October 8, 2026-The Month of Camping: trip 2

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This was a normal Thursday morning-the girls went to work, and Whitman and I started on school work. I was telling Robby about all of the forensic science books that Whitman and I are reading in the mornings. I find it all much more interesting than he probably does. 

While the girls worked, Whitman finished school; well, he finished most of school. Robby did some work, some packing, and some errands. I tried to be as motivated around the house as I was last Thursday, but I was not, so the house won't be as perfect as it was when I came home Sunday night. 

Our goal was to leave around 1:30, and I think that we were pretty close. Bentley figured out that something was up, and she wouldn't really let me out of her site. She didn't want to miss her chance to get in the camper. When we did leave, the dogs were perfect-Marley has become a really good traveler. (Now, she still jumps, bites, and chews-but at least while we are driving she just sleeps.)

Of course, Whitman is a much better traveler-he is probably the best of all the kids. He found his spot in the camper when we left, and he was still sitting there when I made him get ready for bed. Now, he had been up to make his supper, but I think that was it. 

Robby and I had supper with the Wilsons at the fish place nearby. It was better than I thought that it was going to be. The hush puppies though were not normal round crunchy hushpuppies. They were good, but they weren't really what we were hoping for-we kind of feel that hush puppies are the best part of eating fish.

We then came back to the campground and walked the dogs before settling in front of Tony's tv outside to watch the Cowboys game. The game was pitiful, but the snacks were great, and we even had a table full of snacks.

We visited until the Tiger Tunes results came in-Reagan's group won 2 categories tonight while Anderson's group won 3. Graham's ground didn't win any tonight or last night, but I'm sure he is still having fun. Layne was there tonight and yelled at him and he said that he heard her!

We got into the camper around 11, and it took a bit to get everyone's beds ready. However, now I'm about to take my shower and head to bed myself.

October 7, 2026

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• We started our morning off with school work. Keaton did have a babysitting gig today but it fell through which meant that she made more time for her school work. Campbell had math work to do along with everything else, but she managed to finish most things.
• Robby spend a good deal of time this morning in the kitchen making cookies for this weekend. I did some packing as well, but gracious I took clothes to the camper without really thinking that I left quite a bit of clothes in there from last time. Currently, I have more clothes in the camper than I do in my closet.
• This afternoon Campbell went to work, but she was able to come home a little bit early. This was a good thing, because tonight at church was dress like your parent night. Campbell pretty much nailed it. She dressed up like Robby, and she even managed to make to the choir to show off her outfit. 
• Keaton and Whitman opted to not dress up. I also opted not to dress up because this was also dress like your kid day at church. I stayed down in the children's department doing my thing. 
• Tonight after church, all of the kids went to ChickFilA, and Robby and I did too. We, mainly Robby, was helping a friend plan a trip while we ate. It was fun to visit for a little bit and talk about travel. When we came home, Campbell and I worked on a little bit of math before calling it a night. 

October 6, 2026

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• I got a text this morning asking if Keaton could come to work at church with Campbell this morning. I wasn't sure if she would want to because she babysat all yesterday and had to do school last night. 
• I asked, and she said yes, so Campbell and Keaton were both gone all morning. (Keaton has just now got herself a babysitting gig for tomorrow late morning and early afternoon so once again she will be scrambling to get her school work done. She does manage though thankfully.)
• Right now, Campbell is being productive as well-she is painting her self portrait for her art class. She has to scramble around to get all of her school work done just like Keaton does. 
• Since Whitman was the only one home working this morning, I went on a walk while he did his school work. I was also able to reload the camper to get things ready for later this week. These camping trips are rolling around pretty quickly (we have one the next two weeks!)
• When the girls did make it home, I helped them finish up their school. Then Whitman and I worked on finishing a puzzle/game. I'm not sure that we are ever going to figure it out. 
• But we have figured out a potato soup recipe. What I love about this new recipe is how easy it it-we even made it tonight to eat even though Robby isn't here this evening. The girls and I are in the living room watching Dancing with the Stars, and I'm contemplating getting hot chocolate!

October 5, 2026-The Month of Camping: trip 1

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Since I came home last night, Robby and the puppies were the only ones camping today. They took the morning easy and after a few walks, started breaking down camp. Robby did some work and stayed almost until check out time.

When he came home, I had gone to pick up Keaton so Robby unpacked most of the camper himself. It wasn't too much because most things are staying put until next weekend is over. 

My morning started early taking Keaton to babysit. It is a pretty good gig, and she enjoys it. Though today, she did call Campbell trying to figure our how to unbuckle the kid outdoor swing. I was afraid for a few minutes that I was going to have to drove over there to unbuckle the kids; however, she figured it out and all was well.

While she was gone, Whitman, Campbell, and I did school. It wasn't too bad for a Monday morning. Campbell had work this afternoon, and I had a doctor's appointment. I am now actually looking for a new doctor! Ha!

