The Fun of Camping???

When Steve and I first got married, one of the main gifts we were registered for was camping supplies. We were soo excited to get back to nature (although we'd never visited or left nature in the first place). Our first camping trip was at the worst campground in America. To make matters worse, it was 100 degrees. We put up our little two man tent and thought "ok, now what?". Our neighbors had a huge RV and after a few minutes they came walking up with a fan and offered to let us use it. I remember thinking... what do we need that for? Well, by the time the sun had set and darkness fell, it was still 100 degrees. The use of that fan was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for us. Over the next few years our camping supplies became much more elaborate (including our very own fan, oscillating no less). We also became so high and mighty that no AIR mattress was good enough for us. We actually took a real twin mattress with us to sleep on. We giggle now thinking how funny we must have looked with this mattress strapped to the top of our van as we pulled into the campground, but we slept great (this was back in the day when Steve and I could cuddle comfortably on a TWIN mattress. The days before two twin pregnancies left me needing to cuddle a huge body pillow instead of my beloved. Once you go body pillow there's no going back.)

After the kids came, we decided to start camping in real luxury and bought a camper (real luxury includes a potty, well that says it all) which has been the greatest thing.

A few weeks ago, our Church camp out was announced. Imagine my horror when I was told that we were "pioneer" camping and we wouldn't be able to take the camper. Once I recovered from the news, I dusted off the old camping supplies and got down to the business of preparing. Let me tell you that we were the envy of the campground. Our tent was one of the biggest, our built- in awning was one of the only ones and our pop-up bathroom tent was the hit of the event. All was looking great... until the rain came. It was truly a humbling experience to enter our tent after several hours of rain and realize there was in inch of water covering everything. Our pillows were wet, our sleeping bags were wet, our clothes were wet. No one else who had a little tent had any leakage. Luckily the boys had made arrangements to bunk with a buddy. Luckily I was inspired to pack an extra little tent "Just in case someone might need it". We put this up for the girls to have a dry spot and went and sat by the fire to dry out. Someone broke out the fun game of "Scruples" which I had never played before. Once the game got started I realized it was pretty amusing playing this game with a bunch of moral Mormons. Finally at midnight, Steve and I crawled into our soggy sleeping quarters and hit the hay (well, we would have and should have hit the hay if I had let my husband put down a layer of pine straw under our tent. I talked him out of it because it sounded icky to me. Yes dear, you were right) I drifted off to sleep to only be awoken by a baby who wasn't very happy to not be in his crib. He cried for about an hour and I felt very sad for him and his tent mates. After drifting off again, the girls decided to be early birds and woke up at 5:30 am. I really didn't mind because I was dying to get out of the tent and have the night be over. After packing up and arriving back home we transformed our yard into a graveyard of dead, wet pillows and sleeping bags and shoes and clothes. My only solace is that I have a whole 364 more days before I hear the announcement from the pulpit again "It's time for our Ward Camp Out"... that would be a good idea for a movie "The Ward Camp Out, a night of fear and misery... parental discretion advised".

McKay was having a meltdown before breakfast. Notice Steve looks bright eyed and bushy tailed. I thought this picture summed up our trip marvelously.

School Fun

Friday afternoon I was waiting for the bus. As it pulled up, Owen got off and started running towards me. I thought he must have good news and he did. He was elected Student Council Vice President. We were excited for him. He had a group of his friends who wouldn't leave his side and they told him they were his body gaurds! As Grandpa Allen put it, now all we have to do is knock-off the President! :(

Kaylee and McKay have a field trip coming up where they are going to the zoo. They are very excited and their teacher sent home a project for them to do this weekend. They had to create their favorite zoo animal and research some facts on it. We had a lot of fun with the creativity side of things and the girls truly were thrilled to learn interesting things about them. Kaylee chose to create a pig. She learned that pigs are the only animal that can get sunburned. McKay chose a Panda Bear. She learned that at first scientist didn't know what kind of animal Panda's were but recently with DNA we now know they truly are Panda BEARS! I think the best part of their project was getting to recite their reports to Granpa Allen, Nana, Grammy and Grandpa who all visited this weekend.

Happy Anniversary Carol & George

Steve and I celebrated our 12th Wedding Anniversary in June. We feel quite proud of this accomplishment and realize how much work it has taken to get to where we are.

Twelve years seems like just a drop in the bucket when compared to Steve's parents. Today is their Anniversary. I was doing the math and I THINK I have it right when I say it's their 43rd Anniversary!! This is amazing to me, especially in today's world when you see all around us young people calling it quits (or not marrying at all!). I hope you have beautiful day full of love and wonderful memories of all the years you've been by each others side.

Griffin is at that age where he's obsessed with his hair. He never wants to get it cut and so it's a struggle to give him agency and yet still have him look respectable. We could stand it no longer and decided yesterday was the day for haircuts!! The plan was to have Griffin and Owen get their hair cut. Owen wasn't too thrilled about it either, but this week is election week, so we felt like he should look like a polished politician. When we got to the salon, Kaylee and McKay piped up that they wanted a haircut. I was just getting excited that their hair was growing back from the last cut they had. After a few tears, we agreed. (I didn't say who's tears...)

Steve asked a very good question... Why is it that our boys who NEED haircuts don't want one and our girls who DON'T need them must have one???

