The boys have been begging to go camping for some time now, but we just haven't found the time. We decided Memorial Day weekend would be a good time to go since we were invited to go with Nana and Papa. I am not a big camper myself, but it's usually better with Kenney's dad because he has a lot of the equipment and he cooks! So I thought it would be a better time to go than on our own. Plus I knew the boys would have a blast, and I wanted to help Kenney.
Our day started out pretty well considering it was 96+ degrees outside with absolutely no breeze. We got camp set up and went to find everyone else at their campsite. Dinner would be a little later than normal so Kenney took the boys swimming while I stayed behind with Bentley. After everyone came back to camp we had dinner and got a fire going. There was some lemonade in a cooler jug that the boys kept getting more and more from throughout the evening. I kept trying to get them to stop, but it wasn't working. However, it started to cool off with a little breeze and no sunlight, and the fire wasn't at our campsite so none of our stuff smelled like smoke. I thought this was pretty good because it meant my laundry would be less.
We got back to our campsite with Bentley mostly asleep. Thankfully she stayed down, and we got everyone in bed eventually. Things were great until about 3am. A group of college kids decided to have a party right next to our campsite. They were yelling and laughing and slamming the bathroom doors right next to us. It was so loud!! A lot of other people in surrounding campsites were woken up too. Damon started to wake up just a little bit, but he didn't get fully awake just enough that he started peeing all over their tent!! (Kenney and I were in a different tent because we don't have a tent big enough for all of us, plus we only have one air mattress). So Kenney gets up and says there was pee EVERYWHERE! Well I didn't bring extra blankets because it was hot, so I told him there wasn't much we could do and told Damon to go back to sleep.
Well it got into the 60s that night and Damon started to get cold because he was wet now. So then I remembered that I had one extra sleeping bag in the car. I get Damon new clothes, try and clean up as much as possible while trying to keep Bentley asleep. Well, she woke up anyway, and we couldn't just let her cry because there were other people around too. She then went to sleep with us on our air mattress that we realize has a leak in it. Great! So now we have a flopping baby flailing all over both of us as the mattress continues to get lower and we sink to the middle.
About this time, the bull frogs start croaking so loud. I had no idea that bull frogs made such and annoying sound and could do it so loudly!! Ugh! Just as I start to get over the bull frogs, the coyotes start howling. Seriously? I wish I was making this stuff up! Then Radley starts moaning which I'm pretty sure means he needs to pee, and he says, "I peed in my underwear." I then get up as quickly as I can on a leaky air mattress to make sure and try and contain as much of the mess as I can. Thankfully, he only made a little mess, and I got him some clean clothes. At this point, Kenney and I just want to be awake for the day because it is going to be so much harder to wake up when daylight comes. However we finally fall asleep for about an hour before Kyler and Damon wake up.
The next morning was full of cleaning tents, trying to separating gross clothes and blankets from the clean stuff, searching for bugs, fishing and swimming before it got too hot. We made it home before it got too hot, and my camping obligations are over for the next 2 years!! However, the kids had a blast which was the whole point, so in some ways it was a success!
Kyler's little perch he caught all by himself!
Getting comfortable and taking fishing seriously.
The few remaining wild flowers before the heat kills them all.
Bentley wasn't sure about the muddy ground at first.
Damon is never too far away from her.
She warmed up pretty fast!
Oops! However falling didn't keep her down long.
Everything is always more fun with Daddy around.
Radley needed a turn too.
Bentley's favorite part!
Radley found some goggles and put them on himself.
This girl was so tired when the morning came. She didn't get up until about 8:30 and was pretty much woken up by her brothers.
Radley had a hard time waking up too.
The bug scavengers.
Bentley made sure that she wasn't left out when we were getting camping chairs. She saw the pink one and sat in it like she owned it! We put it back in the case, and she grabbed it, looked at Kenney, cocked her head, and had a look on her face like, "Just try and tell me no." It was so funny! Needless to say, she got her chair.
