Cowboy Up!

Today we went to a birthday party for Elyse, Wade and Mary's daughter.  She's the adorable little one that Riley was dancing with at Nate and Jamie's wedding.  The theme for the party was Cowboys and Cowgirls.  We started with a pancake breakfast at Wade and Mary's house, where all the cowpokes got to sit on hay bales and eat their chuckwagon breakfast.  Then we headed out to Cherry Creek State Park for pony rides!

The weather was gorgeously sunny, but a bit on the windy side.  We were treated to a grouchy old cow hand who was very stern about the rules!

Waiting for the round up!  Riley looked pretty cool in his cowboy hat and boots!

Time to Cowboy Up!  Safety first, of course.  Riley didn't hesitate to get on the horse.  He was so excited!

We decided that our pony's name was "Grass and Poop," because he kept stopping to eat grass (and what Riley thought was poop) and Wade had to keep pulling his head up!

Another go 'round!
This time, Birthday Girl Elyse was in the lead.  We didn't have a name for our second pony...they all kinda looked alike, so Grass and Poop was the name for all of them.

Riley's the real deal!
It was another fun day!  In case you're wondering why Steve didn't get to lead the ponies...well...like I said, there were some strict rules.  A few of the boys (and I won't say who the ringleader was, but his initials were Steven Marsh), decided to grab a 12-pack of Bud Light to drink while we were all hanging out at the park.  The ol' cowhand took one look at the brewskis and banished them from any contact with the ponies!  So they had the job of photographers!