The MacFarland's » Camping

Camping at Lockhart State Park

krmac — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:19:27 +0000

Last weekend we met up with Kristin’s parents at the small, but beautiful, Lockhart State Park. Only about an hours drive southeast of Round Rock, it’s a nice park with only twenty or so campsites and a nice hiking trail. We built campfires both nights, roasted marshmallows and popped up some jiffy pop. Saturday night we drove into Lockhart to eat at the famous Black’s BBQ, and it was so tasty! We had a nice, relaxing weekend, the weather was perfect and the kids had a blast.

Click Here for photos from our weekend

Cub Scout Campout

krmac — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:47:45 +0000

UPDATED: Skit Video, Revised Top Ten List and The Lizard Story that I can’t believe I forgot to tell.

This weekend was our Fall Cub Scout campout at the gorgeous Inks Lake State Park. We had a blast hiking, sitting around the campfire on the cold nights and watching the boys go crazy. Saturday morning all the dens met at one of the trails to take a lengthy, scenic hike. After that it was back to camp for some lunch then den activities. Our den worked on the Wildlife Conservation Belt Loop and we worked on our skit. We got to take a little rest after our belt loop work then it was time for the Pack games. Lots of team-building games and of course everyone’s favorite, a massive tug of war. And just like last year, it ended up being parents versus kids. After the Pack games it was time for our Pack cookout and campfire. Lots of good food and lots of joke telling, then all of the dens performed their skits. Ours got good laughs and the boys did great! Sunday morning before we left our family rented a paddleboat and went around a small part of the lake. The kids thought that was just awesome. We made it home around 1:30pm…sunburnt, exhausted and filthy but wouldn’t trade any of it! Priceless memories were made this weekend.

{Update} Scott brought it to my attention that I forgot to mention the funny thing that happened as we were packing to leave on Sunday. Scott and I had just folded up the tent and I looked down and noticed a lizard on the tarp that had been under our tent. It wasn’t just any lizard, but a good sized Texas Spiny Lizard. I called Brady and some other kids over to look at it and when Brady stepped up to it, it scampered to my boot. I said “I think it’s under my boot” and Scott replied that it wasn’t under my boot but had gone up my pant leg. I thought “Nah, couldn’t have” then about that time I felt something going up my pants!!! The lizard had indeed found shelter from the kids in the comfort of my sweatpant leg. I quickly put my hand down on my leg so he couldn’t go any further then bent over and folded up my pant leg to reveal the creature clinging to the inside of my pants. The kids were going nuts and one of the parents even came over to see what the comotion was about. It was really neat and I don’t think any of us will ever forget that moment!! We all got a chance to touch him, he seemed really tame. He jumped to my other leg then down to the ground where he ran to a nearby hole in a tree. I really wish I would have had the camera with me at that moment.

Check out all the photos HERE

MY TOP TEN THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEKEND……

1. Boys are attracted to fire, no matter what the age.

2. If there is water, young boys will find it.

3. Trying to herd a group of boys is like trying to herd a group of wild buffalo.

4. Jiffy Pop will catch on fire when being used in a manner not consistent with the directions on the label.

5. Walking to the bathrooms by yourself in the middle of the night, while camping, is scary.

6. Little boys are most content when they find a dead fish to play with. Keeps them entertained for hours.

7. Putting your hand down on a little green, fuzzy caterpillar is no fun, just ask Kacey.

8. The smell of smoke from a campfire doesn’t easily come out of your hair or your clothes.

9. Getting into the wild outdoors is one of the funnest things I could possibly do with my family.

10. Packing up to leave is not nearly as fun as getting there and setting it up.

Our Den’s Skit for the Pack Cookout

Pedernales Falls Camping- Videos

krmac — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:20:49 +0000

Camping at Pedernales Falls State Park

krmac — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:55:42 +0000

This past Friday we headed out to Pedernales Falls State Park for an overnight camping trip. We had planned on staying 2 nights but the rain and humidity made up our minds for us about leaving early. We were lucky enough to have a gorgeous Friday and even part of Saturday wasn’t that bad, just overcast. The rain started to fall lightly on and off during the day and really wasn’t enough to prevent us from getting in our hiking or our visit to the falls. We decided we were just going to leave after dinner and get one last meal in out in the great outdoors. After all, this state park is just about an hours drive southwest of Round Rock. We had a really awesome campsite and the kids had so much fun exploring around. Even though it was a short camp out, we had a blast and hope to maybe go back in late November or in the Spring when the weather is warming up. This park is definitely going to end up being one of our favorites, it’s just so gorgeous there, tucked away in the Hill Country. We are excited to have kicked off our Fall camping season and we are looking forward to the Cub Scout camp out in two weeks at Inks Lake State Park. In mid November we will be camping 2 nights at Lockhart State Park with my parents (Kristin’s).

Click HERE to see all the photos. VIDEO COMING SOON….CHECK BACK LATER!

Weekend Getaway

krmac — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:17:58 +0000

This past weekend we met my parents at Bastrop State Park for a short, but fun weekend getaway. I love the Lost Pines and the feeling of being in far East Texas but only 30 minutes from home! My parents drove up on Friday to get Brady so he could have an extra night out there hanging out with grandpa. Scott, Kacey and I got there early Saturday morning and as soon as we had our tent set up we went on a long hike through the pines, it was awesome! The sun shining through the pine needles, the smell of fresh air with a hint of pine was all I needed to feel relaxed.The weather was sunny and cool during the day, although it was a little windy. Saturday night was the coldest of the week (of course!) so the kids stayed in the camper with my parents and Scott and I braved it in our tent. It really wasn’t bad at all once you got all snuggled under the warm blankets, we both slept pretty well. My parents cooked a great dinner Saturday night….grilled chicken can’t be beat! Sunday we had a huge breakfast and everyone was stuffed after that wonderful meal of scrambled eggs, bacon and puppy dog tails with gravy. I grew up eating them, it’s what my great-grandma called fried bisuit dough. Yummy! The kids went nuts the whole time, they had so much fun running around exploring and collecting pine cones. Back behind our campsite was a small trail that made a loop back to our site. It had a fallen tree across the start of it and the kids loved walking across it to get to the little foot bridge crossing a dry creek. The other end also had a log going across the creek and you had to brave it to get to the other side. I even walked across it a few times! Sunday morning I had everyone helping to collect pine cones to take home with us. I am going to use them to decorate with at Christmas and the kids and I made bird feeders from a couple of them yesterday, hope the little birdies like them! We rolled them in peanut butter then birdseed and boy did it turn out to be some messy fun!

I can’t wait to take the kids back out there again, hopefully we get a nice warmer weekend soon!

I took a ton of photos and am just now done with going through them! Here they are…

Bastrop State Park Campout