Sledding in Texas in August!

This week we have been in west Texas and what a great place to discover hidden treasures. One of those treasures is Monahans Sandhills State Park. This place is now on my top five favorite places.




I used to think that sledding was one thing that we Texas weren't blessed with but I was wrong. Yesterday we took the kids to Monahans Sandhills State Park and we forged through the shin deep ultra-fine sand and went sledding. We made sure to wax the sleds really good first and then we started out.


The first thing we realized is that it is very difficult to walk in shoes in the sands so off came the shoes. The kids were so excited and so were we. I had to include this one just because I love my sweetie so much.
It took us a while to make it to the top of one of the dunes but after we made it the kids knew exactly what to do. Oh yea and the older kids too. One time was enough for us older ones, it was just too much work making it back up the side of that dune.

Okay I included this picture so you could see the size of this place. That little red X is my son and daughter. They were heading out to find bigger and steeper dunes, and they did.

Took this one just because. It was near the entrance to the state park and I like those windmills.

Daddy and Daughter, Kings of the dune.

Our son Cody was taking a rest before heading down, this is him before and below is the picture of him on his way up. :0)

We really had a wonderful time. The Sandhills at Monahans is a great place to see. Make sure you go in the morning. We headed out there at 9 am and it was perfect. The sand was so cool from the night air but as the day wore on the sand heated up pretty quick. On the LONG walk back to the van we were hot-footing it to say, it was pretty warm and we were looking for some shade to keep our footsies cool.

Monahans Sandhills State Park, a great place to see!!

Tipping Rant #2

Okay yes I know I just did a tipping rant a month and a half ago but I have more to say about this whole thing!!! This whole tipping thing is ridiculously out of hand. Really!!!

The other day we went to Golden Corral for dinner, you know the buffet place. Well after my delish Caesar salad I headed to check out the protein, well I was against when I see the man in the white hat cooking the steaks. Well it wasn't the white hat that was so outrageous, no it was the tipping bucket right out in front. A tipping bucket, come on!!! Are you kidding, we should tip the guy because................................??? Oh yea, he was doing his job!

You know it used to be that people were tipped when they went above and beyond their job to make their customers happy. Now we're suppose to tip them for doing their job???

GC isn't the only place that has me ranting lately, no.... fast food places are getting on board too. My family and I were at Whataburger the other day and as we sat eating our meal the man who had been sweeping the floor and bringing peoples orders to them, well he came to us and said, "I'm the crew leader and I make tips so don't forget me." I couldn't believe what I was hearing, this was Whataburger, where we refill our own drinks, throw our own trash away and you know, swerve ourselves. It took everything we had to sit there and be quiet. We just wanted to ask him what exactly he had done to deserve a tip. Needless to say, we rushed out hoping he didn't see us. As I'm blogging about this I realize he made us feel ashamed for not tipping him,

ashamed for what????

Oh yea and I know I mentioned this last time but I have to give an update of the absurdity or Sonic's tipping. We ordered 4 drinks the other day while traveling and the girl brought out our drinks, handed them to us and Johnny paid her. She then held the change, 60 cents in her hand and proceeded to ask Johnny if he wanted his change. Well duh, yea we wanted our change, why wouldn't we. Then we realized that she was not only waiting for a tip but was asking for one. What has the USA become? The quality of services is deteriorating and the desire to get something for nothing is growing but the strawberry slush!!!

Well I guess I'm finished ranting, well not really but I'm gonna give you folks a break for now. I'm contemplating what to do about this whole thing, maybe I'll boycott Sonic and Starbucks, Whataburger, Golden Corral, and Best Western but more than likely I wont. It'll continue and before long we'll be required to tip the dentist and check out lady at Walmart. Really it's gonna happen, just wait and remember I told you!!! :0)