Monday morning started out as usual. I took Eden to daycare at 0730, hoping to get right back home and start on getting ready for our camping trip. I had prepared Eden for a ‘new’ daycare provider, as her beloved Tammy had sold her daycare to a younger, newly married girl. However, when we arrived and went in, we were told that Eden wasn’t on the list for the new daycare and there would be no room for her at all. Obviously disappointed, we came back home. Eden asked for her friends all day long and I tried not to cry.
Later in the day, I made some phone calls and found another daycare that had room for her. We took a walk uptown and checked it out, staying for about an hour, visiting and watching. So, if all goes well, tomorrow Eden will start her first day at Carla’s house with some new friends. Carla is even willing to take both kids if Al can’t come home for a fire or ambulance call, so that’s going to be a nice bonus. I hope Eden enjoys it as much as she did before. I know I’m nervous!
The rest of the week was getting laundry done and packing up for a three day trip. Samson was getting excited as he saw each item being put in the truck. He knew he was going, because his food was the first to go in.
Wednesday night was game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. I was parked in front of the TV, with the baby safely tucked in bed and the other one fully entertained with toys and coloring books. During the 2nd intermission, I ran up to my fire meeting, which turned out to be almost pointless. When there was ten minutes left in the game, I rushed home to watch the end, along with the glorious festivities. What a great season and a great finish! Now I have to change my answering machine message, which had Eden saying, “Go Red Wings!”
Thursday morning, we were up early and out the door to hook up the camper and be on our way. We arrived at Lake Ogallala around 10:30 a.m. and picked out the perfect spot. We were meeting both the Jenkins and the Stoddard’s, so we needed to find three spots somewhat together. Easier said than done, let me tell you! We found spots and had pretty much everything set up by the time it started raining. Eden found the swing set right off the bat, and was doubly excited to see that it was surrounded by pea gravel, one of her favorite things in the world. You know how much pea gravel can fit in 24month jean pockets??? Lots! I’m so glad I threw in the buckets and shovels at the last minute. Stoddard’s showed up in the afternoon and Tyler, 3 and Eden were glad to see each other. We drove down to the dam and watched the water spray out for a while, then we grilled out burgers and dogs, just as the Jenkins Six arrived to set up their tent. Since it rained most of the evening, we huddled in our party tent and played euchre at the picnic table. Strawn’s stomped Jenkins’ twice, but I think everybody had fun. The girls took Eden into the pop up to read stories and play with a partially inflated beach ball and Lars slept fitfully in the pack-n-play. That night was pretty cold and when Lars woke up at 0430, he was a little popsickle. Al turned on the furnace and warmed the place up a bit. It was still raining, but Saturday promised to be warmed.
Breakfast time rolled around and the sun came out. Jenkins made pancakes and sausage for everybody and we set out on a four mile hike to another, smaller dam. The way there was fine, but I forgot the snack bag, so Eden and Lars screamed much of the way back. Oops. Got to chat with Lana and Lisa on the way there, which was nice. Found some firewood on the way back and hauled it to camp. After lunch, we all set off for the beach. Martin’s Bay across the big dam is on Lake McConaughy and is definitely a favorite spot for the locals. White sandy beach for at least a mile to the west. For all the Michiganders reading this, that seems like quite a tiny beach, but for those of you familiar with these parts, that’s quite long! With eight years of drought, much of the lake is dried up, exposing the beach. The men all played Frisbee, and Samson and the kids played in the water and built sandcastles. Lexi built a waterfall and Reilly and AJ built a big castle with several surrounding lakes and a moat connecting them all together. Then the toddlers came over and ‘helped’. I was watching with a smile, thinking how wonderfully mine was going to sleep that night!
Supper was my favorite, as we made pizza pockets over the fire, followed by S’mores. We finished off the evening with a beautiful campfire, thanks to Matt, who brought along hose and copper pipe to color the fire. A starry night, it was a perfect end to a wonderful day with friends.
Saturday, Lars slept through the night for the first time ever. It was magical. It was the longest stretch of sleep I’ve had since I was about 7 months pregnant. I was up and bouncing off the walls at 0600! By 0700, I sent Eden over to wake up the Jenkins’ bunch. It was time for breakfast! Scrambled eggs for everyone, then the dreaded ‘pack up’ to go. Eden and Tyler had one last bit of fun at the swing set, then we loaded up and headed for home.
A beautiful day for a drive, we got home shortly after lunchtime. Al crashed on the couch for the afternoon and I fed the kids before hitting the shower. Slowly, the pick up got unloaded and stuff unpacked. Most of it went in my CLEAN garage. Laundry will wait till Monday.
Lars had two firsts this week. Our last night of camping, he slept through the night. Then, this morning in church, he sat up unsupported for about 45 seconds. He has completely given up bottles and has no interest in formula what-so-ever. Pureed food, however, better be ready and available at all hours of the day!
Today, my allergies have gotten the best of me and now I sit with a box of Kleenex. Hoping to get the lawn mowed this afternoon and the flowers watered. Vacation Bible School is this week, along with Olan Mills coming to do a new church directory for St. Paul’s. Hoping for a good turn out for both, but one never knows.
Until next week……
No comments:
Post a Comment