Strathmore Stampede & Heritage days.

Strathmore has Heritage days every August long weekend, and we were really excited to be able to do it this year. Its a pretty big deal. We found a pancake breakfast, a BBQ lunch down-town on Friday that the boys enjoyed. After the lunch I was trying to figure out how to get tickets for the Running with the Bulls on Saturday for Dave and I to go. Cause it was my first time I didn't know where anything was, where to park, how to get there, it was kind of stressful for me. I finally figured out where to park and they shuttle you back and forth between the parking lot and the entrance to the Stampede. Theres a campground in between the parking lot and the stampede, kind of annoying but the boys thought te golf cart shuttles were so fun! I finally got where I needed to be and after an hour of waiting in line I gave up, the boys were tired and my arms were sore from holding Will (didn't have a stroller cause of the shuttle). As I was walking away frustrated that I hadn't purchased tickets a lady chased me down and gave me free tickets to the rodeo that afternoon! She felt so bad that I had to wait and could tell I was pretty discouraged. So sweet of her! I decided to run home and grab snacks and a soother for Will cause it was 1:30pm and Will hasn't napped yet and the Rodeo at 2pm. I was pretty nervous it was gonna be a disaster, but the boys did great! We stayed for 2 hours! Levi was just fascinated by everything, he was slightly confused about good & bad horses/cows and why they would buck. Luckily we sat next to a really nice couple who kept explaining things to Levi and holding Will. Will even tried to have a drink of his beer - oh dear!

We had really great seats in the grandstand!

The boys watching the Rodeo!

On the shuttle - Its one of the first times I've thought they look a lot alike.

After we got home we had supper and I checked Facebook and saw someone giving away free tickets for the Chuck wagon Races that evening. So Levi and I rushed off to go watch, it was a nice little mommy and Levi date. 

That night there were fireworks and we could see them from our house. So I woke Levi up to go watch them and he asked to go back to bed, haha! I think he was a little exhausted from our fun day!

Saturday morning we headed to the parade with the Olivers.

Will was so wiggggllllyyyy.... it was a pretty good struggle to get him to not run onto the road or to sit in a chair. So we bribed him with a sucker, you can even see a tiny tear on his cheek.

Levi the lucky kid, just sat in his chair the whole time while the other kids got candy for him.

And of course Will saw a puppy and was so excited! He even shared his sucker and put it right on that toungue, so gross! (we threw it out after!)

Saturday night Dave and I enjoyed the Running with the Bulls. It was hilarious and terrifying at the same time. The guys who compete pay $25 to enter ( THEY PAY TO DO THIS!!) and can win $1000 for being the most daring. There's judges watching each round. First round had 5 bulls, 2nd round had 4 and the last round had 2 very experienced bulls. Some people just always jumped on the fence and others would chase the bulls and try to tag them. After it was done was another round of chuck wagons. 

It was a pretty great "first" Heritage Days.