Adventures on Tuesday!

Our last day in Texas was spent an hour north of San Antonio at the town of Fredricksburg where we shopped till we couldn't do it any more!

Texas appears to be very dry..... I wonder if you can have a garden out there?

This is the only decent picture of Fredricksburg that we came home with! Well.... I have only of main street but all you can see are cars and no "store details" (you know, things that ladies would like to see!) Anyway, I think this was right about where the shopping started but I have no idea as to what this building houses!!

After shopping we went and climbed up Enchanted Rock which a young lady that I had met at the conference had reccommended we do! We weren't planning on it, but when we found out that it was only several miles away from where we already were..... The rest is history!!

A view from the top.
Enchanted Rock is named for the sounds it makes. It is a granite rock and, like all rocks do that sit in full sun all day, soaks up allot of heat from the sun. As it cools down in the evenings it apparently makes rather interesting sounds.
The boys thought that a person could see for fifty miles from the top!

Trevor and I pondered about what could have caused this. Rain?

"Chillin' at the Summit"

Apparently climbing to the top wasn't enough for Tristan and Collin. They started climbing other rocks on the way down and I think at one point were rather worried about getting down from one rock!

Of course, Sawyer has to be in on the action!!

Who do you think is the oldest and how old do we look?!!! Leave me a comment!! I'm curious!
"From its' summit, in the fall of 1841, Captain John C. Hays, while surrounded by Comanche Indians who cut him off from his ranging company, repulsed the whole band and inflicted upon them such heavy lossed that they fled"
Sayre and water are like magnets!! This was the first time in a week he'd been able to get his hands back into something he is passionate about!!

The "bridge" over the creek.

On our way out we took the "scenic route" (meaning we explored the campgrounds and surrounding park roads!).

All tuckered out after a long day despite the grin and the glasses!

The Alamo

Monday morning found us at the Alamo!! It sprinkled a little bit during our visit, but that didn't dampen our spirits! I think most of us came away with a deeper appreciation for what happened there and the men that gave their lives so freely.

I've often wondered where the name "Alamo" came from and I had it answered here! "According to some historians, the name "Alamo" was derived from a row of Cottonwood Trees growing on the banks of the Acequia, Alamo being the Spanish word for Cottonwood."

"It was here that a gallant few, the bravest of the brave, threw themselves between the enemy and the settlements, determined never to surrender nor retreat. They redeemed their pledge to Texas with the forfeit of their lives- the fell the chosen sacrifice to Texas freedom- Newell"
They in essence bought the United States a little time in which to gather a force that would repel the Mexicans (correct me if I am wrong, but this is how I understood it) due to the losses that they (and the weather) had inflicted on the Mexicans.
This beautiful monument paid tribute to these men....
"In Memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives at the Alamo, March 6, 1836, in the defense of Texas. They chose never to surrender, nor retreat. These brave hearts with flag still proudly waving, perished in the flames of immortality that their high sacrifice might lead to the founding of this Texas"
This scene was depicted on two sides of the monument although they were both unique (I think the other side had a person taking aim instead of a cannon). The names of all two hundred men were inscribed underneath.

"Loo Ashy, Bi Dun"!

This Live Oak was incredible!!! I wish we had one around our place!!! They had thick wires attached to limbs to keep them from cracking off!
"In the early parts of the twentieth century, many San Antonio residents believed it was impossible to transplant full grown trees. Walter Whall-a retired English seaman-started San Antonio's first tree moving company and proved that it could be done. He carefully removed the earth from around the roots of the tree and then used a block and tackle to lift it out of the ground. They transported the mature tree through the streets on a wagon pulled by four mules. Whall contended that the hardest part about moving a full grown tree was avoiding power and telegraph lies. This Live Oak was approximately 40 years old when Whall brought it to the Alamo in 1912. The Base of this century old tree now measures twelve feet in circumference while it's main branches are over fifty (?) feet long"

What I call "Alamo Park"!

The Riverwalk

Our meal times on Friday and Saturday of the conference were usually long enough for us to spend some time walking along the River Walk, which enabled the boys to burn some of their energy off!

The Theater was on the corner of North St. Mary's and Houston Streets and one entrance to the River Walk was right around the corner!

The entrance was a particularly quiet spot and it was nice to just stroll up and down both sides.

We met these little guys Friday afternoon!! They look so soft but I bet they can be a handful!! I wondered how often they have to eat, for they appear to paddle frantically just to keep up with their parents!! They came right up near us and we were able to get an up close look at them!

We actually look half way decent here!! Maybe it's because it is early in the day! :o) There were little benches throughout this particular section that just begged you to sit in them!

On Monday we walked along the more commercial section of the River walk.

There were shops all along it and restaurants had tables set up beside the water. It was interesting to see how fearless the ducks, pigeons, and other birds were here. They seemed really anxious for people to feed them!

Trevor found a hotel that had part of the walk running through it and this is where these guys were hanging out (although, they were in the court yard part).

