Wichita Mountain Adventure

I love blue skies with puffy white clouds. Just imagine this picture with a beautiful, cool breeze, white sand and the sound of soft waves of clear, blue-green color washing up on shore. You can see the tree tops of the tropical jungle, which line the beach. When you walk into the jungle you'll find a little tiki stand selling pina-coladas and margaritas in a coconut with a little straw. Best Part? It's free!!
That's where my thoughts took me as I sat here looking at this picture, kids climbing all over and around me! One ity-bity one, in particular, saying her favorite word, "mama" over and over and over again! :) In reality, the above picture was taken on our little mini-vacation to the Wichita Mountains. When the kids tell you of our trip it usually starts with the excitement of the buffalo chips we saw all along our hiking path. Dad Fact: Did you know? The Indians and cowboys used Buffalo chips in their fires to keep them burning. Stinky!!

Little lake tucked in the mountains

This may be the first time a pirate visited the lake. His name is Captain Zert. Seriously, that's his name. AAAARRRGGG!

We spent a lot of time throwing small rocks into the lakes

and climbing on the big ones.

We found a wonderful trail that led us more into the mountain range. Then the big rocks that we climbed on around the lake became small in comparison as Daddy, Anthony and Grace decided to climb the mountain rock. At that time Momma had to let go and know that Daddy knew what he was doing and keep Bella from running after them. She too wanted to be apart of the great rock climbing adventure.

Apparently, the mountain wasn't as steep close up as it looked from farther away!

They're doing a very good job!

Making it to the top!

Success!

(Rocky theme song playing in the background...)

Coming down isn't as easy as going up, but Daddy is the strongest man in the world, way stronger than Rocky (all 5 put together), and the kids are pretty awesome too!

Hydration time!! It was a hot day, no cool breeze here!

Grace telling me about rock climbing while taking a rest.

A bit further down the hiking path we found a stream and pond. Lots of skipping rocks, lots of large rocks, lots of little squirmy frogs and one LARGE, dead dragon fly that got much attention....but I guess not as much as all the rocks that were thrown, one after another, for at least an hour!

Bella did everything the kids and daddy were doing. She has no fear.

Daddy is very very serious in finding this little, tiny frog that keep slipping away from him. As the frog quickly hops away in hopes to save it's little life, Robbie jumps, hops, runs, leaps after it in hopes of catching it! I couldn't have enjoyed watching him more, especially with the giggles of the kids as his soundtrack.

It reminded me of the time Gramps visited us in Arizona and scrambled all over to catch a lizard. He got the tail but the lizard ran off for sweet freedom. I LOVE IT! Someday Anthony will be doing the same thing for his kids or grand kids.

The maker of the buffalo chips himself. I got many pics of this fella, considering he walked right by us, very close to us. He pretty much looks the same in all the pictures but for some reason I kept snapping away! Dad and Bell kept walking past, Grace stopped in her tracks, she was a bit frightened. Anthony was staring intently. I didn't sense any fear from him. He piped up after a bit saying, "He needs a hair-cut."

I love "pointing Bella" pictures. I also love this man.