About mid-August we decided that the Labor Day weekend camping trip we had planned to do with Lisa, John, and their girls in Washington was not a good idea. I had remembered that it was a 5 hour drive, but upon mapquesting it, realized it was almost 7 and a half hours of driving. We couldn't leave until after the kids finished school on Friday, meaning we'd have to spend the night somewhere along the way, meaning that we'd only actually be camping for two nights and less than 2 full days. As much as we hated to do it... we cancelled. The kids were bummed. We were bummed.
So I got on the computer and found a place to camp 1.5 miles from our house. We booked it for Fri and Sat night and figured we'd have Sunday and Monday to recuperate. Well... Thursday came around and all the kids were EXHAUSTED from their first week of school and 1.5 hour football/cheerleading practice EVERY night that week. So, we downgraded our camping trip to one night. Saturday.
The funny thing about camping, though, is that whether it is a 1 day trip or a 6 day trip the camping and prepping is about the same. Since we hadn't camped yet this year we had to go through all the gear and because we have a new mouse problem, that meant going through lots of mouse poop and dog food that various mice had dragged into various camping boxes hoping to make a home. Oh, well. It had to be done.
So, I grocery shopped Thursday, Brian packed up the car Friday night, and we hit the road on Saturday morning at 9AM. We arrived at Warm Lake around 11AM and everyone helped set up the tent (AKA "The Taj Majal"), ate lunch, and played around the campsite. We headed to the lake for an hour or so and Jake and I hit the rope swing. Once we returned to camp we settled in with our books and a bottle of red wine while the kids played "Duck on a Rock". I joined them for a little Hide and Seek, then the five of us took an exploratory walk around the woods. It was very odd- the campground was on the edge of an old abandoned lodge that used to include individual cabins, a boat house, etc... It was very run down and had obviously been vacant for many years. It was kinda creepy and reminded me of the setting of Friday the 13th. Luckily it was light out or I would have been looking for Jason around every bend!
We headed back to camp and grilled hotdogs and made giant s'mores for dessert. The kids played more hide-and-seek and more "duck on a rock". At one point, after exploring in the woods, Jake and Faith ran up to me with a flat brown thing in their hands and said, "Mom, look how much this dried mud clot looks like a smooshed frog". Ummmmm... kids?? I hate to tell you this... but that IS a smooshed frog. That flat brown frog went flying and the kids ran to the nearby water pump to wash their hands. Too funny.
The sky that night was so clear and so beautiful it made the two times I had to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night worthwhile. We actually all slept really well until 330AM when Tanner claimed he was freezing and came to sleep in between Brian and I. I woke up in the morning to a Brian shaped indent in the sleeping bag next to me and the smell of bacon cooking. He had gotten up early, gotten the fire started, and was already cooking bacon and boiling water for my coffee. Lovely!! Jake continued to sleep, so cuddled up under his sleeping bag and blanket, I had to actually go over and touch him to be sure he was actually still in the tent.
The kids played some more, we all enjoyed hot cocoa and bacon (oh yeah... and the traditional "camping donuts") and helped us pack up. We left before lunch and headed home because Brian and I had plans with friends that night and a new babysitter was coming over.
It was a fast and furious trip but I am so glad we did it. The kids all loved it and we were reminded how much we enjoy camping. We hadn't been in almost 2 years and the kids are getting older all the time. Boy it is a lot of effort, though. When we noticed how much faster our neighbor with the pop up tent and the other neighbor with the RV set up their site, we decided we may try an extended RV trip next summer instead. I'd like to head to the coast- maybe coastal WA or even San Juan Islands. Time to start planning!
School started on Tuesday and once again all three kids were excited to get another year started. They all got the teacher they wanted, and they all have their best friend in their class.
