Fall Break

We couldn't wait to finally have a break from the routine of school and school work.  We just love unplugging for a bit and doing our own thing...break couldn't come soon enouph.  Trying to keep four kids on task school work wise can be a bit much.  Every kid has there own way of learning and each need different types of motivation.  This break we forgot all the books...except the one we were listening to and enjoyed some time outside.  The plan was to head to Beavers Bend State Park.  With Ron working it  was a wait till he could head home, pack and head on our way.  The goal is trying to fit all the "stuff" in the car along with the canoe, some bikes,dog and us...always a puzzle.  We decided to have some bigger things under the canoe on top of the truck and somehow managed to fit.  Although we will figure out a way to get the topper and canoe on top one of these days.  Turned out we left a bit late-shocker and got there after dark.  Of course all sites were taken and saying things were a bit tense would be an understatement.  We were left with some horrible site next to a road on gravel-not even nice in the dark.  We decided to take one more drive around.  Thankfully we stopped to look at some site with a tent but no people and some other friendly guy with two kids let us put our tent up with them seeing as they were leaving in the morning...even offering us some Jjmbolya, which was delicious at 8pm at night while trying to set up out tent.  Anyway, things worked out.  The site was right on the river and the kids loved playing in the canoe and taking it across to some cliffs.  There were some friends from school/church who  also stayed in the same area-the girls spent a lot of time in the canoe dragging drift wood around.  The boys played catch, rough housed in the hammocks and did a little bit of fishing.

 We took along a  dutch oven this time and discovered that it is awesome!!  This morning we had cinnamon rolls.  We did a dump Apple Cake, some sausage and potatoes and then some peach cobbler

The mornings were a bit misty but still fun to just hang out and throw rocks and enjoy our lunch on broken bow lake.

 A cookout with the Connors.  With no cell service we didn't know if we would connect but we did and had some fun times watching the kids in the canoe.

 A morning breakfast

 A short hike up the Cedar Ridge trail.

 The explorers!

 The boys did a little biking the last day up by the lodge.  Ron enjoyed going out and doing a bit longer loop-couldn't convince Brayden to join him.

The water was a bit chilly.  Downside to camping at this park is that it is primitive....and when I say primitive I mean nothing.  Ron did find some pay showers the last night, but this day the kids shampooed in the lake.

 Where the kids spent most of there time...this was across from our camp site.

 Waiting for a horse ride.

We did see some animals- this huge Caterpillar was the biggest I have ever seen!  The kids saw a bald eagle and there was a raccoon who stalked our camp in the evening from a tall tree.

The last night brought a huge rain storm.  The girls bailed on their tent and yes...you can fit four people on a queen air mattress-you just won't sleep!  Unpacking was  pain but things dry pretty fast in all the Tulsa sun.



Memories.....Beavers Bend 2012

Beavers Bend 2013