We went to this park about an hour from our home in Houston one time last winter hoping to see some of the alligators that roam free in the park, but it was too cold and they were all hybernating somewhere (I don't know if they do actually hybernate, but we didn't see any!) Well, this time it was warmer and we were all amazed to be so close to wild alligators. If you look closely you can see the fear in Rachel's face and the death grip I have on Andrew's shoulder! (And, of course, don't miss the gator right below our feet!) :-)
Rachel was nervous about being so close to alligators at first, but it wore off quickly. Sean, Ellie, and Andrew were all super excited to actually see them.
I didn't once feel nervous about being so close to wild animals that would eat us whole if we got too close (honestly, I really didn't!) but I kept thinking about how much my mom would freak out when she saw these pictures. I guess I didn't inherit her nervousness/worry. I just figured that it was a state park that has been around for a long time, and if there really was danger they wouldn't let us be there.
We lost count at 11 (and that was at the very beginning), but we walked a 1 mile trail around a swampy lake, and saw lots and lots of these guys just hanging out in the water. We didn't get a good picture of him, but we also saw a tiny baby alligator. You can tell in this picture how close this gator was to the shore, and the trail was just right next to the shore, but apparently if you stay on the trail and don't bother them, they don't bother you! It was like playing "where's Waldo" because they would just lay still in the swampy water and were hard to see if you didn't look hard, but I think each of us (even Ellie and Andrew) had a chance to say, "Oh, there's one!" and be the first to spot an alligator.
On our drive out to the family reunions, we stopped at several places. We didn't have it planned, but we saw Chimney Rock and decided to check out this landmark that the pioneers used. Very cool!
Our first planned stop on the way to Idaho (for the Biolo reunion) was at Mt. Rushmore. We had all seen pictures but never had been there. It was very impressive!
Bay Beach is always fun!
Everyone was excited for the first day of school this year. Andrew is starting preschool, but not until October, so he was really confused and disappointed that he didn't get to go to school, too. 
We went to this park about an hour from our home in Houston one time last winter hoping to see some of the alligators that roam free in the park, but it was too cold and they were all hybernating somewhere (I don't know if they do actually hybernate, but we didn't see any!) Well, this time it was warmer and we were all amazed to be so close to wild alligators. If you look closely you can see the fear in Rachel's face and the death grip I have on Andrew's shoulder! (And, of course, don't miss the gator right below our feet!) :-)
Rachel was nervous about being so close to alligators at first, but it wore off quickly. Sean, Ellie, and Andrew were all super excited to actually see them. 
I didn't once feel nervous about being so close to wild animals that would eat us whole if we got too close (honestly, I really didn't!) but I kept thinking about how much my mom would freak out when she saw these pictures. I guess I didn't inherit her nervousness/worry. I just figured that it was a state park that has been around for a long time, and if there really was danger they wouldn't let us be there.
We lost count at 11 (and that was at the very beginning), but we walked a 1 mile trail around a swampy lake, and saw lots and lots of these guys just hanging out in the water. We didn't get a good picture of him, but we also saw a tiny baby alligator. You can tell in this picture how close this gator was to the shore, and the trail was just right next to the shore, but apparently if you stay on the trail and don't bother them, they don't bother you! It was like playing "where's Waldo" because they would just lay still in the swampy water and were hard to see if you didn't look hard, but I think each of us (even Ellie and Andrew) had a chance to say, "Oh, there's one!" and be the first to spot an alligator.
We drove 13 hours to Nashville for me to run in the Country Music Marathon.
We were only there for 2 days, but we wanted to be able to see as much of the birthplace of country music as we could. We didn't get to go to a performance at the Grand Ole Opry because I needed to be in bed early on Friday night, but the we enjoyed the museum they have on the grounds.
Ellie and Rachel with friends, Sadie and Vanessa Morris (middle two) "performing" in the Grand Ole Opry museum.
Probably the coolest thing we saw in Nashville was the museum/store dedicated to "The Dukes of Hazard." I wanted Ryan to slide across the hood or jump in the window of the General Lee, but he wouldn't do it.
