The Great Outdoors - Texas Style

Last weekend we went camping with five other families. We had 12 adults and 13 kids under the age of 7. You should have seen the park rangers face when I gave her the numbers. She was nice enough to offer a group of campsites far away from the lake. We went to Hunstville State Park, north of Houston about an hour. We go camping about once a year and always with Ethingtons. Every time we camp it sheets rain and last time we went to Hunstville four years ago it sleeted (which is impressive considering it was April in South Texas). The joke is always we bring the torrent rain and they bring the bitter cold. However this time the weather was perfect, high of 72, low of 60 and NO SKEETERS!

Huntsville is a natural mecca on the outskirts of the concert jungle. Its located in Sam Housotn Nation Forrest, the campsite is situated under towering pines around a large lake. Its a kind reminder that Texas is beautiful, its just requires a minimum two-hour drive.
We got in a little early on Friday so we drove up to road to the Sam Houston monument. This is situated right on I-45 and the thing is a massive piece of fiberglass (everything is bigger in Texas right). They had a little visitor center and you can walk up to the monument. The granite base alone is probably 12' high.
We set up camp and started a fire as families trickled in. After a week about complaining how she hated camping, Erin soon was engrossed in finding flowers and sticks. Eliza was busy chasing the squirrels and Ike just rolled (literally, the boy was fifthly) around in the dirt. Erin and Eliza got their own tent for Christmas (thank you Academy $12 sale). We figured they would not last an hour in it alone, however they stayed the whole night!
That night we put the kids to bed and shot the breeze. Amber and I decided to drink water out of the spicket (there was no non-potable signs). It was fine until someone pointed out the yellow and red sediment. We figured we would both end up in the ER, however it just looks like we got out monthly dose of Iron.
Saturday morning Erin faced her fear of alligators and touched a baby one. We spent the afternoon out on the lake on our kayak and bank fishing. All in all it was perfect trip, the kids are already begging to go again!