Caprock State Park

We got home from Arizona early Thursday morning. After sleeping most of the morning, we straightened the house up, took turns running errands and got ready for Ben, Tonia and the kids to spend the night. They talked us into going camping with them at Caprock State Park. I have to say, I'm pretty proud of Ben. This is the first trip I think I have gone on with him that hasn't resulted in a catastrophe. Aside from the fact that we went camping in January and it was below freezing that night. That actually wasn't that big of deal since Jeff and I brought 8,000 blankets. I am SO glad we went though! That park is one of the best kept secrets, I don't think anyone I know has ever seen that side of Texas. It was beautiful-just beautiful. We saw tons of road runners... Saw tons of deer... almost lost Sushi when she figured out she could chase them. Fortunately she came back.We even saw a whole herd of wild pigs. The ranger drove by shortly after, and when he heard we'd seen them he asked where about, then said not to worry if we heard gun shots because he was just taking care of the pigs. Kudos to anyone (besides Dad or Tonia) who understands this photo. Isn't the red rock beautiful? It reminds me of Southern Utah-in between Provo and Moab.

Under the trail there was this natural bridge-not as big as anything in Arches but it was still super neat. The kids loved exploring it.

One thing I learned from my Dad is that you never go back to camp until it's almost dark. Stay out and about as long as you can, then you come back, cook dinner, clean up and go to bed. The hike ended a little earlier than we wanted, so we drove around and looked for fubbalo before we went back to camp, cooked dinner, and froze in the crazy wind. Then we put the kids to bed, looked at our watches.. and whimpered because it was only 8pm.

How did Twistan do on his first camp out? Super. Until 10pm. 1am. 2am. 3am and 5am. Then he cried like a baby for who knows what reason. However, when he woke up at 7am he was probably the cutest child around. He laid there with Jeff for an hour and a half and just sang and talked. He must have known he was on thin ice and was doing his best to save his butt by being cute.

After breakfast we went hiking. Jeff tried to put a snack in his pack but it mysteriously disappeared.... I bet we find those raisins in just a few hours, fully intact.

I couldn't help myself with this one.

Hannah was a trooper. Of course, life is easy when you get to be carried through the entire hike... it's hard not to like that part.

We turned sideways in an attempt to get Tristan in the picture. This trail came by the primitive campground. That looks like a really fun place to camp in the future. When Twistan can carry his own stuff.

This is Twistan's best bud. She carried him all over and played with him a lot. That little boy just loves other kids, it's like he knows they're "one of us..." I think she would have even changed his diaper if I'd asked, but coming from a family of all girls I didn't wanna answer more questions about "What is that?"

The biggest hit of the whole trip was the last thing we did. We went fishing. They had recently stocked the lake with two thousand rainbow trout, and they loaned us fishing poles for free. That combination is sweeeeeeeeet. So we grabbed the kids and enjoyed fishing. There was nothing cuter than their little faces as they reeled in a fish. Of course, nothing is sadder than the one kid who doesn't catch anything when everyone else does, either. But hey, that is part of fishing. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. It's about learning to deal with the times you don't win, and learning to be gracious the times you do win.

Tonia made fun of me while we were on the bank. I was struggling with sanity because the baby sat in the dirt and ate rocks the whole time, while the other kids got covered in mud. I am my father's daughter as I yelled at them to stop doing everything they were doing. Tonia remarked, "Wow. You have a lot of your Dad in you." I can't help it. I don't do sticky, slimy, snotty, or vomity. It drives me nuts when kids wipe their faces on their sleeves or the inside of their shirts. It drives me nuts when they drag things in the dirt. I can't stand it when people smack their gum. I can't stand it when they walk around with a cup of liquid over carpet.. and don't get me started on people who drive in the left lane and aren't passing. I might make myself crazy thinking about the things that make me crazy. That, and the list is too long to post this late at night!

Anyway, it was a super trip, and I suspect we will be going again in the near future. And I'm already excited about it!