Where do you go to recharge your batteries?

In the weeks before a school vacation, I spend countless hours planning where we will go and what we will do.  I feel that the minute the bell rings, it's like a starting gun.  I'm compelled to fit as many activities in as possible during that short time.  In my mind, like a mantra, I just keep repeating, "We will never have this time together again".  And we won't.  My kids are growing.  I know our family time will get more limited. Nothing is promised.  Each day is a blessing, and I want to make the most it.  I want the days to be perfect.      

But sometimes the days don't go perfect.  Sometimes we need to slow down....

....... and breathe. 

Where do you go to recharge your batteries?

Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!

Michelle

Prairie Lights 5K, Grand Prairie

For more holiday seasons than I can remember, we have loaded up the car with our kids, and other people and their kids, along with blankets and hot chocolate, and set off to visit Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie!

 

Prairie Lights is a drive through light display.  We LOVE the lights! 

We love driving through the park, singing with the Christmas songs on the radio, assuring us that we will be bringing a new set of other people and their kids the following year. 

Because nobody wants to attend THAT concert twice!     

 

But this year, we came for the Sneak-A-Peak 5K,

 because even I have gotten tired of our singing. 

 

My daughter was hoping to get to speak with Santa before the race. 

She has alot of explaining to do. 

But Prairie Lights doesn't officially open until Thanksgiving Day,

 and runs thru New Year's Eve. 

There are over 4 million sets of lights, which is amazing when you consider how hard it is to just put lights on your Christmas tree. 

 

My children choose to run ahead, while I decided to walk and talk with friends.  Because that's why you do a 5K, right?  To walk and talk with friends.  It should be on the t-shirt.  

 

This is everyone's favorite, the world's largest light tunnel.  

The lights race up and down the tunnel, it's really terrific!   

 

 

Prairie Lights is set up in Lynn Creek Park, which sits on Joe Pool Lake.  A visit to Lynn Creek Marina and The Oasis Restaurant before or after your drive makes for a perfect evening.  From their patio, you can see the lights reflecting off the water, it's amazing! 

Don't forget to take some bread to feed the ducks and monster size fish that hang out there! 

 

 

There is more than just lights!  At Holiday Village, you can enjoy rides, gift shop, concessions, a visit with Santa, walk through the Holiday Magic Lighted Forest, or enjoy Holiday Magic Live, a brand new live show by Texas Family Musicals.   

 

 

When all my walking and talking (and picture taking) was done, I was proud of my time! 

And while it may seem like a long time, you will need to plan longer for your visit.  The average drive thru and stop at Holiday Village takes about an hour and a half, add an hour or more for weekends and holidays. 

 

 

My Mommy Tips:

• Make a potty stop every chance you get, especially with little kids.  The lines just to get into the park can be long, so visit the potty before you get to the park.  The only potty break is at Holiday Village.  There is a port-a-potty located at the gate, and if you can, stop and use it before going inside.  
• The lines can be long to get inside the park.  Bring something to keep kiddos busy in the car, and maybe some snacks. 

Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!

(or under the Texas stars)

Michelle

Fort Worth Nature Center

One Friday each month I pack up my little four year old, and we visit the Fort Worth Nature Center for their Preschool Discovery Class with his best buddy!  He loves learning about the animals that live in the refuge, listening to a story, and making a craft. 

But today he was a toot. 

Not his normal tootiness, but "extreme for even him" tootiness. 

He wouldn't listen to the story.  Then Mr. Michael told the children he would call out different animals, and asked that they go stand by either a happy face, an unsure face, or a sad face, depending on how they felt about the animal.   

The first animal was a pig.  With visions of cute pink little piglets, or maybe bacon, all the preschoolers scrambled over to the happy face.  Except my Little Leo.  He went to the sad face.  "You don't like pigs?" I asked.  He shook his head no.

The second animal was a cat.  The children all smiled and stayed firmly in place at the happy face.  Except mine.  Apparently he doesn't like cats.  Please don't tell our kitty, it would make her sad. 

The third animal was a butterfly.  My little guy stood alone.  When asked why he doesn't like butterflies, he replied that it makes him sad to see them struggling in spider webs. 

And on it went.  My baby, who is not a baby, is clearly defiant. 

