Mutton Bustin'

We've been exploring the sites around Denver for the last two weekends. Ella and I went to the Denver Aquarium last Sunday with a friend and her daughter. I thought it was a little bit strange that Denver has an aquarium. We're not anywhere near an ocean! It was really well done. There were different geographically-themed habitats, including some native Colorado River fish. There was a live mermaid show that was so much fun for the little girls. Mermaids dived into the tank (without any oxygen tanks!) and swam around to music. Ella thought she had died and gone to heaven. There was also a shark tank that went overhead too. So, the sharks could swim above you.


Ella and Maddie waiting to go inside the Aquarium. Check out Ella's cowboy boots!


With the Colorado fish


Turtle

The diver was feeding the fish.


Another turtle swims to the girls.


Looking at sea shells. The girls liked the sand dollar. They called it the pancake shell.



Here's the real Colorado experience. The National Western Stock Show. Yee Haw! We went to the Stock Show last night, but also had tickets to the rodeo. It was my first time at anything like this. Ella was the only one of us with cowboy boots. I felt very left out! We ate BBQ brisket sandwiches and had a few beers. The atmosphere was about as cowboy as you can get.

We saw the petting zoo (it was very crowded). Petting zoos kind of make me cringe. The animals are so dirty! So, I let Whit take Ella inside.


We checked out the livestock. That was cool. I've had some cow experience because there's a herd that grazes on my stepdad's sister's ranch. I'm actually a little bit scared of the cows that are on the ranch. They'll charge at you! One of them chased us down when we were driving. These cattle were laying down and very gentle.


The rodeo was pretty cool. The first event was bucking bronco. That is amazing! The horses are pretty wild. I couldn't get a great shot because they were moving so fast, but you get the idea.


This was the "mutton bustin'" event. That's what they call it. I didn't make that name up! Little kids (aged 4-6) try to ride on a large sheep. They hold onto the back of the sheep and ride for as long as they can hold on. I couldn't believe it! Maybe Ella will be interested for next year?


These are the sheep after the kids have all fallen off. They congregate together on the other side of the arena.


Apparently these stage coaches are a big deal. Although I don't know why. The horses were really pretty. Also, Pete Coors was on top of the closest coach. He's the Coors Beer Company heir. I guess he's the closest thing to a celebrity at the Stock Show.


On a side note, Whit's son, Leigh started school last Tuesday and he's really enjoying it. He takes a school bus from our neighborhood. That's been a new experience for him. He's been very impressed with his teachers and the overall feel of the school. The school has a computer program that allows parents to check their child's attendance and assignment grades daily. So, I checked it out last Friday and it's pretty neat. There were already about 5 assignments that had been posted for Leigh. He's been transitioning very well.