Moonrise Retreat - Day Four (Enchanted Rock)

This day was one I've been waiting for for a long time.  ENCHANTED ROCK DAY!!!  I think my dad carried me up to the top of this big ole granite hill before I could even walk up it myself.  I remember climbing to the top many times in my youth.   Since we had kids I've thought about climbing it with them.  And today was the day.

There it is!  

When we pulled in to pay our State Park Fee (we really need one of those yearly passes!), there was a group of college kids paying their fees too.  Jav got back to the car and said we might want to avoid that group at all costs.  So we hung around the restrooms, watching as they cranked up some rap and started up the hill.   Jav knew my face said, OH GOOD GOD.  I know I was young once but those memories are quickly fading.  We waited about 5 minutes but then saw they'd stopped at an observatory station.  We saw our chance and took off at a pretty brisk pace.

I bet there is a pic of me and my brother doing this very thing.  I need to  do some hunting.

It took me a good 5 minutes to get my breath back once we finished the steepest part of our hike.  It was then I realized I had not climbed up this big ole rock for 28 YEARS!!!  My poor ole body has shifted significantly since then because of these two fellas.  But it was worth every gasp and heart-pounding step once we got to the top.  The weather was nothing short of phenomenal.  It was cloudy the whole time we climbed, and when we got to the top it actually rained on us.  Not what we were expecting in Texas, in June, around 11 am in the morning.  It was almost chilly!  

It's hard to do a selfie and show the spectacular view.

There were still flowers everywhere, which also surprised us.  Lots of puddles too.  

I love all the pics from this adventure, but this one above is my favorite.  The boys with their arms around each other between us, Joel gazing at his big brother as is his habit.  They loved the big ole rock just as much as I did.  Which made my heart sing with happiness.  

Texas really is a beautiful place, and even the presence of the college kids at the top, sitting and enjoying some snacks with their music still going couldn't ruin my good mood.  We had such good luck on the trip with weather and happily realizing our boys are up for pretty much any adventure.  I really want to explore the State Parks within 1-2 hours driving distance so we can do some day hikes.

One of the coolest things that happened on the way down was that we had a rare spotting of this - the painted bunting!  He was doing some type of mating ritual, hopping all around here and there.  He wasn't even paying attention to us and let me get really close for a pic.  Hopefully he impressed his lady friend and they lived happily ever after.

One of the boys' favorite things about this trip:  the fact that we had stairs to go up and down.  Kids are funny.

After our great hike and lunch, the boys trounced around the farm then we all got cleaned up because we were to going to a big family dinner.  They had been upstairs making lots of noise, and all of a sudden I realized they were too quiet.  I crept upstairs and found them sound asleep!  It was 5pm.  Guess that big ole rock tired them out a little.

When I found out my cousin Peggy and her husband Rob were visiting Fredericksburg at the same time we were, I asked if everyone could get together for a family dinner.  They decided to have it at my Uncle Robert and Aunt Lou's house, which made me even happier.  This is the house we spent all of our summer trips in.  It seems a little empty without Uncle Robert and his 6'5 frame and gentle German accent.  He passed away a year and a half ago.  But Aunt Lou, who just turned 91, is doing well and still able to live on her own with some help for now.

We had pizza, salad and wine...and lots of talking, reminiscing and laughter.  Laurie, who owns the farm and B&B, is the middle child of Robert and Lou, Ross is the oldest and Peggy the youngest.  How fun to spend the evening with all three, their spouses and Aunt Lou.  The boys now have a tiny taste of the fun we used all have on our vacations.  The smell of venison and brisket being smoked in Uncle Robert's smokehouse; all the kids playing in the backyard while the grownups drank beer and told stories on the back porch.  Such happy, happy memories.  We didn't start taking pics until after Ross and wife Karen had gone home (shoot).

I love this picture of them all laughing!  The boys both (lightly and accidentally) stepped on Aunt Lou's feet!  

All the handsome men.

Love this one even though I have my eyes closed.

And so ended another really fun, but LONG day.  

I think we ate ice cream and looked at stars, but it's all a big blur now.