Category Archives: Outdoors

Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve ~Kenton, OK

This is my second time visiting the Black Mesa State Park. I went during the middle of the day the last time and had a hard time seeing the beauty of the place so I wanted to spend a couple of nights there this time.

I have found that most places are beautiful at sunset and sunrise and thought this park might shine the brightest at those times. I was right, I fell in love the with the open spaces and desert landscape.

Some of my kids learned the hard way that you need to be gentle with the plants. And that the plants will defend themselves…

I was sad I could not make it to Oklahoma’s Highest Point.

I am just not at the point I can hike that far yet.

We did find the dinosaur tracks that are right across from the preserve though!

My dinosaur loving second oldest loved that and the dinosaur pit!

The pit was harder to find but he was excited to find it.

My kids were a lot more excited about this spot near the park where you can be in three states at once!

My favorite thing to do on trips is keeping moving and see everything.

So my lists for our trips of things to do is CRAZY looking!

Ha

Anyone else do that?

Maplewood Leaf Days

1st full day up in Minnesota we went to the Maplewood Leaf Day’s(I may have planned the trip around it)!

My mom liked to make apple cider so I don’t find the apple cider press as interesting as other people…

Ha

It is only fun for the first few batches šŸ˜‰

They made these bird feeders with shortening so my twins could do it(peanut allergy)! This is our second time at this event and the people are always so nice! I love that with just our two families we bring a crowd. There were so many fun activities to do. It was pretty cold but everyone was a good sport about it.

Some of mine wait too long and end up with hurting hands before they say anything though.

So many great learning opportunities! Home Depot donated these kits! These rag dolls were cute and a great lesson about what toys used to look like.

Brave man… Again, brave man. My oldest loved to watch him cut these wooden figures out.
Next we drove around the park while everyone warmed up. I did manage to talk them into a short hike or two. And I of course tried for a family pic šŸ˜‰ The leaves were beautiful! Truly my happy place. My youngest boy told them to say “girl power.” He got beautiful smiles. Nick and I took the boys back that night to a different part of the park. Do you go north to see colorful leaves?

I would like to spend a whole fall up there.

Spring RV Trip 2018!

We got back from an RV trip to Indiana last Saturday!

Because I am going to be a little while editing, I thought I would share a quick rundown of all the stops!

1st stop isĀ Roubidoux Spring Campground and RV Park, MO!

2nd stopĀ Cohokia, ILĀ (near St. Louis)

3rd stopĀ Turkey Run State Park, INĀ (we stayed here several nights)

While there we went to my sister in-law’s baby shower and visitedĀ with family.

4th stopĀ McCormick’s Creek State Park, IN

5th stopĀ Yellowwood State ForestĀ (we stayed one night)

6th stopĀ Hemlock Cliffs, Hoosier National Forest, IN

7th stopĀ Spring Mill State Park, IN

 

8th stopĀ Lynnville Park Campground, INĀ (stayed one night)

9th stopĀ Shawnee National Forest, Garden of the Gods, MO

10th stopĀ Trail of Tears State Park, MOĀ (stayed one night)

11th stopĀ Bollinger Mill, MO

12th stopĀ Big Spring, MOĀ (stayed one night)

13th (and final) stopĀ Wilson’s Creek Battlefield

We saw some amazing sights and had some epic fails!

Can’t wait to share them both with you!

Here is a map of our route!