Bueschner State Park (a little late)



Day one at Bueschner State Park. We got in around 2pm after an hour and a half drive, had some help from a fellow homeschool Dad setting up the tent, explored a little and got dinner going. Campbell's pop top beef stew. Loving the new gas stove Ben bought. 



The traditional roasting of the marshmallows. We were going to stay two nights but ended up only staying the one. Good thing we did the marshmallows the first night. Night two we left right as it got dark and drove home in a thunderstorm. My favorite part of these campouts is putting the kids to bed, sneaking back over to the fire and sitting up with hot chocolate and twizzlers until 2am talking to the other adults.



I found Audrey this way when I came back to the tent. She is sitting up with the pillow in her lap and curled over. Hey, however you can get comfortable! 

Only a three year old can get this dirty. This was after a three mile hike, skipping stones on the lake, looking for caterpillars and bugs to put in buckets, and playing on the playground. It cracks me up that they have a playground.



Believe it or not there is a kid under there. This is the only visible part though.



Saturday at Galveston

Discovering the cuteness of baby sea turtles

meeting sea lions

adding to murals

spending time with Aunt Anna

And visiting the beach

Field Trip Weekends

Spring is here and it was just too beautiful to stay home. Our weekend actually started a little early. Thursday night was corned beef and cabbage, green mashed potatoes, irish stew, soda bread, apple cake, and lime green sherbet drinks. Friday Ben had off and we needed to work off dinner so it was into the car and off to Palmetto State Park.



Audrey shows off why it's called Palmetto

Ben discovers a dragon on the walk and gets his sword ready to charge!

Good thing it turns out to be a petrified dragon.

After a mile and a half the girls were getting a little hot and tired so we started 'tracking' each other. Ben would take two or three and the rest of us would count to 120 and then track them. The ones he took would leave a hat in the tree or sticks shaped like arrows.

We then found an old swingset to cool us off.

It included the slide of death. You remember these from your childhood. Long, steep, solid hot metal ending in gravel. Kids today have it easy.
We then rented a paddleboat and explored the lake. Ben and I took turns on shore with Hannah talking to Doug, the paddleboat guy. He and his wife are retired and keep a house in Wisconsin. Every year they pick a different state park to volunteer at, load the RV, and disappear for 6-9 months.
A day like this wouldn't be complete without some Texas BBQ and we decided to try out the famous Blacks in Lockhart. Personally I thought they were a little overpriced and Ben's brisket tastes better.

This is how you know it's been a good day. We did put her in her carseat after watching her crawl in Eliora's seat, buckle, and immediately fall asleep.
Saturday dawned and since we had done a few hours of housekeeping we decided we were justified in joining some friends for a day of strawberry picking.

Can Hannah get cuter than this?

Lost in the strawberry fields

We even found a patch of bluebonnets.

The day of course had to end with another attempt at Texas BBQ. This place is not famous, half the price, and had AMAZING pulled pork and sides.

Eliora anticipating the strawberry peach pie we were going to make for Sunday night's dinner.





Field Trip Friday - The Firestation

Fridays are catch up and field trip days. I was excited that today we were heading over to the Firestation to get some serious fire safety lessons. We had to skip ballet but I thought it was worth it!

Eliora asking why we have to get up so early for breakfast. Funny thing was that it's the same time we get up every morning. I just don't usually rush them through it!

They watched a fire safety video and then filled the 'house' with smoke. You couldn't see your hand in front of your face! Then they had to check the door with the backs of their hands. It was hot so out the window they climbed. Audrey was an expert (as you can see). Sadie got scared and had to be rescued by a firefighter.

Showing off the gear. As long as you can get a big enough group most firestations (plus a whole lot of other places) love to do presentations for homeschoolers. The best part is that it's free!

Pretending to be Darth Vader. Eliora commented on the way home that she was glad we had seen Star Wars so that she knew the reference. I'm not sure if she knows that there are other Star Wars beside the 80's videos but that is okay by me!

Me trying to console a crying Abbey. You have to be four to get your lungs fill of smoke and get rescued by a firefighter. Poor girl is only three. At least Hannah didn't mind!

Afterwards we met up with Ben for lunch at Clay's burger joint. They have ponies, lamas, chickens, and the like to pet and feed so your kids don't get bored waiting for the food.

A tuckered out Abbey. Little does she know that after we pick up Eliora from voice class there is a chance of going to the rodeo tonight. Hmmm, we will have to see if she is up for it before we decide to go!