Sunday was a BEAUTIFUL day here in Central Texas, with a high in the high 70’s!  Hubby and I couldn’t wait to hit one of the hiking trails out at BLORA, but when we told the kids were going hiking, you would have thought we had just cut one of their limbs off.  Seriously, you should have heard the moans and groans around this place!  Boy 1 even said to me "Why can't we do something that NORMAL families do, like go bowling".  Now, this makes me chuckle because I've heard stories of when my sister-in-law was a teenager and they HAD to go bowling as a family....for her that was the WORST THING EVER.   Anyway, even with all the moaning and crying, we took the children out for a little FORCED family fun!

Initially I was annoyed because Hubby always likes to do things 'differently' sometimes him doing things 'differently' doesn't end up great for the family.  Like the time we were in Colorado and he made us hike to some crazy area for a picnic and we thought a wild animal was going to have us for a picnic.  This time he made us hike on the bike trail.  I thought for sure we were going to be plowed down by some crazy mountain biker.  But in the end everything turned out great, this time.
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When Girl and I saw this 'paw' print we were a little freaked out - we had just read on the bulletin board that there are cougars in this area. We (Girl and I)looked over our shoulders for the first half of this hike looking for a cougar.  Upon further investigation (since we have been home) we have discovered this is NOT a cougar print.  Do you know what it is?
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 A beautiful view of the lake. Notice all that green?  CEDAR!  AUGHHH!!  Have I mentioned how much I dislike cedar?
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I didn't check my children as thoroughly as  I normally do, I mean they have all gone hiking numerous times before and they know how to dress themselves....Boy 2's shoes....maybe I should do a once over before we get in the car the next time.
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Check out what we found hiding under a rock...
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Hubby was trying to bring a branch down low enough for the kids to swing on.  I guess he is stronger than he thinks.  ;o)
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Is Boy 1 really SMILING?!?!  Sure it took his dad falling on his arse but hey, whatever works!
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Boy 2 having a great time flying through the air!
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Boy 3 freaked out a bit!  Is this really the same kid that flew through the jungle in Thailand on a zipline by himself?!?!
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Another little critter we found....
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This picture made me kind of sad when I looked at it.  It made me realize I don't have that much time left with Boy 1.  He will be gone in 4 years.  F-O-U-R years, to some that might seem like a lifetime, but to me, 4 years doesn't seem long at all.
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Happy kids sinking in the mud!
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If any of you followed our hiking journeys in Korea, you know we have a little game we play; everyone collects something small enough to fit in their pocket.  At the end of the hike we show our items and vote on which one was the coolest.

It is time for you to vote, in order, clockwise starting with the shells:
1. lots of cool tiny shells collected during the entire hike
2. a awesome fossil of a shell
3. a piece of a cedar tree (that wreaks havoc on my sinuses)
4. a super cool rock with orange in it
5. a groovy piece of a bee hive
(Boy 1 didn't play - he is too cool for this game)

Just click on comment and tell us which item you are voting on to win the coolness award!
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At the end of the day, even though they will never admit it, everyone had a good time!  I have to give it up to Hubby, we didn't get ran over by a biker, in fact we didn't even see one.  I did sprain my ankle, but it was my own fault - I tackled Boy 1 and we both went down.  He is fine, I am old and brittle.  The kids seemed to enjoy this hike better than they thought they would.  Boy 2 told me "Mom, this really wasn't a hike, this was more like a walk through the woods", and he was right compared to what he is used to hiking. 
Melanie
2/4/2011 03:39:46 am

What are you talking about I love bowling! ;o) I am voting for the collection of shells, looks like it would have been work to get all of them.

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Lauren
2/4/2011 04:19:45 am

Love it, so fun and you make me laugh!

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kathie
2/4/2011 05:31:10 am

Orange rock

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MIL
2/4/2011 08:59:39 am

That's great..we've had years of fun with my Mel, teasing about family night, it's a classic! Guess my son isn't Tarza after all! Luv boy 3 pix,,what a face! It's really hard to pick..I love all the shells, I'm not going with the cedar, guess it's the really groovyy piece of bee hive.

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Jefanna
2/7/2011 10:14:23 pm

Lauren has a pink Camel as well.

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