Everything's Bigger In Texas...

Day 2 of our trip started by 5AM.  I wasn't so ready for it to start...

but we had BIG plans that day...

so we took our binoculars and cameras in order to capture the flora, fauna, and...

each other.

Before making it all of the way to the the Chisos Basin (our destination for the day) we stopped to get a few photos...

and Papa let Emily check out his bird guide for the remaining portion of the trip.  There are 450 different species of birds in Big Bend and Emily was ready to help Papa find them ALL!

Starting with this one...

and him too.

After locating some more wildlife...

Emily welcomed all of us to follow her on a "short" hike.

Before long Emily wasn't doing so much hiking and it was in everyone's best interest to pick her up and move along.  It was HOT (go figure) - and there are also mountain lions and signs hinting explicitly stating the fact that little ones are easy prey.  eek!

After a while we were finally at the top...

looking down through the "window."  (view looking west from Chisos Basin)

Our crew at the top.  

Did I mention it was hot?  Well it was.  Luckily I found a little ice pack along the trail and Emily was very helpful in keeping everyone cool by placing it in some select spots.

We also paused and welcomed any and all breezes that came along!!!  (Emily was yelling, "WIND, get on my neck wind!")

Dare I forget that this was Father's Day?  Here is Emily with her "guys" along on the trip.

On the way back to our hotel (which was outside the park, roughly a 45 minute drive from where we hiked) Emily fell asleep.  So we sent the guys to pick up lunch while I drove the girls around sightseeing.  God forbid Emily wake up too prematurely!!  On our drive we found the Rio Grande just behind our hotel and I even found this beautiful spot to look down upon it.   

So what if I drove in someone's front yard and turned my big 'ol Uhaul around in their driveway?!  Yeah, so it had a no trespassing sign - but I am sure that was meant for someone else.  Let us not forget the early morning...

Emily HAD to sleep as long as possible!  Oh, what?  The river looks more like ponds on a golf course?  Okay, so you're right... I led the guys back with us to check out the view (yes, back into the no trespassing area) and they pointed out that it was actually the golf course for our hotel.  I guess that's what happens when you don't have a sleeping toddler and you can actually get out of the car to get a good look!  :D

Anyway, Emily got an hour of sleep and we had a laugh so it all worked out.  Once back at the hotel, the only thing on Emily's agenda was the pool!!  

That evening, after dinner, the grandparents all went down to dip into the Rio Grande (for real this time)...

while we, of course, went to bed.  The next day we were off to Tucson!