Camping Vacation Trip

For vacation this year, our family decided to go camping. After spending part of the July 4th week with my parents up North in NW Iowa (flat, flat, flat) - but there's a lake, free room & board and a boat down at the dock, so I can't complain. 😉

We ventured home to pack up our camping supplies - that hadn't been dug out since about a year ago. Except for those camping chairs, we use ours occasionally and I'll take mine out when then kids are playing in our backyard. On the way we decided to check out to see if there were any available campsites at Lake Red Rock. Ha! When I was up North, I downloaded a Lake Red Rock activities brochure. At long last I read that there was a Red Rock Lake Balloon Fest happening over part of the time we were going to be camping there. Great! Plenty to do, look at, plus educational opportunities in the area. But, we struck out. We searched all the campgrounds on the lake - we went through at least 2 of them, and saw others that were full. The silly thing is that even though they have it reserved with arrival on Sunday, July 9th (we were looking for Thursday - Saturday) - we weren't able to use the campsite for those 3 days prior to some else's registration. These were all run by the Federal Government, so of course, they couldn't figure this out. To much work. I was mad. Still am. It's just silliness.

So we just went home for the night. The original plan was to pack up when we got home and go in the morning. But it's vacation, right? No rush! Plus, we were sore from inner tubing on the boat earlier in the week. So. Much. Fun! But, we aren't as young as we used to be and we defiantly found muscles we weren't use to using! So we went to bed and packed up in the morning.

The Lake up North (that's not the actual name of it).

We ended up going camping here - Lake Darling State Park - key word is State, not Federal. 

After packing everything in our car and in the truck - because we wanted to bring our bikes with, the extra space was needed - and used! We had to make a food run, of course - because we needed a few things - what's a camping trip without stuff for s'mores? 

Just part of Lake Darling. 

Park sign - see what's here! 

We didn't get to the park until about noon (apparently it takes 30 minutes and 4 tries for the 9yo to roll up his sleeping bag) 🙄 . Setting up the tent in the hot sun was not my idea of a good time, but we got it done. Realizing we (hubby) didn't pack the rainfly - we prayed for no rain and we were so lucky that it didn't! After setting up the tent it was time to go swimming! We later found out that having no rain fly was helpful - it let the breeze in off the lake and sleeping under the stars and watching the lighting bugs was amazing! 🙌  All God's creation. 

Tent was shaded in the evening and in the morning. The bikes were locked up, when not in use. The bath house was up the hill, behind the tent. This was the only campsite that was available that had trees. (One or two shaded the space). It happened to be a full-hook up site, water, electric and sewer hook-up. Which we didn't really need, but I was willing to pay the extra amount, especially if we had power to make the fans run that we brought, because we knew it was going to be hot, hot, hot! 

First day, after swimming. (I'm just sunburned all the time.)

Family photo. 

Hubby did most of the cooking - and I loved it. Little ones face! 😂

Because what else is a 3yo supposed to do before bedtime,

but play with the $4 inflatable in the tent. Sassy! 

The next morning, big brother read a story to little one. Sweetest moment of the whole weekend! ♥️

After breakfast we went on a family bike ride, which was pretty warm, but we stopped regularly for water breaks - we made sure everyone had a water bottle. Lake Darling bike trails are awesome - we went for about 3.0 miles, and almost none of it was flat- more like steep to rolling hills. 

Big brother can do dishes, here he is drying. So much complaining. Is this normal for a 9yo? 😩

We had to get more firewood and more ice for the food in the cooler, so we headed to town. We did what we needed to do and the kids wanted Pizza Ranch that was across from the big box store we were shopping at, and because the outside temperature was 86 degrees, we ate there. We took our time - let's just say it was busy when we went, but it was pretty empty when we left. But it was air conditioned, so I didn't really complain. 