Back to School clothes shopping had been completed at Scheels and Gap earlier in the month. This year we gave each kid a $75.00 budget and they were free to use it how they wanted (as long as it was for clothing NOT guys!). It made this coupon-lugging, thrift shopping mother's heart proud to watch as the boys budgeted out how much was reasonable to spend on a pair of shorts and ask themselves if 24.99 for an Under Armor t-shirt was worth it or if they should get the more expensive shoes and the cheaper shirt. It was a lot of fun. Of course, both boys ended up with sport shorts, tshirts, and a new pair of tennis shoes. Faith ended up with two pairs of shoes, two shirts, a pair of shorts, and a belt (that was her favorite part- the belt!).
There were no visible nerves from any of them this year, until we arrived at the playground and Faith got a little clingy. But she quickly found her best friend, Abby, and the nerves mostly were gone. No tears! The bell rang and Mr. Forrey welcomed them all back to school and gave his yearly spiel about parents not walking into classrooms with kids. Then they said the Pledge of Allegiance and the Harbor Pledge and they were gone. Brian and I went to celebrate with breakfast at the Merc.
We picked them up at 115 (short day) and took them to the Merc for the annual "tell us about your first day back" snack extravaganza. We all sat together at a big table and the kids took turns telling us stuff about their day. Once again Brian and I marveled at how lucky we are on the school front: Great teachers, great principal, kids that like to learn and have good friends... the list goes on.
The first week back to school also included 3 football/cheerleading practices from 600-730PM so we had some tired kids on our hands. But they are all absolutely loving their teams and look forward to practices each day. It's actually been pretty fun for us, too. Brian and I switch off going to Tanner's practice and Jake/Faith's practice. It's great having them all at the same time and all of the practice nearby. It allows us to have an early family dinner together (500 on the dot) and then head down the hill for the evening.
Faith's cheerleading coach keeps telling me how great Faith is- what a great listener and how fast she is at learning the cheers. I have never seen her this excited about anything. She loves it. She practices her cheers all the time, even in the shower. And as much as it pains me that it is cheerleading that has turned out to be her first "passion" it is amazing to see how in just a few weeks time she has become more confident, independent, and responsible.
Tanner, too, has completely risen to the occasion. I was worried that the 3-4 practices a week would be too much for him, but he is ready to go each evening and works hard the whole time he is there. He, too, is getting so independent.
After almost deciding against football this year, Jake is having his best year yet. He is really enjoying his team and his coaches and I haven't heard a single, "I don't feel like going to practice" this year. Last Thursday at his practice the Capital High football team was there, too. At the end of practice the Capital head coach talked to our team and gave a very inspirational speech that included everything from "doing your best" to putting school first to the importance of doing lots of things and not just focusing on football. He even included a bit on staying away from drugs and peer pressure. It was really great to hear and to see Jake listening so intently.
Summer was a lot of fun this year- we took a bunch of small trips and one big trip to California. The kids had 15 hours/week at Miss Emerald's house (for which we are eternally grateful!) and we had tons of trips to the pool and BBQs outside, etc... But the fact remains that working from home full time with three kids home 25 out of the 40 working hours a week is HARD. Between the inherent multitasking that occurs to the "working mom guilt" that I suffer as I stick the kids in front of the TV for hours while I catch up on emails or only vaguely glance in the direction of the the Lego tower they spent 3 hours completing together.. it's a little stressful. However, this year was better than last year and the kids got along really well (until August and then they were simply DONE with each other and ready to be around other people!).
So, we are into September and ready for Year 2 of a 3 year stint of having all three of the kids at the same place. We plan to enjoy every minute.
About mid-August we decided that the Labor Day weekend camping trip we had planned to do with Lisa, John, and their girls in Washington was not a good idea. I had remembered that it was a 5 hour drive, but upon mapquesting it, realized it was almost 7 and a half hours of driving. We couldn't leave until after the kids finished school on Friday, meaning we'd have to spend the night somewhere along the way, meaning that we'd only actually be camping for two nights and less than 2 full days. As much as we hated to do it... we cancelled. The kids were bummed. We were bummed. 
