Fall Camping: Lost Maples State Park

This year we went to Lost Maples State Park for our fall camping trip. It was a pretty long drive for us (3 hours) but it was a really pretty drive. It is very hilly down there. There are big beautiful trees. In mid-late October, the maple leaves begin to change and it is even more beautiful. I was sad that we missed that.

You do not want you tent to look like this during a thunderstorm.

This was above poor Madeline. During the night, Caren noticed that water was pouring in on her, Zadie, and Madeline. We ended up moving to sleep in the cars. 

This girl didn't seem to mind. 

Anderson found something really cool. 

The kids stayed pretty busy playing dominoes. 

"Can I have a drink of that?" 

There may have been a tantrum or two. 

This place offered these cool explorer backpacks to rent for the kids. It had binoculars, a compass, a sketch pad, a journal, crayons, a pen, a track finder, and pamphlets to identify plants, animals, insects, and other stuff. It was a really cool idea but I think they are intended for older kids. 

Luc and Maizie had me take pictures of things they were exploring. 

Brian tasted a Texas persimmon. 

The kids did too. I bet early Texans had some stained teeth. 

This baby thought she was big. 

Maizie got injured. Luc helped her walk all the way back to the campsite. These two are too much. 

We always have major post camping meltdowns. Everyone, including Mama and Daddy, are exhausted. On this day, the kids were fast asleep by 6:30. I think Brian and I were in bed by 8:30. Whew... 

Here is our typical camping trip: we get there, set up the tent, go on a hike, have dinner, put the kids to bed, hang out with friends, go to sleep, have breakfast, go for a hike, pack up, then drive home. We all decided that we are ready for weekend long camping trips from now on. There is way too much work involved to only stay one night.

Although, this trip was pretty crazy with a broken tent, storm, and really far drive, I do recommend this park. It was really pretty. The park ranger was really sweet and helpful too. He actually came around to all the campsites late that night to let everyone know that a storm was coming.

Blanco State Park camping

This year we really changed things up camping. We went with different friends and to a different place. We went to Blanco State Park. It was very small and great for little kids....and we sure had a bunch of them. There is a great swimming hole. The water was FREEZING though. I'd like to go back during the summer sometime.

 

We went camping with our friends the Chapman's and Bartley's and some of the Chapman's friends. I think we had a a total of 13 kids out there...6 years and younger. (Did I count right ladies?) We all had a lot of fun though. It's so nice to get all the kids to bed then sit around the campfire with friends. I think the best thing about camping is disconnecting though. Brian and I always try to avoid our phones, facebook, twitter, etc and just focus on each other and the kids. There is no other time we do that...except in Fort Deposit but that's because we have no choice. It's in the sticks. It's so nice to give/have full attention for our family.

 

So here are tons of pictures...

 

I love those eyes 

 

These two were almost inseparable 

 

Madeline was so good during the waking hours. She would only sleep on my chest though. The night was pretty exhausting. 

 

Thankfully we have seen no signs of poison ivy or whatever grows in Texas woods 

 

 

We take smore eating seriously

 

Anytime there is a flower around, I can count of Luc to pick it for me. He's so sweet. 

 

I love this fat little wrist 

 

When underpants need to be dried...

 

Gotta make sure your kids eat breakfast 

 

This guy needs to see a dentist 

 

 

 

Inks Lake camping

We went back to Inks Lake this past weekend for a camping trip with our friends Caren and Jason and their kids Maizie and Anderson. We all had a lot of fun. Luc loves sleeping outside when we go camping. He immediately wants to go to bed once the tent is up. He went right to sleep and didn't make a peep until Evan woke him up the next morning. Evan however, slept with us, pretty much on top of me, and woke up a few of times with a tummy ache. I'm sure it had nothing to do with all of the huge marshmallows he ate right before bed. Even with the pregnancy exhaustion, I think this camping trip was the easiest so far. I didn't have a child crawling or trying to touch the fire or eating rocks or running away too far. I guess we're about to start all over with that though.

There was some serious conversation going on here.

Evan has started walking around with his hands in his pockets. It is the cutest.

Maizie caught lots of butterfly pets.

We found this monkey

There were lots of pictures taken

Luc has begun to try to ruin every picture.

Look at this big guy hiking

Brian rescued poor Anderson from his sticker shoes.