Exploring East Texas: Jefferson & Caddo Lake

While my parents kept the kids, Allen and I got to escape real-life for a few days. Rather than using our frequent-flier miles, we decided we'd get some more down-time if we stayed closer to home. Our four-day weekend was spent at a sweet bed-and-breakfast in the East Texas town of Jefferson -- only about an hour and a half from home.

We ate lots of tasty food -- the enormous slices of pie were among my favorite treats, with the cornbread club sandwich being another memorable one. We took a boat tour of the bayou (different tour than of the lake), toured the museum, did a walking ghost tour where we heard lots of ghost stories and even walked through a supposedly-haunted house, enjoyed reading on our balcony in the mornings, and had delicious breakfasts every day.  

We spent lots of time in antique stores in Jefferson and walking through the old-fashioned town, but MY favorite place to go was Caddo Lake -- only about 20 minutes away. We headed out to the lake for a pontoon-tour. It was extremely hot mid-day, and the wildlife surprised us. The area was beautiful and we are hoping to bring the kids out in the fall (when its much cooler). We would love to do a boat tour at dawn when the lake is steaming into the lacy, moss-drenched trees and the wildlife is waking up. We saw lots of pretty dragon flies, herons, egrets, comorants, ibis, ducks, and a martain. We also saw signs of alligators (tracks and bubbles,) but none of them showed their faces while we were looking.

It was a fun trip, but it took a little bit effort getting used to the quiet. I always love my weekends away with my sweetie and I can't wait for another.

Kids' Weekend Away

At the end of July, Allen was able to take a few days off work so he and I could get away for a four day weekend. I dropped the boys off with my parents (Maddie was already there.) They had a lot of fun moving (and throwing) rocks to protect their dam (some might think we had free labor - ha!), swimming in the lake, fishing, learning to work with a lot of Granddad's tools, swimming in a neighbor's pool, playing on Granddad's jungle gym, making finger print t-shirts, creating ice necklaces and the list goes on. All of them stayed busy, busy, busy!

This is the 3.5-pound catfish Jon caught on a cane-pole. Granddad had to help him by scooping it up with the net. Jon struggled to hold on to the fish while Granddad went after the camera. Does he look proud?

I think this was Maddie's third shirt to paint. Will got a little silly with his... on the back he wrote "Follow Me!" and he planned to write it on the front. When he realized people may actually DO that, he added "Don't" to the top.

Maddie Visits Gramma & Granddad

My parents had both their granddaughters for a week in mid-July. Four-year old Maddie and three-year old Julianne were really excited to get some "girly time," as Maddie kept calling it. My parents planned a bunch of activities to keep them active both physically and mentally. The girls had fun running through the sprinkler, swimming, creating ice necklaces (which made them cold very fast), playing in and around the lake, playing on the jungle gym Granddad created, making pink t-shirts and white t-shirts, roller skating, reading with Granddad at bedtime, playing with Polly Pockets, and fishing. Everyone had a lot of fun and they are hoping to do it again next year!

My brother and his family went to Waco to pick up Julianne after a week. Little Anson loved all the attention!

Maddie and Julianne got along really well and had a lot of fun together. After Julianne left, Maddie still had a couple of days with Gramma and Granddad all to herself. She slept late, enjoyed the quiet, and fished with Granddad.

It didn't take long for her to realize she really missed her brothers, though. She talked a few times to all of them, but spent most of the time talking with Jon (who missed her just as much.)

Seven-year Old Humor

This is what I overheard when Will and his friend were being silly:

Wanna hear a dirty joke? hehehe
Sure
The horse fell in the mud. hehehe
I don't get it.
The horse fell in the mud...the mud is dirty... hehehe
That isn't funny
That's what a dirty joke is
What?
Dirty jokes are jokes that aren't funny. It's 'spose to be that way.
Hahaha. I get it now. You're funny.

Knock knock
Who's there?
Interrupting cheese
Interrupt...
CHEESE!
What?
I interrupted you with "cheese"
Oh.
Sorry I interrupted you.
That's okay.

What kind of cheese is not yours?
I don't know. Yours?
Nacho cheese.
Huh? I always eat nachos.
Nacho...you know not-yo' cheese.
Oh. I get it! That IS funny. But I like maple syrup on my nachos.
Is that a joke?
No. I really do.
That's funny. Not haha-funny... gross.

Boys' Week

Maddie has been at Gramma and Granddad's and Mama has been home with all the guys. Here is what we've been up to:

• Will had a friend over
• We went to the sprinkler park
• The boys play with Legos everyday
• We had plenty of quiet time with library books
• And we read together, too
• The boys had a living room campout
• All five of us had movie night at home
• I took the boys for story time at the library
• I took the boys to a magic show at the library
• The boys had guys'night with Daddy (IHOP and Orange Leaf)
• The boys did the kids classes at the YMCA -- kids in motion and yoga
• All three enjoyed Mario Kart, Star Wars, and Batman on Wii
• The boys and I went to a MOPS playdate and swam in the mud lake and had a picnic

Tomorrow I take the boys to my parents to join their sister. They are already looking forward to time with grandparents, and Jon really misses Maddie.

A Night at the Zoo

Allen and Will got to spend a night at the zoo with the scouts. Will has been looking forward to this "campout" all summer, and both he and his dad had a great time. They got to the zoo around 6:30, after the zoo had closed to the public. While it was still hot outside, they listened to a zookeeper talk about reptiles, then they got to touch and hold some. Will was so excited to tell me that they got to feed the giraffes -- evidently it feels a bit like feeding a horse, except the giraffes were really slobbery. After a late night, the kids slept in the classroom, and got a tour of the zoo before it opened to the public.