Come Hell or High Water - Stampede 101...

 ...and the show must go on. Emmett and his parents headed to Stampede Park last weekend for the annual agriculture extravaganza, deep fried food, and kiddy rides.  They managed to get to almost everything on their list, except for the deep fried butter. (And Emmett's Mom was devastated to learn that her annual beef on a bun food truck had been replaced with deep fried pickles. Tragic.)

42" for most of the rides in the kids area. Check.

Find the biggest tractor ever. Check.

Pretend to help a cow give birth with Dad. Check.

Milk and cookies for $2. Check.

Milk a cow. Check.

Play for hours with the mini tractor in the tub of canola seeds. Check.

 Practice powerboat procedures for next epic flood. Check.

Eat a corn dog. Check.

Keep corn dog away from Dad. Check.

Watch the Stampede Show Band. Check.

Prove that we all live in a yellow submarine. Check.

Practice helicopter flying skills for next epic flood. Check.

Pop a wheelie. Check.

Snag a duck and win a cheap prize from China. Check.

 Slam dance a two year old in a bouncy castle. Check.

Tryouts for the chuckwagon races. Check.

$2 slurpees and $2 hotdogs in Weadickville. Check.

Ferris wheel with Mom. Check.

Take a picture of Dad at the community association pancake breakfast. Check.

 

Prepare for barrel racing competition at 2014 Stampede Rodeo. Check.

We gotta get outta this place

At the Stampede, 4 midway coupons gets you a ride on a helicopter.

For an extra 10 coupons, you can sit with your mom on the full-sized version.

Add 2 more coupons, and they let you point a 7mm GPMG at an unsuspecting tourist.

At the Stampede, where the sun don't shine

When one loses one's keys at the Stampede grounds, it is essential to look everywhere for them.

Everywhere.

Stampede 2012 - 100 years and counting

"Emmett, did you like the Parade?"
"Yup."
"What was your favourite part?"
"I like the firetrucks and the cleaners! I LOOOOVE the firetrucks and the street cleaners!"
(And yes, just to clarify, Emmett is referring to the street cleaners who follow the horses, cleaning up their poo).

Pancake Breakfast with the University of Waterloo Alumni

Keeping a two year old entertained for two hours while waiting for the parade to start is no easy feat...

Stampede Caesar. Yes, that is bacon. No, Emmett's parents did not quaff these back at 9 in the morning.

StranMcCann at the end of the parade. Which cowboy is just a littttle tired?

Stampede sharing

While on the grounds at Stampede last week, Emmett illustrates how to avoid sharing food by simply denying its existence.

Upon review of the day's photographic record, Emmett's dad retaliates by naming the following photo, "Last Corn Dog Ever Shared With Emmett (2011)".

Emmett's first Stampede

Under an ominous dark sky,

Emmett and his parents headed to the Stampede grounds, sporting their finest in western duds.

Stampede attendance has been abysmal this year due to the weather; in fact, for the first time in 85 years, the rodeo and chuckwagon races were cancelled. The day they were there, the heavens opened with hail the size of golf balls, but that didn't stop Emmett from taking in the sights at Weadickville, the stock dog trials,

the agricultural barns, and of course, the midway. Emmett introduced his parents to all the kid stuff at Stampede, where he made his own button, had his free vintage Stampede picture taken, and won a prize at the duck races. He's been practicing for months with his ducks in the bathtub.

Emmett's parents, in return, introduced Emmett to all their favourite foods at Stampede, including $2.50 hotdogs from Weadickville, $2.00 slurpees, $1.00 milk and cookies, pulled pork parfait, beef on a bun (Emmett's mom's favourite) and corndogs (Emmett's dad's favourite).

They were on their way to get some deep fried Oreos when Emmett was distracted by the

He thought they would be a great addition to his mom's wardrobe. His parents had to explain that pink chaps really weren't appropriate...