Camping in the Blues part 2

After 2 days of camping we all felt gross and decided it was time for a shower.  Two days is the max I can take.  Darren and Mark opted for the quickest method- dumping ice cold water from the river on themselves.  While I took the more sophisticated approach.  I boiled some water over the fire and took a nice warm outdoor shower.  Ahhh, it felt so good!  My kids ended up showering and loved it too.

I you ever want to entertain your kids for months on end- just get a puppy!  They are living breathing toys.  If you go camping you don't even have to worry about potty training them for a couple days! It ALMOST makes up for the hours and hours of potty training  you will spend every day that you aren't camping.

We did this really fun easy 2 mile hike to this look out that everyone enjoyed.  It was beautiful and the kids loved it.

Mark, Darren and me.  I love these guys.

All the kids got into this big flexing contest.  Gabe kept flexing with his arms down by his sides.  This is a picture of Gabe flexing for us all.  It was so cute.

Did I mention one of my favorite things about camping is no electronics?  I love to take mind games for the kids.  They keep them entertained. 

This is a fun game puzzle called Kanoodle.  It's my favorite. Maybe because I can't do the Rubiks Cube.  We took turns doing the puzzles and timing each other to see who could do it the fastest. 

I went to a lot of work before-hand preparing food so it would minimize the work once there.  I went to Pinterest for cooking recipes.  Some were great and some were a flop.  But it didn't matter because everything tastes good when your camping!

Jared and Gabe had the best time riding their bikes round and round this road.  We were at the very end so we didn't have to worry about cars- it was perfect.

Ellie and Emma slept in their own little "room" in Marks tent.  They stayed up late and slept in late.  They would disappear in the tent for hours to visit, read, play games,  and just enjoy being together.  Ellie is in this sleeping bag but refused to let me take her picture one morning about 11. 

Kyle picked some wild flowers for me and set them on the table.  Kyle is such a sweet, sensitive kid.  I love him so much.  He is so thoughtful.

You know how when you buy a kid a toy, sometimes they play with the box more than the toy?  Well that's how this trailer was that Mark brought full of 4 wheelers and bikes.  I think Gabe and Derek and Jared played house on this trailer more than they went 4 wheeling.  They would run up and down that ramp over and over again.  Sometimes it's the simple things in life, like a trailer ramp.  Or throwing rocks into a river.  Sometimes it's nice to take a step back and lets the kids get dirty and just be kids. 

Home!

Well we are home from our trip to Hawaii.  I am so glad to be home!! I missed my kids so much, and honestly, I just got sick of go-go-go!  I also got sick of being on boats, airplanes and in cars.  I am so grateful to just sit at home, snuggle with Gabe and sleep in.  Now, there were lots of fun parts of the trip that I can't wait to share- like snorkeling with sea turtles and all the fun foods, being with good friends- Hans and Jodi, and coming home to a house that my mom gave lots of love and time to.  But that will all have to wait.  I gotta catch up on a couple of things before I blog.  I can't wait to tell you all about it!

A Compliment

Usually when I'm pregnant it seems like people say the dumbest things to me, like, "Wow, your huge!" or "Are you having twins" or "Do you get this big every time?" But I have to say today someone said the nicest thing to me.  I was at Home Depot, we were about to go swimming so I was wearing a fun sundress over my swimsuit.  As I walked passed a man he said, "I hope your husband appreciates how cute you look when your pregnant.  That's a really cute dress."   I said, "Thank you! That's so nice of you to say!" Hahaha!  I don't know if he was flirting or not- but I don't care- he made my week!!

How Are You Doing?

I frequently have people ask me how I am doing.  And I almost always reply the same- I am doing amazing!!! Any day that I am not sick is a wonderful day!  It feels SO good to not be sick!  I love it! I have been back to my old self- doing projects and such.  I can't wait to share some of them.  I feel like a normal person.  I am so grateful for my good health every day.  Pretty soon here I'll get big and uncomfortable- but I don't mind, I am just so grateful to not have morning sickness anymore. I MADE IT!!!

A Teenager in the House

Well Paul has officially turned into a teenager!! I don't know why people complain about teenagers- Paul is awesome!  Ok, the boys were kinda crazy at his party- but that's just when teenagers get together.   Paul wanted a Minecraft birthday party- so that's what he got.  He helped so much getting everything ready.  WE had so much fun.  One of my favorite things about having a party is just getting ready for it.  It's so easy- just go to Pinterest and pint off all the free printables- and boom, great birthday party.

We had a great group of teenagers.  And with the exceptions of a bunch of them climbing on top of my shed- they behaved themselves pretty well.  Have I mentioned that teenage boys are stinky?  Like, they really smell bad.  I had to open all the doors and turn on the fan in my house while they were all here.

Lily was the hit of the party.   I had to set a timer for kids to share holding her.

Ok, is candy the cool present to give out at birthday parties or something?  Or just the easiest and cheapest? Because parents, just don't.  This is a sample of what Paul got for his birthday from his friends.  This doesn't even include the half eaten 5 pound bag of Sour Patch Kids from Costco someone else gave him.  I guess that mom got sick of her kids eating so much candy and unloaded it onto us.  I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I don't want any of my kids getting a huge bin of red vines for their birthday.  I barely even want him getting presents- let alone the worst thing for a kid to have.  Every party I have I want to put, "No gifts please" on the invitations, but the kids freak out, and Darren says that's just cruel, so I don't.  Seriously, I would rather if Paul got nothing than a huge amount of candy for his birthday.  Maybe I'm just weird.

Anywho... It was a great day and we all had a great time:)