Garner State Park

Last weekend we camped at Garner State Park-the first time for all five of us there and the first time for SK camping at all.

And let me start off by saying that there's no adventure like being in the park restroom as your 4-year-old yells multiple embarrassing questions which even I do not feel comfortable listing here.  It was an interesting combination of hilarious and embarrassing.  Maybe I'll write them down and yell them out in about ten years when she and I are in a park restroom together.  Or in the checkout line at Target.

Moving on.

We took time to carefully select our site, set up camp, then headed down a short trail behind our site to explore the riverbed.  The kids had been exploring while Hots and I set up camp and were super eager to show us all sorts of things.

They were also so excited to try out their new headlamps; even in broad daylight.

SK and her cheesy smile

L found this rock seat.

Selfie!

One afternoon SK came wriggling out of the tent after her nap-Ha!

Speaking of tents, ours seemed to have shrunk since we last used it several years ago.  There was room only for the five of us; no bags or anything else.  It was cozy!

We were told by a park employee that we could not have a campfire which was a major bummer.  But when we got there several other campers had fires.  As it turned out, the lady who'd told Hots that was new and mistaken so we drove to town and paid way too much for firewood.  Lesson learned!

Also, after spending the first night in the area the same lady had told Hots we could camp, we were told she'd also given us the wrong info on that and had to pack up camp and relocate.  Luckily it wasn't that big of a deal.

Here's SK having s'mores on  spoon at the new campsite.

Friday morning we hiked a little over half a mile to Crystal Cave.  SK did great and posed for a pic inside the cave.  

L at the cave entrance

When we came out of the cave J was WAY up above the opening.

We left Crystal Cave and continued on the trail for another 3/4 mile or so and saw some beautiful views.  Notice the headlamps in broad daylight again.  Ha ha!  (This may be my favorite pic of my babies since they look so little in it.)

Me with J & L  (Check out the view!)

Hots & the kiddos

Friday afternoon we kayaked and then we did a longer kayaking trip on Saturday where we packed a lunch and stayed out for several hours.  It was a blast and we are looking forward to doing an all day trip, then overnight trips.

L practicing standing up on his kayak

Me in the back and the boys in front

Hots was our photographer.  SK rode with me and the boys are in the distance.  They're paddling fools!

Hots spotted this turtle and caught it so we could have a quick look before returning it to the river.

We saw LOTS of turtles, including three soft shell turtles, which I'd never seen in the wild.  We also saw a Kingfisher that was just beautiful and lots of fish; perch, Guadalupe bass, catfish, and several other kinds.  No snakes or raccoons were sighted.

Hots & SK  :)

Fun times and we are already planning our next trips!