Massena (2)

We're always lucky when Uncle Wayne and Uncle Rogers come out to perform a little concert for us. 

Naps and bedtimes were easier in the air conditioned camper (thank you Uncle Wayne!) with our sound machine. Maia was usually too busy to nap, but Parker actually got a little punky mid-week and had a rough day with fever and clinginess, which was gone by the next day. Nothing much ever came of it, and it was the second time in 2 weeks that had happened.  When we returned to daycare the following week, there had been roseola going through the school while we were gone, so he may have been fighting that off.

This year wasn't as hot as previous years (thank goodness!) and after the storm came, it even felt cold.  So those hand driers in the bathroom felt pretty nice on a cool morning when you are a small person.

And Parker was in his glory!  With LJ and Max being so close in age to him, and being every bit as enamored of trucks and cars and airplanes... well. Parker just sort of made himself at home at Len and Christina's site.  Ate their food. Drank their water. Played with their toys. And loved every minute of it.

Len even got a special hug when it was time to leave.

 The kids did better than expected, and we definitely missed visiting the Grandmas this year.  Maia thought we should just go visit all the rest of the Grandmas, like they do at school.

Car rides home are always fun. Sometimes we don't make the best choices with our snacks.  Here, for example, we turned blueberry yogurt covered pretzels into Celtic war paint to intimidate our parents.

Mid-way home, we stopped at a Microtel with a pool so we could burn off some energy.  We got some pizza and ate on the tall stools. That was exciting to little people.

Maia was also delighted by the window seat.

After pizza, I inflated a couple swim rings, and Maia, Parker and I went down to the pool.  They both had a great time, and their confidence and daring increased greatly as time went on. 

As always, the stay was too short, and we so greatly miss everyone!

Massena (1)

Our yearly trip to camp. We look forward to this so much. An entire week of "having picnics" and eating all our meals outside.  Playing with Nana and Grandpa and Aunt Tara and Aaron and Rachael.  Our trip out went pretty well. Bedtimes in hotels are always a bit of a challenge after being trapped in a car seat for hours and hours. 

I love mornings especially. Sitting in your sweatshirt, drinking coffee, playing with cars outside in your pajamas... what's not to like?

 Uncle Buck, Aunt Linda and Nana always make sure we're well supplied with toys. Between the little garage, the ride on car and a lawn mower, Parker was thrilled.

Maia, of course, was eager to get to the water and get a ride on the SeaDoo. 

Parker got his first rides this year too. 

We got to sit on cousin Randy's Harley.

With the bike helmet. Safety first.

In the later half of the week there was a pretty major rainstorm.  I did NOT miss being in a tent!  We corralled some kids and let them watch some Little People videos (or "Lull Kids!" as Parker calls them)

After the storm, we had a fantastic time playing in the puddles!!

Sprinkers

Hot summer, no rain, and a desire to not waste money on lawn service and watering equals a crunchy brown lawn.  So it certainly couldn't hurt to have the kids run through the sprinkler...

Well, Maia runs through the sprinkler.

Parker says "It too skeewy, momma!" and contents himself with mowing (or as Maia calls it, "lawn mowering.")

Just a Little Trim

A few days after camping, I mused to Ray: 

Parker's hair is getting really long. I wonder if we should just trim it down with a 3 guard or something.

Really? says Ray. I'll do it!

A few moments later, I walk in the bathroom to see this.

That's not a 3 guard.

It's a 3 mm... 1 guard. 

Oh, all those gorgeous copper locks.

Parker was NOT pleased.

When it was over, he was really curious and kept feeling it.  And is it just me, or do his eyes look bigger?

Doesn't he look so much OLDER? He's not looking so much like a baby.

Sigh.

Camping (part 3)

Ray came back up on the night of the 3rd, and it was too hot to sleep, so each of us took a kid for a ride to cool down and settle down. The next morning was pack-up day, and it was hot. And humid.

The campground always marks Independence Day with a bike parade for the kids.  My sister plans all year, amassing little patriotic decorations.  So Lyd, Ade and Maia decorated their bikes.

Maia was really really enjoying the opportunity to have nice, long, smooth road to ride her balance bike. It really only took her a few rides to get the hang of it like she couldn't exactly do on our short driveway at home. She was very proud of herself, and very much wanted to go on lots of bike rides around the campground with the big kids. 

Waiting for the bike parade to start. 

