October 15, 2026: The Month of Camping-Trip 3

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I could hear Keaton and Campbell's alarm going off above my head this morning as I was moving around in the kitchen. I had been up for a little bit, but I still moved pretty slowly. I did realize that not having the dogs at home in the mornings saves me at least 20 minutes. I do miss them when they are gone....a tiny little bit.

Keaton and Campbell left for work, and then Whitman and I started on school. We did our morning reading, and then he started on his work. While he was working, I made some muffins for Anderson. He had text yesterday mentioning how much everyone enjoyed my pumpkin muffins if I wanted to bring some more down this time. Of course, I made that baby some muffins.

Whitman finished school (most of it) around 1 so we started moving pretty quickly and headed towards Degray. Campbell and Keaton finished MDO early so they headed to buy flowers. It was senior night so Campbell made a beautiful bouquet for Graham to give to Brooklyn. 

Anderson was even in Little Rock for a little bit tonight. I do find it funny that when we are in Arkadelphia, most of my kids manage to make their way to Little Rock. I'm only kidding since we will see both of them at least once this weekend plus fall break is next weekend, and I think that everyone is coming home except for Reagan.

This evening, I read some, did my sticker book, and even sewed a little bit on a lamp while listening to a book. There is nothing better than camper living. Whitman and I tried to make a German star, but that project failed. Robby and I took a few walks as well plus we have already had our ice cream for the night.

October 14, 2026: The Month of Camping-Trip 3

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• I was the first one awake this morning. I immediately let the dogs potty because I was just sure that it was going to start raining any second. However, it never rained here until much later in the afternoon. When it did rain, it was for just a little bit. 
• Whitman and I started on his school work. Now, don't tell him, but I just keep ordering school work for him. There are so many neat options, and bless him-he will be doing school all summer. I will have to control myself and stop ordering things.
• Keaton and Campbell were both home this morning too which was a bit different since they have been gone more lately during the school day than they have been here. I think that because they were both here, Marley was a little bit wild. She spent a good deal of time this morning in her kennel. She doesn't mind, and it is difficult to do school when someone is biting your arm.
• Soon it was lunch time, and Robby and the puppies left for Degray. I know that he has taken them on a long walk trying out the double leash, so I'm sure that Marley is pretty calm now since she is exhausted.
• Campbell had a midterm this afternoon, and while she took her test I did a little bit of cooking. And all too soon it was time for church tonight. I ran to Amber's to drop off some food before going to church. I arrived early enough that I could sit in the car for a while before going in, and it was super nice.
• After church the girls went to ChickFilA while Whitman and I just picked up our free sandwiches. I have everyone do some chores tonight, and Whitman even did a science experiment. Now, I think that I'm heading toward the bed!

October 13, 2026

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• Campbell had work this morning so she left a few minutes after the rest of us started school. Whitman and I read this morning-today in forensics we are reading about handwriting so we read and compared handwriting samples from JonBenet Ramsey's ransom note. School can be interesting on some days.
• Whitman, though, must not have thought that the rest of school was interesting because he moved pretty slowly. He did get everything finished eventually today. Keaton did quite a bit today because she had school work from today and yesterday.
• Campbell did her work when she came home today. Plus she took a few sections of the act. That girls can do awesome on her practice tests, but she still doesn't know the tests out of the park yet. I keep telling her that the goal is to just do a bit better this time than last.
• Campbell and Keaton ran some errands this afternoon. Keaton had a long list of birthday presents to buy for her upcoming parties, so Campbell quickly offered to drive her. This was good for me because I was able to do a few things around the house while they were gone. Plus Whitman and I finished a game that had taken us forever-and the game was so hard that we really didn't even enjoy it anymore.
• I had a shower this evening, and then I headed to Candice's house. Everyone brought appetizers, and it was nice to hang out and chat all evening long. I was still chatting when I came home tonight because I was in the living room talking away for another hour before I headed towards bed. 

October 12, 2026

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• Spending a weekend in the camper sure is nice, and even though I love our house and our routine, I think that I would rather be camping. The plan this morning was for Campbell to take Keaton to her babysitting job, and then Campbell would go to her babysitting job. However, when I was checking to see if they were awake, Campbell's job got pushed back by 30 minutes, so I took Keaton.
• That was fine though because it did get me out of the bed. I was back in plenty of time to do most of my early morning list. Then I started school with Whitman. He probably doesn't like days when his sisters are gone because it is quiet and all my focus is on him. 
• He finished his school at a decent time this afternoon, and I had done most of my things by the time the girls started arriving home. I ran to Nonna and Pops' house to pick up shoes, and they told me about their new fridge. When I came home, Robby left to pick up Keaton while I helped Campbell with the last of her school. 
• Afterwards, It was nearly 5 so some of us snacked on leftovers that Robby brought home. Then I ended up working on a craft project-the craft project was supposed to be for Campbell, but she had no interest while I did. I might just do all of her other un-done craft projects as well. 
• Now, I'm on the couch with the dogs and Robby. I'm thinking of getting some hot chocolate, but I'm not sure if that will make me too hot-maybe if I lose my blanket and jacket it won't.

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?