The Lake

Recently, the kids and I took a trek 25 hours southeast to attend my dad's family reunion. I'm not sure what that translates to in actual miles, as I travel with 3 kids (one of whom has a 5 year old bladder) and in a Suburban that needs to eat more often than we do. I'm sure for normal people, it would have been a shorter trip. But we have never been normal people. :P  At least we didn't have the dogs or the rabbit along this time.

Our first stop was actually only about 2 hours from the house in a local splash park. We met a couple of other homeschool families and had a great time playing in the park and having lunch. I, of course, left the camera in the truck (Taz dubbed our Suburban the "blue truck" when she was barely able to talk and the name stuck. Plus, "truck" is easier to type than "Suburban."), so other than a pic or two on my phone, I have no pictures of this event. You're going to see a camera related theme on this trip. *rolling eyes at self*

Next, we hit the Petrified Forest in Arizona. Cub wanted to make this stop. He saw a sign for it the last time we drove through and wanted to stop, but since we'd just done the Grand Canyon, I told him next time. This was next time.

 To the right is petrified wood. Somehow, it had never dawned on me that "petrified" actually meant turned to stone. I was surprised to see that the trees were actual rock. Very pretty rock, really, although it's hard to see here. The different minerals that were present at the time of petrification determine the color of the stone. Below is part of the Painted Dessert.

Rocks that naturally formed in cone shapes, like teepees.

Left, the boys are standing in front of what's left of a pueblo thought to be inhabited in the 1200's. Below is a cave painting found nearby and the plaque discussing it. Can you tell that it was really, really bright in the Arizona dessert?

More pueblo ruins. Wow, those are some tiny rooms.

Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. We didn't stay there, but it sure looked cool from the road.

This is where we stayed the first night. Isn't she cute? And this is why I like traveling in a vehicle this large, even if it does get 15 miles to the gallon. :)

Our next stop was Brownwood, Texas, where some old and dear friends (the ones we stayed with on our trip to Texas in Dec) drove out to meet us for a couple of days. We had a great visit. :) Taz and their 4 year old had the best time hiding themselves in a curtain fort at the window and giggling over discussions of Angry Birds. I, of course, left the camera in the truck while we were in the hotel and didn't get pics of it. Sensing a theme here? The next day, we went to a nearby park to play for a bit.

Everybody but the baby

Cub likes to be on top of things. :P

Crawdad hanging out on top of the jungle gym

Aaaand this would be Crawdad stuck on the top of the jungle gym. :P

Cub made a new friend. The littlest Green. :)

Feeding the ducks

Yep, merry-go-rounds do still exist in some places. :)

Awww. Goodbye hugs. :)

We also visited with my brother-in-law for a bit before leaving Brownwood, but as he is camera shy anyway, the lack of pics in that regard aren't part of the theme. :P

Next, we headed to the lake for the actual reunion. It was blessedly close, as we were all just about done with being in the truck at that point. I think the official count for attendees this year was 97. :)

There was fishing with Pawpaw.

Swimming

 

An extremely goofy teenager

 

And time with the cousins

 

There was also a ton of food, but guess what I never took to the reunion hall with me so I could get pics there?

OK, so I knew that cans of soda would explode in the Texas heat, but even having lived there for over 30 years, it never occurred to me that plastic bottles will do the same. This is what happens when a bottle of orange soda cooks in the Texas heat and explodes all over a schoolbook. Yikes. So much for finishing THAT reader.

After the reunion, my parents and siblings and my crew all went back to my parent's house so we could meet my little brother's new girlfriend and her baby.

Aren't they cute? :)

I think the cutest thing I've seen lately was this tiny person taking baby steps toward my little brother.

Pawpaw and the boys

Uncle Adam and the boys. Yes, Adam, he has outgrown you. Giggle.

Mimi and the girls

After leaving my parents, we stopped off in Lubbock and had supper with some homeschool friends. That theme reared it's head again....And then we drove 19 hours straight home without stopping. Well, except to feed everyone, of course. :)