Stampede!

Sunday before camp we got tickets to Chuckwagon races and the Grandstand Show at the Calgary Stampede.  This is one of the events that the Starlight Foundation puts on each year.  We had a very busy morning before heading to the grounds.  Karlee had a birthday party from 11am – 2pm and the rest of us went to Cousin Oliver’s birthday party.  After we picked up Karlee we headed down to the grounds.  We checked out some of the exhibits and looked around.  Ryley loved the military display and enjoyed sitting in the helicopter, jet and other vehicles.  We then took a stroll through the barns and enjoyed the horses and cows.


Ryley and I went on a simulator while Karlee had a nap in Jennifer’s lap in the shade.  After the ride we thought we would watch the start of the Recycled Percussion show.  Ryley loved the drums and the incredible energy that the group had.  Of course they got the crowd involved in several of their songs.  I got picked to come up on stage and help them with the Monkey act.  We got to make have lots of fun playing with the bananas.  At the end there was a dance off and I was the best Monkey dancer in Calgary!!
We headed over to the Grand Stand for the Chucks and the Grandstand.  We had great seats on the 500 level balcony in the first row.  The kids enjoyed picking which wagon they thought would win each race and the excitement was contagious.  Ryley enjoyed when the “Zambonis” came out to groom the track between heats.  He had a great time all night laughing about the “Zambonis.”  Just after the Grand Stand show started Karlee decided she had had enough and wanted to head home.  Jennifer finally gave in and missed most of the show, but Ryley and I stayed and enjoyed the show.  All the entertainment and especially Paul Brandt were incredible.  We both really enjoyed Convoy and then the fireworks started.  It was the best fireworks show I had ever seen and went on forever.


Afterwards we bought some tickets on the 5th wheel and truck and grabbed some mini donuts for the walk to the train.  We decided to walk downtown as the Stampede station was very busy.  We had a great walk and chat all the way downtown and got seats for the ride home!