05/23/2009

So, I have to confess that I didn't get any great 'action' shots of Lottie over the past two days. That is, while we were out and about, Lottie was usually riding in a baby carrier on my back. And since I was holding the camera, shots of her were, well, difficult. But I snagged this one of Lottie at home the other day. She was playing happily on our rug.
Friday evening Nick suggested we try out a local restaurant. What a treat! (Well, it would have been a treat if the food were good...I digress.) Anyhow, I snagged a picture of Nick while we were waiting for said food.
Then, after we finished our meal, we headed to the Bandera Rodeo. I got a kick out of this sign. I'm sure that in our town it is practical, but it still made me laugh.
At the beginning of the rodeo we had a Memorial Day tribute. They prayed (yes, in public, at the rodeo, over the microphone!) to thank GOD for our freedom, our country, the men and women who serve in the armed forces, and the rodeo! Yee-H....I mean, Amen!

And then they were off....
...off and running. Literally. This was my first real rodeo, and I didn't really know what to expect, but it made sense to me that after riding a furious animal for 8 seconds you would get off and RUN! (Every single cowboy adhered to this rule...except the one who got stepped on by the bull after he fell off.)
Our kids watch with shock and awe.
Then this morning, we went to the local Memorial Day Parade...which, obviously, is not held on Memorial Day. Nia sat on Nick's lap and watched all the spectacles approach.
After the parade, Nathan told me his favorite part was when 'the people made the songs.' This is an Air Force Basic Training Band.
A cool old car. My Dad likes cool old cars.
The Bandera High School class of 1949 held their reunion at the parade. All six classmates were there! Good turn out, don't ya think?And then the weird/obscure segment of the parade:

My favorite part of the parade was the San Antonio Marching Band. "In Step...just for the fun of it." They couldn't get a gig in San Antonio, but here in Bandera we wouldn't turn them down!
They even had cheerleader/twirler girls. They were all, umm, 'older.' I had to roll my eyes at their git-ups. But, you know, despite all, they were not that bad.
Then there was this guy. He's sitting in the SAG wagon. Can you see what the sign says? "SAG WAGON. The ill, the injured, and the pooped!"
A whole group of motorcyclists with these car-like luggage carriers was the next major feature. There were a ton of these things!
And right in the mix was this guy, who clearly didn't get the 'come-and-bring-an-automobile-themed-luggage-case' memo.
A clown (Texas style) talks with Nathan.By the end of the parade, which was nearly an hour long and featured an undocumented but seemingly eternal parade of Shriner exhibits, the kids were decked out in stickers and mardi gras bead necklaces. We bought some fresh lemonade from a local vendor and were on our way home for nap time. And, yes, Nia does have 6 ponytails in her hair. There's not a legal limit, is there?