The kids and I fell asleep on the way back to camp, so we slept in the car for a bit - still hot out, but at least there was a breeze.  It wasn't to bad with all the windows down. The 9yo still says he didn't take a nap. 😜  The kids and hubby tried to hang out in the tent for awhile and the plan was to go swimming, just not in the heat of the day. I may or may not have fallen asleep on an inflatable at the beach, while the hubby and the kids were having a great time. We went about 5pm and stayed for a little more than an hour. None of us were hungry at dinner time, because of the large late lunch we ate earlier. So we had a late dinner back at camp. 

The 3yo in her shades and swimsuit after swimming. You can guess what the wet spot is! 

  After this, she promptly said 'change me.' Good thing we are working on potty training!

I'll note here that she was wearing a cloth swim diaper that did a good job of keeping sand out of her diaper area better than the disposables we used the day before. 

Hubby found this cicada shell on his truck tire the first morning we woke up. He got to explain to the 9yo how they come up out of the ground, make a shell and then hatch from it. 

Before dinner the second night, I went down at took this 360 degree photo down by the lake. 

Hubby did a few camping hacks - here's one: It's a tarp clip clipped to the table cloth looped into a bungie cord, wrapped around a few boards of the picnic table. Worked great. He did this on both sides of the picnic table. 

The other hack he did - and I didn't take a photo of it - he fished a bungie cord through a paper towel roll and bungeed it to the bike rack that was on the back of the truck. Worked great and the paper towel wasn't rolling all over the place in the wind. 

Signs of a successful camping trip - both kids asleep in the car.

Yes, that's my TerraTrike on top of my car - it fits rather well! We tie it up there with bungie cords (hubby has a whole bag full), pool noodles and 2 clips to lock the pedals in place. 

Lake Darling was nice because overall, people were quite, the lake is a no-wake lake (meaning the boats don't go fast), a lot of people were there to fish. There were a few families there, but we didn't interact with them. We had a hard time understanding why anyone would buy a $40k+ camper and transport it to a different camp spot each week. The guy next to us spent as much time setting his camper up than we did our tent. Sure he has a big screen tv, air conditioning, bathroom, kitchen, comfy bed, but what's the point? By that time you aren't camping, you may as well stay home! Especially due to the fact that they came, set it up, didn't sleep there and the camper air was running all day Friday (I'm sure they had jobs to go back to). [I may or may not have thought about breaking in, just to get some relief from the heat & sun.] They were there a little Friday night, but not outside - inside the camper. Saturday morning was much of the same - they weren't there - both vehicles were gone, and then when they were outside we were leaving. At this time the little boy (2 or 3 years old) noticed my 3yo and we had enough time to wave 'bye.' 

I know this isn't true for all RV campers out there - just these people. There were some RV campers who had pretty sweet set-ups for their outside space and were playing card games or just talking around the campfire. 

We don't want to be like the 'Jones' being normal means being broke, and we don't want to be broke all our lives. Update on that! We are now officially under 30k for our debt. What's your debt? Find out more at DaveRamsey.com. Read more about our debt-free journey.  

Lake Darling has 80 campsites and most of them have electric and a few have full-hook ups- which, I know is rare in the camping industry. But over 1/4 of the 80 sites are walk-up sites. Which means I didn't need a reservation for campsite #22 - and views of the lake, near the swing set, and the bathrooms and playground area! Part of the time the equipment was to hot to play on, though. Metal slides - in 85+ degree sun, ouch! Brings back my childhood memories, though. 

Awesome vacation time with family! 

Would I go camping again, as the 3yo asked when we got home and had a few things unpacked? Maybe next year. Same place? Oh, no. Next year I'll shoot for Red Rock and register online - early!

Life of a mom

I recently had a friend of mine say that when her littlest one was still at the napping stage, she could send a quick text to a few of her friends and have them go pick up her big kids from school.
That's great. I don't have a 'tribe' as they call it. I never have had one, and anytime I have had a few friends, I'm sure I'm the one who ended the relationship, or chose not to continue being a friend, for whatever reason.

I am lucky that I have my husband, who's a big supporter, when he's not on route as a delivery driver with FedEx - which, right now, is all the time, but I'm thankful he's not an over the road truck driver. I also have his mom who recently took the kids shopping at a farm store, to get some ice cream and to a park, before she was scheduled to leave town for the weekend, but the kids enjoy going out to 'the farm.' My parents are just 4-5 hours away (when they aren't in Florida).

