Solution to slide show viewing

While reading another blog, I noticed that they had a video uploaded through YouTube.  It looked great, so I decided to try and see if I can get a better result with our Rodeo Slide Show using YouTube.  Lo and behold, the result was great.  The quality is almost incomparable.  I erased the old version and put the newer better one.  I hope you give it another try.

Quality of Rodeo Clip

It is so unfortunate that the video does not look as good when played on the blog.  I wish you can see it on my computer.  If any of you know any tricks about making my little slide show appear nicer when played in a browser, please do share by all means.

Rodeo Clip

The song for this slide show is by Rodney Atkins called "Watching You".  I am not much of a country fan, so I had not heard this song before I started looking for a fitting song for our Rodeo pictures .  It was hard to find a song that was not about drinking, partying, or heartbreaking, but once I heard this one, it fit very well.  I hope you like it too.

Our Day at the Rodeo

On Friday our whole family went to the RODEO! It was a much anticipated day by the kids and completely exploited by me to get them to do their chores, reading, and piano playing. The thought of not going to the Rodeo was so unbearable to them that I did not have to repeat my self once. It was a charm!

The first thing we did was the Mutton Bustin' Competition. Samuel was just old enough and light enough to qualify. What is Mutton Bustin? I still remember the first time I saw this competition, and I would describe my feelings as a combination of disgust and laughter. But the longer one lives in our neck of the woods, the more normal of an activity it becomes. If your kid is between the ages of 4 and 6, and weighs under 60 lbs, he or she should be at the Mutton Bustin'. A kid gets on the back of a sheep, the sheep is let loose, and the kid tries to hold on as long as possible. It is harder than it looks. Samuel was a little disappointed that he did not win first place, but he surely did behave like a winner after his spectacular fall. Here is our documentation of this great event:

Creative Outfit

Esther looked so creatively dressed up (notice the robe belt used as a scarf and the hood over the baseball hat). I wanted to take a picture just of her, but Samuel (aka Mr. Hollywood) had to have his picture taken also. :) They are so funny.....!!!

Baseball Season

Baseball (technically T-ball for us, because of Samuel's age group) has started for our family. This year Samuel will be playing on the "Athletics". This is fun for all of us, except all the driving I need to do to get him to practice and games, which is usually about three times a week. However, we all love it, and I am actually starting to appreciate this great American game. It is just wonderful to be in the outdoors away from all electronic and modern. Esther and I bring a blanket, snacks, some toys, and we are good. It is a great time for me to slow down and enjoy the moment.

Samuel plays at the Dad's Club in Pearland. It is an incredibly well run organization and only by volunteers. I can't remember how many teams they have but it is an outrageous number. They have about twenty-four-hundred children playing this year and in spite of that everything runs as smoothly as clockwork. We were very impressed last year and that is why we are back.

Rodeo and Spring

This is the best weather in the year here-early spring. The temperatures are in the low 70s (20s in C), and for most of this time we have the Houston RODEO. Every time we drive by the Reliant Stadium the kids ask when is the Rodeo coming again. When March came they knew that they would be going to the Rodeo. It is a great place to bring children. There are carnival rides, farm animal exhibits, of course all the rodeo competitions, and a concert every night. And some great BBQ to be had! And anything fried you can imagine, from which we steer away. How about fried butter, or a fried pickle? Did you know that just about anything can be fried!? There are also the funnel cakes, and cotton candy and any other fun food that you might have eaten as much as you wanted when you were a kid! This is one of those times when I love being a parent. The looks of happiness, pure joy, and marvel in our children's eyes are constant. They are priceless. We also dress up for the occasion. Here is Esther in her best cowgirl outfit, well, her version.

Fun in the backyard

We had a beautiful week in the 70s all week last week, and Esther and I took advantage of it. We lay a blanket in the backyard and just lay there enjoying the dry and warm air. Well, I did more of that, and she did more of this:

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Our little Ballerina

Since last September Esther has been taking ballet and loves it. Every Friday morning we put on her ballet clothes, and she is ready to dance all day. Her teacher Tricia is great and can keep six or seven three-year olds engaged and wanting to keep coming.