October 11, 2026-The Month of Camping: trip 2

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This morning started our early as I had to wake up Campbell, Keaton, and Whitman. They all were going to church this morning so they had to leave pretty early to get there-especially since Campbell and Keaton were greeting at the doors.

I did go back to sleep as soon as they left. I haven't been sleeping just great because of my shoulder, but I did snooze wonderfully this morning. When I did get up, Robby was already awake, and soon we were starting to work.

He dealt with the dogs, and while he did that, I started working in the camper. It is kind of funny how this trip was shorter but because the kids were with us, we have to do a bit more laundry. I was able to sort and gather some things before we did leave the campground.

I did join Robby outside, and we started working on outside things. Putting things up at the beginning of the trip is much more fun that taking things down at the end of the trip. Robby is leaving on Wednesday to go camping again, and I'm joining him Thursday so it won't be too long until we get to camp again.

We left a few minutes before the Wilsons, and we just seemed to zoom on home. I had my airpods up front with me so I could listen to my book, but I never got around to it. When we made it home, Robby and I started working on unloading the camper.

Some days I feel like it takes a while to unload the camper, and others days it doesn't take long at all. I would bring a load in the house and then work on a few things in the house before going back out to get my next load.

Soon the kids came home from church. They all had a few things to say about church today, but they also told us about packing the shoeboxes this afternoon. Robby and I had just finished cleaning the camper and were steadily working through the laundry, and I even squeezed in a short nap.

Keaton and Whitman's life groups were cancelled tonight, but Keaton ended up going to Sophia's soccer game. Campbell went to her life group tonight while Robby and I went to a Sunday school fellowship. Now, we are all back home getting ready for tomorrow. 

October 10, 2026-The Month of Camping: trip 2

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After waking up this morning, Robby and I walked the dogs for a little bit. Our goal was to try to get them pretty tired because once again we did not leave Marley in her kennel. She still stays in her kennel at home when we leave, but we are gradually trying to leave her out more in the camper. 

Last night she did fine during Tiger Tunes, but that was at night when she was tired. Today, we knew we had to keep her up because the ball game would be a long while to be free range in the camper. The game was pretty nice-the weather was perfect, and we stayed in the shade the entire time....well, the entire time that we were there. The sun was coming at half time, and that is when we left.

We were able to see Anderson and Graham at the ballgame. Anderson came up and talked to us for a bit. He could only stay until half time because he had to get ready for the after Tiger Tunes party tonight. We also saw Graham because he was running a camera so we were able to watch him from a distance. Reagan had been at the tailgate since early in the morning, so she skipped out of the ballgame.

We headed back to the camper, and Lynne came over so Robby could book some flights for her family. We visited for a while before she had to go back to campus. By this time that Razorbacks were on the tv, so we watched some of that. I did take myself a little nap during half time and maybe a bit longer too.

Tony made hamburgers for supper, but Campbell missed supper because she found a ticket to Tiger Tunes and went to the first show tonight. After we ate, we settled around the tv and watched the 8:30 tunes show. We were hoping that the Etas would win because we really thought they were the best when we saw them in person. However, the EEEs looked really great on the tv, and they won the whole thing tonight with the Eta's coming in second. Graham's group got 5th place which isn't too bad at all plus his group won some other award. 

I know that they all had a great time doing tunes, but I also know that they are all exhausted. Hopefully this next week they can catch up on their sleep and possibly catch up on their grades a little bit too!

October 9, 2026-The Month of Camping: trip 2

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This was a very fun day. We started the morning with breakfast. Robby made chocolate chip pancakes and egg in the holes while Tony had biscuits, bacon, sausage, and hashbrowns. It was all delicious, and we ate enough to cause us to not need lunch.

We walked the dogs for a little bit, and then we left for Ouachita. We found a parking spot, and then we found all of the kids. It took us a bit to find Graham, but it was nice to see everyone. We visited for a while, took some pictures, and stopped at the book store. 

Our next stop was Sonic for drinks for everyone. When we got back to the camper, we sat outside and started to play Mahjong. We played Mahjong and ate snacks most of the afternoon long. It was pretty perfect.

We all had to stop to get ready for this evening. Robby had already taken Keaton to the Lodge to meet Grannymom. Keaton is spending the night with Grannymom, and Nonna, Pops, and Jason are also all in the Lodge tonight.

Soon they all arrived back at the camper for our supper. Robby and I had chicken and beef tacos for supper. We, of course, had way too much but here's a note to next year's Robby and Tara (heat the meats up in a crock pot and not the griddle-it will be much easier.)

After eating, we cleaned up, changed clothes, and headed to Tiger Tunes. Anderson's group went first, and Reagan is also a sweatheart for his group so she was in that performance as well. (Actually, the Ettas weren't really first, but they were the first ones that mattered for us.) They were pinatas and did spectacular. It was a cute show, and maybe I'm bias, but I think they might just win. 

And let's talk about my children tonight-we aren't really sing, dance, wave your arm around type of people. However, Anderson was having the time of his life singing and dancing on the stage tonight. Reagan has swinging a bat at the pinatas while she was grinning ear to ear. And Graham, later in the evening, was dancing and even had a speaking part. Watching them have the best time was what made Tiger Tunes so fun for us.

Next up was Reagan's show. They were chickens, and though I'm not really clear about what their show story was, their costumes and choreography was really good. Graham was in campus ministries, and their show was Exodus so they were Israelites. It was neat, and even though they haven't won any awards, I think that their show was one of the better ones (because there were a few that were not that great at all-I tell the girls often "there are things that we speak, and things that we speak"-maybe I should take that advice and speak less.)

Anderson's group won 3 awards tonight while Reagan's group won 2 so they both have good chances of winning. When Tunes was over, we found everyone in front of Cone Bottoms and took quite a few pictures. It was a pleasant evening and was fun to see the kids with their friends.

It was after 11 when we made it back to the camper. We took the dogs on a little walk, and now we are getting ready for bed. Tomorrow will be a little slower....maybe?

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!