Happiest 6th Birthday for Bizbeth!

We celebrated E's 6th birthday quietly but with much family togetherness.   We started by going for donuts at the local donut shop.

Next stop--the Rodeo!  All were dressed for the occasion - boots and all!

We hadn't been to the Houston rodeo since E's 4th birthday and I was looking forward to a more grown-up crew.  I mistakenly decided to do it on her birthday though (Spring break!).  Oops.  We did enjoy our day and did a LOT of walking.

We spent most of our time looking at the livestock in the exhibit hall.  David and Elizabeth were thrilled to see branded cows in real life after just having finished a unit on cowboys.  Many of the cows were being groomed to be shown.  The goats were all staying warm in their blanket coats and muzzles.

Time to visit the nursery section.  We arrived in time to see quite a few baby animals that had been born recently.  One calf (born earlier that morning) shared E's birthday!

We waited in line to view rabbit varieties from all over the world.  It really is amazing to see such great diversity and such beauty.  A couple were almost as big as Abigail.  ;)

Another stop to plant sunflower seeds in cups (plants that sprouted and now reside in our garden in the backyard).

Our last stop in the exhibit hall was to view the chickens.  It is always incredible to watch the chicks as they hatch and peck out of the shells right in front of you!

The next part of the rodeo was a bit I'd rather not repeat.  Directions to the mutton bustin were a bit vague despite several queries.  We found ourselves amongst probably another 50,000 people in the carnival among very long lines, food, games and other such activities.  Not my favorite atmosphere and a long way from small-town rodeos!  We eventually found the mutton bustin tent and sat down just in time to watch 30 contestants ranging from about 5-8 or 9 years old try to ride the sheep without saddles across the arena without falling off.  It was great fun to watch.  David is dying to try it next time.  

The kids were all super troopers but the walk back to the entrance of the grounds and then beyond to a restaurant and the car almost did us all in.  What a difference two years made though.  We all made it!  It was 4 hours of walking around until we finally stopped for lunch at Subway at 3 o clock!

Exhaustion set in on the drive home.  But the night was not over yet.  E had to open her gifts!  Due to this year's circumstances, we kept it modest but it was just as appreciated as a more lavish showing.  E received a book set from Grammy and Grandpa, a check and card from Gram and GDaddy, a book and coloring book from Mommy and Daddy, a tea set (she had actually received it as a baby but it had been tucked away all these years), an IOU to go see Beauty and the Beast as a family, and a fashion plates set.  The last gift has been a huge hit.  Played with by all three almost every day for the past two weeks! (Oh, and I had gone birthday dress shopping with her the previous week as a special date)

What a memorable and fun day!  E's special day was such a treat to spend together as a family!

No birthday cake--we headed out of town the next morning and all were exhausted after all day at the rodeo.  Do the breakfast donuts count?