Posts tagged camping
Surprise Camping Trip!!! Ug, and Teething…
Oct 15th
So, I’d been planning a surprise camping trip for Tim for a month and a half, and spent all week preparing and packing behind his back. When Tim got home from work Friday, I sneaked into his car and grabbed his fishing poles and threw them in the van. I had already loaded the van, and unloaded it at the campsite earlier that day when I dropped Levi off with Mom for the weekend. After I was ready, I blind-folded Tim (who really couldn’t see but knew what road we were on based on turns). He asked me what was up. I told him it was a surprise for him, and Levi was with mom for the night. So I’m driving and he keeps asking questions (this is one of those situations, ask me no questions I tell you no lies). Still, it was easy to throw him off w/o omitting truths because he no more than asks a few questions before he forgets the answers to his previous questions. He did figure out we were on the road to the campsite though, Cross Creek RV and Camp Ground, and he said, “Wait, I know whats down here- you wouldn’t?!! Nah, you wouldn’t.” Lol, I’m glad he was blind-folded because I smiled so big. I replied, “No, but thats a good idea. We should go soon!” He was super surprised when we pulled in.
Not only was he surprised that we were camping for the weekend, but he also was shocked (as was I) that I managed to book the private Island! We had a great weekend of fishing, boating, smore-making, and the camping usualls. The duckies at this lake practically live on the island and were far from shy about eating out of our hands (we got bit a bit). They even have a nest under the out-house! Its an electric outhouse, so no, the ducky eggs are not getting pooped on. Glad you asked. I’m glad Tim got some down time, he said he almost had forgotten what he so enjoyed. People, be careful that you don’t work so much that you forget to enjoy life. That is VERY important, and is good for your mental health as well.
As fun as camping was, we were excited to get back to our little baby! Unfortunately, he’s not been in the greatest mood since we came back from camping. His teething has been VERY bad the last couple of days, and the poor kid is only 5.5 months! He has been spitting up a lot (and it bothers him), he’s been very fussy, refusing to eat his baby food (mostly just at dinner time), and has all around just been a little difficult. One of the hardest things is that I can’t really hold him to comfort him because when he gets really upset he thrashes his arms and legs about and if I’m holding him at that time, he literally rips my hair out. He doesn’t realize he’s doing it, his hands just get caught in my long curly hair while he’s flailing them. Poor baby (and poor me). I would like to call the doctor and see what I can do for him (apart from teether toys and Orajel) but I no longer trust his doctor and plan to change. The reason I’m after a new pediatrician is because I found out mine is an Evolutionist. And Evolutionists are crazy, so NO, I am not going to put my son’s health care in one’s hands. Wish me luck in finding a GOOD new one. Seems I always end up with bad doctors initially, and the good doctors later…
Car Trouble, Save Money, and Yes, Every Girl Deserves to go to a BALL!
Oct 12th
So… we’ve had gas problems lately, and I don’t mean from Levi. My car, Stacey, was spilling gas out its hose right next to my engine!!! I mean, God really protected us because we could have blown up driving (and I wouldn’t have been driving had I known what was wrong). All I knew was that the smell of gas was so strong that I got sick from breathing it in (seriously- sick for like, 5 days!). My father-in-law, awesome mechanic that he is, did a temporary fix on it for me while we are ordering a new hose. Yesterday, driving to my mom’s house (me, her, and Levi in the van), the hose broke in another place- so we pulled over. My father-in-law, in the middle of his hectic day, still came to fix it for me again! The only funny thing about this, I am planning a surprise camping trip for Tim this weekend (which he will know about when he gets home in a few minutes). So I had the car mostly packed yesterday so he wouldn’t see all the camping stuff out. Well, when Mom, Levi, and I were stranded on the side of the road (actually a look-out area over the lake), we got out the camping chairs and chips!!!
So a few weeks ago, Tim and I went garage sale shopping. An area close to ours does semi-annual garage sales and the people usually have REALLY good quality stuff, in good condition, with (of course) garage sale prices. I mean, we got a leaf blower for $7.00!!! We also got a “big boy” car seat for Levi (usually $60-100 new) for $15, some toddler riding toys for him, winter clothes, books, and other good stuff. Any way, my point in all this is that why spend loads of money (like $60 for exersaucer) for baby stuff that can only be used for a short period of time (usually a few months)??? Answer: DO NOT spend all that money for those toys- go to garage sales and spend a little money for those toys. NO, it doesn’t matter that little Stacey and Jon are playing with a toy that some other child played with (God forbid). Its called bleach, you use it to bleach things down and it disinfects! So with a little bleach water and a little green, you can buy all the toys your kids could want! Remember, this works just as well for house-hold items, too.
