Better than Expected

Everyone had a good time camping. The kids played outside, held bunnies, and had their fingers bit by chickens. Maybe I should explain-last weekend was Heritage weekend at Ponca State Park. There were some special activities going on, including a mini-petting zoo for the kiddos, yummy cobbler & homemade icecream, and a wagon ride pulled by horses. 

The first night I didn't sleep much...at all. Joel insists that my parents deprived me by not taking me camping as a kid. I told him that I don't feel like I was deprived! I really enjoyed staying in hotels while we vacationed. :) That first night, I heard the crickets chirping LOUDLY & was freezing cold since it got down in the 40s Friday night there...But, Saturday night, I slept! Outside. In a tent. I feel very accomplished. :) I even told Joel that a few more times, and I maybe wouldn't mind camping-and maybe would eventually ENJOY it! Baby steps. There was 16 of us camping...4 tents set up at our campsite, and my sister & her family slept in their camper (now THAT is camping!) There is just something about being away from the internet and not having a phone signal...that allows you to really relax and enjoy your surroundings. I definitely want to do it again! 

Adventures this Week

This week has been a week of adventures for us. Joel & I decided Monday night that Tuesday morning, P & I would head to IA to see my Sister-in-Law & her 2 boys. We did over 10 hours of driving in 2 days! Of course, the trip took long longer...with stops. One of those stops occurred when we were on interstate, and P says, "I have to go poopy!" Okay! We took the next exit, then had to drive about 10 min. to the nearest gas station. At least we made it! :) That stop alone took about 30 min. though...so we didn't exactly HURRY to get to our destination. I usually like to make as few stops as possible, and QUICK stops, at that...but with a 3-year-old, that's not always possible. He did really well though, when he wasn't bemoaning the fact that, "We're NEVER gonna be there!" :)

We packed a LOT into the 24 hours that we were in Iowa! My Sister-in-Law took us to a c-u-t-e apple orchard, spoiled us with wonderful, fruity, baked oatmeal, and treated us to Pizza Hut. Another highlight was getting to meet up with TWO of my former college roommates in ONE day! We got to visit my sweet roomy from my Senior year on Tuesday night, at her house...and then Wednesday, we met her and her 2 kiddos at the park. It was great for all the little ones to RUN off energy! We all had a great time chatting, and eating watermelon. It was great to catch up! Wednesday night, on the way home...P & I met with my Sophomore year roomy and her 5-year-old daughter. We had dinner and chatted. She and I met before I even met Joel, so she got to was forced to listen to the drama involving Joel & I in the early days, when I was trying to figure out if I liked him...etc. HINT: I really did like him! :)

Tonight we are headed to a state park about 2 1/2 hours away to go tent-camping. Yikes. I previously referred to camping in tents as: sleeping on the ground, with BUGS. I'm trying to stop that. Really. Joel says bugs don't get in your tent. :) As much as I am not a camper, I am really looking forward to some quality family time away from it all!

Happy weekend!

The Wide-man Song!

Thursday morning, Mr. P asked if he could sing the Wide-man Song. It made me laugh. I possibly wouldn't have known which song he was referring to, except for the fact that he stacked his little fists one on top of the other while he asked me...

P: Can we sing the Wide-man Song, Mom?

Me: Oh. You mean the WISE man song?...(The wise man built his house upon the rock...) Yes, that was the song!

He sang that song Wednesday night with the kiddos at church. It's funny the things kids come up with. 

Happy Friday!!!

This-n-That

Last week we had a fun weekend ahead of us. There was a party planned for my In-Laws for their 30th Anniversary, family coming to NE, much to do...and then it all came to a halt for me Friday night about midnight, when Preston got sick. I thought it was maybe something he'd ate...but, no. His 'flu bug' continued throughout the long, long night. I'd be lying in bed, hear 'that sound' and bolt from my bed and into his room. Let's just say that he initiated his new bedding set on his 'big-boy' bed, the toddler bed, the carpet in his old room and in the hallway. The carpet needed steam-cleaned before, but now it definitely does!

After that long night, and on into Saturday, Preston was sick. Poor guy! The sad thing is, that I'd had him at the Doctor last Thursday...and of course Friday evening is when he got sick. I had a sneaking suspicion that he'd picked up SOME thing during the 45 minutes we spend in the Doctor's office waiting room! I called the nurse and discussed Mr. P's symptoms and of course she said they'd had "lots of calls" where children were vomitting...yay. So now I definitely think that I paid a $25 Co-pay and waisted about 90 minutes at the Doctor's...only to MAKE my son sick. Poor guy!

I had to miss my In-Law's party, but am thankful to my husband for texting photos to me, of people when they'd arrived, his parents with the cake, etc. I'd got to help plan the event, so it was nice to at least be able to see some of it, in almost 'real-time'...:) 

I think we are still playing catch-up this week! Mr. P had a good 2-hour nap, and then came downstairs only to fall right asleep on the couch again!! Guess he needs some extra zzz's...this might explain the super-whiney morning we had!!