The Camping Outtakes

In the previous post you saw our wonderful camping trip.  Those photos were strategically chosen to show easy, happy go lucky, quality family time.  Here's the dark secret behind family camping:

One of us pouted before we even left the house about not being able to take Creepy, Gigantic Barbie in the tent:

One of us ate 2 hot dogs, a donut, and beef jerky,  then threw up,  then left the camping area and slept warm and snuggly in her own bed: 

One of us fell in a hole and sprained our ankle:

One of us was preoccupied with the thought of going to the bathroom in the woods, which was fine, until we smelled poo a little too close to our campsite.  Oh dear. (I will protect the innocent and not name names, but it wasn't me, or Holly...)

Camping!

We had so much fun camping!  We found the perfect spot out in our woods and set up housekeeping.  We spent the day making a fire ring, bringing in our equipment, and setting up our tent.

We tried to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together, but when that didn't work we went straight for the gasoline.

It seems that all boys, no matter how old, are pyromaniacs.

We played some hide and seek.

Cooking was the highlight.  We roasted hot dogs, cooked breadsticks, made fried pies and of course, we had s'mores.

Holly made a peach pie that was delicious.

After dark we occupied ourselves by drawing, learning new string tricks, going on a scavenger hunt by flashlight, reading and playing "clap games."

Here is the proof that we spent the night!  We woke up very early and very cold, but we had a perfect camping experience!

Exercise Bike

It's nice that someone uses it.

Like Father Like Son

This is my Grandpa helping me with my shoes.  I am 2 years old.

This is Hannah's Poppa helping her with her shoes.  She is 2 years old.

The Pool is Coming Along

Paul finished the steps in the pool and the drywall and paint.  Next comes the upstairs bedroom and the tile in the pool.  It's getting closer!

Part Hillbilly

We do a little bit of everything throughout the day...except sitting still, we don't really do much of that.

She Has a Song in Her Heart...and Play-doh in Her Hair!

She's Off to Middle School!

Our sweet Holly is done with elementary school! She left with several awards including a $100.00 savings bond for the best essay for citizenship, and the honor roll! Yay Holly!

She Probably Won't Learn This From Me

This is the coolest toy! Hannah got this from her Great Grandma and her Uncle Dave. It is a little cutting board and knife with a ton of plastic food items. They are held together with velcro that you can cut right through. Even Cassie, Christian and Poppa like to play with it!

It was Quite a Day

We began the day by dropping off Holly, Christian and Cassie at school. Today was THE LAST DAY!!!!!!!!

Then Hannah and I went to eat breakfast here:

We only had an hour before we had to be back here:

for Christian's award ceremony where he was honored for having perfect attendance and receiving all A's. Unfortunately there was a two year old present who had difficulty sitting quietly through the ceremony. We had to leave sort of in the middle of the thing. It was very polite though, because Hannah shouted "bye bye" several times to all in the auditorium. I'm sure folks were laughing with us and not at us.

After almost arriving home, I received a phone call from school that Christian had his "nose stepped on by a classmate". I'm not sure how this happens, but it required a u-turn and another visit here:

After some ice and a "not broken" teacher diagnosis, Hannah and I left to go to her doctor. She was diagnosed with 2 ear infections and tonsilitis. Oh dear.

After a quick drop-off at Grandma's house, I went back here:

to attend Cassie's Celebration of Reading! Cassie, Grandma Vilas and I got to go outside and eat ice cream while Cassie read us her favorite story of the year. She did a great job! This is Cassie's very sweet teacher Mrs. G: (not my bloggy hero Mrs. G, another Mrs. G)

Grandma Vilas and I finally got to eat lunch, then it was time to go back here to pick the kids up for the last time this year!!!

We celebrated the official beginning of summer by having Fun Food Night. This is our monthly ritual where we eat whatever we want on a plastic tablecloth in the family room while watching movies (in my head I call it "Give-Me-a-Break,-I've-Had-a-Hard-Day Night.)

It's a Party!

The party begins with dresses intact and hair bows in place.

Gracie and Hannah shared with LOTS of help from their moms.

Did you know that this is what pinatas look like now?  There is no beating with a bat, no blindfolding, no shoving to get candy.

Kids now stand calmly and each pull a little string until the booty comes out.  Then you slowly pick a sucker off the floor and make a big mess of it.  What kind of mother gives toddlers suckers on the carpet anyway?  I guess the same kind that expects kids to smack the daylights out of a pinata!

Then there were presents!  Hannah had lots of help opening her gifts, which is great, because otherwise we would still be doing that!

The electric toothbrush from Holly was a big hit.  I had to pry it out of her hands when she was asleep.