So my mom is a personal trainer, I believe I’ve mentioned that before, and she had some great clients that paid for her and a person of her choice to attend a BALL!!! Its hosted by the hospital annually, and is annually out of my price range. My mom would have asked my dad to go, but he doesn’t care to dance much so I GOT TO GO!!! Tim got to “babysit”. It was loads of fun, we dressed up like Princesses and were served a four-course dinner (yah, there were several forks to the side of the plate- my mom panicked about which to use and I told her start from the outside and work your way in- watching Titanic has finally paid off). At dinner we talked about the Opera (I LOVE the Opera!) and dog shows (I love dogs). Then we danced for hours! The doctors and their wives performed the Mambo Italiano for us! It was great! Funny story- mom and I went to get our picture taken while there. The lady photographer asked upon seeing my very young looking mother and I together, “Girlfriends?” I understood her to mean, friends who are girls? but my mother instantly responded (before I could stop her), “Oh no! We aren’t like that, I’m her mother!” Lol, had me laughing anyway. I’m sending her clients a Thank You for giving me a chance to dress up and dance! Speaking of my mom’s clients, please pray for their family- their son and his family were in a bad car accident and the situation doesn’t look good right now.
Well, I’ll let you know how the camping trip goes!
First Anniversary
Jun 15th
So, its been a while… and I’m going to quit apologizing every time it has been. Why? I’m a mom and have higher commitments now. Commitments that don’t sleep- almost at all during the day. Commitments that remind me frequently they need to eat every half hour, and be burped every time after that… oh well, at least he sleeps most all night. 
I went to the doctor last Thursday. He said I am healed enough to resume normal activities! Which is was music to my ears because Tim and I’s ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY was Sunday, and we decided to go camping for that weekend! The campground we went to, Cross Creek, has a really nice pool and I was excited to go swimming for the first time this summer!
So the week before we left, I made arrangements with my mom to baby sit Levi while we were gone. We would be gone from 5 pm Friday to noon on Sunday. She happily agreed and I went to work pumping. MAN, I HATE hand held pumps. When I finally got the electric breast pump, I had a lot of milking to do. And I pumped 40 ounces in one week! Unfortunately, that only lasted him 24 hours (HE EATS A LOT AND HAS CONTINUAL GROWTH SPURTS). Fortunately, after 24 hours, I was there to feed him. So… now to why our anniversary was cut short…
So we get to the campground around 6:30, set up, argue about setting up, eat, go swimming, do some fishing. Saturday morning, I woke up early and fed the ducks. We spent some time figuring out how to get our charcoals hot enough and make them stay hot enough to cook breakfast and then finally ate. We did a lot that morning. We went swimming, rode bikes, played games, ate ice cream, played mini golf. Around mid afternoon, we were sitting outside. It was BLAZING hot and sunny. Tim was fishing, I was snacking. We decide we’ve had enough of the heat and humidity and want to go swimming. We go in our behemoth-sized tent (we got an 8-person tent for camping trips with our kids) to change. We decide to take a nap instead. We were napping no more ten minutes when my father-in-law came by to say hi. Emerging from the tent, we notice a difference in weather and Tim’s dad just happen to have a weather radio. We turned it on, it predicted 60-70 mph winds and we were in an open area with a giant tent (not staked in either). We decide its best to pack up and go to my Mom and Dad’s house for the night. I no sooner go into the tent and it starts to try to blow over on me!! We literally had to throw everything down and throw it in the cars. We no sooner get the stuff in the cars and it start pouring rain! We got a rain check and will definitely be going back to that campground later in the summer. Yes, its crappy that we got rained and winded out, but we really did have a good time.
So Levi is SIX WEEKS today! I know this is a month and a half, but I think it sounds younger if I say six weeks. He has started smiling (real smiles, not gas!) and drools a lot now! He also “talks” more than what he needs just to communicate. He is such an intelligent baby and so beautiful! I weep at every change and rejoice at every milestone passed! Why do they have to grow up? I need another one. Tim and I decided if we have another boy, we will name him Liam. Still have Alice picked out for a girl. But I REALLY must have a second baby. However, I would like a good two years with Levi before I’m pregnant again.