Memories on Memorial Day Weekend

We had a very busy and very fun-filled weekend with Craig's brother and nephew. Apparently it is possible to pack everything into three days. Just note that you'll be exhausted when it is all said and done.

And now, things I learned this Memorial Day weekend:

1. There is no oil anywhere to be found at the Oil Ranch. Apparently some dude with the initials O.I.L. has a ranch. But apparently in Texas, all that matters is the "oil" part. Sounds about right.

2. To pacify those who insist on the existence of black gold at the Oil Ranch, there is a fake oil pump. Nice touch.

3. The Oil Ranch is just a place out in the middle of nowhere where kids can go on a hayride, shoot paint guns, swim, jump in a bouncy house, play putt-putt, ride a train, pet animals, play in a barn, feed cows (who then thank you by goring you in the belly, poor Camron), and get bitten in private parts by over-sized freak bugs (poor Meaghan).

4. Despite reports, exhausted, worn-out children do not fall asleep on the car ride home. Yet over-tired adults struggle to keep it together from the first 5 minutes to the last.

5. No matter how early you get to the beach on Memorial Day weekend, it's not early enough and you will have a hard time finding parking.

6. As soon as you pack-mule all your stuff to your spot on the beach... a good 1/4 mile away from where you parked... several parking spaces will open up right next to your beach spot.

7. No matter how much sunscreen you bathe in, you will still get a severe sunburn. Even when reapplied. (Theory: sunscreen is a farce.)

8. It was not as fun as anticipated to show off my CrossFit body once belly was burned to a crisp. Next time I'm opting for the boring old rash guard.

9. There will forever be grains of sand found throughout all crevices in all parts of our bodies. Some more than others.

10. When everyone is sunburned, except for the palest member of the family (still trying to figure out how Craig escaped it), spending the next day out in the sun is not feasible and so a suitable indoor activity will be found.

BONUS: The only thing that hurts worse than the worst sunburn I've ever had (in all my 40+ years), is a burn on the finger from cooking. Reason #97 why I should order in every night.

Things we did this Memorial Day weekend in pictures.

Token oil pump

Petting pregnant Bessy.
Some more picture-assistive than others.

Meaghan insisted on getting a picture with the mule.
See him there, way in the background?
Does anyone else see the irony here?

Not my favorite activity, but everyone else loved it.

Train ride, anyone?

Pre-lobster-red sunburns. Still pasty white.

Two hams

Sand, sun... and more sand and sun

Finally, second day, exhaustion limit reached.

Such a wonderful weekend in a beautiful country with people I love is brought to me by all the service men and women who died providing me with my freedoms. I'm forever grateful.