Dennie Family Trip to Atlanta: June 14, 2017

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The boys were the first ones awake this morning and their big dilemma was deciding if they wanted to play their ipads or not. The debated about their little bit of playtime decreasing the battery life for the car trip. They opted for the xbox upstairs and were racing away when we finally called them and Reagan down to get moving.

I had to wake up Campbell and Keaton up but Whitman definitely did not need to be woken up. He was so excited that this was finally Atlanta day. It didn’t take him anytime to get his clothes on and breakfast eaten. Soon everyone was getting ready-I was braiding Reagan’s hair, Graham was vacuuming, Anderson was folding towels and everyone was looking for lights to turn off.

We backed out of the garage at 9:05 and stopped to get gas before picking up Grannymom and Grandpa. We listened to our book on tape as we headed to their house. The kids spent that time getting their area all comfortable for the 7 and half hour drive that was ahead of us. With the addition of Grannymom and Grandpa, the seats and packing are still pretty much the same.

Keaton is scooted over a seat so we have room for their luggage but Campbell and Keaton still have an empty seat between them and we do not have our drawers in the car but don’t really need them since we will just be driving there and then back.

Traffic was pretty heavy due to construction so before we were to Lonoke, we had seen license plates from 15 different states. We stopped for a potty stop at McDonalds and I ended up driving through Memphis and on to lunch. We found an Arby’s which makes all of my meat eating children very happy. We devoured sandwich after sandwich along with 4 containers of fries and lots of cheese sticks. It was a grand feast and everyone left happy.

Robby cleaned the windshield while the car filled back up with gas and then it was back on the road. The kids are watching movies on their ipads so all is very, very (strangely) quiet behind me. We zoomed on down the road passing out time with rice krispie treats and popcorn.

We stopped for a potty stop mid afternoon and the car did get progressively more rowdy as ipads began to run out of battery life. The kids are good travelers and our drive to almost Atlanta went very smoothly. We stayed just outside of Atlanta in a town names Villa Rica.

About an hour before our hotel, we stopped at McDonalds for one last potty stop and a dessert stop. Everyone needed one little sweet treat to make the rest of the ride go smoothly. I drove on to the hotel and soon we were checked into our rooms and thinking about supper.

Robby ran to pick up pizza, and we all ate in the lobby. We pretty much devoured 2 pizzas except for the slices that had Whitman’s pepperoni on it. They put a crazy amount of pepperoni on that half and I think it scared our few pepperoni eaters off.

Campbell and Keaton grabbed their clothes and spent the night in Grannymom’s room. The rest of my crew watched a bit of tv before laying down for the evening. As Anderson was changing into his pajamas, he looked at his arm and was shocked to see his arm peeling. One of his arms got a bit sunburned this weekend and he had never seen anyone peel before. He was momentarily frightened!

June 13, 2017

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• I had read a text message wrong on Sunday so when Candice wrote today saying that she would be at the pool at 11:15, I was thrown into a tizzy. I was planning on getting there at 1 so as the kids were getting ready to leave for Nonna's house, I threw bathing suits and lunch in bags and ice chests.
• It actually worked out better so we didn't have to double back and go home but the kids were disappointed when I explained that we would be spending less time in the car this way. They were disappointed because less car time means less time to listen to their book on tape. 
• I dropped everyone but Keaton off at Nonna's house and Keaton and I headed to the doctor. This was a quick check about her getting sick at night occasionally.  She passed her exam today but will get a prescription for reflux meds along with a CT scan. 
• Keaton and I ran back to Nonna's house just in time to watch the kids take brownies out of the even and ice them. Everyone changed into their suits and then we all enjoyed some yummy brownies. 
• We then met all of our buddies at the pool. The kids loved playing with everyone and for the most part everyone played well. Twice during our swimming, the bottom fell out and it just rained and rained. By the time we would move all of our stuff to a dry spot, the rain would stop and the sun would be back out.
• At 2, we headed home. I had everyone help me empty the car and then we started on a bit of packing. The kids love packing their boxes that sit beside them with toys and things for the trip. Reagan is uber organized, Anderson is very haphazardly but takes time to help Whitman, Graham really thinks about what he wants to bring. Now Keaton and Campbell just try to bring everything they can fit in their box. It took Reagan and me 10 minutes to pack their box so that we could close it.
• Soon Whitman was dozing and everyone else were playing outside. They stayed outside until almost 9. They did come in to eat supper briefly when Robby arrived home with supper. Then it was back outside until we finally called them in. 
• It was time for showers and then some last minute chores around here. Everyone is in bed right now and hopefully they all stay there. Whitman joined us around 6 this morning and he takes up most of the bed!

