Guadalupe River fun!

The week before our friends moved to Pennsylvania (leaving us all sad and alone) we planned a trip to visit the Guadalupe River State Park. Our friends (avid campers and national park explorers) hadn't been there and we (the opposite of avid campers and only occasional national park explorers) were super excited to get to take them somewhere new. Evan took the day off work and we left in the morning for a day of swimming in the river and picnicking. 

We couldn't have asked more lovely weather. Not too hot (for Texas) and kind of cloudy. We found the spot we'd picnicked the last time we went and started frolicking.

Juju was so excited. She could not stop running.

Thankfully, there weren't too many families at the river, so there was plenty of room to explore and play and not feel like you were invading someone else's personal space.

 

I'm sure you will fall over with shock to hear that Vivian was all kinds of contrary about this new experience. She refused to get near the water for a while. She just wanted held. I calmly explained that I couldn't take pictures and hold her. From the onslaught of pictures in this post, you can see that my priorities are well founded.

Mac, collector of rocks.

Mac talked Vivian into getting in the water by showing her how she can throw ALL THE ROCKS. He knows her very well.

I really struggled getting a picture of both of them facing the same direction.

My favorite tree! I always leave our stuff by it.

Tawny and Dutch in tubing.

V "swimming".

The little ones decided to cross the river and check out the rock situation on the other beach. One of the things I love about this place is that there are parts so shallow that tiny two year olds don't feel intimidated to roam.

 

 

We managed to get the kids out of the water long enough to eat lunch. Sandwiches, cherries, pistachios, carrots, snap peas, and frosted animal crackers. The kids thought it was a feast! The younger two were finished before the rest of us and decided to be the post lunch entertainment.

I just really love visiting this place. We have vowed not to let almost 2 years go between visits again. It's only a 40 minute or so drive from our house and it's just breathtaking.

So, what I can't show you in pictures is how many times we all fell. The river bed is all rocks, but as it get's deeper, those big rocks are pretty hidden. You'd be walking all fine and dandy and then, WHAM! you slip on a big rock or hit your shin on one. It was hilarious to see all of us adults just totally face plant.

 

Unfortunately, our day was cut short by an hour or so when these clouds started filling the sky and we could hear rolling thunder.

It was such a great day. I'm so glad the girls have those memories of going to the river with their best friends Dutch and Mac. They've been gone for almost two weeks now, but Vivian still asks every day for "My best friend Mac". So, I just pull up these pictures and she's excited to rehash our day at the river with her Mac.

July Reading Log

Another seven books read this past month. I guess seven books a month is my average.

1. Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life by Roald Dahl
I bought this book a while ago because I hadn't known that Roald Dahl wrote adult books! As with his children's books (which I adore), Dahl is humorous, entertaining, and gross. The book was a compilation of short stories from his time living in his childhood town in his 30s after having fought in WWI. The same cast of characters weaved in and out of the stories and his descriptions of them were hilarious. It was a quick read and I really enjoyed it.

2. Looking for Alaska by John Green
I enjoyed John Green's The Fault in Our Stars so much I decided to check out Green's other work. Looking for Alaska was John Green's first novel. I wasn't impressed with this book at first (I found it a bit pretentious in the writing) but I was soon sucked into Green's storytelling. I found Pudge to be the best choice of narrators among the teenage characters to choose from. To be honest, this was obviously Green's first book. I felt forced to be more sad than was necessary for a character that was underdeveloped and cliche. I'll still seek out more of Green's work, but I wont' be purchasing them with my own dollars.

3. The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning by Simcha FischerI have been following Fisher's blog for a while and decided to read her book I'd heard such good things about. Her sense of humor and voice of reason went from blog writing to book writing seamlessly. Fisher honestly goes through the good, the bad, and the ugly of using NFP and following the Church's teachings. Definitely a great investment.

4. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Elisabeth and I saw a preview for this movie and decided we'd love to see it. Of course, I have trained her well, and she sought out the book so we could read it before it's August release. The book is YA and a very quick read, but Forman packs a punch in her storytelling. The point of view is from Mia, a 17 year old girl who is lost between being dead and alive after her family was involved in a fatal car accident. Forman's writing style balances going back and forth between Mia watching herself in the hospital and her memories effortlessly. A great read, albeit sad.

