Wind Wolf Preserve Bike Ride

Steve and the older kids thought they would tryout something new. They had seen pictures online and it wasn't too far from home. It was all gravel road, which actually used to be the road from the San Joaquin Valley to Los Angeles, but was a little hot and not too exciting.

Ethan: We caught lots of lizards on this ride. We used a lasso made of long blades of grass. We also saw a bobcat.

Rachel's Crash

Steve took the older kids for bike ride at Stephen F. Austin Stake Park. And my super uber courageous Rachel, tried the same steep bumpy, full of roots path that the boys who have done it many times before took. Apparently, she did great until the roots came along and she couldn't quite steer around them fast enough. Poor thing, the look on her face says it all. But the color on her leg turned a few days later said a lot too. This is probably the worse the crash any of the kids have had, knock on wood, and she got up and after a few minutes kept going and even tried another hill that wasn't as treacherous. That's my girl!

Steve hardly ever takes the camera with him when takes the kids for rides, so I asked him to take it again today and he took some great pictures for me.

Steve and I were both able to go on this trail alone a few days ago, while the kids were in school. The weather was great and it was fun to see all the deer, jack rabbits and squirrels. I loved hearing all the different birds and the wind through the trees. It was a nice day!

Bike Ride & Texas A&M Football Game

For Ethan's 10th Birthday, I thought it would be fun to take him to a football game at my alma mater, Texas A&M. The games there are very exciting because of the fans and the field, plus there's a great mountain bike trail at nearby Lake Bryan. I got the tickets, and we planned for a full day of fun.
We got to the trail head a little late (Ethan forgot his helmet so we had to get another one), so it was already in the 90's when we got started. Luckily most of the East loop is in the shade. Here's Ethan at the top of a wash where we found some petrified wood (Ethan loaded his pack up for the rock tumbler). We rode about 12 miles in 3 hours and then took a shortcut back to the van to get cleaned up and ready for a quick meal and the game
We ate dinner at my favorite burrito joint of all time, Freebirds (Ethan likes it too). We stop at Freebirds every chance we get. Ethan get's an adult size burrito with chicken, BBQ sauce, lettuce and tomato every time


We found some good parking behind Northgate thanks to some tips from Aggie football regulars and began the walk across campus to Kyle Stadium. They were just finishing the North section of the stadium when I was there ('97 - '99) and that place is huge. We had great seats on the West side, in the shade and not in the student section where you stand for the entire game (one of many Aggie traditions).
We missed the band's entrance to the field but caught the jet fighter fly over and the team's entrance. Ethan thought both were very cool.
Ethan was very much into the game and even making play comments to the young coed next to him. I think she was a bit surprised because he knew what he was talking about. I had given him a new Aggie shirt for his birthday, along with the tickets at his birthday party and ended up getting a new shirt myself. It's very important to wear maroon at these games.
Even in the shade, it was still smokin' hot. And even after a huge burrito, Ethan was hungry again by halftime. I let him get whatever he wanted, as long as he brought me back an ice cold soda. He got a burger and chips and two ice cold sodas. Thank you Ethan!

The game was a lot of fun even though the Aggies lost. All in all it was a near perfect day; 12 mile bike ride, Freebirds burrito, and a great football game with my #1 son.