June 12, 2017

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• Whitman crawled into our bed this morning and I laid with him for as long as I could. I finally decided that I should get up and he asked me if it was morning yet. I guess he didn't know that it was morning and that is why he had stayed in my bed so long.
• Anderson and Reagan were already awake this morning. I couldn't believe that Graham was still sleeping this morning. Soon everyone was awake and I was telling them about their list of chores on the kitchen table.
• Graham and Reagan went right to work and after I finished a few chores, I started packing with the boys. By noon, my packing list had gone to 6 pages to 3 so I felt pretty good. Good enough to start lunch but when I looked around, I couldn't find many kids in the house.
• Keaton did show up and she was hungry so she made her lunch while I worked on Whitman's lunch. Everyone else must have been hungry too because they all trickled in before too long.
• At 1:30, I jumped in the car with Reagan and we headed to the dentist. She needed a small filling and that girl was so relieved when she ended up getting laughing gas during her filling. Afterwards, I did tell her that this would be the last time I paid for laughing gas!
• When she was finished, we ran to look for shoes and picked up a few things at Walmart. Then Grandpa helped me work on a few picture frames (six actually) for the living room. It didn't take too long and it just needs a bit more work. The next step is figuring out what size picture I want on the frames.
• Then it was home to help Robby with supper. The kids picked up while we worked on the quesadillas. After supper, we made our travel rice krispy treats. When we had made two batches, I jumped in the car with Whitman and Anderson.
• I had bought Anderson shoes which were too tight and looked at a few places today and the boy definitely needed some before this weekend. We were in the Nike store for about 5 minutes-we found what he wanted, tried them on, moved up a size (boys size 7) and then checked out. I like shopping with my boys-they don't take anytime.
• Back at home, I helped Robby work on the garage while some of the kids played outside. We did end our evening with ice cream since we missed last night's ice cream truck. Then it was bedtime for everyone. For the last few nights, Whitman has been afraid of the "darkness." It makes for eventful bedtimes but I do think that everyone is quiet right now!

June 11, 2017

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• Robby and I were in the bed still this morning when he looked at the clock a second time and mentioned that we had to leave in 20 minutes. After hearing that, I was quickly up and headed to wake up the crew. I walked by and didn't see anyone in the living room which was quite odd. 
• Once I made it to the boys' room, I realized that Graham must have already been downstairs or in the bonus room. I woke Anderson and Whitman and then walked to wake up Keaton and Reagan. Campbell had spent the night with Caroline and I am sure that she was already awake!
• Before Robby was out of the shower, Graham, Anderson and Keaton were all dressed and eating breakfast. I had to yell a few times up the stairs looking for Reagan and Whitman. Robby put on Whitman's clothes while I showered. Soon we were all looking decent and heading to church-amazing what we can do in 20 minutes.
• We picked up Campbell at church and delivered some jelly to my little old ladies. Soon we were leaving there and heading to Grannymom's house for lunch. She had hot dogs and all of the fixings for lunch. Afterwards, the kids played outside some. 
• Back at home, the kids didn't really do anything for much of the afternoon-except lots of mess making. Keaton made cards, Reagan did rainbow looms, Campbell snoozed, Anderson played legos, Graham shot some hoops and Whitman just said "mama? mama?" over and over again.
• We had supper fairly late-late enough that Whitman asked for more to eat! We did a bit of picking up and Reagan and Whitman packed for our upcoming trip so tomorrow will be more packing! Lots more packing!

