Camping

Cole has been asking to go camping for a while and it is among the promises I made when I started working. Camping gear isn't cheap and I need creature comforts when I am with my children in the wild. Honestly, I am happy to go without...I just don't want to deal with them going without. I found a camp cabin at a campground about 1.5 hours away. I booked it on Wednesday for Friday night and was thrilled at the prospect.

I immediately took inventory of the must-haves which included bed linens kitchen gear to cook over fire and warm clothes. We were taking Sasha so that significantly limited our space in the car. she takes up half of the back while the boys take 2/3 of the back seat. In the end, We took the cooler stuffed with food and beer, a small box filled with kitchen essentials (1 small stainless steel saucepan with lid, 1 large Calphalon skillet with lid, 1 2-sided cast iron grill pan with griddle), 2 pocket fleece blankets for the boys, bed linens and a quilt, pillows, bedtime buddies, and folding chairs for 4. Phew, it all fit along with the dog, her bed, and her food bowls.

A friend came through by surprise and offered a camp stove which truly was a life-saver. We were able to just fire it up in the morning for hot water and eggs. I used it again on Sunday for bacon and pancakes.

The boys had a great time playing around the cabin and the dog had the time of her life just being there with us and staying outside all day long.

Everyone went to bed well but we had many wakeful moments with the boys together in one bed. The cabin had a fridge and coffee maker along with a television. The beds were a double and a set of bunks. The top bunk rails were spaced so far apart that Cole would fall through so we had them both sleep on the bottom. It worked out okay and we had all of our stuff neatly tucked away under the bed and on the top bunk.

We had an awesome time and cannot wait to go again.

It takes a Village

When I moved away from South Carolina, I knew that I was abandoning my hands-on support network but I was embarking on a journey that would define who I was and establish a new support network - hopefully. I was lucky enough to know when to open my life to friends and I treasure those friendships still.

After Chris and I got married, it was hard to find married friends. It is always so easy to hang with people who are in the same place as you. We met a few couples and found that it is rare to find people who are in the same place as you - there are some true crazies out there.

When I decided to stay at home with my children, I worried again about extending our social circle to friends with children and open schedules. Who would I hang with if I don't know anyone in my community with children? Ugh. Again, I was so lucky to know when it was time to open my life to friends and after I joined MOMS Club, I made some forever friends for myself and my children. I am eternally grateful to my sisterhood of fellow mothers who help to love, care for, and nurture my life and the lives of my children. A few of my friends, in particular, would risk their lives for my children as I would theirs. Truly, that is a gift that cannot be measured. We are a village and I know my life wouldn't be as rich as it is without them in it.

These feelings are always more prevalent when I am made to realize how far away my family is. Chris' parents were here for 10 days (they left yesterday). Having grandparents as near as downstairs was so wonderful for me and the boys. Chris enjoyed having his folks here and the boys loved having Nana and Grandad to play with and entertain. I loved having two very capable and enthusiastic individuals step in and lovingly care for the house, yard, and children with wreckless abandon. It was pure bliss. laundry would be folded, dishes would be done, children would be bathed, happy faces, happy home, happy hearts. They are already sorely missed and they haven't been gone for 24 hours yet.

Living 2000 miles from one set of Grandparents and an Uncle and 500 miles from the other set of Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles could make you feel like you are living on an island - relying on your own devices to coordinate care, balance time commitments, and basically fend for yourself. I live on a peninsula - literally and figuratively - and am so lucky to have a network of friends who are so dear, they feel like family.

Cole and Rhys sing the ABC Song

Soccer!

Cole started playing Soccer this year. These pictures are of his first practice. I must say that our Coach is so engaging and fun that Cole remains interested in the process and seems to really enjoy practices. Rhys also is very engaged in the process as you can see and, dare I say, was quicker to pick up the idea and followed all of the coach's directions. I am also enjoying Soccer more because two of my very best pals have children on Cole's team. This is going to be FUN!

I blame John Lasseter

John Lasseter - the father of the Toy Story Series and Lightning McQueen is the reason that I shed a tear as my very first - just mine, bought for by me - car was carried away on a roll-back truck. Maybe it is afraid because it is being taken away. Maybe it is going to miss me. I am just projecting because it was one thing that made me know that I could be independent. I was really an adult - defined by debt. I bought a car! It was a very happy day for me and I was so proud of that car. Emotions that strong for a lifeless item don't fade completely and as I watched her being carried away on a "stretcher" bound for a future unknown, I was saddened at the prospect. Hopefully someone will give her new life and she won't be quick to the junk yard. I can't bear the thought.

Trust

Here is a conversation we had on the way home from the gym:

Cole: "Oops, mom, I dropped the wrapper on the floor."
Me: "That's okay, Cole, I trust you to pick it up when we get out of the car."
Cole: "What does trust mean?"
Me: "It is when someone does something they said they will do or they are supposed to do."
Cole: "I trust you to buy me a car when I get big."

Is is that time again?

I get into patterns and if I had the interest, I could go through this blog and see it all in black and white. I decide that I have had enough, gotten out of shape, let the house go, let myself go, and want to get it all back into shape right away.

I am really good for about a month and then I decide that things can take a break and so can I. I relax with everything and the first to start showing wear is the house, then my clothes are a bit tight, I find that I need to reel in the spending and the calories.

I cut back - way back - with everything and start fresh again. I am at the point of starting fresh again and find that I am having to explain more and more about why we aren't going to McDonalds, renting a bouncy castle for no reason, or getting smoothies at the gym cafe. We really don't need to spend the money. We really don't have the money. We don't need that. The list goes on and on while my frustration mounts.

I am hitting the gym again and this time I am not going every day. I actually don't want to go every day. If it works out that I am able to...great! If not, I will be happy with a steady 3 to 4 times a week. Everything in moderation is my mantra yet again. Living in excess is starting to show and I can't take it anymore.