Texas Day 4 - Crossing the State Line

This was a big day. It started out early with a rental car pick up. We needed a vehicle that would hold all of us for a long trip. On all our other adventures, we were taking both of my parents' cars to fit us all but that wouldn't cut it for a long road trip. We were heading to Oklahoma!

My brother, Jody, and his family live about 5 hours from Dallas. Though that's a ridiculously long road trip by New England standards, it's the norm for those guys. They hop down to Dallas often. However, Jody wasn't able to make the trip down while I was there due to too many other obligations. So we did the best we could do and met in the middle for the day. He found a great place for us to meet - Turner Falls Park.

Having put too much trust in the weather forecast, I had packed mostly summer clothes for us. That day, as luck would have it, was going to be pretty chilly. I got together the warmest stuff in our suitcases which meant we probably didn't match very well. It really didn't matter though because the sweatshirts never came off...and we were still chilly!

We got there just a little bit before Jody's crew...just enough time for bathrooms and to nurse Cade. After we said our greetings and gave hugs to all, Dylan and his cousin Ryker were off to have a good time.

Exploring the Slides By the River
Obviously, a little too cold to try them out that day.

Cousins and Friends

First off was lunch. We got our packed picnic lunches out and made the walk over to the picnic tables in view of the falls. The kids also had fun playing on the playground in that area.

Me, Marcy, Cade, Reece and Jody

Presley and Me

I can't remember if they were playing swords
or lightsabers but it was one of those.

The Cousins (and me by default of carrying Cade)

Turner Falls

Falls From the Side

Then it was time to do some hiking! The trail was really wide, clear and easily passable until it seemed to abruptly end. We had to do some exploring and back peddling before we figured out where we were supposed to go.

The well traveled path.

First Dead End

2nd Dead End

3rd Dead End
But this time we saw the destination!
See that hole...that is a cave!

My Mom always thinks Mike and I are SO adventurous with all of our hiking when, in fact, this was much more treacherous than what we normally do. Sure we weren't climbing mountains but we were scaling rocks and on some very questionable trails with lots of kiddos. Cade was securely on my back but I spent a good amount of time holding tight to Dylan and Ryker as well.

The boys braving the trail first.

Cade was as happy as could be waiting our turn to get in the cave.

With Mike and Jody's help, all that wanted to were pushed\hoisted up into the cave. It was actually pretty cool....except for all the graffiti:

Then they helped everyone back out.

Cade having fun watching the show.

Then it was back to the falls to go to the other side of the canyon to explore the rest of the caves. The first one being right beside the falls.

There was a small incident when Dylan and Ryker were playing on some old rusty stairs. Dylan got a pretty significant cut. That being paired with the fact that he was hours past his usual nap time...well, he turned into a bit of a mess. I think I carried him through most of the remainders of the caves.

Dad and Mom

From the top of the falls.

That week was the first time, I think, that Dylan has ever told me he was tired. Poor kid. That day, he told me several times. After hiking the caves, we headed back to the cars by route of the "castle" that was built as a summer home. As we were walking, I was talking to a very drowsy Dylan. A minute after he had last spoken to me, I realized the poor guy was asleep. That's the first time he had fallen asleep in my arms since he was about 18 months old! So, I stayed at the base of the castle while the rest of the gang hiked up the many stairs to check it out.

My Sleepy Boy

Mike thought Dylan would be disappointed to miss the castle so he woke him up. Dylan was too tired to be interested in it so they went to the car to get warm while I got a chance to check it out with everyone else.

Our fun family day was wrapping up. As we stood by the cars talking some more and saying our goodbyes, the gray clouds finally gave way and it started to rain.

The kids had a great time seeing each other, which was the main point of the whole thing. Between that, just being with each other and having the bonus of pretty scenery and fun hiking, the long trip was well worth it.