But when Mr. Michael asked who likes bats, the children all ran over to the sad face, while my little one hurried over to the happy face, accompanied by a few others.  Curious, I asked him why he liked bats, and he replied to me, "I like it when you read me Stellaluna, (pronounced Sta-Luna), at night when you tuck me in." 

I love my defiant little guy. 

The Fort Worth Nature Center has lots of wonderful activities, including hay rides to feed the bison, canoe paddling excursions, birdwatching and much, much more!  Check out their calendar of events, or spend a day out walking their trails.  Take your camera, we always see plenty of deer and other wildlife around the refuge. 

I was also told some places to spot some wild turkeys, although I didn't see any.  Apparently, wild turkeys do not make photo appearances for loud, four year old boys.  Who knew?

My Mommy Tip: 

• Call early to reserve a spot for all activities, because they really fill up fast!

Click Here to read about another, less "tooty", visit to the Preschool Discovery Class. 

Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway

We went on a family bike ride yesterday, and today.... ouch! 

The place where my bike seat and my body meet is kinda sore!  So are my legs, and my arms from riding on my brakes the entire time.  It's the price you pay for bike riding with a four year old. 

But it also feels good, like I got even with all that Halloween candy from last week!  At least, I got even with a few pieces.     

We rode the Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway in Jacksboro.  It's a little over 9 miles, and winds around the city of Jacksboro, Fort Richardson State Park and Lost Creek Reservoir.  

 

It's a very pretty ride, with some nice scenery along the way.  This is the remains of an old Flour Mill, and the trail is one of the only ways to see it. 

A mixture of grass prairies, with a few gentle rises makes for a very nice ride for most all riders. 

However, the gravel terrain throughout most of the trail is unsuitable for training wheels...

 

unless you have a Dad who will tow you!

 

 We also visited Fort Richardson for their third annual Civil War Battle Reenactment

It's the second time my oldest son has gotten to participate in the reenactment.  He was a flag bearer for the South during the battle.  He absolutely loves it, and it shows by his 99 average in his Texas History class.

Marching into battle....

because there was never a Civil War battle fought at Fort Richardson (or in Texas except along the Gulf Coast), the reenactors are not forced to follow a predestined script.... which means that sometimes the North wins, and sometimes the South.  As spectators, we don't know, and sometimes the participants don't know, either.  The South looked like they were set for victory early in the battle, then the Northern troops brought out their Gatlin Gun....

The Gatlin Gun belongs to a Fort Worth boy scout troop that came out to participate.  It was the first time I have ever seen one used, and very exciting! 

The guns used by the reenactors do not have a ball (the prelude to the bullet), but they do have gun powder, producing lots of noise and smoke!

Participants are either dismounted calvary or mounted, depending on it you have a horse.  There are lots of horses at these events, and it's amazing how well they handle dispite the sounds of the guns and cannons.  When the four cannons were fired together, the ground under our feet shook!

During the battle, I continued to explain to my four year old that although it looked real, it was pretend.  He didn't understand and kept asking who was fighting who, and why, and who were the good guys and the bad guys, and "Was Spiderman coming?"  War can be a hard concept for the young and innocent. 

While my four year old was still seeking to understand, one of the young boys portraying a flag bearer with my oldest fell, pretending to be dead.  We all laughed at his overdramatization, until he jumped back up and got back into rank.  Then, with a look of wisdom beyond his years, my four year old exclaimed, "Oh, I get it, they are fighting zombies!" 

 

The Yankees defeated the Southern boys that afternoon, but once the battle was over, much like the zombies, they all rose again.  Following the battle, a demonstration was given of what techniques the medics would be performing on the battlefield, with each amputation (and there would be hundreds) expected to take no more than 3 minutes, and the injured receiving nothing for the pain. 

 

Want more information? 

Read about our visit last year, We Crashed the Civil War Reenactment at Fort Richardson.

 

  

 

 

Danielle's yummy mashed potatoes

I'm a firm believer that that my children MUST spend Thanksgiving with me when they are grown and have their own families..... I apologize now to my future son and daughters in laws, but yes, I'm going to be that kind of MIL. 

And I have a plan to make this happen.  My older children have a "can't have Thanksgiving without" side dish that they are responsible for preparing.  In this way, I can say to them in my golden years, "but what's Thanksgiving without YOUR mashed potatoes?"  Yes, I'm evil. 

My daughter, Danielle, is the genius behind our Thanksgiving mashed potatoes.  And I have to tell you, they are amazing!  Like so much in our lives, they come with a story.  Shouldn't everything have a story? 