5. Four by Veronica Roth
The fourth (appropriate) book to the Divergent series, Four is a collection of stories told from the mysterious Tobias' (aka Four) point of view. I found it interesting that in her introduction to the book, Roth reveals she had originally intended to have Tobias be the main character of the series and Tris being the secondary character. I'm glad she chose to do it from Tris' point of view, but I did love the glimpse she gave in this book to Tobias' background.

6. The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer
I checked this out from the library because I had loved Wolitzer's The Interestings so very much. This book seemed like a good story idea, but I just did not like this book. I kept trying to like it, kept hoping that the magic spell that swept the town leaving the women not ever wanting sex again was more not the obvious plot but a smarter, sneak-up-on-you plot twist, but it never happened. It was predictable, I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and I was pretty grumpy that I bothered finishing the book. And the ending? Ugh. The idea that the excitement of sex should be valued more than familiarity, commitment and devotion in a relationship just left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm leery to try anymore of her books after this one.

7. The Mortal Instruments Book Four: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
You guys, this book series is 6 books long!!! I actually wasn't sure where the next three books would go plot wise in this series since there was some semi-closures between so many of the characters and end of the world situations, but Clare was able to shake things up again. New characters! New plot twists! So much teenage angst! I really can't stop reading these books.

Let me know what you're reading so I can add it to my never ending To Read list!!!
(I'm at 41 books total for the year in case you're keeping track. My goal for the year is 60!)

Our summer

I just registered Julia for first grade today (yes! public school!). They gave me a school supply list, a schedule for the year, and took the wind from my "Yay for summer!" sails. Dude, it's August. 

School doesn't start until the 25th of this month for us, so we'll be continuing with our days full of nothing for the next three weeks, thankyouverymuch. No, seriously, besides a few local trips and the girls having summer dance class for one day a week for 5 weeks, we have had zero plans. It's been amazing.

So, here's a (somewhat) short recap of our summer so far.

July 4th obligatory flag picture with nice faces: 

 With silly faces (although, to be honest, Elisabeth's face is not silly so much as unbelievably frightening):

Evan celebrated his 31st birthday to much fanfare.

 July was oddly "cool" for Texas, so we tried to be outside as much as possible. Please note the bottom of V's feet because the child refuses to wear shoes. Whenever we move to a state that has proper soft grass, she is going to be sooooo happy.

We had a few last bbqs with our favorite people who moved (despite our protesting) at the end of July. Julia and Dutch have been buds ever since they met despite a two year age difference. She is really excited to be his pen pal. When Dutch's mom asked if he wanted to be Julia's pen pal he said, "Yeah. Does that mean I get to marry her?"

Poor Vivian has had a rough time with Dutch and Mac moving. She keeps thinking that they're on a trip and just aren't home yet.

 She still asks every day for "my best friend Mac". It's truly heartbreaking.
At their going away bbq, Mac wanted to show me his marshmallow roasting stick:

More outside playing:

Of course, the "cool" temps didn't stick around long and now it's mutha hot outside. I'm totally blaming my in-laws for bringing this terrible heat wave with them since it started getting over 100 degrees right after they showed up to visit. But, the other night, around 8pm, we trekked it over to the park to play since we knew there was zero chance of melting since the sun was going down. It was a balmy 95 degrees and there was a nice breeze. Perfect.

 Jana and Ebeth frolicking on the playground equipment.

 Dear Lord, watching V climb up that ladder makes my hands sweat and my heart race.

I love this picture:

Vivian is head over heels in love with her Papa. Thank goodness he's made two trips to see us this summer!

So, you all are fully aware of the wild child that is Vivian. I bought her this leashed backpack months ago but she was having none of it. Recently, we tried it again and said, you can either hold our hands or we can hold your string. Dude, she is so happy to be hands free and we are so happy to have at least one way to save her from jumping into rivers, off ledges, and not lose her in crowds. The tantrums thrown when we try to get her to let us hold her or hold hands is almost at 0%, a true win/win when we are somewhere that her safety is more important than whether we're "those parents" that leash their kids.

Hope you all are soaking up these last weeks of summer!!!