And while we have a church home, and it truly is a church family, there aren't many - if any - people my age. The majority being 50 and above. So, growth groups, or small groups are few and far between, and don't often happen in other people's homes, but just out at the church, which is outside of town, and not helpful, for those of us who live in town. Would I ever open my home to a small group or growth group? Maybe, but I have kids.

For the past few weeks I've been trying to get my 8yo to clean room - it's a disaster. By disaster, I mean disaster! Do not enter, or you might trip and fall and hurt yourself. I have a 2yo who has yet to learn the art of picking up toys when finished with them, and especially not dropping a toy some random place and picking up another thing or toy or non-toy, etc. and then repeating that 5 or more times all around the house. And I question why there are toys in my kitchen, bathroom, etc. odd places.....

Then there's myself, who while, battling depression is taking care of all of the above, I have church obligations, small business owner, work (I have various clients I have to keep happy, plus other part-time work), and volunteering at my child's school, trying to keep my 2yo in cloth diapers as much as possible, so we can save money and allowing her to use the potty when she wants to - but not really potty training - so when I'd rather binge on Netflix shows than clean my kitchen. Please, someone come over and clean my house! Maybe you can see why I don't have time for a "tribe." My tribe is me and my morning coffee - and if I'm lucky a morning or evening at the local coffee shop with a paint brush in hand and a blank canvas in front of me.

I'm an artist, although I'm not sure if anyone has ever called me that. Crafty, yes, but I continually doubt myself and my abilities.

Flash time

I got a new digital camera - a Nikon 3200, if you are interested. I saved up money and bought it from a friend of a friend. It came with an external flash. So I just had fun changing the angle of the flash and location of where I was shooting from to get the look I wanted. It's more a flash study.

Flash straight at the subject, a little glare on the photos, not the look I was going for.

Flash was still pointed at the subject.

Here's where I figured out I could point the flash toward the ceiling, without removing it from the camera! Sweet deal! 

Changing my location, but kept the flash pointed to the ceiling.

Changing the angle of the flash. 

Changing the angle of the flash. 

Still not the look I was going for. 

Almost there....

This is the shot. This was the look I wanted, not to much glare, I'm watching my shadows and they are soft, not hard. With a little cropping, this would be a pretty good shot. 

One more flash, bounced off the ceiling - just for fun. 

I took a photography class or two in college, but that's been 10+ years, so this is a good study for me. 

The subject is something I created a while back. 

I took some lids from some boxes I had laying around, some scrapbook paper - two 10x10 sheets for each lid, some ribbon, and cut out my own letters. Piecing it together with some good glue - and being patient while it all dried was the hardest part. Although it looks like I used a lot of ribbon, I actually didn't. The band around each box is just that, a band, and the ribbon that's used to hang each letter is the same way. I think I used up all of this kind of ribbon I had in the house, though. 

I saw this idea on Pinterest a few years ago. This was actually one of the few projects that I've taken off that site and not been total flops. (It happens to everyone.) 

We went to Target and bought a curtain rod- I'm sad about this now, because ours recently closed. I haven't lived in a community without a Target nearby (within 10 min. of my house) since I was in high school! 

 Hubby put the rod where I wanted it and I put the letters through. It came out great! It's something I enjoy looking at along with our family photos below, and it reminds me that I love to be creative! 

What Ifs?

Sometimes I wonder about living a different life? 

What if I hadn't gotten married?

What if I hadn't had my two kids?
What if my two other babies had survived pregnancy? Well, I'd have 4 kids! I like to say I have two kids on earth and two in heaven.

Would I be able to function?
Manage my finances?

Would I live by myself?
With friends?
With my parents? *Gasp*

Sometimes I don't think I know how to be an 'adult.' I was recently away from the town we live in - at a conference and my husband has so graciously played 'daddy day care' for a day and a half- which is hard enough to do it while at home, but super challenging to do it in a community you are unfamiliar with! While I baulk at changing diapers, making sure the little people drink and eat enough, I missed them so much. 