So, we are going to have to travel back to the Summer of 2010.  At the time, I was obsessed with learning to make Chef Kent Rathbun's famed Lobster Shooters, and he was doing a cooking demonstration at an HEB grocery store.  We made a girl's day of it, going with my MIL and another friend. 

Chef Kent Rathbun is a superhero in the Texas culinary world, with his Dallas restaurants, Abacus and Rathbun's Blue Plate Kitchen, and Jasper's with locations in Plano, Austin and The Woodlands.  He and his brother Kevin became national superheroes when they defeated Bobby Flay in an Iron Chef competition!  His brother, Chef Kevin Rathbun owns Rathbun's Steakhouse in Atlanta, where I have never had the opportunity to dine, but my dear husband sent me a picture of his steak once while on a business trip! 

Anyway, after the demo. I got my girl to pose for a picture with Chef Rathbun.  He asked her if she liked to cook, and what.  She said mashed potatoes (Which is true, although she doesn't eat potatoes - weirdo!)  He then gave her the golden secret.  He said to take some green onions (which she proudly told him she that we had them growing all over our yard) and puree them in a blender or food processor.  Then mix it with some heavy cream, and add the mixture to the cooked potatoes, mashing as usual.  He jokingly told her that if she becames a famous chef,  she had to share the credit with him.  She beamed.  I beamed.  Superman! 

And the next day, we made them with dinner.  WOW!!!

They are a peculiar light green color, and awesome, and not for anyone concerned about watching their weight!

 By the way, the Lobster Scalion Shooters were amazing, too! 

MY FAVORITE PLACES TO SEE BALD EAGLES IN TEXAS

Have you ever seen a WILD BALD EAGLE?  Once you see one up close (and by that I mean up close enough to determine that it is a bald eagle through your binoculars), it's a thrill you will never forget!  Because not only are they the symbol of the United States, but they are truly amazing, native American birds! Add to that the fact that they were almost extinct because of OUR carelessness, and that they are RECOVERING, they're just an amazing!

 

Bald Eagles migrate to Texas each winter, and usually to the same area.  They build huge nest in trees for their eggs, and raise a family. Immature bald eagles do not have the recognizeable white heads, and are often mistaken for hawks (at least by me).

 

Here are some of my favorite places in Texas to see wild Bald Eagles:

 

1.  Vanishing Texas River Cruise

One of my favorite spot to view Bald Eagles is the Vanishing Texas River Cruise by Canyon of the Eagles on the Colorado River and Lake Buchanan in Burnet!  You can choose to sit in the all enclosed air conditioned/heated (because in Texas you never know!) cabin or go up top to the open air deck for viewing!  Reservations are highly suggested, and tend to sell out quickly!  They have recently added NEW Freedom Flight Cruises in conjunction with Last Chance Forever wild bird rehabilitators.  On these amazing cruises, you can witness as birds are released back into the wild!  For somone who wants to get a little closer to nature, enjoy one of their Kayak Rentals along Beaver Creek.  Enjoy a 2, 4 or all day excursion to Falls Creek Falls.

2.  John Bunker Sands Wetlands  

A man made wetland just south of Dallas, the East Fork Wetlands Project was created as a natural way to cleanse reclaimed water, and is the largest in the state.  Migratory shorebirds and waterfowl have claimed the area as their winter home, as well as juvenile Bald Eagles, and a mature mating pair.  The John Bunker Sands Center provides an educational opportunity to view the wetlands along their boardwalk, and hands on activities for schools and organizations in their leanring center.  They are open to the public on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, and weekday visits are scheduled by appointment. 

3.  Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

Hagerman offers a wonderful opportunity to view wildlife from your car, or you can get out and hike the trails around the refuge.  On our visit last year, we spotted several young Bald Eagles as we drove around, although that trip was all about the SNOW GEESE!  Want to read about it?  The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico. 

4. Eaglefest

Each winter, the town of Emory celebrates Rains County's designation as the Bald Eagle Capital of Texas with a 2 day festival, Eaglefest.  Barge and Bus tours take festival goers out to see the eagles, as well as self guided walking tours.  In town, enjoy festival activities, food booths, and educational presentations by conservation groups. 

5.  Lake Texoma

If you have more money than I do, you might want to schedule a bald eagle tour aboard an air boat!  This is the only one we have never done... but I sure want to!!

