Camping Trip November 2010

I have finally found a moment to sit down and
blog about our four day camping trip on Veteran's Memorial Weekend.
I never realized how exhausting camping can be.
The actual sleeping in a tent on an air mattress
wasn't too bad, but I think my back and neck
might disagree. The worst part of camping is
the mountain of laundry that multiplies when you get back.
I washed laundry from Monday to Thursday.
How is that possible?
I can't believe that on day 2 of camping I said
"I could do this ALL the time. I love the simple life.
I think I could live in the woods forever."
Yeah, really.

The sign to our camp site

Our home away from home

Little E and our friend N watching the hubs make a fire

Miss K and our friend Miss N sitting by the fire
in the dark with their shades on.
They were too cool for this.

Mr Cool

The hubs popping Jiffy Pop popcorn

This was how we heated water for our outdoor shower

It was chilly so to prevent any one getting sick we bundled

Little E was having a moment
and wasn't much for posing

My friend Erin and I discovered bear scat
when we walked to the bathroom
so we took the kids on a nature walk to show them

Th girls were more interested than the boys

My pretty girl even in the dirt, woods and poo

Baby A and her daddy, she had the best seat this weekend

Even behind the dirt she has a pretty face

Chilling out a camp after the days hunt
unfortunately the guys got nada

The kids enjpoying roasted marshmallows

I treated Miss K to ice cream
and told her she needed to eat it then since
I couldn't keep it frozen

The last night at camp

The last morning at camp and
Miss K wasn't ready to go just yet....

Even though it was exhausting to come home
and try to clean house, wash 12 loads of laundry, potty train
our new puppy and get back in the groove of the weekly routine
it was ALL WORTH IT
The kids had a blast and I hope they don't forget it.

November

This is going to be one busy month for us. Busy weekends make the year go by fast, I'm not sure if anyone else feels that way. After breathing a sigh of relief that we survived Halloween and all the festivities that it holds, we're off and running again.

This weekend we are taking the kids to a corn maze with our friends, something I've been looking forward to for five weeks now. Our county fair starts this Thursday Nov 4th and goes through to Sunday Nov 14th. We were planning on going the first night because it's free admission but I'm not sure now. They changed the calendar and the cheapest night to ride the rides is next Monday. So we'll see. We missed the fair last year and I am looking forward to some greasy corn dogs, powdered elephant ears and sweet homemade kettle corn.

Of course I'm looking forward to riding the rides, playing the games, checking out the crafts and art work displays and petting the farm animals. The kids love walking through the poultry holding area and looking at all the ducks, chickens, guinea hens and peacocks. I wish that the school Miss K attended had a 4H club. She would really enjoy raising a chicken for show.

Nov 11th-14th we're going on a camping trip into Ocala. I'm excited and nervous about camping with the kids, since this will be the first time and it's primitive camping. The only luxury we have is bathrooms. We invited my friend Erin and her family to go and they'll be joining us on Thursday and Friday. Hubby's stepsister and her family and his mother and her husband are going. It's also the first weekend of general gun season for hunting.

I'll be packing lots of games, outdoor activities and books to keep everyone occupied during hunting time. At least it doesn't start until Saturday morning. I'm hoping to walk around the camp and check out the nature, maybe see some animals.

Before you know it Thanksgiving will be here on the 25th. I haven't even begun to think about my shopping list for Black Friday. I'm hoping to tag along with Erin and her sister Sarah so I don't have to go alone. Hubby will be staying home with the kids so I won't have my sidekick with me.

Going into December we're leaving to go to Colorado. So I have to start thinking about what I'm going to be packing and make sure I'm not missing anything. This will be our first family vacation since before I had Little E. My husband will get to see snow for the first time and get to play in it! So somewhere in this month I hope I find the time for me.

What are your plans for this month? Anything exciting?

Holidays

What is it this year with all the Christmas decorations? In years past I have never seen so many houses decorated before Thanksgiving. In my neighborhood, alot of people don't get into decorating for anything. But this year the Christmas lights are shining bright!
We never decorate before Thanksgiving. I can't see buying a live tree that early. By the time Santa gets here and places his gifts under the tree the needles will be dryed up so badly that I'd be afraid to turn on the twinkle lights. Kelly won't stop asking me everyday "when are we decorating for Christmas, mommy". I can't give her an exact date. She expects me to name a day.
Maybe if I can convince the hubby to at least decorate the outside and the lawn it will satisfy my daughter's need for Christmas lights. Hopefully.
At least until this weekend I'm sure. We're planning a Christmas shopping trip for Sunday. Once she sees all the decorations in the mall and the stores I'm sure I'm done for. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Hey maybe I'll suggest sitting on Santa's lap. She is still scared of him. Maybe that will get the decorations off her mind. At least until Monday.......