The Bunch Goes Camping at Mineral Wells

  Priceless.

What better way to admit I am crazy than to take 3 kids who are terrified of bugs into the wilderness tent camping? Surprisingly, we had a really good time. We went for 3 nights. Well, I paid for 3 nights. We actually left in the evening on what would have been the third night. We did not leave because of any issue we had with camping, but rather because we were worried about the weather. I think a sneeze would have caused the lake water, which did not have a millimeter to spare, to go over the spillway and essentially trap us in our tent until the water receded. I have never seen water so high on a spillway and it was a little scary. Especially since there was a crack exactly half way down the retaining wall that was leaking water down the entire length of the spillway. That just does not seem safe to me. Not to worry though, if it were to burst while crossing it they put nice little speed bumps to contain the cars so they won't go off the 200  ft cliff. I wasn't chancing it. Rain in the air, Cristi's not there! While the weather was nice, we enjoyed the trail way that runs about 20 miles between Mineral Wells and Weatherford. We took the kids on their bikes while we jogged. However, about .5 a mile in we realized that T's training wheels were NOT going to make it on the gravel so we put him in the jogging stroller and held his bike on top of the sunshade and we David proceeded to jog the next 3.5 miles that way. The grades combined with the loose gravel were too hard on my ankles so D had to do all the pushing. I usually do it at home so I didn't feel too bad. The kids also loved the "beach" by the lake. The "beach" was about 10 x 20 because the lake was so full, but they played in the mud for hours. Don't worry we used sunblock 50. I think they forgot the block part in that bottle though because after only an hour we ALL had sunburns. We also visited Clark Gardens, which is actually some one's residence made to look like an English Garden, but it was really cool. It is also very large. All 35 acres are completely manicured including fountains, ponds, tree groves, rose gardens, a chapel (yes an honest to goodness standard size historical church), gazebo, reception tent, train station, and so many more interesting things. The kids had to get use to brushing their teeth, sleeping with, eating with, and using the bathroom with a multitude of different insects, but overall we had the best time. We will be roughing it again with a completely stuffed 5x8 trailer again in the near future

Fountains at Clark Gardens.

Only time D loves to cook.

The trail head to Weatherford from Park

Even the kids helped out at the campsite.

Kids had a blast at the "beach"

Taking time to smell the flowers at the garden.

Scary spill way with nice big crack.