6. Fairfield Lake State Park

Each year people flock out to Fairfield Lake State Park to see the returning Bald Eagles that winter on the lake, no doubt dining on the lake's supply of stocked red drum (redfish)!  Park rangers will suggest better viewing sites.  This is a great park for family camping, too! 

7.  Mary Manor Preserve at the Katy Prairie Conservancy

 This 200 acre preserve, West of Houston, is made up of wetlands and old rice fields.  It offers a perfect opportunity to spot Bald Eagles, as well as many other sought after Texas migratory birds. 


Want more locations?  Visit Bald Eagle Information to learn about eagle sightings around Texas, and post your own sightings!  Good Luck! 


My Mommy Tips

• Most of these locations are "kinda out there".  Be sure you fill up your gas tank before arriving, a wildlife refuge is a lousy place to run out of gas, albeit a beautiful one. 
• Pack a lunch and plan to spend the day.  Take sunscreen, bug spray, and comfortable shoes for walking the trails.  Bring along a book to read under a tree, or a frisbee to make a playful day!
• You and your children will enjoy birds so much more if you can recognize even just a few.  Purchase a field guide to take with you. 
• Don't forget a pair of binoculars.  They don' t need to be expensive to help you sight these Big Birds!! Take a kid friendly pair for your younger children, too!
• If you spot one, you will want to remember it!  Take your camera!  My four year old has a Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera he loves.  The photos aren't great, but I love that he is learning to appreciate what he sees when looking in the camera! 

If you want to see a BALD EAGLE up very close, visit Grace at the Texas State Aquarium.  She is a stunning bird who was found injured in Alaska, rehabilitated but not able to be released. 

NOVEMBER GIVEAWAY

I'm a little late on posting my November give-a-way, but I wanted it to be something special, and reflect something about Texas for which I am THANKFUL. 

I think the holidays are all about memories, and I am very thankful for the memories I have of growing up in Texas.  Like many people, the Thanksgiving meal defines these memories for me.  My Dad would smoke the turkey until it was the most beautiful copper color, and the low heat would mean that juicy, clear fluids ran as he cut it!   My mother made the most delicious cornbread dressing, with large chunks of celery so I could pick them out (I love celery now, what was I thinking??!)  I was an adult before I ever tasted cranberry sauce, Dad preferring to open a jar of Mayhaw Jelly that he made each year.  A rite of May, we would drive to East Texas for a Saturday spent picking the wild berries in the forest, which are hard to find, and watching out for snakes.  Dad would tell me about his childhood, growing up in those same woods, and picking berries with his mother.  "There use to be alot more of them", he would always say.  The berries are tart when picked, and so I never ate them from the pail, preferring to look for early dewberries that could be picked and immediately eaten.  We would return home and he would spend Sunday afternoon cooking in the kitchen, while my mom and I worked out in our garden.  That little mason jar of jelly, slightly tart (but Dad used alot of sugar in all his jellies), held so much more than just the reddish condiment, it held a lovely part of my childhood.

Brazos River Provision Company

This summer I was given a jar of Mayhaw Jelly from Brazos River Provision Company.  It was amazing, and did it ever bring back the memories.  It had probably been over ten years since I last had some, spread thick on a homemade biscuit, I still remember it!  Brazos River Provision Company is a family owned jelly maker in Richmond, run by Jelly Man Mike.  They also sell Texas Salsas, rubs and some novelty items.  They have an online business as well as a store in Historic Downtown Richmond. 



The Giveaway

Now I know that no matter how much I brag, some of you may not want to try the Mayhaw Jelly, so the giveaway this month is for a $30 gift certificate to Brazos River Provision Company!  It doesn't matter where you live because they have a great online shop! I love their Texas shaped Jalapeno cooker!  It's super easy to enter, just make a comment below on this blog post and wha-la (Texan for voila), you're entered!  The contest will run through November 16th. The winner will be chosen by a random drawing, and announced on November 17th.    Good Luck to Everyone! 

Michelle

P.S.   Blogger can be a bugger to leave comments.  Here's an easy how to without needing to take any computer classes...
1.  Click on "Comments" down below.
2.  Type in your comment, then when it ask for you "Comment as", choose Name/URL. 
3.  Type your name and leave the URL blank - unless you have a URL. 
4.  Click on publish!  Good Job!  Thank YOU!!