Category Archives: Camping

Our Weekend

settingupI decided last minute to do the DanMan Challenge this past weekend.

I had some complaining from my husband and son about my choice of the 10K, apparently they are above that.

I am not.

I would have choosen the 5K if they had one.

Since it was 3hrs away we camped at Lake Texoma Resort State Park the night before.

tent

dinnerDinner.

I really like these type of stoves, they make heating up water so much easier!

laketexomaThis is not a park we would usually travel to go to because it does not have much hiking but it was a beautiful place to spend an evening.

boyslake

lake2

play

shells

laketexoma2

water

trailIt even had a hiking trail.

It was an under 3 mile out and back.

forest

trailpathSuch a beautiful way to spend an evening.

himandmeI really like having a little photographer with me.

laughingWe started laughing when he just kept clicking away.

laketrailWalking along a lake, holding hands at sunset.

A memory I want to cherish forever.

holdingshells

swingingThis was me forcing my husband to turn around and my son to take our picture because the light was so pretty.

flowrs

tenteveningI decided to leave the air mattress at home, I thought surely the foam pads and an extra sleeping bag would be enough.

I am wimp.

It was not enough.

bedtimeReading a bedtime story on my kindle.

finishersThe next morning we ran the 10K at the DanMan Challenge!

My oldest and husband ran together and my little man and I ran together.

His thoughts on the privilege of running with his mom, “I am not the slowest in this family so why do I have to run with you?”

Yep, I am slow.

I am pretty sure I was fast enough for his first 10K though.

He did point out that a 10K is very short.

That poor child thinks 6.2 miles is nothing.

danmanchallengeIt was a fun run on dirt roads and trails.

It is so amazing that someone opens their ranch up and invites all of these strangers to come enjoy it!

It was a great first run for my boy and I!

Since this post already has a lot in it, I will share what we did after the Challenge tomorrow!

There just happened to be a fun history event going on in the area of the Challenge!

Devil’s Den State Park ~Part 2

highlands leaves log trailsigns lakeWe went to Lake Fort Smith to hike on the Highlands Trail the day after Thanksgiving.

It is a 165 miles long national recreation trail in Arkansas!

We only did 5 miles of it though.

moss earlymorning dam logwalk devilsdenWe hiked the Lake trail and the Devil’s Den trail on Saturday.

We started back home on Sunday but stopped off at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.

It is located near Fort Smith in Oklahoma.

lotsofgeese road mass reflection armadillo geeselook geeseflight geese owlflight birdtrail birds meI really enjoy looking at all the birds they have!

They do Eagle Watch tours also.

Part 1, here.

The boys had a great time and loved Devil’s Den!

My oldest was already asking when we could go again!

Thanksgiving at Devil’s Den State Park ~Part 1

yellowrock2 top 1sthike woods thesemenWe went camping for Thanksgiving at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas.

It was wonderful and amazing.

The first hike we did was Thanksgiving morning on the Yellow Rock trail.

It goes up to a lookout and is about 3 miles.

stove thanksgivingWe cooked some slices of ham on the little stove Nick made for lunch!

So good!

sawmill ears nest 2ndhike hike2fall break sawmill2 water crossingAfter lunch we hiked on the Fossil Flats Mountain bike trail.

There are 3 different loops you can do. We took the Sawmill loop for part of it but crossed the river and took another trail back.

pieI made two sweet potato pies to bring with us!

So good!

I eat the other food just to get to the pie…

bridgeonly sunsetboys bridge watersunset2 sunsetwatching twobridges bridgesunset sunsetwaterThe boys and I went down to the river by the campground at sunset.

That water was so perfect.

I love the water in Arkansas so beautiful!

cards cardshands nightCards and reading to end the day.

I saw many other families out enjoying the day together.

It was definitely an amazing way to spend a day about thankfulness.

How did you spend Thanksgiving?

Are you a pie junky like me?

I bought two more pie crust’s but I am scared to do anything with them!

I have no self control once something is in my house.

I keep it out, that is the only self control I have…

Great.

Now I want pie.