So with all that excitement, all those kids and Smokey the Bear (bless him, he must have been so hot!!) on the back of a pickup truck... I thought Maia would love to ride in the parade.  And she was super excited, right up until the time we started to ride.  Then she lost it. She was hot. She was thirsty. She just wanted to go swing and she wanted some water.  I ended up pushing Parker in the stroller, carrying Maia's bike, and practically dragging her back to the camp site while she whined.

And while we waited, Parker decided he was ready to go home.

I wanna wide daddy's cor, wite now!

Camping (part 2)

Nights continued to be interesting, and on more than one night, when it was just too hot and loud to sleep, I had to load them up in the car and go for a drive. The air conditioning probably did us all some good.

We also ate dinner out a little more than usual, and increased our ice cream consumption.

Boating was definitely the best place to be. 

 The kids did SUCH a great job swimming!

The second to last night, however. A storm rolled in. A BIG one. Lightening flashes were nearly constant for a while, and thunder cracks were close.  Two children were in bed with me. Parker was clinging to me for dear life, and Maia was hiding under my sleeping bag, holding on to my leg.  As the rain poured, cascading down the sides of our tent, and the air shook; I told the kids we were having an adventure.  And after a while, we fell asleep (while Maia dreamed we were floating away).

When we woke, we discovered that I didn't do the best job at making sure all of the corners of the tarp were tucked under the edge of the tent, and instead of the water running under the tent, the water ran between the bottom of the tent and the tarp, and we ended up with large squishy puddles on under much of our floor.  Another adventure. A little creative problem solving and some time resolved that. 

Camping

Generally over the July 4th weekend, we go camping with my folks and my sister's family.  This year, as it turned out, Ray wasn't really able to take any more work days off. So we planned to have Ray come up for the weekend, work Monday and Tuesday, and back to help us pack up on Wednesday. 

I packed and I planned and I got everything ready... and Ray got sick. Fever, the works.  So I pulled on my big girl pants and decided to brave "single parent tent camping with two kids under four."  Sounds like an adventure!

And my adventure started out by Ray's SUV having an empty gas tank, and me realizing I'd never put gas in it before, and had no idea how to get the stupid thing open. Then after gassing up the car, Maia had to pee.  Gas Station stop = 35 minutes. Phew.

Half-way through our 3 hour drive, Maia has to pee again. It's only three hours kid!

So, we stop at McDonalds to use the facilities, and look! Ronald is hanging out on a bench. Maia and Parker are delighted!  So we stop for some pics. 

And after we're done, and I'm buckling Parker back in, I turn to find she's actually wandered back across the parking lot to give Ronald another hug. YIKES.  Atypical behavior for her, and scared the pants off of me!  (Will I make it? I can do this! We will go and have a good time!)

We continue the drive, and we're almost there!  Aaaaand Maia has to pee. And we're in the middle of a corn field.  She manages to hold it until the next 4 way stop with a small store. Three potty breaks in less than 3 hours. Phew. I think I can, I think I can....

We arrive, and my sister and dad help me put up the tent while my nieces and nephew help entertain my kids. At last... home away from home. Beds are set up. I hope children sleep in them.

Sleeping was a little rough. It's hot, it's light until 10:00 pm, and  I can't block out all the ambient noise and everything is new and interesting.   But eventually we settle down and get some sleep.

We wake MUCH earlier than our Camping Companions, so I figure out a way to make this all work.  We all go take a shower together in the morning, and then watch a movie on the laptop (thank goodness for electricity!)

 Naps were few and far between, however. It's MUCH to hot in the tent to spend much time in there at all, although Parker may have crashed once or twice.

Maia spent more of a nap-free weekend, although laying on Grandma and Papa's bed in the air conditioned motorhome and watching movies was okay. 

But it was hot. Oh, so hot. And it got hotter each day.  And hot and sleepless makes some people a little grumpy. 

Me. I was grumpy!  

But a little sun and water does a body good, and is great for nap promotion. It worked so well that our driver here was asleep at the wheel.

Maia and Parker both had a great time driving Papa's boat.  Parker was very interested in all the parts, even controlling the speed.  We also swim off the back of the boat in deep water in this lake (which was a gloriously warm 78-82º).  Both the kids did great. Parker grinned the whole time, and got a face-full of water a few times, which fortunately didn't phase him much. He was so excited to be swimming that he was pushing away from letting me hold him... he just wanted to do it on his own.

I've also come to relax a bit about what the kids eat during these times, and in general.  So there were a few nutella sandwiches for lunch.

And Emily did some beautiful braids in Maia's hair.

And Parker got a little dirty.

And on the way home?

Sleeping children, and not one potty break.