Off to the river....

Our 2nd annual family vacation was last weekend. Last year we went to the Coast. This year we went to Neal's Lodge which is on the Frio River. It's about 2 hours away from SA. Because of the drought, the river was really low. But still more than enough water to keep the kids happy. We were there for 3 nights. My mom, our family, Mary and Grant. Sadly...Brad missed the 2nd family trip in a row. Last year he knew he wouldn't be able to come. This year he got hit with kidney stones the day before we left. He thought he was feeling better, made it to SA and then it got worse.

Some highlights from the trip:
1. A brother in law in and out of the hospital....so we were constantly checking on him and waiting on updates. Mary was always ready to head back if he needed her. He was in good hands at his parents though.

2. Grant...2 1/2 years old....2 hour stand off because he refused to say sorry for throwing a rock at my mom. That boy is hard headed!! He never did say sorry, but at least he gave her a hug. What do you do after 2 hours??? We felt determined to "win" but I guess he did too!!

3. Mike's wedding ring made it into the river, and then after hours of looking...made it back onto his finger. Hooray!! A family staying in a nearby cabin were there when he lost it, so they helped us look. Later they found it and brought it back.

Despite everything, we had a great time. The kids loved the river. One night we went to see the bats. They estimate 20 million bats in this one cave right now. Some places have 10 feet of guano!!!!!!!

Another night we went on a hay ride which was a lot of fun. I'd love to go back to this same place again next year!!!

The pictures aren't in order...but here you go:

Sophia is Joshua's personal entertainer. It's blurry because she was in a middle of a wild "If You're Happy and You Know It" routine. Joshua was loving it.
Jake on the hay ride.
Roasting marshmallows on the hay ride.

Love it...sunglasses, a book light, and the Bible. What more do you need?
Not the best family picture...but here we are about start the hay ride.

Even Joshua liked playing in the river!

Mary thought the kids should learn to climb trees...so I volunteered. Ignore the sunglasses. Joshua broke mine and I had to buy new ones at the little gift shop. Sophia calls them my rock star glasses...so they can't be all that bad!!

Going down the "slide" at the river.

Some of the 20 million bats.

Grant and Sophia...I love the way he is looking at her!!! Like...."what are you doing???" And she's just happily posing for the picture!