- This has been a wonderfully lazy Friday. We haven't done anything which has made Campbell and Keaton pretty stir crazy while it's made me happy.
- Robby never got any word on his test from yesterday which we kind of expected but still a bit frustrated by. Hopefully, we will hear early Monday morning, because we are ready for a few answers.
- Robby had his Dgroup early this morning at ChickFilA. I was the next one up and worked steadily through my list; though today I did save plenty of time to finish my book.
- I have been pretty lax on chores the last two days, but everyone did have to do a day of their summer school today. Next week we start back on normal summer school and chores-we have two weeks at home (only one week for Whitman), and then the others start their camps/mission trips (beach camp for 5, music camp for 2, and then mission trip for 6 all back to back)
- Reagan left first tonight to go to a movie and then to play pickleball, Anderson and Graham were the next to leave for Rock Creek tonight. They had a guys night, but they eventually ended up at ChickFilA.
- While the big 3 were all out and about, I gave the others a slew of supper options-hamburger, roast beef sandwich, pizza, potato skins, chicken tacos, english muffin pizzas-we have quite a few leftovers right now.
- After a bit, we did decide to run to Kroger since ice cream was on sale. Campbell was the one pushing for mint ice cream so she was happy. While we were there, Keaton convinced us to buy peaches-the first two that she has cut into have been bad so that was disappointing.
- The others are all out and about still, but the rest of us, except Keaton, are about to dig into the ice cream.
June 14, 2024
June 13, 2024
- Robby had his gallbladder dye test this morning. It was a lot of laying around for him so the test wasn't bad even though it was a little bit long. He was able to have his phone and do work during most of it. They have now looked at his gallbladder every which was possible so hopefully tomorrow we will know the next steps. He did get some more pain pills today-and even stronger ones.
- While he was gone, I slept a little bit longer and then went to town on my to do list. I like having a list, but I like it more when I cross things off. I had a about 300 things on my list-not really, but it felt like that. It must have been a decently long list since I wasn't able to tackle much of my book today.
- The camper is back in order after our trip, the camp things are put away and ready for the next trip, and the laundry is folded and put away. During camp, the kids are all different colors so they have colored sunglasses, leis, necklaces, socks, shirts, bandannas, and so many other things that are their colors-most of things won't be used during the year so I box them up so we can go through them next year.
- The kids did little to nothing today. Graham did workout a few times, and Anderson played a game with Whitman. Also Whitman did his school work for the day since he didn't get a day off-the campers did get a day off, and I think that they needed it.
- Robby and I ran to Sams tonight to pick up his new meds. We bought some supper for the kids, and then we went over to the Wilson's house for supper and some visiting. When we came home, we picked up some and now these people are on the way back to bed-though most of them spent most of the day in their bed anyway.
June 12, 2024-Collide Week/Lake Degray
Robby and I took our morning walk before I left for home. We walked around our loop and another loop which is a little over a mile. It is more fun walking around a camp ground than walking around our neighborhood for sure.
He was pretty ready to leave, but had to do some work and empty the tanks before he got on the road. I zoomed on home and started a load of laundry and did a load of dishes. Then I left the house about the same time that Robby was almost home.
The kids were supposed to arrive at 12:30, but it was closer to 12:50. Plus they had to unload all of the things-and my kids jump to help so we didn't head home until around 1:30ish or even later. The back of the surburban is almost not big enough for 5 kids camp supplies.
On the way home, I heard a lot about camp from everyone. I am sure that I will hear a bit more over the next few days though but it sounded like everyone had fun. We came home, and they unloaded their laundry as soon as they walked in the door.
So far today, I have washed and folded 4 loads of laundry, 2 are currently in the dryers, 2 are the washing machines, and I probably have 3 loads of bedding that might have to wait until tomorrow. Pretty much most of the day the kids have napped or been super quiet-Whitman is really the only one who has made any noise-he has spent most of his time in his bedroom with her brothers because I think that he has missed them for sure this week.
Robby and I ran to pick up some Arbys for supper. So when we did come home, everyone was awake to grab something to eat. I am sure that even after their naps, they will all sleep well tonight.
I think that there were about 1000 pictures today that I had to week through from the camp photo circle. Those pictures were put up from all of the workers, but then a few minutes ago Reagan sent me her photo circle-of almost 1000 pictures that she took herself! It was a little bit overwhelming, but I am thankful to have some pictures from the week. This is why there are a ton of pictures on today's post.
June 11, 2024-Collide Week/Lake Degray
It was another perfect camping day-the weather was again wonderful. We took it pretty easy today. Robby and I did our morning walk, and then he came back to do some work.
Eventually, we moved on to our day's highlight-two of the trails that we have not walked here at Lake Degray. We have not walked all of the trails here. Please don't think that is some huge accomplishment since we walked one of the longest ones today, and it was less than a mile.
We walked the Chickadee Trail and the Blue Heron Trail. I am not sure which one that we did first except that it was our favorite-shorter and in the shade. The second one led us to a grassy area that needed to be mowed. I have found 3 ticks on me, and Bentley pulled a huge burr off of her. We all survived them both though, and it is nice to walk a new trail. If you remember that was my one of my resolutions this year to walk 12 different trails. I think that I am woefully behind on this, but two today is good.
When we came back, Robby did some more work while Bentley and I napped. Eventually, Robby and I set out on another pretty long walk-we did 2.5 miles which is a lot for us and a lot of the dog. Whitman opted to stay in the hammock while we were on that walk.
Tonight we made quesadillas for supper-3 quesadillas was super easy to make, and Robby was even able to eat at the same time as us. Usually, he is still cooking everyone's food as we have to eat in shifts while camping.
