Colorado Bend Camping

Happy Thanksgiving!

This was our Zoomsgiving! So much to be thankful for when we focus on Jesus and all the good things. 

With our tummies full, we had a viewing of Santa Clause, a walk around the pond to enjoy the warm weather before it changed, 

and finished packing for a little camping trip at Colorado Bend State Park, 4 hr drive.

This was our spacious site with the river and hills of beautiful Hill Country right there!

We wanted to make sure we saw the main attraction, Gorman Falls, so we pitched our tent and went hiking on the rocky trail, even after three signed asked us if we were sure...we kept going and took the steep descent to the falls.

And we concurred with the what the previous hikers told us, "it's worth it!"

It was just so pretty. It was a little misty and felt like a scene fit for fairies and trolls.

We hiked back to start a campfire and cook our hobo meal that everyone enjoyed!

Overnight it was rainy and cold, so in the morning we decided to warm up on our next challenging (AKA not boring) hike along Spicewood Springs.

Gorgeous autumn views.

Lydia was eager to be my model :)

We enjoyed breathtaking pools and waterfalls (a taste of Hawaii, I told the girls ;) and meandered back and forth across the creek.

Yes, we crossed this creek numerous times. This was by far the wildest trail we've ever been on!

So many "zen spots" we felt compelled to approach. 

Abby took the reigns of Rio. Not a pool dog, but doesn't mind getting his paws wet and LOVES climbing, we now think Rio must be part mountain lion ;) 

It started raining again light to heavy. We didn't think we'd be able to make a campfire, so we cut our trip short, but packed a lot into 24 hours! We slept in warm dry beds that night and shopped for a new tent the next day. :D

Gma Jan & Gpa Bruce Visit

Gma Jan and Gpa Bruce drove their RV down for a pre-Thanksgiving visit. We preheated the pool so they could jump in Friday evening.

 

Saturday morning was filled with crafting sponsored by resident crafting director, Gma Jan.

We each made a bright mesh wreath!

The girls painted Grandma’s nails too.

After lunch we headed over to make our time slot at NASA space center. 

We walked all through the shuttle and 747 that carried it home. SpaceX falcon 9 rocket was newly on display too.

This Saturn V was ready for mission to moon, but the program was prematurely cancelled.

Mission Control

Fun field trip! Gpa Bruce couldn’t help but share all he was excited to learn on the drive home.

NASA is ready to start celebrating Christmas, and so are we!

On Sunday we did church, made cookies, biked, swam in the pool while neighbors put up Christmas lights, and watched Inspector Gadget 2.

Thankful for a great visit!

Fruit Ninja

We had a fun morning with the Calafells at the new Everglades section of Memorial Park.

Wow! I see a future softball player!

Happy Halloween 2020!!

Nothing like gutting and carving a good old gourd to bring out the sillies.

Ben's sipping hot apple cider and helping Abby.

Day and Night pumpkin by Lydia, Baby Bat by Abby

"This is my cauldron, whahaha!"

Our fairies for Halloween: Fire Fairy and Princess Fairy

Kind of an eerie pose, huh?

Lightened up with a rainbow ;)

Lydia joined her friend Halle at a party for an hour. They did a cakewalk and Lydia loved playing and calling out numbers.

Then we all trick or treated with Tegan & Brooklyn. 

The weather was amazing and we had a BLUE moon to top it off! 

Zoo Boo, Train Ride & Garden Day

Lots of people were back out at the Zoo. It was a hot day on October 10th.

It was also opening day for the new Pantanal exhibit

We had a good time back at the zoo. Boo!

The Houston Area Live Steamers put on a haunted ride, and we rode it.

It was a fun little ride.

We stopped at a road side market on the way home for some necessities.

Sampson Elementary has a garden that the 2nd and 3rd graders get to work with monthly. On the weekend volunteers were needed to weed and move dirt. Lydia was a great team leader, and Abby was a work horse with a wheelbarrow and shovel.

It felt fantastic to be outside working on the school garden with other Sampson families.