Our 6S Full Life

Hot Springs

After a couple great days in Texas we headed out to Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. This was on our list last time but we ended up skipping it for more time with friends in Oklahoma. This time we made the time to stop. This park is different from all the others we have visited in that it is a town, so along with the natural areas and hiking there is also a lot of shops, homes, and traffic. Oh my it was loud on Bathhouse Row!

Our first stop was to fill cups at a spring. There are many hot springs located throughout the area. We filled our cups and carefully drank the water. It was the perfect temperature to make hot tea but a little warm for a humid June day. Since it was slated to be a warm day we started off the morning with the hiking trails. We took Peak Trail up to the lookout tower. As the sign read it was a fairly short but steep trail. With the high humidity we were all covered in sweat by the time we reached the top. the views were amazing and worth the hike. We spent some time hiking along Hot Springs Mountain Trail and then Short Cut Trail before heading back to Bathhouse Row.

We headed back to the RV for lunch. RV parking was available at the Hot Springs Visitor Center which was super convenient to the park. After lunch we went to Bathhouse row to complete the kids Jr Ranger badges and learn the history of Hot Springs water. We walked though the Fordyce house visitor center and learned how the idea behind the baths was natural healing through minerals, exercise, and fresh air. We imagined what would have happened if these ideas had been focused on more or in conjunction with pharmaceuticals. What a difference we could see in our nations health if we focused on the underlining causes of health issues instead of just the symptoms.

Unfortunately the two bathhouses left in operation are not for families or children so taking the waters was not on our list. It’s mostly ok though, we had a great time in Taiwan soaking at the hot springs there, which were very family friendly.

We finished our day going to the National Park Store, our suggestion to those visiting skip this store and go to the store at the lookout tower. This one had very very little merchandise, where as the lookout towers store was filled with lots of neat local items. We then filled up a few bottles (no pictures were taken since momma takes the pictures and was busy filling water) with hot spring water at a bottle filling station. There are bottle filling stations in multiple places where people pull up with large amounts of jugs to fill with water. We assumed these were people living nearby who used this free spring water as their drinking water.

We returned to our camp, Hot Springs National Park KOA. This was a great place with an older playground the kids had a lot of fun at. Our site boarded a wall of bamboo which made us feel very private, but also a little like we were in China. we spent the late afternoon cooling off in the pool and playing four person ping pong. By twilight the fireflies were out and we spent some time catching them in a jar before going to bed.

Dallas Day 2

On our second day in Dallas we met up with C’s birth mother and her family. When entering fostering and then adoption we knew the most important thing is for our children to feel loved and cared for. We made a promise to ourselves and our children to never tear away an appropriate loving relationship. The more people who love a child and set a good example the better. This is why we are more then happy to take time to build a relationship with his biological family.

We met up at Pinstack for bowling and arcade fun. We had a blast the music was straight out of Jen’s high school tape deck. Which made for lots of lip singing and laughing. We all competed for second place (Stephen is always the winner). B won the honer with D coming in third obviously taking more after their father then mother. Ha ha!

After bowling we hit the arcade, bumper cars, and ropes course. The kids all ran around having a blast (and spending all our money). It was an afternoon filled with giggles, goofiness, and lots of love.

By the time we got home it was almost dinner time and Jen’s Aunt and Uncle dropped by. We all enjoyed tacos and conversation. B, always looking to bake, made paleo cookies for everyone. The kids and adults had a great time and were all up late enjoying each other’s company.

Even with all the fun out and about the kids also enjoyed a lot of foosball playing and video games together. It was a fabulous two days and top of the list if we head out to Texas again.

Dallas Day 1

We are on the road again after two fun days in Dallas visiting family, resting, and reloading. Dallas is one of the few places on our list that we also visited on our 2017 road trip. Both times we stayed with Jen’s cousins. We had the best time then and this time was just as good. We are very lucky to have such wonderful family throughout the country.

After much debate we settled on going to the Dallas Botanical Arboretum and the Rory Meyers Children Adventure Garden. We were looking for something different then our usual spots. Our goal in traveling is to see all the different things out in the world. We can’t do that by only visiting just zoos, aquariums, and science museums. Before the arboretum we went to HG Supply Co. for lunch. We went to the one in Fort Worth last time we were in town and loved it. This time around we were not as impressed the menus had changed and the music was so loud we had to yell, A sat with hands on his ears, plus it took forever. It was still real food and we mostly liked our meals (two were a bit spicy). If we were going again we would visit the Fort Worth location or order out.

We are so glad we choose the Arboretum. It had beautiful botanical gardens and a special summer exhibit featuring Zimbabwean stone sculptures throughout the gardens. They were all really cool and we even got to see some sculptors working on new statues.

As nice as the Arboretum was the real gem here for us was the children’s garden. Wow! It was such a great place for the kids to spend the afternoon. I wish we could visit here all year, it was filled with great hands on experiments in all areas of science. Not only did we learn about the different plants but also power through wind, solar, and water. Weather, solar system, plant parts, geology, math in nature, plus we got to run through a maze and see animals in the pond. yes it was hot in June but the experience was well worth the sweat.

