july 4 weekend {camping with kids}

These camping trips are getting so much easier.  Granted, Owen is still mostly a hazard to himself, and care must be take at every hour of every day to see that he NOT DIE (on a tractor, in a pond, at the mouth of a pig, or however).  That's the job of a mother to toddlers in a nutshell: just keep them alive.  But didn't I say it was getting easier?  Oh yeah -- yes, a little easier -- because we've got our system down pat, like the supplies we need, the division of duties, etc., but also because even though we're constantly trying to steer the little ones away from danger (or at least be there to catch them if they fall or rescue them if they drown), they are also just running, exploring, enjoying and entertaining themselves.  Living it up in the ways little boys should (and I'm not talking about gender stereotypes here; one of Bob's most treasured activities at Pop Pop's is playing "princesses" with Vianne).  They go right to sleep when it's time to settle in tent for rest or bedtime -- because they are pooped out from all the playing, and also because our big family tent has become a second home to them: a cozy, peaceful escape under the stars.  Instead of nighttime music, they fall asleep listening to the peepers and the coyotes and the crackle of the fire -- a different kind of tune which makes life feel so very simple.

Last weekend, after the hoopla of the 4th, we took our time leaving the house on Friday, took a nice drive through the country, and arrived at Pop Pop's just in time for a yummy dinner and sunset swim.  Bobby is so awesome; he climbed into the lake wearing nothing but his bubble and swam right out to the trampoline with the big kids, then back, then out and back again -- all by himself.  Quite brave for the tiniest little three and a half year old you've ever met.

We set up our tent beside the barn this time around because it was too wet over the hill.  Mostly Ben did all the work while I took pictures of the kids and the sunset.

Chloe and Mason were there, too.  Chloe is seriously growing up WAY too fast.  She's taller than me, wears more makeup and does her hair better, she's just this blossoming young lady and it's beautiful and it scares the crap out of me at the same time.

 We had a little campfire and s'mores.  Mmmm, I love me some s'mores.

The next morning...

 Bob and Mason wanted to swim in the pond as soon as they woke up.

 Owen wasn't much for the pond, but he loves the gator.

 Mason brought along his bb gun, so Bobby got to try his hand at shooting a "real gun" for the first time.

 Nice hot weather meant lots of walks down to the dock to cool off.

 It was another beautiful sunset.

 And Bob insisted on another sunset swim -- a sunset skinny dip, to be exact.

 The next morning we swam, packed up, ate lunch, and drove two sleeping pups home.

A perfect weekend filled with the best bits of summer!  And this one's going to be just as fun.  We're off to Boston!

Weekend update

Sorry for my absence of late...  There's not a whole lot to report and I've been just not feeling it.  Like, all I feel like doing right now is going to bed.  I miss my Gram for one thing.  I'm feeling guilty at my lack of keeping in touch with all of my other grandparents, that's another thing. I've got photography work but don't feel like doing it.  I don't have a single gift prepared for Christmas (except I did pick up a dog bone and dish from the dollar store this weekend for Bob).  Blah, blah-dee blah.

Last night my loving hubby garbage disposaled this tiny little green glass cup that was from Gram's.  My special cup that I don't let Bob use because I am so afraid it will break and I won't have it anymore.  The special tiny cup that I used for countless bedtime milk and graham cracker and peanut butter snacks, that I used for my "champagne" on New Year's Eve.  This tiny little piece of glass that, whenever I needed to feel those memories I could get 'er from the cabinet and fill 'er up and hold in my hand this connection to this person who means so so much to me.  And it broke.  I screamed and cried and just totally lost it.  I've been feeling so weepy about Gram lately anyway -- it's been just over a year since she passed and this holiday season just rubs it in, you know?  So I think the glass breaking may have let some things bubble to the surface?  I don't know.  Today I went to the cemetery and cried and cried and pet and fluffed the teddy bears in the basket my grandmother has lovingly attached to the stone.  So that's that.  I know things are just things but sometimes even things really hurt to lose.

...

So.  That was all from last week.  Here we are this week and part of me wants to just delete all of the above because I sound like a big baby.  I went to church on Sunday with a heart heavy for the families of the shooting victims.  I was a little surprised by Pastor Jeff's comments.  Basically:  It took no time at all for the human race to produce a murderer -- Cain, who killed his own brother -- so why are we surprised?  And: Everyone is horrified because the victims were children, yet no one cares about the unborn children murdered every day.  Interesting.  A little insensitive maybe, but also true, no?

anyway...

A weekend update blog post is definitely in order because we got to see all three cousins last weekend!

On Friday night we had Chloe.  Some magic bullet-ized peas of Owen's were in a little bowl on the table and Chloe said, "Oh, is this guacamole?"  Which made me laugh really hard because it did not look the least bit like guacamole -- it had a baby spoon still sitting in it for goodness sake!  But... my mom was about to come over, and I was just thinking of what to put together for a little snack for her, so we thought, haha!  Let's freshen up these peas with some salt, pepper and lemon juice and toss them in a cuter serving bowl next to some chips.  A wonderful harmless hilarious practical joke.  Except we were just finishing putting it together when my mother came in, and we hadn't yet harnessed the giggles.  So she kept saying, "What are you laughing about?" as she ate chip after chip with "guacamole" until finally she stopped and said, "This doesn't taste like guacamole, it tastes like peas!"  My poor mother was starving and thinks I have the strangest sense of humor.  Sorry, mom... it was all in fun.

Saturday was Bailey's birthday party.  She's four!

It was a princess bowling extravaganza.

Complete with rad shoes and a real princess.

Bailey had a blast with all her friends and masterfully cut up her own cake.

Mason and Bobby ate a lot of frosting.

Saturday night we swapped Chloe for Mason.  He slept in Bobby's room, on the floor next to the bed we moved in there for him.  Boy rolls out of bed within five minutes of being asleep.

And Sunday we walked out into the woods behind our house to find a Christmas tree.

Bob the goof walks right up to this beaver-chewed stump and starts pretending to saw it down.  "I found the perfect Twissmas twee.  Won't this look beautiful in our house?"

We went with this little guy below.  We're hoping to replant him at Gram's... Wouldn't it be cool to watch it grow year after year, and be able to show the kids, this was Owie's first Christmas tree?

A free sample of cuteness for you: my dear little midge hugging his beloved cousin.

And -- bonus! -- I even got new photos of my niece and nephew.  I don't see these faces nearly enough for my liking.  I miss them bad, and I worry about them.  I need you two back, and soon!



Sorry this post is close to being a novel.  That's what happens when I'm MIA for so long.

Six days to go.  We're excited around here.  Happy happy holidaying!