Another peaceful section.... the little red boat that you see on the left was one of many that offered rides. I think they called them taxi's but the drivers talk about what you were seeing as you floated along.
The "gardens" along the river walk were very nice. It was probably late spring down there and it was neat to see the different flowers.

I couldn't resist this picture!

For those of you who are die hard southerners, I thought of you when I saw this!! "The Robert E. Lee Hotel" is "Air Conditioned"! I wonder if they put this sign up soon after the "latest unpleasantness" ended (IE. civil war)!!!

Our San Antonio Trip

On Thursday, March 27 we flew out from Atlanta heading to San Antonio for a conference that Vision Forum had put together.

This was Sayre and Sawyer's first time flying and I think they enjoyed it!! Sawyer talked constantly about "La oopane Momma" ("look airplane momma" or whoever that he happens to be talking to!) and he loved watching the planes at the airport.

I think this was taken when we were flying into Houston; both flights were partly cloudy but you could still see allot!
After landing in San Antonio we took a shuttle to the Budget place to pick up the vehicle we were renting. Daddy had reserved a fifteen passenger van, but upon arrival found that this Toyota Sequoia was available! He wasn't looking forward to driving the big van!
We did have one interesting time with this vehicle.... we were told that it would hold all of us and had plenty of room, but when it came to fitting everyone and all of the luggage in it..... well, some of the luggage had to sit on peoples' laps!
We were able to make reservations at an extended stay hotel where the rooms had small kitchens. We started unpacking as soon as we got there, and Sawyer was one bundle of energy bouncing from one thing to another!
I think we all were pretty tired. Some of us had had a late night and all of us had an early morning along with "newer" experiences.

I at least was amazed at the amount of food Sawyer can consume at breakfast! He'll eat a bagel and a bowl of cereal, and then ask for more!!
We had made a Walmart run the night we had gotten in so we had plenty of food to keep the boys full!
We had to buy a car seat for Sawyer while there. Even though we had requested a seat with the car rental they apparently didn't guarantee having one for you. Sawyer likes his new seat!! He talks about "new sea Momma" or "smell new sea" or "li new sea" each time he gets in it! It's really sweet!
The Empire Theater was our center of operations for the weekend. Sadly I neglected to get pictures of the inside or of the speakers but if you'll go here you can see some along with reading feedback from other attendees.
The conference was really good. I met several girls who's families had the same story that mine did, along with the girls choosing to stay at home during their single years. It was encouraging to talk to other like minded young ladies!
The conference focused on families coming together (with in each family) to influence future generations of their family. There was so many ideas information presented that I have had a hard time processing it all. We did get the power point and have plans to go back over all of the notes.
These little guys hung around as they knew that we would feed them!

We had "dinner" at a little coffee shop just down from the theater on Saturday night. It was part of the Gunter hotel which had this sign out side.
"Site of headquarters of General Robert E. Lee then Brevet Colonel who assumed command of the post of San Antonio August 5, 1857"
There were historical markers everywhere especially at the Alamo!!!
Till next time.....

Home Again!

"Home Again Home Again, Jiggity Jig..."
Much to every one's satisfaction, we arrived home late yesterday afternoon after spending a week in San Antonio Texas! It was so wonderful to be driving down our driveway observing how much the grass has grown and seeing that the fruit tree is in full bloom!!

Now we're catching up on all the laundry that eight people can make in the space of seven days, culling through the mail, down loading cameras, and organizing closets!! Oh, and Daddy has the rest of the week off!!!
We're so glad to be home again!

A Quick Post

Friends~ I will be unable to put any new posts up for the next week-My family is taking a short trip and will be gone a week. I shall try to post pictures and all about where we've been, the adventures we had, and of course the normal goofyness that follows my five brothers everywhere they go!!
Be sure to check back next weekend! I might have a post up by then!
Have a great week....

Ashley

Fun Stuff From the Trip

Left to right- Thelma, Adah, and I sitting in the sandcastle with sea oats in our hair!

Thursday evening found us "kids" home alone!!!! Hehehehe....... the adults/ parents were sent out to eat and told they couldn't return until a certain time!! As soon as they left we set to work, the boys collected all the pillows in the house along with all the comforters. Then, we turned all of the living room furniture upside down in a "circle". Then, all the comforters were draped/thrown/fastened with weights to the tops of the upturned furniture!!! Wahlah! We have a fort!!! The floor was lined with the many pillows to make it more comfortable while watching a movie!! It was great!

Some of the art work certain people did!

The pier at night. Mr. Griffith and the boys did allot of fishing off of it. Collin caught a small shark which he threw back in.

A bridge that we crossed coming home. I was amazed how well my camera did with taking pictures from the inside of a truck while moving!!! They all turned out!

The Bodie Island Lighthouse (pronounced like Body). This too was taken from the inside of the truck.
Ok, so us girls got rather goofy on the trip home! Poor Thelma has to put up with Adah.......

This was staged but it gives you an idea of what it looked like in the back!!! It got cold back there while you were driving and it got reallllllly hot when you stopped at lights.

That's the last post about the Hatteras trip. I'm sure I'll post some random pictures that I think are worth sharing, but now I'm going to move on to other things!!