Camping Part 2

We like to "train our kids up in the way they should go" HA! Here is my 2 year old learning to hammer tent pegs. Don't worry. The others were carrying wood.

Now, they were calling for a monsoon like storm for our camping trip. Do we cancel? No! Do we go home? No! (ok for one night when they called for possible tornado yes)  We went to Walmart and bought card games to play under the canopy. What is a little flooding to us?

Girls hid in the camper with Nick.

We did come out eventually. Second camping trip and Nick is loving it! Well, he can't complain.

Of course, what is camp without ice cream.

See...he does like it.

Luke eating his mountain pie.

Will eating off of the world's longest marshmallow stick.

Bike rides were fun! Until Daddy's chain snapped and Rachel ran a hole through her back tire. Luke ran away on the bike ramps. But after that, everything was peachy.

Cause I never take a picture of these guys together.

I am awake. At the end of the trip Nick decided that he would only not scream if he was attached to me.My salvation was that my FIL (big Paul if you follow my pics) brought me hot wings. Love him.  If my baby here is faking you out with the whole sleeping like an angel bit-don't be fooled. He likes to be up, his mama- not so much.

And just in case you were wondering....yep- Camping part 3 in a few weeks. Cause we bought a camper people and we are going to get our money's worth. Even if it drowns or kills us.

first days and dirt bikes

It was a big day for little man Luke! Today he had kindergarten camp. He at first told me he was not going to school today. I told he that was an excellent idea! Because the other kids were going to clean and I can always use more help clean. He promptly declared that he was going to school. It was only for two hours.

We pulled into the parking lot and got out. We walked hand in hand on the front sidewalk. I looked down at his huge smiling face. "How can you be in kindergarten," I asked. I felt my throat catch. Not in front of the child! "Luke, can I carry you and snuggle you one time before you start kindergarten?" He looks at me with that smile and those eyes and says "well, you can carry me but no snuggles!" We laughed.

We when got to sign in, Luke was hiding behind my leg. He got his cute hat and I bent down to tell him goodbye. "Still don't want to come home and help clean?" "No!" he laughed. "Be good." All of the other kids were standing on or at the foot of a staircase. My 5 year old dashed over and began to climb up the handrail. I sighed, waved, smiled, and left. I did see a teacher going over to "help" him down. good luck ya all!

After a very long two hours I went to get him. He jumped up and ran over to me. "School is awesome!" They played a game finding a raccoon, read the kissing hand, and of course had snack. He played with some new friends. No he doesn't know their names. But he also swears he never got in trouble. Score one for today! ;)

I liked this conversation we had on the way home...

Me- "So school was awesome today?"
Luke-"Mom, why don't you let Daddy buy me a dirt bike?" Love his line of thinking here...
Me- "What? Because they are dangerous and fast."
Luke- "Do they have brakes on them?"
Me- "Yes."
Luke- "You know..I know how to use brakes."
***Silence***
Luke- "You aren't going to let me get one are you?"
Me- "No."

One day of kindergarten and he is getting smarter and smarter! ;)

Keep going

He was sobbing. Dirt streaked down his face and blood streaming from his knee. And what did his compassionate, loving mother do? "Get up Will. Let's try again." "No! I hate it! I will never be able to ride a bike. I don't care! I am done!" Commence sobbing and walking away.

Now I had a choice here. I could let him walk away. I could let him quit. After all he was having a lot of trouble. He was spending more time on the pavement than on the pedals. But I couldn't. I also knew how bad he felt that he couldn't do this yet. Partially my fault, as I had never bought him a bike because there was no place to ride. Then he discovered that all his friends were riding and he..couldn't.

I knew this was hard for him. I also know lots of things are going to be hard that you can't quit. For me, this was becoming less about staying up on two wheels and more of a lesson I remembered learning myself. I once was stuck in the middle of a cliff. Ok...maybe not a cliff, but it was a high rock. We were rock climbing for a training for summer camp. I was screaming "No! I hate it! I will never be able to climb this rock. I don't care! I am done." And I had a friend who refused to lower the rope. "Nope. Not done. You are done when you climb over the top of that ledge." He told me he would wait here all day. I knew he would. He encouraged and told me where to put my feet. Finally, I pulled myself over the top. I did it. That feeling of victory is what I wanted for my son.

I told him to get back here and get on the bike. I grabbed the back of his bike and ran beside him. I "ignored" his tears and begging. A couple of times we both tumbled and it truth be told I started to wonder myself. What if he doesn't get it? Soon, my husband came to the rescue. He took my son and began to talk with him and run beside him. I went into the kitchen to get supper ready. After about a half an hour they called me out. Will was doing better. He was staying up for a few pedals before crashing to the ground. It was a small victory for the day.

Day by day Will started to go out on his own. Trying and falling....but getting up. Trying again. I have to say I was more proud of him each time he picked his bike off the ground than when I finally saw him riding. Free of training wheels, peddling his heart out, and smile wider than I had ever seen it. He did it. "Look at me mom!" he shouted as he raced through a mud puddle.

