The Underground

Only two more weeks until school starts!!! It has only recently reached 90+ degree mark to signify Texas summer, but it is almost over...the early and perpetual rains virtually washed the summer away this year.

As a result, all the things we told the boys (i.e. Hudson) that we would do this summer have remained undone. So, in an effort to fulfill our promises and pretend to be "good parents" we are scrambling to get in some summertime fun before turning ourselves over to the grindstone!

This week we ventured out to Natural Bridge Caverns for some excitement! We had a terrific time exploring the caves...and due to the record 42" of rain we have received this year, we were able to see the underground aquifer risen high in the caves (a rare treat, we're told). Confident with his everpresent headlamp, Hudson explained all of the different speleothems (cave formations, you dummies) as we came to them (at age 7 he is, of course, an expert in all things).

Jake is our resident "trailblazer" and this experience was no exception. He loved to explore all of the new sights and soak it all in "as quick as a cricket"...I think his favorite was some formation that looked like ice cream melting (don't ask me, I'm not the expert, maybe moon milk?). Cole thoroughly enjoyed the "cave kisses" (water drips from the "ceiling") and he and Heath sought them out until Cole was soaked!

The pictures by no means even come close to capturing the beauty of God's creation. I am amazed by what flowing water can accomplish if given the time and opportunity! And as long as I don't actually think about being 100+ feet underground and that at some point, these areas sunk or cracked or some other fun and exciting grand movement, then I can appreciate it's unique beauty and greatness! God's power continually amazes me...

(Some of my not-so-favorite words our tour guide insisted on repeating: sinkhole, bat guana, raccoon room, ceiling crack)

One of the reasons Hudson was drawn to this place was the availability of the adjacent rockwall, so of course, it was on the agenda. The "Watchtower Challenge," as it is called, is at least twice as tall as any other manmade rock wall Hudson had climbed. So he and Heath set out to climb to the top together...in the end they were both successful!

Then we panned for treasure in the mining sluice and came away with a handful of arrowheads and gemstones. And we couldn't pass up the opportunity to climb the onsite, and as far as I could see, unrelated, dinosaurs.

Next week we are off to Enchanted Rock and then the beach!