Hamilton Pool (Thursday)

Eric on the trail that goes around the pool

See the rocks that the kids swam to? It was deep, but not too deep. It was rocky on the bottom.

Eric and Chance floating around.

Danielle (Heidi's little Mini-me)

Bailey and Erica

This is the view when you look up.

Today started out much like the rest of the vacation days - too early! Although I didn't get up and out of bed until 9, the kids were up early.

They were all very cute though, and played with cousins quietly. Chance and Eric played video or computer games. Brandon, Bailey and Erica played Mario Kart, and Danielle and Ellie did girlie things.

I can't get over how good all of the kids get along. There hasn't been a fight among them at all.

And Nat Nat, she is such a big girl and so helpful. Erica and Danielle too.

We decided to go to a place called Hamilton Pool Reserve or Reserve Pool. I don't know, but it was SO cool. You go into a "park" parking lot, and then you hike down 1/4 of a mile to this pool. I think it is natural and not man-made. I will post pics as soon as I can. It was so neat. There is a trail all the way around, and there is a little beach. You can swim across from the beach to these rocks, and that is what the kids did. They swam and climbed on rocks and swam and climbed some more. We stayed there for a few hours and had some lunch. It was really hot and the pool/pond was very refreshing. You could look up and it looked like you were in sort of a crater or something. There were trees and shrubs all around, and there were drips coming from above us, from things that looked like stallagmites or stallagtites. I can't remember which ones hang from above. (TITES like tights?) Anywho, because Texas is in a drought, there were only drips coming down, but usually they are small waterfalls.

We had to leave around 3-ish, to get Natalie back for softball practice, and Uncle Rene was coming back from being out of town on work. He had to go to Houston.

After returning to Heidi's house, some of her neighbors came around. They were all really nice and we sat around chatting about everything from politics to the weather. They were a lot of fun to be around. The kids really wanted to go swimming, so we went out back to the pool.

Uncle Rene made a fire in the fire pit and then we had smores. It was a great day.

Tomorrow we pick up Daddy from the airport, and we get to go to South Padre Island. Erica is in a cheerleading competition. We will watch them practice tomorrow, since we have to head out early on Sunday. The plan is to get to Houston Sunday night.

Have I mentioned that we are going to adopt the dog that we found? :)

Brad thought it over for a while. The kids and I have been bugging him for months now for a dog. I still miss my Dusty even though she has been gone for a few years now. And then he rented them movies like Hotel for Dogs and Beverly Hills Chiuaua, and that just made them want one more.

This dog is going to cost a hell of a lot less than adopting our cat from the HUMANE SOCIETY. Toby was over a hundred dollars, and it was a little bit of a pain in the ass! We are so excited. The brief time that we had her in the car with us, we all fell in love with her. She seems to be very gentle and sweet. She might have been exhausted from being on the lam, but she let four adoring kids pet her all they wanted.

We think we are doing a good thing anyway. Wish us luck!

We went and filled out an adoption application, and then we got to visit her for a little bit.

At first she was lying on the ground and just looked at us. Then she started to sniff the air, and she got up and then she started to whimper a little bit. By the time we had to leave, she was standing on her hind legs and licking my hand.

She is having surgery (if she needs to be spayed) on Saturday, and she will get shots and a flea and tick treatment. I can't wait to pet her when she is clean.

One more day to Daddy. I might cry. I miss him so much it hurts. :*(