Cowboy Up

This past weekend was a big one which explains why Calvin took frequent naps today.  Thursday afternoon Maria, Calvin, and I piled into the car and headed south until Monday morning.  We discovered that when taking a baby anywhere for a few days you might as well just rent a U-haul.  How can somebody so small require so much room in the car?

Our goal was to surprise the family who thought we were coming on Friday evening.  Us sneaks, it worked!  One reason for the visit was because the Hoosier Horse Fair was at the State Fairgrounds in Indy on Saturday and it had been several years since Maria went.  Turns out that it was all us girls, Calvin, and Mary Lydia who loaded into the big white van early Saturday morning for a day full of horse goodness.

Watching Calvin take in his surroundings and discover his love for horses was so fun.  Yes, he is a horse lover (like he had the choice).  We can tell already that he will make a living out of bronch busting and cattle driving. Doesn't he look fit for the job?

In all seriousness, he did thoroughly enjoy his very first real life pony ride (I figure rocking horses and Sandy, the mechanical pony at Meijer, don't count), getting his boots shined, and perusing the aisles of horses.  He's not a fan of the horse that whinnied right in his face but he calmed down after a minute.

Dad, Danny and his friend joined us for the rodeo later that night.  After watching cowboys get whip-lashed on the bronchs, Calvin decided that there might be better options for the future besides riding buckin' bronchos.  He decided that cattle driving and horse training would be exciting enough.  I know this because he tells his nanny everything.

We were all sooo exhausted by the end of the day (my phone tracked that I had walked over 15,000 steps!) but it was so worth it.  It was such a great way to spend my last weekend with Calvin.  Being with him at home in Indiana and around horses was like the best of both worlds. 

*Sigh* I'm gonna miss that kid.