National Parks galore!!! (Shiloh battlefield, Mammoth Cave, Cumberland Gap, and the Great Smokey Mountains)

 We went to Cumberland Gap and hiked to the Tri-State Peak.  We hiked three miles to a spot where Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky touch.  It was awesome to stand in all three states at once!  It isn't as cool as four states, but three is better than two.  We also became junior rangers there.  While the ranger was checking my book she said my quote explaining how I felt about the National Park was soooooo amazing, it made her cry and she said she was going to share it with the park superintendent! Here's what I wrote, "Mother Nature has a mind of her own, and she must have been in a happy mood to  create all this to brighten our lives"  Here's a picture of all of us at the Tri-state Peak--

 

We also went to Mammoth Cave National Park and explored the cave.  We went through the Bottomless pit, FatMan's Misery, and other cool parts of the cave. We had to duck a ton or risk bumping our heads.  We also got to become Junior Rangers again!!

 

 

Here are some pictures from inside the cave and our campsite.

 

 

Last we camped at the Great Smokey Mountains. Our cousins Peter and Robin came to our campsite and visited us. It was fun.  We rode horses, hiked to waterfalls, and looked for cool critters in the stream. We got another Junior Ranger badge and also became Civil War Historians!! We also stopped by the Colonel Sanders museum. He's the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. While we were there we ate dinner!!

 

I spy!!  Can you spy the three snakes, bear, and elk I saw?  The snake in the middle, my mom almost stepped on it!  When she saw it, she screamed her head off and almost pushed me down the little cliff.  The snake on top we saw at a visitor center.  We were just walked past, when Ashley calmly said "Snake!!"  The last snake, we were playing in the river and I was about to step on the log when my sister yelled "Lauren snake!!"  The bear, walked right in front of our car without a single care in the world.  The elk we saw from a distance in a meadow.

 

Wanna hear something cool? We were listening to bluegrass music at the Moonbow festival in Corbin, Kentucky and we were photographed by the town photographer. Our picture made it onto the town facebook page!!! Check out the link--https://www.facebook.com/downtowncorbin if you aren't on facebook, this is the picture they posted.

 

Mom's thoughts--

 

As we explore our nation, I am grateful to those who had the foresight to set aside lands and create a National Park System for all to enjoy.  It is glaringly obvious that there is no lack of Walmarts, McDonalds, or Sonic drive-thrus in America. So it is wonderful to have places preserved that will never be replaced with these buildings. The last few days have been spent camping at the Great Smokey Mountains and I have seen firsthand the blue-grey mist that settles among the treetops and gives these mountains their name. Thank you America for getting it right!!!

 

 

 

 

Fun times with our Memphis cousins!!

 

I stayed at my cousins house in Memphis, Tennessee and had a blast.  One night we went swimming in the pool and when we got out we were surprised to find fireflies everywhere!! Once we dried off, we ran around their yard catching them and placing them in a jar.  I'm so sad we don't get fireflies on California. 

 

 

My "uncle Robert" wanted us to have something to remember him by so he made us a treasure box in his wood shop!  He helped us shape, carve, paint, and design our boxes.  He told us to keep all our special belongings in it.  I am so grateful that he made me that box and I will never forget it!

 

 

On another day we went to Mud Island River Museum and I learned tons of information about the history of the Mississippi River. Then we visited Elvis' house at Graceland!! And saw his airplane. We had dinner at a place called Fat Larry's. It was sooooo good.

 

 

Mom's thoughts--
We are so grateful to Robert and Carol for opening their home to us and showing us around Memphis. It was truly a special time for all of us.  The kids loved "Camp Wilderness," where the motto is endless desserts and no bedtime! And I loved hearing Jim and Carol reminisce and tell stories about their parents.  Unfortunately I never met Jim's dad and I only had a short time with his mom before she passed away, so hearing these stories gives me a better sense of who they were. (For those of you that don't know, Jim and Carol's mothers were sisters.) Thanks again Carol and Robert for hosting us and we would love to return the favor should you ever venture to California!!

 

 

Camping lifestyle...Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas

We went camping at Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas.  I had a ball!!  I did tons of awesome activities such as, canoeing, fishing, swimming, and hiking.  I also went to many ranger programs to become a junior ranger, and one of them was where you got to meet a bunch of animals.  On Fathers Day evening we went on a night hike and when we were halfway through a thunderstorm appeared right above us.  It soaked us to the bone.  

