gonzalesfamily-blog

[gonzalesfamily-blog]

[gonzalesfamily-blog]

Big Bend!

We spent the weekend in Big Bend and LOVED it.

Three little boys 3 and under - it was no joke trying to keep them alive on the side of the mountain but we succeeded!

A few memorable moments from the trip below:

1) We celebrated my older sisters birthday which was so fun. As kids, we always had special meals  for our birthday (although, I can't even remember what mine was) and my sisters birthday dessert was angel food cake. Despite the fact that it says on the box "do not use a bundt cake pan" that ended up being the only pan available in the little mountain side casita. My sweet brother in law did his very best to love my sister well and make the cake happen. This happened to include an overflowing cake mid bake, scrapping as much off the top as possible and having to clean the oven before our departure. BUT, he 100% succeed and watching him work so hard to love my sister well was a gift to me.

2) When we originally planned this trip, it was a trip for the Bernards and the four Gonzales' but then we found out M had to work a 24 hr shift the weekend of our trip. I did indeed have a LARGE pitty party for a week. I was so bumped he wouldn't be able to come. After he finished his 24 shift, I half jokingly said "Drive the 5 hours and come be with us!" AND HE DID. We were all so happy to have M join the party.

3) Apparently there is a wild pig in the area we were staying. This particular pig originates from South America, they are small ugly looking things, do you know the name? We didn't either. Well, we finally googled it and found that they were called Javlinas. We spent the next 24 hours cracking jokes about the Javilinas, needing to be careful, better not leave food out, etc. Except, we were  saying it with the J sound. Then Michael showed up. My sister and I mentioned our knowledge to him about the local Javilinas - to which he quickly replied with "wait, you're kidding, right?" Unfortunately, it took the "hispanic" guy showing up to inform us that it is actually pronounced with an H sound. Not a J. The more you know.

4) We hiked in Big Bend one day. Graham and Chris swam in the Rio Grand ( we all attempted to not think about how dirty that water most likely was.) The hike was so beautiful. We received many looks, considering A) it appeared that Chris had two wives (being that we hiked before M showed up) and 2) we were all also wearing a kid. *Many* comments about the children strapped on to us -- "Did the babies come with the backpacks?" You know, super funny comments like that.

5) We most likely asked Graham to not venture off too far 50 times, attempted to save Abe from walking into cacti another 50 times, and begged Gid the kid to stop eating rocks another 50 times. Over all though, the babes really held their own. We all enjoyed the promise of a G&T after getting them into bed, though. Everyone remained up right, without ingesting too many rocks or getting any injuries right up until we got back home from out trip. Abner's little forehead met the brick fireplace and he got his first set of stitches. We decided to just be thankful it didn't happen on the side of the mountain. 

6) When we got to Big Bend and were approaching the entrance desk I said to Chris "Hey, ask if they do a military discount, I have my military ID" Chris asked the park ranger and he replied by asked us "Is there someone who has an active duty military ID?" Chris replied and said "My wife does" - because lying for no reason on the spot made a whole lot of sense I guess. I handed my ID over and the guy asked if we had an active duty ID (meaning, Chris would have to have that) considering mine is a defendant ID. Chris informed him that he did not (sense you know, he isn't actually in the military) the Park Ranger then turned to me and asked if I had an active duty spouse to which I panicked and just did not reply. I simply sat there in silence and hoped Chris would figure out what to say. The park ranger asked again and Chris informed him that my husband who wasn't with us has one. We spent the rest of the day mocking Chris about the fact that I apparently have two husbands. Also, I think Chris learned a good lesson about white lies. 

7) We tried VERY hard to get a good picture of the three little boys in their "A little kindness can change everything" shirts and we also failed VERY bad. I'll post the outtakes below.