As a matter of fact, he is now so good that this weekend at camp he was at the top of a very large hill and was ready to go down. "Umm..Will that is too high." "Let him go," my husband said. "But he will get hurt." "Let him go." So I did. I held my breath as he came down the hill, hitting bumps, scooting all around, and then landing on the bottom with a big smile on his face. Let him go.

I hope we both learned something. I want him to remember to never let go. If you want something, go after it. It is ok to fall. In falling we learn. But get back up. Keep fighting. Keep trying. I need to let go. Remember myself that it is ok to see him fall. Okay to see him get up. Because his success makes it all worth it.

So..you say it is almost August??

What have you been doing? I looked at my writer and saw it has been 10 days since I wrote. I wondered what I had been doing.
Attended Demi reunion... I must say we are one awesome family. ;) LOVE this every year.

Great Grandma holding the youngest Demi. Nichoas Paul.

 Played Bacci for the first time ever.

Church picnic

Train rides

Climbing giant rocks that makes mommy very nervous

Danced in the rain at home

Got professional pictures taken

Went camping - Part 2

sweet boys

playing...during the rain monsoon

ice cream!

playing in the dirt

loving the bike

MY BABY TURNED ONE MONTH OLD!!!

Plus there was VBS, miniature golf, putting up trampoline, not sleeping more than 2 hours at a time...we have been busy. I also have had many thoughts tumbling in my head that I hope to write soon, but for now- cute baby pictures. Feel free to ooo and awe. I do.

"Seriously mom? Enough already...."

perfect

Rachel- "Mommy, where did you go tonight?"
Me- "Bible Study."
Rachel- "What is that?
Me- "Kind of like church."
Rachel- "Do you sing a lot there?"
Me- "No, we don't sing. We read and learn how to become better wives and mommies. I guess we learn more about Jesus."
Rachel- "I don't get it. But you are a perfect mommy. How can you learn how to become better when you are already perfect?"


Is it any wonder why this is my favorite child....just kidding. Sort of

Luke

I have said it before and before, but I will say it again.

I love you Lucas Scott. Truly I never knew what was missing until you came into my life. You bring joy and laughter. Sure, a few more messes and sighs. But you remind what it was like to be a kid. A curious, excitement seeking kid. Although that curiosity and non-stop energy keeps us all moving, I can't imagine this journey without you.

Thank-you Luke for being you.

My Luke when he was 2...he turned 5 today...wow...sigh....*tear*

fireworks and campfires

I have never been a big fan of fireworks. I am not sure why this is. I mean I like them ok and all, but I wouldn't go out of my way to search them out. As a matter a fact, Scott took the kids out on the porch to watch our local ones while I stayed inside with the baby. They are beautiful and all. Loud and sparkly. Make a big splash if you will. But they fade so quickly. Just when you look and say wow- it is gone. Not even enough time to really take it all in.

You know what I like? Campfires. Or backyard fires as the case could be. I could stare at a camp fire forever. So beautiful. So changing. I always comment that I am a professional fire starter. The way I figure it, if you were paid to do something, you are a professional. When I was a summer camp counselor with Jumonville, I was trained and paid. So I am a professional.

However, my husband thinks that making fires is mans work. *insert gruff Tim Allen Tooltime laugh* But it drives me crazy to just sit there. I am always so nervous that it is going to go out...and then you have to start all over it. My husband often likes the burning coals. He takes his time about adding wood. Not me..shovel that stuff on.

Yesterday, I went to my bible study and we were talking about Samson and Delilah. Then the conversation turned to marriages. Then short road to that idea was that the bible says Samson loved Delilah. But it never says that she loves HIM. We talked about relationships. Which led us to marriage.

Samson and Delilah were a lot like fireworks I am guessing. Bright and exciting. Drawing you in. What some see as the best part of a relationship. But when the grand finally is over, what is left? You see fireworks are not self sustaining. After the match is lit and the rocket bursts in the sky, we all oo and awe...but it is over. The thrill and excitement is gone. We pack up our blanket and head home.

But a real relationship...sure the fireworks in the beginning are amazing. Breathtaking really. But you can't live your whole life on fireworks. Sure it is a nice show that circles around every now again, but most of us have jobs, kids, laundry, bills, bathrooms to clean, and dinners to cook. When that new relationship feeling fades, some of us feel cheated. Worst case scenario, some of us think it is time to abandon the relationship for our next techno tonic display.

This is where I came back to the campfire. Sure it is not flashy, but it sure keeps ya warm. It may not bring pinks, greens, and blues, but it gives us light to find our way. This is by no means self sustaining either. Without care and attention, it will eventually fade too. But as we are shoveling more wood in, it grows. Grows into something beautiful. Something that can and will make it. I am not saying that good marriages don't ever have fireworks. Quite the opposite. I would say I love my husband more today than I ever have. But I have learned a few things along the way. Love takes work, time, and certainly the occasional firework display.