Camping Again, More Friends, and Lost Maples

Believe it or not, we get seasons here in Texas. It's not quite New England Leaf Peeping, but we try. Lost Maples State Natural Area has a unique combination, allowing wonderful Maples to grow.

In theory, they change colors to beautiful golds, reds, yellows....but we were a tad early (and the drought probably has had an effect). So only a few colors, but still a wonderful camping trip with good friends.

For more pictures (minus Fredo's night sky photos, ask him for those directly), go to HERE

Camping With Friends, and Why I Love Lavaca

The kids love camping. And even better is camping with friends!

Our neighborhood group "KWAKs" (King William Area Kids...I like to call the parent component "SAPs" - Southtown Area Parents) decided to take a group camping trip. Thanks to our good friend Jen Morey for coordinating. about 15 families descended upon Mo Ranch, a lovely place on the Guadalupe River, about 2 hours away.

Among the highlights of canoeing and playing in the river,

was the giant slide

And lots of food, drink, and general good times. To see pictures, click HERE

Camping!

Our kids LOVE camping. Nothing can be more fun than setting up the tent and hiking with Papa (and Mommy too, but Papa is key here...).

Now Angelina is convinced camping = S'nores (aka S'mores - those marshmallow/chocolate/graham cracker things). I hate marshmallows (or as Angelina says "Shmarshmallows"), but she begged and begged and begged....it wasn't camping if there were no "S'nores." So I relented and brought stuff along. Turns out she didn't actually want the s'mores, just the marshmallow.

And camping isn't camping without a sleeping bag, even if it's 80F (27C) at night. She insisted on zipping her sleeping bag up all the way. I had to wait til she slept then unzip it, as she was already soaking from sweat. Fortunately, it cooled off after midnight.


So this past weekend we decided to skip Fiesta and head out to Garner State Park.




The Frio River runs through the park, and as the name suggests, it's usually cold. But as it was in the 90sF in the afternoons, the water felt perfect.




After a long hike...

For more pictures, click HERE