The boys hiking to a lake to fish.
Damon getting the hang of fishing.
Taking turns on the swings.
The boys all swimming while we were waiting for dinner.
Three little boys having so much fun!
Radley belly flopping
Daddy took the boys swimming while I stayed behind with Bentley before dinner. I think they had fun!!
Summer is already going so fast!!! These kids have been going nonstop since school got out. They have mostly been fighting with each other, but I guess we are all getting used to everyone being home all day. The little ones don't like to share the house, and the other two are trying to boss the little ones around. We are all adjusting!!
We were able to go to Kacy's high school graduation. I can't say it was fun, but I'm glad we were able to support her. We are all going to miss her so much when she goes to Hawaii, but we're really excited for her next adventure!
Kenney took the boys fishing with his dad one Saturday, and they loved it!!! Kenney was busy the whole time doing everything except fishing, but he really enjoyed watching the boys have fun doing something he loves to do. Kyler caught a couple fish all by himself, and Radley caught on super quick to casting. Damon didn't like it quite as much as the other two boys, but he had fun too. Kenney decided next time he only needs to take 2 boys rather than 3 until one of them can do everything for himself!
Kenney's Nanny had her 80th birthday this month, and it was fun to be there for a surprise birthday party. She had no idea it was coming and was completely surprised. Someone even found a song that said, "Happy Birthday Dollie."
We've been trying to find things to do around the house and town to keep us from fighting as home. So far we've been to the library to sign up for the summer reading program, gone to the park, done a few science experiments and still had quite a bit of bickering at home!! We are definitely a work in progress!!
Kacy getting her diploma from her dad.
Kacy and her 3 oldest brothers
The niece and nephews that came to graduation.
Bentley and Kacy
Radley and one of the fish he caught.
He wasn't too sure of the fish at first, but he got comfortable real quick. He loved fishing more than anyone.
Kyler caught this one all by himself. He was so proud!
Kenney told Damon to throw the fish back, and Damon literally threw the fish over handed back into the water. The poor fish went flying! Kenney realized he had to explain what throw the fish back means!
Kyler practicing selfies.
Nanny's 80th birthday
Kyler doing science experiments.
Bentley loves sunglasses and any other accessory she can get her hands on!
Miss Independent tried to climb up to the top of this slide all by herself.
Too cute!
"Mom we all fit on this turtle!"
She really thinks she's as big as the boys!
Bentley thinks her babies need to be fed too. She doesn't like to put them down when she eats.
The track meet was THE highlight of year for Damon! He finally had the chance to compete, and he LOVED every second of it. Kyler had fun too. He had a fever the day before so he wasn't feeling the best, but he did really well too. It was just awesome to watch the boys have so much fun! Kenney was able to get off work and watch them. Nana was also able to come too which was great for the boys. The boys each did the long jump, softball throw, 40 yard dash, 100m dash, the obstacle course, and the 4x100m relay for their class. It was a great way to end the school year.
Kyler's Long Jump
Damon would have finished most of his races better if he wasn't so busy checking out his competition.
Kyler on the first leg of his relay.
Damon bringing the baton to his teammate.
Radley cheering on his brothers.
Getting ready for the softball throw.
Snack time!
Damon finishing the 100m dash.
Damon's obstacle course.
Landing on the mat in first. This is an event made for Damon because he's quick, not necessarily in long distances though.
Kyler starting his 100m dash.
Hanging out in the stroller.
Kyler running to the mat in his obstacle course.
Radley taking his turn on the mats.
It was so hard for him to not participate in all the activities he sees his brothers doing. Luckily he was able to do some stuff on his own.
She had a lot of fun running around too.
Damon in a huddle with his relay team. So cute!
Radley had had enough!!
And he's off!! As soon as he got on the track the wind started blowing super hard. I was surprised how well all of the kids did considering the wind.
