Day 14 & 15 Kites Again, and Early Morning Fishing

When kites collide! 

This led to a great lesson as to why kites need tails! 

We flew kites and played on the playground at the kids elementary school.  

A little before school fishing! 

A list of fish that weren't biting! 

Day 13: Memories!

After Praise, Leo wanted to roll down the little hill next to the parking lot at the church.

Again and Again.

Danielle joined in first.

Then Cole.

It brought back sweet memories of Cole and Danielle, rolling down the same hill with their friends.

Back when they were 2 and 3 years old.

Seven years ago.

They still have most of the same friends. 

We are very blessed that way. 

But now they are older.

And it makes me a little sad.

But now we have Leo. 

Who completes our family in ways I never knew were lacking. 

As the sun went down, I let them continue to roll and laugh and race around.  

And I sat beside the vision of my younger self, who was watching her children play.

I never even tried to talk to her.  I knew she wouldn't have listened. 

Day 12: Bad Smells

Today I have no pictures to post. 

Cole toured the local wastewater treatment plant after school with a group from River Legacy.

Danielle, Leo and I waited in the parking lot.

Enjoying the aroma.

Not!

Day 11: Scooters!

Sometimes the simplest days are the best!

Today we took scooters to the park! 

The new park right down the street from our house.

Of course, we made times for slides.

And throwing rocks....

And watching rolly-polys.

Cole even made time to fish.

Thank you, God, for simple days!

Day 10: Fossils, Trees and Swimming

We had a huge adventure.... and I have the sunburn to prove it!

Our first stop was the Mineral Wells Fossil Park.

It's free, and you get to keep what you find!

 All of North Texas was once covered by a shallow sea. 

The fossils found here are mostly aquatic.



Some of the typical fossils found!

Danielle found a shark tooth!



Leo was only interested in throwing the rocks!

Give him a few years....

We then visited the Clark Botanical Gardens for our 4th Nature Challenge!

I love Botanical Gardens, and we have never been to this one!

See the petite little butterflies?



They had white swans, Canadian geese and ducks!

The Nature Challenge Mission was to identify the historical trees in the gardens.  Historical trees are trees that are the 2nd generation (the seedlings of) of actual trees connected to famous people, places and events.  

For example, as a "prize" for completing the nature challenge, we were given seeds from the Moon Sycamore.  In 1971, tree seeds were taken into space aboard the Apollo XIV mission.  Trees grown from those seeds were then planted across the nation, at such places as Arlington National Cemetary and the National Arboretum.  The seeds we received were from those trees! 

 We also learned about "Champion Trees". 

A Champion Tree is the largest known species of that tree. 

We then learned how they measure a tree's height and canopy, without a ladder! 

  



They also have a Train Garden! 

Leo loves trains!

 They had a model of the Mineral Wells

and Weatherford Train Stations.

Several of the nearby small towns were also represented in the garden.

After a long, hot day, we cooled off at Lake Mineral Wells State Park!

Is it wrong that I laugh because my children are usually covered in dirt in most of my pictures?



You gotta love April in Texas!

Day 9: Elementary School Spring Carnival

We had a ball!!

Climbing on an old firetruck!

Bounce Houses!

I love this picture!

Laser Tag?



Remember your school carnival?
Talk about a simpler time.

Ours was always in fall, in fact, it was a Halloween Carnival.

Remember when schools could say Halloween?

We had a haunted house, cake walk and frito pies!

All the kids & their parents got together,

and celebrated their school and childhood.  

Some things really haven't changed! 









Day 8: Rocks, Bugs and Hugs!

Watching the ripples in the water after throwing a rock -

nature offers the best cause and effect lessons!

Here's a twist on bug catching - night time bugs!

Leo thinks every bug is a ladybug!

Friends!