California trip

On July 24, we took a trip to California - to visit great-grandparents and great-uncle. We had a wonderful time, and then we flew home on July 29th.

Kira in the surf!

Parker in the surf!

Kira and Parker in the surf!

Kira at lunch with Papa and GG and Unk.

Parker and GG at lunch.

Papa and GG at lunch.

Unk at lunch.

Parker, Austen, and Kira at Marriott's Desert Springs.

All the rest of these were taken at the mountain station of the Palm Springs Tramway. Those telescopes were well used!

Our trip on the Texas State Railroad

Yesterday, after an overnight stay in Palestine, TX, the kids and I took a ride on the Texas State Railroad - from the Palestine station to the station just outside of Rusk. It was a beautiful day, and the trip on the 70 or so year old train was wonderful. That part of Texas is beautiful: rolling hills, a river and many creeks and ponds, farmland, forests. Just wonderful.

Here's Kira (bottom right corner) as we waited to board the train.

Parker and Kira, still waiting to board the train!

We had many seats to choose from, and the kids took advantage. Someone was always riding backwards, it seemed!


Here's the station as we pulled into Rusk. It's beautifully restored, and the lunches they served were good, too!

And here are some photos of the front of the Rusk station. It's just gorgeous, including the picnic grounds in the last photo.

to Washington-on-the-Brazos

Yesterday, we went to the state park at Washington-on-the-Brazos, just southwest of Navasota. The park contains a wonderful visitor center with many exhibits explaining Texas history, the reconstructed building where the Texas declaration of independence from Mexico was drafted and signed, a terrific picnic area overlooking the Brazos River, and the restored and still functioning Barrington Living History Farm. We all had a terrific time.


The Brazos River


Tree climbing after lunch was a big hit with all three kids!





The reconstructed building where the Texas declaration was drafted and signed.



More tree climbing!

Where the ferry used to take people and their possessions across the Brazos River.

Lots of wildflowers ... all over the place. They've clearly had more rain that we have at home.


The farmhouse on the Living History Farm is built in standard Texas "dog-run" fashion; that breezeway between the main rooms on the first floor is magnificent on a hot day!


The cookhouse was built separately and away from the main house. If it happened to burn down, the entire farmhouse wouldn't burn down, too!

The barn was also built in "dog-run" fashion. It and the other farm buildings were built away from the main house.