This is our lunar moth that the kids hatched from a "worm" stage. They found this large green larvae crawling on the door outside and brought it inside to play with. They had it in a large black tophat and after ignoring it for a few hours, when we went back to look, it had started forming a cocoon. The kids put a book on top of the hat so when it hatched it wouldn't fly out. They religiously checked it every day... at first. Then we all forgot about it on the shelf in the playroom. Then the other day, Owen started hollerin and came running with the hat. It appeared the moth had just hatched. I found it amazing that after all that time of not checking, the one time Owen remembered to look was Perfect timing.

I made a promise to "someone" who came to visit that I wouldn't post a priceless picture of him. I can't resist though. I figure it's okay if I don't identify him. This picture was "him" being a great sport when the girls wanted to dress "him" up. We enjoyed our visit and thanks for everything!!

Happy Grandparent's Day!!

The only way to truly celebrate Grandparent's Day is to reflect on the wonderful Grandparents in our lives. This is a tribute to those we love.

This year our children lost both of their only living Great-Grandmother's. These two women brought joy to our lives that can't be expressed.


My Grandma Katherine Stanberry. Granny was a witty, loving, smart, hip woman. She loved her Great-Grands and wouldn't miss a moment to spend with them. Granny's last day on earth was spent with the kids and as difficult as it was to lose her, memories of this last day only bring a smile to my face.

Steve's Grandma Grace Hall. We lost Grace on Easter Sunday, but she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Grace was a true southern christian woman and anyone who met her knew this about her immediately. She had a mischievous side to her that only made her that much more adorable. Just last night when Steve came to bed he said "I miss my Grandma". You never

outgrow needing your Grandma.

We couldn't very well have Grandparent's Day without remembering PaPa. Although he left our family several years ago, he was able to meet Griffin and Owen. He always made a point of expressing his pride in his Grandchildren. A man of few words, he left a lasting impression on people. Every night at prayer time, Owen always asks a special blessing on PaPa.

Grandpa and Marilyn moved to Abilene, Kansas several years ago. Despite the distance, they always make sure that they keep close through lot's of phone calls. We were able to enjoy a wonderful visit when they made a trip back to the south to visit all of us. We had a great time and made wonderful memories. When I was young, my fondest memories include cooking in the kitchen with Dad. I so enjoyed watching him take the girls into the kitchen and start cooking with them.

The only Grandparents who are near the children right now are Steve's parents, Grammy and Grandpa. We are so lucky to be able to share time with them. Grandpa is always the first to jump in and show the kids the best technique in Golf, or catching lizards or pointing out Poison Ivy. Grammy is so nurturing. You can always find her talking sweetly to the kids about things that really matter. One of her favorite things is to take the kids on walks (maybe it's the kids favorite thing and she's so kind to always take them). The kids love being at their house and truly feel it's a home away from home.

And last but certainly not least, is Nana and Grandpa Allen (booger/pappy/poopo). Nana has such a fun way with the kids and truly becomes one herself when with them. It's a delight to watch. She also has a very spiritual side and is quick to share her insights and observations with the children. Grandpa Allen is the children's "new" Grandpa, but the kids act like he's been a part of the family forever. The nicknames above might give you a hint as to the type of "ease" the kids feel around him. He is soo much fun to be around and I have to watch him carefully if he sits next to the kids at church!

I'm so thankful for these wise people in my life. The support I receive from them is amazing. I couldn't do it without them. For the wonderful Grandparents who are no longer with us, I know that we will see you again. I know that through faith in Jesus Christ, we can all be together again one day.

Labor Day Fun!

When I think of Labor Day, I think of the opposite of labor. I think of being lazy all day long and recuperating from the stress of normal life. Well, considering our Labor Day started at 5:15 a.m. and ended at 11:30 p.m.... it was anything but lazy and quite exhausting but full of fun times.

Steve is quite a serious fisherman. He figures there's no reason to go fishing if you don't get there before the fish wake up to eat breakfast. Steve works with a man who is the caretaker of a wonderful farm. The farm has a great "fishing hole" and lot's of animals and wildlife. It also has swamp land. Every once in awhile he tells us "y'all come fishin" (thanks Mr. Jim).

We got to the farm before sun up and McKay was the first one to get her pole in the water. At her second cast she caught a large mouth bass (although still a baby).

The guys went off to do their thing and so that left Kaylee, McKay, me and a bucket full of crickets. I have no problem worming a hook, but catching a crawling insect and stabbing it with a hook (I swear they bite even though I kept telling the kids they don't) is more than I can stomach. So... McKay became our official hook baiter. She was excellent at it.

Steve caught the next bass and I must say it was the largest of the day. Owen followed with a nice one caught while the guys were out in the boat.

Yummy Lunch Time!!


Yucky fish cleaning time!! Kaylee was getting into it!!

If you've kept count, Griffin and I didn't catch anything!! Instead of persevering like Griffin did, I turned to observing the wildlife.

This is Cory! He made our outing quite fun! He looks like a lab, but has the shortest legs (like a hot dog) he's so sweet.

Free range chickens and roosters!!

This was part of the beautiful swamp land.

Thanks honey for dragging me out of bed at 5:15 am. It was well worth it!