June 10, 2017

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• I woke wide awake at 6 this morning which was not exactly my plan. Thankfully, I was able to go back to sleep until someone came and laid in bed with me. I thought that it was Keaton but later figured out that it was Campbell. 
• It didn't take too long before the kids started coming in asking for breakfast. I told the girls that they could help me make the cinnamon rolls which was just a ploy to have them leave the boys alone for a bit. Campbell quickly checked the fridge looking for cinnamon roll cans because I could tell her that our breakfast was in the freezer.
• We finished off our first of the freezer meals with the cinnamon rolls. They were delicious and I could take one right now. The kids ate and the boys headed upstairs to play the xbox. I am not really sure what Keaton and Campbell did but I do know that Whitman dumped all of his legos. It was certainly a mess but he stayed upstiars for a good long time.
• Robby and I headed down to the bottom of the yard and worked on the ditch. It didn't take a very long time and only one snake was found. But most importantly, I drove the tractor for the first time. I will say I know why that Robby enjoys his tractor, it is like driving a go cart.
• Once we had picked up our stuff, the kids changed into their swimsuits and headed off with Robby. Reagan stayed back with the neighbors to go swimming with them. I also left the house but ran a few errands and then delivered pizza to the swimmers (a bit later than they had hoped.)
• I grabbed Keaton and chauffeured her to a birthday party in Benton. She had so much fun jumping on the bouncys but after a few hours of swimming and a couple of hours of jumping, she was ready to leave as soon a I gave her the 5 minute warning.
• Back at home, we had a bit of down time-Robby burned some and did some more yard work, I worked on the ever growing mound of laundry and the kids watched some tv. After supper, Reagan came back home and then we were loading up again.
• We don't have many outings that start at 8 but Caroline and Michael's birthday parties were tonight at their pool. So  everyone was excited and Whitman knew immediately that he wants to have his next birthday party there too.
• The kids swam, froze and ate and everyone had a good time. Campbell was thrilled because she was getting to go home and spend the night with the Heltz. Hopefully, she will get some sleep tonight but that is pretty doubtful.

June 9. 2017

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• I knew that we had to leave early this morning so I was up before the sun-ha! Not really! I did wake up and start on all of my laundry from the day before. I had made the kids changed their clothes yesterday before going to VBS yesterday so it made for a bunch more laundry than I like. Thankfully, I knocked the laundry out before anyone but the boys woke up.
• This morning I didn't have to wake anyone up but they were all too interested in their ipads than doing what needed to be done-like brushing teeth, combing hair, picking out their lunch or even putting on their bathing suits. Makes me a bit crazy but I probably should have made them put them down and get to work before playing.
• At a bit before 10, we jumped into the car and headed to the pool. The Heltz met us there and we swam and swam. We even stayed until 2 when more buddies showed up at the pool. By this time though, Graham, Reagan and Anderson had all stopped swimming and were getting fried since they weren't in the water. 
• We made it home around 2:30 and were a bit pinkish. The kids helped me unload the car and then they all headed outside to play with their neighbors. Everyone stayed outside until supper time. 
• Tonight I heated up one of my freezer meals and it was pretty good-we will probably even make it again sometime (I still have one more in my freezer and half left in the fridge.) We had time to change and then it was time for the last night of VBS down the road.
• Keaton and Graham held the flags tonight during the opening of VBS. Then there was a puppet show and the story which was more like a sermon (two sermons actually). The kids were all sitting on the front rows and I eventually had to go and grab Whitman. Campbell was trying her best to help him obey but things were going downhill quickly. I snatched him up and stayed near the front until the sermon was over. I didn't really want to go down to the front to get him but it is such a good reminder to all of my big kids that we will certainly march to the front of the church house to collect them if they are acting foolish!
• Next was song time and the kids did great. Keaton was singing her heart out and doing all of the motions. Campbell, Graham and Anderson were also singing away. Reagan was in the back singing some and Whitman, bless, was on the front row with his hands in his pockets swaying from side to side. He did do some motions and sing surprisingly most of the songs.
• Afterwards, the kids were rewarded with an ice cream sundae bar and it was a big hit. Before ice cream, Robby ran Reagan to the neighbors house to celebrate Hannah's birthday. And after the ice cream, we ran to pick up Brett for the evening and ended up staying at the Wilson's house for a bit.
• Then it was home and I quickly put Whitman to bed. The girls are sitting beside me playing their ipads and the boys are upstairs playing a game. Soon everyone will be heading to bed and I might just get me another bowl of ice cream!

