Time with the Thompsons - 3/8&9

We roped the Thompsons into checking out their local national park with us.

Since their kids were on spring break, we had a couple days to have fun adventures together.

This is the location where several mammoth skeletons have been found. These are Colombian mammoths which are different (and bigger) than the wooly mammoths found in our area.

Amazingly, the rangers told us that 2 different sets of mammoths were buried in this exact same spot and in the exact same way (by flood) 10,000 years apart! Because the layers of mud in between show 10,000 years.

I was thinking that the layers were nice evidence of flooding producing layers that seemed to come at different times, but were actually laid during the same catastrophic event and that, in light of the findings here, we may be able to better interpret other layers found elsewhere. 

In the constant search for accurate information, I think it would be worth exploring. Hey, that's good science! (Says Sy)

The femur bone below is a replica of the one the original locals found sticking out of the ground!

Sy and Addelyn take their oath seriously.

After the monument, we are at... In-n-out. In Texas! Such a great treat. 

We had a fun evening just hanging out together.

The next day, we packed up a lunch and headed to Cameron Park.

 There were a ton of hiking trails there and we enjoyed one that took us down along the river. The adults felt good about the hike, but the kids still had enough energy to play some tag before heading out.

 

It was pretty warm, so the Thompson's treated us to Popsicle City! Yum!

I ordered Lemon Cream - and they did an amazing job making it taste like lemon cream - so amazing that it reminded me of the key lime pie (from the keys, that tasted like lemon cheesecake and made me sick!) so Scott graciously traded with me for his amazing strawberry. I am loved. (:

 

So thankful for our time with this family. I think it gave both of us a taste of "home", whatever that is.