WHY?

I told Abigail to get undressed and get into the tub and I would be right in. I walked into the bathroom to find a pile of Abigail's clothes on the floor.  She was wearing 8 pairs of underwear under her skort.  "Abigail why would you put on all of your underwear at the same time."  "I thought it was a good idea.  If I accidently tinkle in my pants, I can just take off the bottom pair and still have more."  That's my girl, always prepared!

Road Trip

Big Daddy and I told the kids for weeks that our vacation would be camping in the backwoods in a tent.  Neither of them were thrilled to hear they would need to fetch the drinking water from the stream or that they would have to hike into camp.  About three days before we were to leave our little game began to backfire.  Donny was really looking forward to roughing it and suggested we leave all electronics at home.  I called Big Daddy and suggested we inform Donny we would be sleeping in a cabin.  Big Daddy agreed, so I made the announcement and someone was not happy.    We only had a few days to go so I made the best of his constant nagging and since I did create the mess I should deal with it.

The drive to the park was hysterical.  Every time the kids asked how much longer we would make up a time; six hours, eight hours, tomorrow.  Poor Donny was so confused.  In reality the drive was only an hour and forty five minutes.  There was pure joy when we pulled into the park and they realized we were at Jellystone, it made the past three days worth the torture.

Abigail's fish, she made it look easy.

We had a wonderful time and the kids were exhausted every night. I have been dreading this post because I have a lot of photos that I had to gather.  I usually try to put the photos in order, but not today.  Sorry folks!

The kids had the loft to themselves.

Playing in the woods behind our lodge with the neighbors.  Best playground ever!

Donny after jumping on the bouncy pillow for an hour and a half.

Wonder twin powers!

Our lodge.

I forgot to pack sweatshirts for us and the temperature too a nose dive.  So we are now the proud owners of these awesome sweatshirts.

That's right, it's Yogi.

Craft time.



Bounce Abby Bounce

Abigail's worm.

Sam's Point



Sam's Point

Sam's Point.

Big Daddy and Donny having way too much fun on the bouncy pillow.  That pillow was awesome.  Abigail would only go on with the family if it was empty or during Tot-Time.

The kids were bored so Big Daddy and I made a list of items and sent the kids to other cabins and tent sites on a scavenger hunt.  They had a blast even if they don't look to happy in the photo.

 

We "forgot" Abigail's swimmies and she proved what we suspected, she can swim without them.

Donny and I had such a good time playing in the spray pool.  He told me I was fun.

The park has a fire truck very similar to ours and I was afraid the kids would be upset but they didn't seem to mind.

Sam's Point.

Sam's Point.

Abigail and Donny at Sam's Point.

Snack time at Sam's Point.

Sam's Point hike.

Donny made me set a worm free before we even started to fish because he felt bad.  A fish stole his hook and he vowed to return to the pond and get that fish.  He would get so excited when he got a bite that he would either start to run in the opposite direction with the pole or throw it down and grab the line and pull the line in by hand.  I think he needs a cane pole.

The 12 minute paddle boat ride.  We did it, now cross it off the list.



"Look Mama that flower is Nanny's favorite color, periwinkle."

Big Daddy's little fish.

Our last night by the campfire.

Keys

Feeling very stressed and a bit cranky, I was rushing the kids to get into the car so we wouldn't be late for Donny's dentist appointment.  I made the mistake of letting the kids take a quick dip in the pool after camp to cool off.  Abigail loves the dentist and wanted me to do her hair.  I tried to explain that because of the quick dip there wasn't enough time to style her locks.  Meanwhile, I am doing my best to encourage Donny to floss and brush.  Angry with me, Abigail announced she was getting in the car and off she went.  It was only about 100 degrees outside so now I am in a panic  trying to move Donny along.  I get him out the door and go to grab my keys, gone.  I can't find them anywhere.  The harder I look the angrier I get and am ready to explode.  Abigail walks back into the house and I am yelling at this point, "I can't find my keys!  Where are my keys?"  And with a very smug look and her arms crossed on her chest, my sweet little angel says with attitude, "I know.  I hid them.  You wouldn't do my hair. They are in Daddy's sneaker"  I have said it before, I am in so much trouble!

Happy and Tired

I asked Abigail what she did at camp today, "I caught a fish, rode Dusty and painted a cow."  (Dusty is a horse.) I love farm camp.  She is always so happy to go in the morning.  Yesterday she chanted the words cow camp very quietly as we drove along the road to the farm. 

Donny loves the enrichment camp. They have been discussing travel, different countries and history. He splits his days between enrichment and day camp which makes for a very tired boy at the end of the day. He was asleep tonight at 6:45.

Another Week, Another Camp

 The kids started new camps this week and while Abigail was very excited I had to drag Donny to the car on the first day.  Abigail returned to farm camp which she calls cow camp.  She wanted me to take her photo with a cow and the shot below is the best I could get today.  She is having so much fun.  She gets to ride horses, play with the cows and chickens, go fishing and many other fun activities.   Donny was selected to participate in an enrichment camp with a focus on language arts.  He really hated the idea of going but came home so happy.  He was upset that he couldn't attend the day camp and swim so I enrolled him in half days.  Needless to say, the two of them are very tired when they return.  Donny fell asleep tonight at 6:40.

Cow Camp

Abigail's cow.

Little toes in the tub after a day on the farm.

Think he is tired? 6:40 p.m.

Low Key

Since Nanny left and camp started, things have been very low key around the house. The kids come home from camp and barely make it through dinner.  They are happy to go to bed and have been asleep by 7:30 every night since camp started.  I failed to post the great news about Donny's swim test.  He couldn't wait to get into the car on the day of the swim test.  He was so proud of himself. After two years in the shallow end of the pool,  he passed the swim test and can go anywhere in the pool.  Passing that test was a giant accomplishment and we are so proud of him.

I added two photos at the bottom of the kids playing.  Donny came out of his room dressed as a sailor and quickly enlisted Abigail to be his solider.  They turned the basement into the Intrepid and played for about two hours.

Showing me his swim band for the deep end of the pool.

Too much sun and fun for my girl.

Sailor Donny

Donny dressed Abigail to be his solider.

Swim Test

Abigail has been worried about the camp swim test and her brother has not been any help.  Donny  informed her she couldn't wear her swimy's and that she probably couldn't touch the bottom.  He gave her this information to try and help her, he didn't think he was being mean.  I did my best to assure her that everything would be okay. 

Abigail's counselor must have had a discussion with her yesterday about the swim test.  At breakfast this morning Abigail gave us a summary of the conversation.  "We have to take a test and they will give us a colored band to wear.  If I get pink I'm an idiot."  "What do you mean your an idiot?  Do you mean intermediate?"  Many giggles later she said, "Oops, that's what I meant."

Party

We planned an overnight camp in the yard months ago with good friends that we don't get to see often.  Well the weather here has been terrible, either rain or storms everyday for the last two weeks.  We cancelled the camp out but still had the party and so glad we did.  The skies parted and the day was beautiful.  The kids were able to swim and play and just have a great time.  I have never seen as many dirty little toes. 

 

Abigail watching her new love from afar.

 

S'mores!

Abigail and you know who.

Week in Photos

Donny playing with his buddies.

Nanny purchased an art set for Abigail at the Norman Rockwell Museum.  She was painting when Big Daddy walked through and told her she looked like an artist.  "I'm going to need a beret Mommy."

Saying goodbye to Nanny at the train station.

Off to camp!!  I dropped them off and they walked off hand in hand.

I love this photo of Abigail that Nanny snapped.