So much I couldn't breathe. So much- I wanted nothing more than to hold them both in my arms, even though they may not want held when I saw them again.

My big kid.

Motherhood.
It's my job. Yes, I long for that professional career- but a part of me- says - no, I don't- at least not now, while she's little.

My little one.

I love being home with my little girl, seeing her smiles and letting her be goofy. I love her zest for life- her joy of putting her hand in the snow and eating it- even though her hands will freeze and hurt in a few short moments. The next time she does that, she will forget about the pain, because the reward is so great- to feel that cold cold snow on her swelling gums. 

Maybe that's how God sees us- (putting our hand in the snow) - letting us live through the pain, because the reward is pretty great. 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/jhn.14.27.niv

So even though I didn't get back to my family as quickly as I would have liked - I was with them in a short time, and we went out to eat and enjoyed ourselves! 

And maybe, just maybe - I might have income from this conference I was at. It may not be right away, or even his year. While at the conference, I did learn a lot, though. About the conference topic (farming), about my husband (he's completely capable), and about myself (I'm still shy in these settings). 

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.

Do you ever think about the 'What ifs'?

p.s. Thanks to Autumn Canny of Happy Day Photos for the awesome photos of me and the kids (hubby was working). 

"You matter to me."

"You matter to me." 

The good news was I was offered an interview. I was excited, I was nervous, and I was not used to crowds in the large city downtown area. I can handle crowds- but I do much better  when hubby is with me to guide me through. (Because he's tall and a good driver). 

I guess I've become- or always have been a girl that's never in the center of things. I grew up in a bedroom community of the Twin Cities. Close enough to enjoy the entertainment and fun, but far enough where I didn't have to deal with people all the time.

The interview went well, I thought. The tour was amazing of this organization and the collaboration that happens there everyday. Every corner I turned I saw rows and rows of Macs- I thought I had died and gone to heaven (sorry all you Mac haters- I learned my design skills on a Mac and since then I've always had one). The  skills test was brain draining. I felt like mush. To top it off on the way up there the 'check engine' light came on in the dashboard of my car. Called hubby. What's that mean? 'Uh, it means 'check the engine'? How's your fluid levels?' 

Okay. I can't check it now, going to my interview. Fast forward to after the interview and skills test-  I got out of downtown and got to a gas station- checked the levels of oil, and other fluids- yes, I know where to look- fluids looked okay- within normal ranges, anyway. 

Called hubby again. 

He said go to an AutoZone. 

Siri - 'Nearest AutoZone' 

Back the other direction. Okay. I can do this. I think I can. I totally felt inept to handle my first 'big girl' job. The job that not only pays you money, but benefits as well. 

AutoZone guy plugged the computer into my car and said its an 'oxygen sensor'. Good to know. My car has one of those? (Two, actually) But, safe to drive back home? Yes. Okay. 

Did I mention the borrowed from the library Harry Potter CD got stuck in my car CD player on the way there as well? (It's still In there. I'm waiting for hubby to have time to get it out.) 

Oh, what a day! 

I was emotionally drained and tired and I needed and wanted to get home to my kids. 

Fast forward a week. I get a phone call from the company I interviewed at. They wanted to offer me the job. Oh- did I say I found out it was a night shift position in the interview? My jaw was on the floor. They start all their employees out like that. 

If they had just found me 10 years ago. I would have done it. 

Someone asked me what was the pay they were offering you? I said I didn't ask. I didn't want to live with the guilt of not having that extra income. Being debt free in a few years wouldn't be worth it if my daughter didn't know who I am when I walk in the door late at night. I did that before when my son was about the same age. 

As I was telling someone this story, my son (age 7) was listening and said: "Mom, you matter to me."

I feel like I'm always yelling at him or 'bossing' him around as he puts it. Just trying to be your parent, kid, trying to teach you responsibility. At least a little bit. Trying to teach you to listen to your mother, and a little respect along the way. 

