Last Week's Camping Trip

This post is something I should have written last week, but we were busy for some reason that I don't completely remember right now. So apologies out of the way...

For the last last few years we've been working on a family tradition of going camping at least once every summer. This summer was almost over before we realized that we still hadn't gone. The next few weekends were filled with some activity or another so it didn't look like we'd be able to make it. The kids started school and we figured that had killed our chances for this summer. Then last Friday the kids had a half day on Friday so we talked about going. And then (this is where I'm really happy to have the job I do) we finally decided to go on Wednesday night so I told my coworkers on Thursday that I needed a break and wasn't going to come in on Friday but instead go camping with my family. Everyone at work thought it was a good idea and wished my a good time.


We like to try out different places so I picked a spot in central North Carolina in the Uwharrie National Forest at a place called Lake Badin. It took us about 2 hours to get there so the kids enjoyed watching a few videos as we drove down Friday in the early afternoon. Since the kids are small we just do car camping where we can park close to the tents and there are water hookups and bathrooms near by (as the kids get older I think we'll experiment and do some primitive and hiking camping trips as well). Lake Badin is pretty neat because it has lots of different kinds of camping and activities.

They have camping sites with bathrooms nearby that are pretty cheap ($12 a night) but they also have primitive camping (in fact the rule there is unless there's a "No Camping" sign you can camp anywhere you want). They even have horse camping for those who own horses and want to make them rough it for a few nights. They have off-road vehicle trails as well as fishing and a basic beach on the lake. And if we owned a boat I'm sure it would have been even more fun running around the lake and making big waves to scare off all the fish for those unlucky sods trying to catching something from the pier (no, I'm not bitter).



All in all we had a great time. Excellent weather (not too hot not too cold), the kids were really well behaved and for the most didn't do anything stupid. Smores were enjoyed by all (and over indulged by a few... I'm looking at you Erin) and the camping food came out pretty well and mostly unburnt. In fact, it was probably the best camping trip we've had so far as a family. Hopefully this means that as the kids get bigger the camping trips will increase in good-time-having-ness.

The Other Day Josh and Jaime

Yes, Jaime, you really are taller than Josh.

First Root Beer Floats Ever

At the grocery store the other day, I mentioned that I like root beer floats, and Cole was like, "Root beer what?"

That was a situation that needed to be remedied.


It's funny to me that Cole had never even tried pop until a year ago, and here I am letting Rylan have a root beer float. I am surely slacking off as a parent.



The verdict? Just as delicious as Momma said it would be.

Michael and I have had some discussion about what to teach the boys to call carbonated beverages. I say we should embrace our Southern sides and call it Coke. He says we should say soda. I say, where have you ever lived that they call it soda, you pansy. He says just don't call it pop.

What do you think we should call it? Let's have a vote!

cole blogs:geuss what happend.

Today I don't have a picture.Anyway let's talk about something else.Today I made a comic book.
Yesterday I made another book but not a comic book.

Super Rylan

My friend Tiffany has a bee costume that Rylan immediately puts on everytime we go over there. He calls himself "Super Bee."

At home, he has to be content with simply being Super Rylan.

Rylan says...

Rylan: Me fall on me butt.

Me: Did you hurt your tooshie?

Rylan: No, me butt.

Me: Your bum?

Rylan: No! Me butt!

Me: Okay...

Rylan: Call it that, Momma. Butt.


I kid you not. He actually said that to me.

Where, oh where has my little hair gone?

My (lack of) Hair

As most readers of this blog know, my little brother Stephan has cancer and last week he started his first (and hopefully only) round of chemotherapy treatment which will last for the next 3 months. Since we're living about 10 hours apart, it's not that easy for me to go over and lend him a hand when he needs it or spend some time with him to lift up his spirits. So I decided to show my support and encouragement with my razor. And I have to say, it's kind of nice during the hot summer months... so good timing Stephan on your cancer :)

Rylan, being the highly suggestible 2 year old that he is, decided that he wanted to share in the head sheering. His older brothers probably would have shared his fate but in the nick of time, their dad decided it was better to wait until Mommy got home and could weigh in.

On Monday night, for Family Home Evening, we put together a small package for Stephan. Since we know that his treatment sessions are several hours long and pretty boring, we thought we'd help him pass the time by sending him some DVDs and books to help him kill some time. On the DVD front we included The Goonies, Season 1 of Arrested Development, Season 1 of Pushing Daises, Season 1 of Firefly and for books we sent Ender's Game and The Lincoln Lawyer. I spent a few minutes also looking for my copy of Good Omens, but then remembered that I had lent that to Erin's dad. I know that in the grand scheme of things it's not a lot, but we felt that anything to show Stephan that we love him and we know he'll pull through is probably better than nothing.

Our Worms


If you don't know, we've been experimenting with vermicomposting, which is another way to say pet worms. Basically we have a plastic bin where we put some of our food waste (instead of putting in the trash to end up in a landfill) and the worms eat it up and turn it into compost. On a side note, the worms also provide a steady supply of fishing bait.

While we also have a more normal compost tumbler, we actually started with the worms first. It's kind of nice to have them chewing through the food and it seems to work a bit faster than our other composter. It also smells a lot better.

This weekend we started to tear out our summer garden and get ready for our fall garden. In doing so we decided that the worms had thoroughly devoured their food and it was time to put their pooh to good use. Erin and Eli separated the worms from their droppings while Rylan watched. Cole was too scared to even attempt to help. What kind of a boy are we raising who doesn't like to play with worms or dirt?!

After separating the worms out we mixed the compost in with the garden soil and then shredded up some newspaper to make the worms a new home in their old bin. We then added some kitchen odds and ends (parts of tomatoes, onions, cantaloupe rinds, etc) to give them a nice big meal in their refurbished place. If you're ever curious about how to have your own pet worms (whether you're interested in nice rich compost, good bait, or you just like 'em fried) I'm sure we'd be willing to share any secrets we have.