We Are Camping Pros

If you would have asked me a week ago if I'd ever been camping I would have told you yes one time. Then, this weekend, I found myself with a reservation at Garner State Park but a husband who would be out of town. I had a reservation at Garner this summer, also, that we couldn't make because of the tonsillectomy and a second camping trip that got canceled for some other similarly justifiable reason. But I really felt like I wanted to make this happen, which, if you know me, know means I was going to.

And, honestly, it was fantastic. All I had to do was keep my kids happy and safe which are really pretty rudimentary goals. Plus, every second we spent on this camping trip would be time screen-free, out in nature, spending time with their siblings. Who could ask for anything more?

This weekend they slept under the stars, lit campfires, climbed into a cave, crossed a river for a rope swing (all three), helped me set up and break down a campsite, invented games that involved screaming, giggled, explored, colored and stickered, pulled cactus spines out of their thighs, admired the view, had dessert before dinner, took a rock-slippery hike and snuggled! I'd say it doesn't get much better than that. Though, if we are goal setting, we could do better with camping hygiene, honestly. Who brushed their teeth when??...I can't quite remember.

The kids want our next mother-children adventure to be a fishing camping expedition. I hope Zayd is good with worms.

Now I'll attempt to post all of the photos but last time made blogger crash...

Back to School!! 2020

I just realized that I never posted their back to school photos. They haven't actually gone anywhere. They're, technically, back to here and doing a slightly more organized version of what we did in the spring. We've been lucky that either Sam or I have managed to be here with them, and ZZ has a safe, happy place to spend his days. Things are going to get more hectic as our schedules all shift, but we're all in it together and working it out one day at a time.

Pictures of ZZ

ZZ still allows me to take lots and lots and lots of photos of him. 

He takes the same naproll and lunch box that Zayd took to the same Montessori school five years ago. I looked down last week and he looked like Zaydy. 

ZZ enjoys doing math. He is my son.

We love PJ Masks around here. We just requested every PJ Masks book from the library. I'm sure they will provide lots of interesting bedtime reads for me.

ZZ has the best laugh. He also occasionally has really big feelings these days. He's just growing up and dealing with Covid the best he can.