I matter to him. I'm the one responsible for dropping him off at school and picking him up each day. I'm the one who gets him signed up for activities like: 4-H Clover Kids and our local children's theater program. 

I'm the one who tells him to stop picking on his sister, to leave her alone, put her down, stop bugging her! 1,000 times a day. 

I matter to him. 

If I wasn't there to do those things, Who would? Is that fair to that person, who might be busy with their own job and their own life? 

What would happen to my little girl if I had to sleep all day so I could work at night? Daycare. She would only see me a few hours a day. Is that fair to her? Is that fair to my mother's heart?

Have I made the right choice? Yes, I believe I have. Family over career. I've done this many times. 

But what's important in life? Fame? recognition? Money? Being financial stable? 

Or family? Friends? A community that knows who you are? Showing God love to others. Being in the place God put you, for such a time as this. 

“And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4:14b‬ ‭AMP‬‬

http://bible.com/8/est.4.14.amp

8 & 9 month

The time has flown by! Wasn't she just born?

At 8 months old she was crawling- now at 9 months old she's everywhere- into everything. And cruising. Pulling herself up and moving from furniture to furniture. She'll do a few seconds of standing by herself, but then she sits down. Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.

We had about 10 days in January when we had a 7 year old and a 7 month old. 

That was neat. From Jan. 10 - Jan. 20th.

She's smaller than most of her peers, and that's okay. Hubby says she's just perfect. 

As long as she's healthy- does she need to be chunky? Nope.

She likes to be active. Constantly moving, getting into stuff. Super active at 9pm- but even when I was pregnant with her that's when she was kicking hard or having the hiccups! We go to bed around 9:30pm, and she'll come with us then because I know she's had other naps throughout the day.

She's been better about sleeping through the night! Yay! 

Once at 5:30am or even 6am is way better than 3:30 in the morning!

It's not my imagination- this girl has grown! She's moved up to 6 month clothing! It seems like she was in her 3-6 month clothes FOREVER! more cute clothes! Yates said ! I don't think we are ready to move up one more step,yet. But like I was telling another mom friend of mine- every clothing manufacturer is different- some run small, some run huge! I wish they could figure out a standard way of measuring- this is 2015- you'd think they would be able to do that by now! Even women's clothing is all over the map. Why do men get it so easy? 34 waist, 36 height. Easy. But how would you measure a baby like that??

Every baby is different.

She's babbling now: first word was definitely "daddy" second word was "kitty". It's never "mommy" I know it'll come.

I give her 2 months- and she'll be walking. 

I can picture her and her brother running circles around the inside of our house chasing each other. 

My brother and I did that when we were young. 

She'll be walking before her 1st birthday.

What she thought of me taking her photo for 8 months old. 

Growing up way to fast. I forgot how quickly the first year goes by. My sons prayer at every family dinner: 

thank you for the food, thank you for Caroline, I just love her so much.

Sweet boy, I will need to record that and play it back to you when you are fighting with your sister. 

There will be fights. I'm positive, because I'm a mom.

Tell me what you really think, baby girl. 

Taking photos of her and I together

Things she likes/loves: daddy, kitty, mommy, brother, baby food bananas,baby food peas, bottle, puffs, pacifier (that might be hard to break her of), getting into stuff that's not hers!

Things she dislikes: holding still for diaper changes, going into her car seat- although once she's in it, she's usually fine- as long as she's moving! Baby food pears, any mixed foods together, baby food meats (have you smelled that stuff?ugh). Being in her playpen (confinement).

Cruising along furniture, with Save Ottuwma's weekly Post close by. 

Baby wearing at the Soup Cook-Off at my child's school. 

Things she's going to experience in the next month: first airplane ride, first time in the ocean, first time in Florida, first time swimming in a pool- she's been swimming before, but she was really little this summer and wasn't sure of what to do- she really likes splashing in the bathtub, so it should be fun for her now!

9 months? How can this girl be 9 months old already?!? 

We will leave Iowa with a 9 month old and come back with a 10 month old! 

Crazy how in just a few months I'll be planning her 1 year old birthday party!