After making our way back to our cousins we headed out to Bold’s Bar-B-Q. Yum!! We order meat, potatoes, green beans, and coleslaw. The kids and adults devoured it all and left full and happy. Back at home the kids swam and played with their cousin and the adults caught up and shared stories. Perfect ending to the day.

Volcanos and Cadillacs

We left Colorado Springs on our way to Amarillo. Just a quick stop over for the night before heading to our next destination of Dallas. While looking at the route we discovered we would be driving near Capulin Volcano National Monument in New Mexico. Since New Mexico is one of the states we have really only driven through we thought it would be the perfect addition to our trip.

When looking it up we discovered we would not be able to take the road to the top in the RV, but there was still a trail at the visitor center we could hike and see old lava flows and rocks. We decided, although the rim would be amazing to see, we would be fine with the visitor center and the Lava Flow Trail.

The kids got their Jr. Ranger booklets and explored the visitor center. There was a short film to watch which explains what volcanos were doing in New Mexico. We had no idea all the mountains and plateaus in the area were once volcanos! Something we may never have know without travel.

As we went to take our hike our perfect day took a big downward turn. C got upset about being told not to swing a pencil tip at a sibling. We know terrible right?! This lead to him yelling for over half our hike. At least no one was out on the trial with us, although if others had been around he probably would have stopped. As we were looking at the amazing scenery, the expansive views, and the volcano, (while ignoring the yelling of course) D trips and slightly scratched her hand. C decided this is when he would stop yelling and she then cried the rest of the hike. Oh my!! I share this because although our pictures look beautiful with happy smiles it was rough. In our world it is important to remember pictures do not always show the true moment.

Our Reality (crying kid) Fun vs Usual Social Media Post

It may have been a rough stop and there were tears from both the littles and momma, but we also learned a lot about the area, volcanos, and sort of got the picture we wanted. We got back on the road with three of our four getting their badges. Not what we hoped but it was their choice. The scenery was amazing again as we drove toward TX.

After many many more hours of driving we made our second stop of the day at Cadillac Ranch. We had almost forgot about this quintessential American road trip stop , thankfully Jen’s father reminded them. The kids found great joy in learning to use spray paint and then painting the cars. Daddy was a bit nervous about ruining clothes but tried to live in the moment the best he could. The kids wrote their names (A, B, C, D) together on a car and Momma and Daddy added 6S 💙.

At least everyone walked away smiling from this stop as we made our way to camp for the night and a very late dinner. Living our full life we have many good moments mixed with just as many hard ones. What keeps us going is knowing if we push though a good moment will come again. Today was just about her example of this.

Colorado Springs Day 2

Our second day in Colorado Springs was even fuller then the first. We started the morning out at the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Another set of Jen’s cousins met us there and raged along for most of our day. We have the best extended family and are always excited to spend the day with them. Although after a day bouncing around with us we are not sure they always feel the same. Our kids are loud and silly plus we move through things quickly but stop and read almost every sign we can find.

Manitou Caves were neat and the best part was we were able to climb through them and really get a feeling of what life was like living in cliff dwellings. Although not original to the area, the dwellings were moved to Manitou in an effort to preserve them back in 1906. At the time they were put back together with cement instead of traditional Adobe. This is why we were able to clump through the doors and up on the second floors without destroying them.

After the cliff dwellings we headed back to Garden of the Gods for lunch. When we find a good spot with good food to accommodate our needs we tend to go there often.

After lunch we headed over to nearby Rock Ledge Ranch. This is a living history area with all aspects of historical life from the area. There is an American Indian and homestead area, a blacksmith, and homes from both the 1860’s and the 1900’s. This happened to be sheep day as well. We were able to watch sheep shearing as well as demonstrations of sheep dog herding. There was not one part of this we did not enjoy and learn from. Jen was particularly impressed with the women making lace. It is something we may have to try at some point. A, our entomologist, spent a good amount of time following any trails and identifying species. B, our baker, loved the old kitchens and would like to move to Colorado Springs just to do their junior docent program during the summer. We told her this probably would not be happening but a girl can dream. As we left the sky threatened rain but we ended up with only a small sprinkle instead of the thunder storm we are always hoping for.

We said goodbye to our family and headed to Cave of the Winds. Stephen rarely passes up an opportunity to see a cave. This was not the most impressive cave we have been in, it seems to be more touristy then preservation minded. It was fun and we got to review all our cave terms. Stalagmites, stalactites, cave coral, domes and of course why you should not touch the walls in a cave. After the cave the big kids took their chance and climbed up to the challenge slide. The little kids watched and learned for “next time”.

We headed home for a dinner of “kitchen sink” basically all the small skillet meal leftovers from the last few days mixed together. It is surprisingly good especially when everything has the same flavor profiles. Another full family fun day in the books ready to hit the road again and see what other adventures we can find.