conner and I drove down to the corner (its a really long block, seriously) and watched the fireworks sitting in the back of the truck. It was perfect, and he really enjoyed them this year.
We had a great family day celebrating all of the freedoms we enjoy in this country and remembering the many, many sacrifices that have been made for that freedom.