 

I Spy.  Can you spot the bear in this picture?  I took this picture about 12 feet away from the bear!  It was a baby black bear!

ASHLEY'S CORNER-

 

 

Ashley's sand angel

Ashley's feather bouquet

 

 

Trevor's thoughts on camping-

"Fishing is awesome, but the horse flies are scary!!"

Trevor's favorite part of camping. A true fisherman!!!

 

-MOM'S THOUGHTS-

This past week we have seen sights that will leave a lasting impression with me and have caused me to reflect on life’s priorities. For starters, as we drove through Oklahoma City, we stopped at the Route 66 museum. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but seeing how one person’s decision to create an interstate changed lives and complete cities filled me a with sense of sadness. We then stopped at the Oklahoma City Memorial for the bombing victims of the Federal Building in 1995. Walking among the reflection pools and the field of empty chairs , which were placed in memory of every person and child that was killed that day, was heart-wrenching. That same day, we drove past Moore, Oklahoma, where two weeks ago a devastating tornado ripped through the town. The sight of destruction again tugged at my heart. It’s incredible to think how one’s life can change in an instant. And now, we have been camping in the Ozarks of Arkansas. We have been living simply and I am reminded yet again how all the material goods we’ve left at home provide comfort., but being healthy and together as a family is what it’s all about!!

Oklahoma City Memorial for the Federal Building bombing victims. Reflection pool and field of empty chairs



Tornado damage in Moore, Oklahoma

Bye bye desert...

My parents say we're just about to leave the desert. I'm kinda glad because it's hot, but I will miss it.

 

Check out my waffle from this morning!! It's shaped liked Texas!!

 

 

We had fun seeing all the aliens in Roswell. We even visited the UFO museum. It was kinda creepy, but I liked learning about UFOs.

 

 

 

 

Then we visited Cadillac Ranch @ Armarillo, Texas. It's a place where lots of cars are buried in the ground and painted. It's a really cool kind of art!!

 

 I even got to spray paint my name on a tye-dye car. Now everyone will know I was there!!!

 

It's I spy!! Can you spy the big horn sheep in this picture??

 

 

Here's a cool video of our night time visitor!!!

 

 

 

Mom's thoughts--

When most people think of the desert, they think hot, dry and dusty. Or of  ATVs, THE river, or beer drinking. BUT if you look a little deeper, you will see so much more!! Clear blue skies, cacti bursting with blooms, cicadas humming with life, and a quiet that is unparalleled. The desert is a true unrecognized beauty!!!

As we were hiking through the desert, I snapped quite a few of these types of photos.  Lauren asked, "Mom, why are you taking pictures of dead trees?" She just couldn't see what I saw...do you??




 

 

A whole new world...underground!!

So much of what we experience is above ground, but this week we took the time to explore what's going on beneath our feet.  We toured a mine, dipped into a refreshing natural spring, and explored the beauty of an underground cave. It blows my mind to think that as I walk along the surface, there is a whole other world below me.  It fills me with a sense of possibility--Mom

Wild wild west

 

 

 

 

 

Just arrived in the Saguaro National Park!  It was 107 degrees!  As I stared out the window I saw millions of super tall cactus' called saguaro . This is the month that the cactus bloom and bear fruit So we saw lots of pretty white blossoms and red juicy fruit.  All around us we heard long shrieking buzzing noises, so I decided to investigate and ask the ranger what it was.  He explained it was the cicadas, which are insects that crawl out of the ground in the summer and look just like locusts. 

 

OMG I didn't realize I was that short!!

 

Below you'll see some pictures of our day. We saw a tarantula that had been paralyzed by a tarantula hawk and was slowly dying. We also became Junior Rangers and received a certificate and badge. 

 



 

We also visited Tombstone, an old west town who's motto is "the town that's too tough to die." We explored the shops, court house and even rode a mule-pulled stagecoach. We learned about Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday and the shootout at the OK Corral. The coolest part was seeing the gallows, which are the stands where people get hung.

Gallows at the Tombstone Court House

Carriage ride with mules Sally and Blondie

                    

       I wonder what adventure awaits...

 

missing swim friends

 

On the Wednesday before we left on vacation I stopped by Palomar to say goodbye to all my swim friends.  When I asked them for their emails, they started writing I will miss you Lauren all over my body!! My swim friends are the best!!!