The best thing about Gainesville

is definitely the park. There's a park like this in San Angelo that we've stopped at on the way from Pyote to Cove. I was so excited to see this one in Gainesville. It's probably half the size of the one in San Angelo, but that's good because I have enough trouble keeping track of Elizabeth in this one. There are so many places to run and climb...immensely better than your standard playground equipment.

The picture below is looking from the toddler swings toward the entrance of the Frank Buck Zoo. We've yet to take the girls there, but hopefully soon. We tried on day when admission was a "buck a head" but it was Spring Break and the whole town was there and I had already thrown up twice (and threw up once more before I got to the car) and we needed to leave to go out of town that day, so we got there and decided not to battle the crowds.

Elizabeth insisted on pushing Amelia in the swing. Good thing she's a toughie and doesn't cry when the swing hits her.

The swings are Amelia's favorite. Actually, a lot of the stuff is too big for Amelia to play on but she does GREAT on the swings. Even big kid swings. She can just hold on and swing forever. Or, if she's in the mood, she'll swing for a few minutes, yell "All Done!" then run over to the next (identical) swing and insist on being lifted up again. All of the swings are quite high off the ground and I do worry that I won't be able to lift them (especially Elizabeth) safely too much longer.

Climbing activities like this are right up Elizabeth's alley. Great way to work the large muscle groups and very organizing for her. Amelia likes to think that she could do it too, if only Mommy would cooperate.

I have to be waiting for Amelia at the top of the slide because the crazy girl will run straight off the edge. Look at that face!

When Amelia isn't on the swings, she's usually trying to figure out how to climb over things. They discovered that the balance beam makes a fun horsey/teeter totter type thing if they sit on opposite ends.

One more activity on the way back to the van. What is Elizabeth doing with those branches?

Tearing them apart to put down the storm drain, of course!