June 8, 2017

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• When I woke up, I gave everyone who was awake a run down of the day along with a time limit on how much longer they could play on their ipads before it was time to get to work.
• I did have to wake up Campbell this morning but she still had plenty of time for her breakfast before it was chore and school time. Keaton was still mad that we didn't have her favorite pop tart flavor at the house and because I wouldn't let her have gold fish for breakfast. I mean really? I did offer her cereal, other pop tarts, toast, waffles, pancakes or a breakfast burrito. If you can't pick something from that line up, then maybe you just aren't hungry.
• Whitman spent most of the morning being read to. I read him 3 books, Reagan read him 2, Anderson showed up next with two more books and I believe that Campbell read to him the entire time I was on the treadmill because she sure hadn't done anything else from her list.
• I did manage to do my treadmill time but when I went upstairs I made it clear that the kids didn't have long and needed to do their chores/school quickly and with excellence. Guess how all of that went? Ha! Campbell spent her time with Whitman reading which is great but she had other things to do-like brush her teeth or put on clothes. Graham "cleaned" the windows so well that they looked worse when he finished. Anderson ran out of time somehow and managed to leave the hardest things on his list undone. It was all fine though because right before the Heltz' arrived, everything was finished or finished again.
• The Heltz and Kennedy came over to play this morning. The kids played inside some but were mostly outside. The neighbors came down so there was just a big party in the yard. The kids trickled in for lunch and were soon asking for popsicles.
• I didn't have enough frozen ones so I did pass out ice cream to everyone. Graham and Anderson wanted to use my good ice cream but I was quick to find the vanilla and chocolate. I love all those kids but I am not sure if I love them as much as Blue Bell. 
• When the Heltz headed home, I told the kids that I would clean inside if they would straighten outside. I also added that if they came in to tattle, did something wrong or just decided to come in, then they would have to help me pick up inside the house-I didn't see or hear from anyone for nearly 2 hours!
• Soon Whitman came in to watch a movie but everyone else stayed outside playing. I eventually had to round up my crew for supper before VBS tonight. They have really been wanting to walk down the road so that is what we did tonight. Robby did come to pick me up so I didn't have to walk home and we even manged to grab supper from Reagan's favorite restaurant, Tropical Smoothie.
• The kids had fun at VBS again tonight. They are always so excited telling us all about the offering. I asked Whitman what the Bible story was about and he told me he didn't remember. I asked if Jesus was in it and he said yes. Then he did add that he was on a boat with his friends. I continued asking about the story going through my memory of Jesus and boat stories-catching fish? making breakfast? walking on water? calming the storm? Apparently, it wasn't any of those so maybe I need to be the one in VBS.
• Once at home, everyone showered and then we spent some time doctoring Graham. Saturday, we knew we were in poison ivy while working but thought that the kids were staying away from it. I guess though he is more allergic to it than Robby so it is on both arms and in his belly button. Hopefully, Anderson's steroid cream can get him fixed up quickly or I might have to take him in. Currently, though I am itching all over just thinking about it.
• The kids didn't have long before it was bedtime this evening. I think that they are pretty tired from the busy week-I know that I am.