After waiting for 40 minutes in the waiting room, I was able to see the nurse practitioner. She is always nice, and I do like her. However, in May she wanted me to send in my blood pressure numbers which I did. They were a bit high, and I neglected to follow up. I came in today because my blood pressure was high. 

When we started talking, I asked her if she did receive my numbers from May. She said that she did and she told her someone to message me to take 1 and a half of one of my blood pressure pills. She quickly saw from my facial expression that I did not get that message. So today, I wasted half of my day plus I will have to pay for a doctor's appointment that I wouldn't have had to come to if someone had followed through and got a message to me. It was a wee bit frustrating to say the least.

I was home just long enough to work with Whitman this afternoon before I left to go and pick up Keaton. Then I came home and helped Robby unload a few things. We then headed to the store to buy a few things for next week plus quite a bit of cleaning products-I was out of oxiclean and have a whole host of things to wash. 

We came home, and I helped Campbell dye her hair. I have not heard a result yet, so that update will be tomorrow. Speaking of hair, Anderson's head was shaved today for a fund raiser at school. I think that he looks pretty handsome-plus it reminds me of when he was little bitty!

October 4, 2026-The Month of Camping: trip 1

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Robby and I were up early so we could head home to get ready for church. We were able to get ready at church and wake up Whitman and Keaton. Even though we left a bit early, Robby had to run to 2 different gas stations. He did drop us off on the way so we were able get into the church house on time.

I had worship care, and gracious those little babies were all heavy today. My bad shoulder is even worse tonight! After church, we had our Sunday lunch at Grannymom's house. She had roast and potatoes which we had not had in a long time.

We visited for a while, and then we came home. We changed clothes and got the dogs before heading back to the campground. This afternoon we sat around and talked with the Wilsons and took the dogs on a few short loops. 

Then it was supper time-Tony and Shannon heated up all of the leftovers, and everything was still very good. The bugs were not very good tonight-there were tons of gnats everywhere. Thankfully, we have a bug light in the camper so the 100 or so that got in the camper quickly met their maker. Plus those that didn't, I sprayed with bug spray.

I decided at the last minute to come home tonight because Keaton has to go and babysit super early in the morning. I came in the house and started talking to the girls, and since then I haven't really done anything else. I should be getting a few things done to get ready for tomorrow, but that my not happen. 

October 3, 2026-The Month of Camping: trip 1

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Robby and I slept pretty well last night thought I did wake up a few times. Once I did have trouble going back to sleep, but that mostly stemmed from not being able to pull the covers around me because Marley was hogging my blankets.

We took a short walk with the dogs before joining the others for breakfast. Tony and Shannon has all of the breakfast items ready to go next door so we showed up at just the perfect time. Soon after that, I started playing mahjong, and that is pretty much what I did for the rest of the day.

Robby and Tony ran to Walmart, and while they did that I walked the dogs separately. However, other than that it was mahjong all day long! And it was nice-though I did tell Robby that I think I have almost played enough for a few days. I definitely won't need to play any games on my computer tonight!

This afternoon Robby and I walked the dogs for a little bit over 2 miles. Then we came back in and had a short nap. After that, it was time to join the others for supper. I had made potato soup, and it was pretty good. My favorite soup tonight was the white bean chicken chili. 

We watched the ballgame while we were eating supper. The ballgame didn't go well, but that was fine because they were not playing at home, and we couldn't win any chick fil a. When we had had enough of the ballgame, we went on the walk and made it back to the camper around 9. 

October 2, 2026-The Month of Camping: trip 1

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I woke up a few times last night with it lightly raining, and it was pretty perfect. Though when I finally did wake up to go to the bathroom it was 7, and it was still raining. We were able to lay in bed for a good while-Robby was having to work though.

Then we did get up to take the puppies on a walk. They were both being very patient, and Bentley could have stayed in the bed quite a bit longer. We walked about a mile, and then when we came back we started waking up Keaton and Whitman.

It didn't take them long to get ready. We then drove around Pinnacle, and Keaton and I ran in the visitor's center. Next we stopped at a post office to mail off some packages before driving by 7 Brew for Keaton a drink. Finally, Robby and Keaton picked up their birthday bundt cakes. 

Then at home, we dropped off the kids and started a load of laundry. I think that Keaton and Whitman were looking forward to a quiet night, but Campbell came home for a bit after work and Graham is also home for the night too. 

Campbell has been searching for a dress for homecoming for a few weeks now, and today a dress came that she likes! She sent me a picture of it, and you can tell by her smile that she is pleased! She also had a paycheck at the house so of course she was going to stop by. Graham is home for a concert tonight, and then he will see Brooklyn tomorrow before going back for more Tunes practice. 

When we made it back to the campground, I soon found myself playing Mahjong. I played quite a few games this afternoon and never once won! But I had a lot of fun! Soon supper preparations started happening despite the misty rain. Hopefully, there will not be any rain tomorrow.

Supper tonight was loaded fries which I ate way too many off. I did start on my sticker book today, but I didn't finish a picture nor did I read much of my book. There is always tomorrow though.