Weekend #1: BHSS

We have successfully made it through the first week and weekend with our girls. We spent most of the week adjusting to the new schedule at home (for example actually trying to eat supper at a semi-normal time) and trying to help the girls settle in. I think the girls would have been perfectly fine with staying home over the weekend but we wanted to have them experience a rodeo and the Black Hills Stock Show was the perfect opportunity. So, we got up at "regular" time (the time we get up for school) and headed to Rapid City. The girls chose to invite Rebekah as well and they had a great time together! It was so fun to hear them talking and laughing together in the back seat.

Our first stop in Rapid City was at the mall. We did a little shopping. We found out that neither one of our girls really love to shop all that much. It seems we did not get girly-girls so I'll have to work on that :) Anyway, our first shopping spot was one of the western stores where everyone (except the photographer) was forced to try on at least one hat:

After that we sent the girls off to shop together without the "old fogies." We later met back up when they told us they were trying dresses on for Prom and the Winter Formal. Both Dani and Amy had picked out a dress for one of the events but are still kind of looking for another dress. Here is a picture of the girls each in one of the dresses they tried on--and "ridiculous heels" that they could barely walk in (except maybe Amy...her's weren't so bad). Aren't they beautiful?

George got a bit impatient waiting for us ladies to finish our shopping and ended up trying on these:

We went to lunch at Olive Garden where we all ate WAY too much and then headed for the Rushmore Civic Center to take in the rodeo. While in the parking lot the girls got to see their first American car wreck (two ladies backed into each other right in front of us while I was saying "Uh oh, they are going to hit, they are going to hit..."). Eventually, we made our way through the crowds and into the Barnett Arena. The rodeo was fun. We saw bareback riding, tie-down roping (calf roping), saddle bronc, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. We also got to watch the "One-Armed Bandit" herd two buffalo onto the top of a stock trailer! Here are some pictures from the rodeo:

We even got to see Linn Churchill, a steer wrestler from Valentine, win the first go-round!

Following the rodeo we visited the petting zoo. The pictures from the petting zoo didn't turn out very well but I do want to share the one with Dani and the ONLY animal she would pet...no one can resist a bum lamb!

Finally, after a bit more shopping (to buy supplies for the desserts the girls needed to make for our Sunday adventure) we headed home. We stopped in Kadoka and of course the girls (with only a little bit of pushing from us) had to get on the buffalo statue for a picture.

The picture turned out a bit blurry but the girls refused to hop back on to try again...too cold declared the Australian!

It was a great Saturday. More on Sunday later as this post has already gotten quite long. Right now (Monday night) it is snowing outside and we have a 2-hour delayed start of school in the morning (with a possibility of no school if the snow continues). More next time!