April 18, 2024-Adult's Only Camping Trip

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Robby started our camping trip last night in Maumelle so he woke up there while the rest of us woke at home. I could hear that someone was up fairly early this morning. I thought that it was Whitman, but I couldn't figure out why he would be in the school room so early.

When I did get out of bed, I was surprised to see that it was Anderson awake early. He was already sitting in the living room eating his breakfast and working on his school. No one else was awake, and it took me a while to wake up Whitman and the girls.

Soon we were finishing school for the day, and much to Whitman's disappointment, we even did spelling before lunch. I also took Keaton and Campbell to buy some candy for a birthday party that Keaton has to go to Saturday.

When we were there, Keaton picked her out some candy and Campbell did the same so we left with quite a bag of candy. Campbell decided that she wanted to drive home so she did that-she is steadily improving, but it is just always a little hard to ride as your baby drives a car. 

I soon headed out to Maumelle-and it wasn't long after that that Anderson went to Raymar to paint the fields and get ready for practice tonight. Reagan and Graham also went to Raymar to take pictures tonight so three Dennie kids were earning a pay check this evening which is great.

Last night going to practice, Anderson hydroplaned when he was stopping. It was not a big deal, but big enough for him to come home and tell me. Tonight, Reagan was pulled over for not stopping at a stop sign on the way home (the one at the curve where we kind of check for cars and then just go). Thankfully, she just got a warning, but hopefully both of them learned a lesson over the last few days. However, my heard finds all of this hard to take-again, my babies are driving.

Robby cooked pork chops tonight on the blackstone as well as Hawaiian bread. I did make the mashed potatoes-just from a bag though! We intended to have blueberries and pound cake for dessert, but we didn't get the pound cake out of the freezer so we will just do that tomorrow for lunch. 

We sat around and visited this evening and even walked Bentley fairly late tonight. It is almost midnight, and I am just about to take a shower and settle in to read a little bit. 

April 17, 2024

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• This Wednesday seemed to fly by. I slept in a little this morning, but I was still able to rally the troops and start on school before 8:40 so I definitely call that a win. I think that we just have about 8 days of history left so that makes my heart super happy.
• Everyone finished their work at a pretty decent time even Whitman who now does 2 and a half things from his list before taking a 5 minute break. Some how this works for him, and he manages to finish his school work before 12 or even before 11:30 on some days so I can really not say anything.
• I spent a good deal of time reading this afternoon, plus I tried to do a few things to get ready for next year. I wish that I could be as motivated about house cleaning as I am about planning for school things. I received one book in the mail today, and it just made me so happy. I'm just a book lover and not a mop or duster lover, but maybe someday.
• Soon Robby went to Maumelle Park with the camper and the dog. I'm heading out there tomorrow-it is always the case, but when you are busy, you are just super busy. This weekend we have a jillion and one things happening-even overlapping-so tomorrow, I have to make a schedule for everyone.
• Reagan and Graham came home from work and were only home a bit before Reagan and the girls left again. They went to church early for Reagan's d-group, and my car came next. After church, Anderson and Campbell went to ChickFilA-while they were there, Keaton had Campbell buy her a kid's meal-and bless it if some girl didn't think the bag was trash and put her ice cream in it. Campbell was able to salvage the nuggets and a few fries, but poor Campbell was bothered by this and Keaton was disappointed. 

April 16, 2024

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• This day has just been a little bit uncertain-the silly rain just made things a bit crazy around here. Graham was supposed to go to Raymar this afternoon to help again with pictures during practice. However, pictures were cancelled because of the threat of weather, but for most of the afternoon pictures were still going to happen.
• Reagan was also going to work pictures, but first she had to go to her other job for an hour. Since by this time pictures were cancelled, she even stayed a little bit longer there. Reagan had plans to meet quite a few friends to play pickleball tonight, and she is there now, but the weather made those plans pretty uncertain-and they are probably pretty wet playing this evening. 
• Anderson had to work practice tonight, so even though it was raining here, he headed to the field before it was officially cancelled. He did stay there until practice was supposed to start to tell people that it was cancelled, but once people drove up and saw an empty field, they realized it pretty quickly.
• Keaton would have had her practice tonight, but since it was cancelled she was disappointed. Campbell was also going to go to practice tonight so her plans were changed as well. That was fine though because I used both of them to help with supper tonight-we just had chicken and beef tacos along with cheese dip and black beans for our supper. 
• Everyone ate, and then Reagan left for her outing. The rest of us settled into our spots for the evening. I don't think that tomorrow is supposed to be rainy, but hopefully rain on Thursday or Saturday does not cancel any soccer.
• Robby ran some errands today so I filled up the camper fridge, and I was able to do a little bit of summer school planning. Oooh, I also received a book in the mail that was exactly what I wanted and it was less than 10 dollars. I was thrilled with my bargain.
• Now, I think I am going to eat myself some ice cream tonight or maybe some hot chocolate-it is still kind of hot chocolate weather maybe.

April 15, 2024

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• Our school day was pretty much like most today, except we had people come and give our air conditioners a tune up. I didn't think that this would take long, so three hours later when men were still outside the window or walking around the house, it became a bit odd.
• If they actually did any good giving those air conditioners a tune up, then they should last for a few more years-though now I just jinxed us for sure. I eventually had to fuss at Whitman as he played farting noises on his ipad while the worker man was on the other side of a door.
• School was finished on time around here, and then I did a little bit of work on my computer. Not real work, but at least I was trying to be productive. I eventually started to take a walk, but then I was afraid that the worker men would need to talk to Robby and since he was on the phone, I stayed around the house for a few more minutes-poor Bentley was so confused. 
• Reagan and Graham went work this afternoon, and then they ended up at Raymar to take team pictures. That was good for them since they earned a few extra hours. While they were gone, we took Anderson to get his hair cut.
• Then we went to eat-Robby and I split chicken fried chicken along with baked potatoes, but the rolls! If I could just make Texas Roadhouse Rolls we would never have go out again-actually, I think that there would no reason to leave the house ever again.
• Everyone is back home now, and quite a few of us are on the couch watching a tv show. Campbell and Whitman are having their ice cream, but I am still pretty full from supper.