After eating, it was the worst part of camping-clean up time. Robby and I packed everything away and came in to start showers. Whitman has had his shower and just finished scooping us all some ice cream.
June 10, 2024-Collide Week/Lake Degray
Today was a perfect weather day-we usually have rain at least at some point on every camping trip, and we did have a few sprinkles last night. That rain though brought in the delicious weather that we had today. This will be the best weather year that the kids have had at camp since it is usually crazy hot and one year it rained quite a bit.
Robby had a few work calls this morning that he did. Then we moved our party to the swimming area. Whitman wasn't sure where we were going and later said that he thought that we were going to the pool. There is no pool here, but he was happy with the lake.
He remembered how to swim and threw the frisbee with me and then the football with Robby-until it bounced off the water and creamed his face. He was fine but was pretty convinced later in the day that he had a dent in his cheek from the incident.
Later in the afternoon we drove to Hot Springs to eat at Rocky's Corner pizza. The best thing that we had was the fried ravioli. The pizza was okay-we haven't yet found the perfect out to eat pizza. This was supposed to be thick crust, but other than the crust, it wasn't very thick at all.
We then drove to Ouachita State Park to check it out for next year's camping trip. We were surprised that Degray is nicer and larger. We don't think that we will be able to stay there since there was not any cell service that we could get there. Robby needs to be able to work so that is not an option. We didn't get a stamp from there or anything, so we will have to come back next year and do a trail or something so we can officially mark it off of my state park visiting list.
We came back to the camper and went on a walk with Whitman. He had not joined us on any walks yet. Then we started a campfire-a campfire is the reason that Whitman loves camping. He had helped me gather wood yesterday so today we were ready. Robby even let him use the little blow torch.
We sat around the fire, made smores, and enjoyed the evening-then we went in! It was a perfect day and a very perfect evening.
June 9, 2024-Collide Week/Lake Degray
So let's begin with a Robby update: he is still in pain, but the pain pills help. I'm beginning to think that maybe it could be a kidney stone, and since I had mine I have heard that ChickFIlA lemonade is a miracle cure. I couldn't try to convince him to get some today since there is no ChickFilA here, and it is Sunday, but maybe tomorrow.
Despite his pain, we have been on two walks and gotten a bit of vitamin D in the sunlight so maybe those things will help as well. Plus we have gotten some good sleep-we all slept until after 8 this morning. For some reason, I did have to get up and go to the bathroom like 5 different times last night-I had my own Sonic drink on the way down here plus quite a bit of water-but each time I was happy to see the clock still showed I had plenty of time to sleep.
Whitman slept until after 10 this morning. Robby and I had a walk, but it was pretty warm. When we came home, we went to do some mystery shops. Whitman got lunch out of the deal, and I enjoyed driving around Gurdon where I had to come a few days a week to work in a school during college.
We then drove through OBU-we didn't see any of our campers, but we weren't really looking for them. They have a website where people post photos from camp, and there have been over 500 pictures posted today so I have seen quite a bit of my people. Actually, I think that Reagan is in only one of those pictures, and I barely saw Graham.
For supper tonight we had pancakes and egg in the hole. We cooked inside even though we had spent a good bit of time outside today. Whitman even spent at least an hour in the hammock today. Our campsite is perfectly shaded which is very nice-though it still was a little warm.
Our plan was to go to another ranger program tonight, but the wind kicked up about when we were to leave, so we decided to just stay in. Robby is in the shower, so when he is done, I bet we will watch some tv and then call it a night.
June 8, 2024-Collide Week/Lake Degray
This morning Robby and I ran to get gas in two of the cars-actually, the cars that we aren't planning on driving the next few days. He dropped off leftover potato salad and slaw at his mom's house while later in the day, I dropped off more at my mom's house. We even brought a tiny bit on this trip for us to eat.
There is such a difference in children-today the high schoolers left for Collide at noon. Anderson and Graham were ready to leave, and they actually probably loaded their luggage into the car at 11. Meanwhile, Reagan, who is very excited about camp as well, was in no hurry to leave. She asked to leave the house at 12:30-even though they were supposed to arrive at noon.
When I went upstairs to hurry her some more, she was just zipping up her suitcase. She was in no hurry, but it didn't seem like many people were in a hurry either because when I dropped those three off, we were just about the only people there.
Two hours later, I dropped off Campbell and Keaton, and again we were there right on time, and no one was there. Now, I did walk the kids in to the church house, but I didn't stay long at all. The buses had not even arrived either time that I dropped the kids off, so of course I missed taking a few picture (though I have been sent some), but I sure am not going to wait that long!
This is Whitman's last year not to be able to go to Collide. When I asked him tonight if he would go next year, he said "maybe not." I think that he will go, but I also think that he sure enjoys hanging out with Robby and me.
After dropping off the kids, I headed to Lake Degray and Robby and Whitman were right behind me. I checked us in and I also signed us up for a golf cart safari. It didn't take us long to set up camp-though it was super hot during all of our set up.
Robby and I then sat in the shade and had our selves a super relaxing time-I think that we both even had a short nap. We then made english muffin pizzas in the air fryer for our supper. Robby had thought about cooking, but it is a little bit warm so we opted for indoor eating.
At 9, our golf cart safari started. We were able to snag the 2nd and 3rd carts right behind the ranger. It was dark out there without lights on the golf carts so I stayed right behind the ranger. We were able to see a green tree frog, skunk, toads, and deer. It was neat and we spent the whole hour driving on the golf cart path.
Now we are back in the camper fighting the bugs that flew in when we came inside. I'm about to have my shower and then read a little bit.
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