S'more pics from camping...

More camping pictures

Enchanted Thanksgiving

A few years ago we started aThanksgiving tradition to do something non-traditional for the holiday. We've deep-fried a turkey, had a luau, complete with a roasted pig, smoked turkey take-out from Rudy's (the worst BBQ in Texas!),etc. This year we went camping with Mike and Mindy and family to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. We had a lot of fun. It was perfect weather for camping...near 80 during the day, near freezing at night. (Needless to say Hazel wore three fleece sleepers to bed to be warm enough.) So we had three days of fun, playing in the fires, climbing trees and rocks, hiking and spending time together. We only had one child fall into a cactus (Alex, who tried to wipe the spines on his hands off on his pants, which were also full of spines. Thank goodness for a kind camping neighbor who lent us some tweezers.)

We hiked to the top of Enchanted Rock to watch the sun set. The Native Americans long ago thought the rock was enchanted because it would groan and creak. (Because of cooling and heating during the day and night, the rock creaks. It is actually taller during the day in the summer by a couple of inches.)

Everyone at the summit marker.

This is the second time that we have camped at Enchanted Rock. Here is a picture of the kids today...
This is a picture of the kids from 3 1/2 years ago. I can't believe how much they've grown. Time really flies!The kids were good hikers. On the first day they did about 5 or 6 miles, then another mile and a half after dinner. Another day, we did 3 or 4 miles. They sure slept good those nights! Hazel rode in the back pack with Nate. The kids had a lot of fun climbing on the boulders and finding "caves". We bought a smoked turkey from Rudy's again (very tasty). Nate make an oven from a cardboard box to reheat the turkey. We also used the oven to reheat pizza the day we arrived, to pop popcorn (the kind you have to shake like mad over heat to have it pop up like a balloon), to heat our sausage biscuits and reheat the cherry pie. I think we'll do this trick again!

Our Thanksgiving dinner!

Post Thanksgiving rest.

Switching Horns

Toby is in band at school. He wanted to play the french horn from the beginning, but all the beginners had to start on trumpet. Toby is doing great! His private lesson teacher has called a couple of times just to praise Toby's progress. Toby really enjoys playing, which is nice because he doesn't complain about practicing. He has a concert in December. He is really looking forward to that. Maybe we can get a clip to post next month, if I can figure out how to do that.

Lost in Lost Maples

About 3 months ago, we planned a backpacking trip for this weekend. (I hadn't yet scheduled my surgery so I had planned on going, but didn't for obvious reasons.) But Nate took the kids and went anyway. Lost Maples is one of the few places in Texas that has actual fall colors in the trees. However, because of the drought, it wasn't that spectacular. Anyway, Just as Nate was loading up, the straps on his pack broke. So they stopped at REI on the way to get a new one. They left around 4:30pm. At about 7:30 Nate called to say he was lost. (I gave him bad directions, said he should stay on the 71 instead of the 290.) So he got turned back onto the right road. He called me at 9:30 lost again. (Not uncommon, this state park is hard to find, even in the daylight.) So Nate and the kids stayed at a motel and then got up early to go hiking. (Probably easier than getting there and hiking a mile in and setting up a tent in the dark at 11pm). They had a fun time. There are a bunch of trails there. The kids and Nate hiked about 9 miles. Isaac says that Nate ruined their fun by getting them back on the trail after getting lost in the park. The trails were steep in places. But it was perfect weather for hiking, cold in the morning and then warmer in the afternoon. I wish I could have gone. But I'm tired after just cleaning my house today. (I'm not used to long recoveries after surgery. I guess I'm an impatient patient.) But we're going camping next weekend with Mike and his family. That will be fun!!

This is how Toby entertained everyone on the long ride home! How does he come up with this stuff?!? They are Whoppers candies.

WARNING!! This won't be pretty

This is a picture from last night, 3 days post-op. The bruises on my cheeks and chin are moving down my neck. Now they are turning yellow and purple. They look worse than they feel. (Nate says I should have done the surgery before Halloween and gone as a car accident victim.) The swelling has gone down some on my face. Mostly I am still numb, which makes eating a bit difficult. Half of my lower lip has feeling but they don't touch yet. My lower eyelids are numb too. My teeth dry out and my nose feels cold on the inside. But I can't feel anything but my tongue. And then there are these twitches... It is a very strange feeling.

Things I am Grateful for

I am so grateful for Vickie coming to help out after my surgery. Nothing would have gotten done without her help. I have a clean house, all my laundry done and happy kids. Thank you so much Vickie. I really appreciated the help.

Here's a few other things that I am grateful for.

1. A blender to make smoothies and purify everything else

2. Rubber baby spoons that fit into my mouth

3. Liquid medicine, especially painkiller

4. Pillows

5. Good, understanding kids and husband