April 14, 2024

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• Campbell and I had worship care this morning so we missed big church. Then it was Sunday school time. Our children's department had pancakes so that was fun-plus it kept us busy passing out pancakes and all of the toppings for everyone.
• Then we headed to lunch at Nonna and Pops' house. They had bbq along with pink pineapple-which none of us had ever tried before. We ate and visited some before heading home. 
• Robby watched some of the Masters this afternoon, but I just napped. Then it was time for everyone but Whitman to leave the house. I am so looking forward to next year when he has things to do on Sunday nights.
• Graham and Anderson left first for Rock Creek, then Robby and I left with Campbell and Keaton for their life groups-20 minutes away from each other-and finally Reagan left to go to her life group. After Robby and I dropped off the girls, we ran to Arbys to pick up a free sandwich.
• Then we went to Old Navy to buy some polo shirts for the boys since they were on sale today. I bought both of the big boys two different shirts-and dang it, if I didn't buy each of them a repeat shirt. Oh well, I will exchange them hopefully for another color that they might wear. At least I did good with Whitman's shirt that I bought.
• We then picked up Keaton before meeting Campbell since she rode home with someone else-otherwise, Keaton would have been picked up super late so that helped a ton. The boys made it home before we did.
• After dropping off the girls and all of our purchases, we went to the Wilson's house for a few minutes to visit. We stayed there until 10, and now Reagan is on her way home, and I'm going to herd all of these people to bed.

April 13, 2024

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• When everyone went to bed last night, I told everyone to set their alarms. Anderson wasn't awake by 6:30 so I went to his room and unfortunately, was standing over him when he did wake up. Of course, he jumped when he saw me. I do think that helped wake him up though.
• We were out the door before 6:50 this morning. Anderson was the only one working this morning so he certainly used Keaton and Campbell's help. Anderson and Campbell rode around in the gator setting things up while Keaton carried box after box. I sat in the car and read, but after watching Keaton carrying about 20 boxes, I got out of the car to see if I could help do anything.
• By then, Anderson had most things done so I worked on setting up the concession stand. It was warmer today so we didn't sell as much coffee and hot chocolate which is the most difficult thing to do. 
• Again it was a busy Saturday-I guess Anderson clocked over 9 hours today, Keaton and Graham both reffed 3 games, Keaton played her game which again ended in a tie, and Reagan and Campbell both reffed 1 game. When there game was over, the three of us ran home to shower before heading to Star City.
• Keaton opted to stay and play her game today, but Campbell and Reagan came with me to Josh and Kyndall's wedding shower. It was a sweet little shower which we all enjoyed-the girls may have enjoyed seeing Shelley's dog more than the shower though. On our way home, we stopped at the Country Village Bakery to pick up some goodies-Campbell wanted a doughnut and Reagan opted for a apple fritter, and I bought 3 cinnamon rolls for people later. That made everyone super happy on the way home.
• We made it home about the time that the Raymar people did. Tearing down took a bit longer since it was just Anderson and the rest of the family who helped. We were all able to unload, and then most people headed to the shower.
• Robby and I heated up our leftovers for supper with plans to have our cinnamon roll in a little bit.

April 12, 2024

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• Last night, I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I sat up and checked to see where the dog was. Sometimes she lays in the floor or right on the steps to the bathroom so I am always cautious about her location so she doesn't kill me in the middle of the night. I walked to the bathroom and Robby came around the corner out of the door. He was trying not to scare me, but I just about died of fright. I guess that I neglected to see where he was-maybe tonight I will have to check on his location and the dogs before I get out of the bed.
• After waking up this morning, I went right to work on my morning chores. I did a few of those before waking up Keaton and Whitman. They were pretty easy to wake up since they were going to pick strawberries this morning. Last night, as Whitman was going to bed, he asked when he was leaving "to go pluck strawberries."
• I woke Campbell up as well to see if she wanted to drive us there, but she declined. She actually acted like I was waking her up at the crack of dawn instead of 10 in the morning. I dropped off Keaton and Whitman at Nonna and Pops. Then I ran to Walgreens and the library.
• Anderson was downstairs when I came home. I came in the kitchen and unloaded all of the things in my hand. I was about to sit down with my book when I remembered that I had brought the dog with me. I'm sure Anderson thought that I was nuts when I ran out of the house to get Bentley.
• She could have possibly been made at me when I came out to get her. I opened the door and she just sat right where she was. She was in no hurry to leave the car so maybe she was enjoying it instead of pouting.
• Robby and I left soon to go and eat. We ate tons but we also brought home tons of food as well-half of a chicken pot pie, french fries, two buffalo chicken wraps, and half of a salad. Reagan went to town on some of the leftovers tonight. I plan on eating my chicken pot pie tomorrow, but I am still too stuffed for supper tonight-now, we did have some ice cream this evening, but that really doesn't count.
• Reagan and Graham went to work this afternoon. Robby did have to pick Graham up early because he had a birthday party to go to this evening. Anderson and he left around 5 and are still out and about. I know they are having a good time.
• The rest of us have had a pretty quiet evening. Robby and I are watching baseball, and I have done some reading, but I don't think that we have seen any of the kids since I made everyone's supper this evening.