Back in the Saddle

Happy New Year from Las Vegas.  Where did December go?  Lots going on.  My brother-in-law's Auntie fell and broke her hip a few weeks ago.  After spending a week in the hospital they sent her to a rehabilitation facility for full time care and physical therapy.  Turns out the one they sent her to was literally across the street from our home at the Heights of Summerlin.  A ten minute walk from our front door.  I went to see her just about every day she was there.  We all worked hard to help keep her spirits up. I gave her a small quilt I had just finished.

Finally back home in her own chair!

Headed for Christmas Dinner.

The National Finals Rodeo was in town for a huge 10 day event.  There were cowboys and cowgirls everywhere.  Lucky Dan won tickets for opening night.  (Tickets are quite pricey and hard to come by so we were ecstatic.) We drove to the Thomas and Mack Center, paid 20 bucks to park and made our way inside. We had decent seats near the center of the arena. My heart nearly stopped a few times at how close those cowboys come to being stomped on by a bucking horse or a raging bull!  The top five finishers in each event get a pay check each night of the finals.  I liked the bull and bronc riding and the ladies barrel racing.  But I am not a fan of calf roping.  Poor babies don't stand a chance.  Her are a few images from the NFR.

The Grand Entrance

Right before Dan won the tickets to the NFR I had purchased tickets for a different 3 day rodeo event to be held at the Orleans Casino, the Boyd Gaming Chute Out.  At 20 bucks a ticket locals can afford to attend. Our seats were much closer to the action and to be honest I can't tell a lower ranked cowboy from an NFR cowboy.  (They are pretty much ranked by how much they made in the last year.)

I

n the photo below the guys were drawing the bull or bronc they would ride in the final event. I think the guy in the middle was saying, "Do you wanna trade?!"

This bull once he had dumped his rider didn't want to leave the spotlight! 

Oh my poor back!!!

 Hey Grey's Anatomy fans ... the Chief was in the house.  James Pickens Jr. (Dr. Richard Webber) was taking in all the action. Sorry it is blurry he was across the arena from us.

One morning Dan and I took a ride down to the convention center to check out "all things cowboy". They was an event where little boys were riding bulls.  Granted, they were small bulls but oh my goodness!!! The first picture is a little blury but you can see how young and little these baby cowboys were!

This one was hard to watch.  Somebody help him, please!

This little guy hung on for dear life as his bull bucked and sprinted the full length of the arena. Those clowns had to work hard to catch up and rescue the boy! (I am pretty sure as a Mom I would have to be drugged and locked up before I would let my baby get on a bull!!!)

I can't imagine.

I have a few more adventures to share so check back soon.

It's all about the journey.

Nancy and Dan