Camping - Dinosaur Valley

We had celebrated Easter early this year, so at the last minute, we decided to check available spaces for camping in Dinosaur Valley, Glen Rose, TX., and sure enough there was a spot!  So very last minute, we decided to pack up our family and head out camping for a night.  It's one night, what could go wrong? 

Below are some cute pictures of our trip, at the campsite, at Dinosaur World, on the river, etc...but don't let the pictures fool you.  I mean, who really decides to grab the camera in the midst of choas.  First, because of the fire ban, we had to come up with a plan for meals that didn't involve cooking.  Which, for us, meant nothing.  We packed food for the kids, but not for us.  Next, we knew the kids would get dirty, I mean, it's camping...but eating dirt is something new.  We adapted well though and had a fun night in the river.  The plan for sleeping was Aryah and Mommy in the car, and the other three of us in the tent.  Well, it's been 15 degrees higher lately then normal and we felt it.  It was in the 90's during the day and in the 80's when we climbed into bed.  So it was hot.  Aryah didn't go to bed and cried/fidgeted for well over an hour.  Mason and Tori couldn't sleep and then...the rain started.  I moved Tori to the car and Mason slept under my cot...but I laid there with the rain hitting my face.   Lightening started and the thunder kept us awake more than the heat.  All of that would have been managable; however, a Park Ranger entered our camp and warned us of "pending severe weather, including rain, lightening, high winds, and hail" and advised us to run to the bathrooms in the case of an alarm.  What the hell did that mean?  At this point, we were exhausted and the kids were asleep, so any parent would agree that the decision to challenge lightening, hail, and apparently a hurricane was acceptable.   So we decided to ignore the Ranger.  I'm not sure how much sleep we all ended up getting, but it was brutal.    In the morning, we had a good time cooking eggs and bacon and then went to Dinosaur Land.  After Dinosaur Land, we went back to the river and played for a long time.  The kids loved that.  One of Mason's favorite things was exploring the trails and climbing up "cliffs".  Overall, by the time we left, we were very happy to be heading home, but it was a good first attempt and the kids all had a blast.  That's what counts, right?

Mason enjoying the tent...until he realized it acts like an oven.

 Tori was really good at helping Daddy put up the tent.  All the kids were helpful.

 On a walk down to the river.

 This was a sign somewhere in the middle of Texas.  It was so funny, we pulled over to take a picture.

 Fossilized eggs....this was at the museum.  (Mason took this picture)

 Dinosaur tracks (Mason took this picture)

 Dinosaur World!  (They aren't real).   Tori was a little hesitant about the larger dinosaurs with teeth.  She knows they aren't real, but they still scared her and she stayed away. 

 Mason inside a dinosaur head!

 Tori inside a dinosaur head!

 A T-Rex trying to eat Daddy and Mason!

 After the sun went down, we did some coloring for activities, but without a fire, it's hard to stay entertained with kids that young!

 Aryah exploring a trail.

 Playing in the river.

 Tori was being so brave and getting close to a dinosaur.  She was holding her lucky bug to giver her courage.  She loves bugs. 

 A fossil dig at Dinosaur World. 

 Aryah enjoying a cookie at the campsite.

 Aryah trying to escape from her sleeping quarters.

Dr Pepper Museum - Waco, TX

For those who don't know, Ashlee is a HUGE Dr. Pepper fan.  She is forced to limit herself on daily consumption.  She has a Dr. Pepper shirt and enjoys any place that serves a cold Dr. Pepper (Sonic adds vanilla flavoring, which she thinks is awesome as well).   But then we discovered a Dr. Pepper Museum only 2 hours from us in Waco, TX.  So a trip was required. 

 It's hard to tell, but this horse is made completely from Dr. Pepper bottle caps.  Tori loved that it was a horse.

Mason got a new job as a Dr. Pepper guy!

 In the Ice Cream/Gift Shop, they had a Dr. Pepper shake.  The kids settled for normal ice cream, but Ashlee enjoyed a bit of Dr. Pepper in her shake!

 Mason spent some time watching old black and white Dr. Pepper commercials.  He didn't really enjoy the museum as he doesn't like Dr. Pepper at ALL!

Surprisingly, there was a lot to do in Waco, but we didn't get to do all of it.  The museum was interesting, but just that, a museum, so keep that in mind if you plan to go, but it's worth a stop if you are Waco looking for some things to do!

Early Easter

With Grandma in town, we decided to have Easter a little early.  We'd been busy making eggs, decorations, and fun Easter activities, so it just worked nicely to have the Easter Bunny come a little early this year.

Mason waiting so patiently for his egg to change color!

Having fun coloring eggs!

Aryah wanted in on the action, but she was only allowed to look, not touch.

Here is what we ended up with.

Mason found a hidden egg in a spoon hanging from the pot holder!  Crazy Easter Bunny!

And Tori was finding them on top of pictures!

Aryah's, however, were a bit more easy to spot.

The girls after they found their baskets.

Mason found his basket hidden in the back of the closet under the stairs.

Eggs, Peeps, and More!

Aryah eating her first Peep for breakfast.  She loved them!

Daddy helping the kids color eggs.

Sweet Berry Farm

Grandma Vickie, Aryah, Mason and Victoria!

We went up to Marble Falls to Sweet Berry Farm. It was a beautiful city and we had a really fun time. The only problem was the mud! It was everywhere!!!  After picking berries we went into town and had lunch, then went shopping in the all the cute boutiques!

 Katrina and Victoria searching for berries!

 Aryah liked picking the berries, but did not like the mud getting on her hands and clothes! At one point she slipped and fell on her butt in the mud and cried and cried until Mom could clean her off!

Mason and his friend Alaura.

Movie Night

We borrowed a projection from Jes's work and had an outdoor movie night at our house.  We watched the movie "Tangled" in our back yard.  The kids grabbed sleeping bags, bean bags, and pillows, we had popcorn, drinks, and snacks, and enjoyed the movie.  With the exception of the wind, it worked out well, and there was even a random firework show nearby that we got to enjoy.  

We hope to do it again soon!