A Tale of Two Journeys: The Return

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”  

Charles Dickens, in A Tale of Two Cities

Last week, I shared the tale of my flight to Virginia with four small children.  That was the worst of times I’ve flown with children.  It is time to move on to the best of times I’ve flown with children: my return trip.

Mind you, it was still hard.  But the difference was figuratively (and literally, as it happens) night and day.

#1- The day of the week.  When I flew out to Virginia, it was Saturday, a busy travel day.  When I flew home, it was Tuesday.  The security checkpoint line was absolutely empty.  So instead of feeling pressured and rushed to get all of my things unloaded and on the conveyor belt while trying to keep my children from running to who knows where, there was no one in line behind me.  No pressure.  I was able to take my time and had 5 TSA agents around  to guard all exit points and keep an eye on the kids.

#2 I was much better prepared.  I was more careful with what food I packed and I had a plan of action for which toys and activities I would bring out at which times. When we got to the gate, we had about 2 hours before our flight was scheduled to leave.  So, we started with a snack.  Then (since I really didn’t want to unpack their backpacks and have their stuff spread throughout the gate waiting area), we used the iPad (see #3 below) to watch a show.  Next, we took a field trip to the family restroom nearby.  Then it was time to board the airplane.

My happy toddler

#3 My sister’s iPad.  On the flight from home to the East Coast, as I evaluated my options, I kept vascillating between moving to Charlotte (so I would never have to get on an airplane with children again) and spending my life savings purchasing a handheld electronic device for each child and perhaps a few spares as well.  A few days after I had arrived in Virginia, the stresses of the day had faded a little so that I was a bit more reasonable.   But still, I did talk to my husband about the possibility of purchasing some sort of handheld electronic device for the flight home.  My sister later asked me, “Are you wanting an iPad for good, or is this just for the flight?  Because if you just want something for the flight, you can borrow mine.”

Oh, what an amazing gift that was!  Sacrificing her iPad for a few days for the sake of my sanity.  How MUCH my sister loves me!

I did end up borrowing her iPad and we downloaded a few episodes of a few shows my kids enjoy.  There were also a whole battery of kid games my sister has downloaded on her iPad for her neefs (her brilliant abbreviation of neices and nephews).  While at the airport, they watched an episode or two and then after the restroom trip there was time for the older two to each have a turn playing a game of their choice.  Then it was time to board the airplane.

The magical iPad

#4 Many, many angels God sent to help me on my way.  On the way to Virginia, God did provide several very helpful people to carry my carseat or call ahead and hold the flight.  But it was crazy how many people He sent on the way home.  I wish I could properly express to them how significant their help was to me.  Perhaps they saw it on my face.  I hope that God richly blessed them on their journeys.

It started at the end of the bridge as we were boarding the first airplane.  I had dropped off the stroller where I was supposed to (so that I might pick it up to get me to through the next airport) and had the diaper bag, the leash, the backpacks and all.  I hefted the car seat up to rest upside down on my head (which trick I discovered on the way to Virginia) and behind me I heard a few men speaking, “She’s superwoman,” and “She’s just making us look bad,” or some such nonsense like that which nonetheless, I appreciated.  Then a kind man stepped forward and asked if he could carry my carseat.  I gratefully accepted the offer.  He then gave up his seat, which was the aisle seat directly across from my children and took  the window seat I was supposed to sit in.  I’m sure everyone was grateful for his sacrifice.

Puzzles, mazes, coloring, and other fun activities

Z-urchin then took his turn on the magical iPad while the older kids pulled out their various fun activities from their backpacks.  Shortstop promptly fell asleep (Hallelujah!) and Z-urchin’s iPad turn pretty much covered the whole hour flight to our connection.  I found that this worked really well in keeping him seated.  And it worked as motivation for him to keep his seatbelt on as well, since I told him he couldn’t play the iPad unless his seatbelt was on.

A very long iPad turn

The same man from before carried the car seat to my stroller at the end of the bridge and then Angel #2 came and made my connection possible.  He had four children too, though only one was with him.  But he understood and very kindly offered to carry my carseat to the gate (his connecting gate was nearby mine, which was quite a blessing from the Lord).  Then, about halfway there, Z-urchin dashed the opposite way down a moving sidewalk.  He dropped everything and rushed after him.  Then this very kind man carried both Z-urchin and my carseat to the gate.  I really wish I could send that man and his wife a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant.

I barely made it into to the airplane before they closed the doors and once on, my children and I were such a sight that all kinds of people surrounded us to help us.  A man from first class carried my car seat to my seat, a kind and experienced mother installed it while I arranged my children and stuff.  A man gave up the seat next to his wife so that my children could all sit in a row with me.  The wife, a new grandma herself (her grandson is an extremely fortunate little boy- she’s amazing!), sat by X-man and chatted with them.  They were full of chatter about their trip and their Auntie Suzie.  “Oh! My name is also Suzie!” she exclaimed and trust between them was instantly developped.

So the older two took a few turns with the iPad while Z-urchin and I did a sticker book.  I handed out sandwiches and snacks for dinner and helped Shortstop color and play with a few toys.  Then the kind Suzie read the older two Frog and Toad while the young woman in the row behind me begged to hold Shortstop for awhile.  She colored with him, fed him snacks and chatted with him for an hour.  She told me he remined her of her adopted baby brother whom she missed. My heart overflowed with thankfulness.  I was even able to use the restroom by myself!

I tell you what, when I grow up (or you know, travel somewhere without children), I want to be just like these angels God sent to me.

#5 We flew at night.  Our first flight took off at 4 and our second flight left at 6:30.  That meant that about 2 hours into the flight, the kids got very sleepy.  Only this time it was a good kind of sleepy.  Not a cranky sleepy which is what you would expect.  The kind of sleepy that made my daughter say, “I’m tired, I think I want to go to sleep.”  And she did.  And then so did Z-urchin.  And then when I took Shortstop back, he fell asleep too.

Blissfully sleeping

This left only X-man awake.  I handed him the iPad and he played Angry Birds Star Wars for the remainder of the flight.  I hardly knew what to do with myself.  I figured it out pretty quickly though.  I took a nap and then read several chapters in my Georgette Heyer book.

What in the world?  Wow!  Such a difference from my last trip!

Finally, the flight was over.  The man who had given up the seat next to his wife for me carried my car seat out of the plane and all the way to the baggage claim.  Suzie held X-man’s hand while I pushed the stroller with the other three kids (and backpacks, blankets, diaper bag, and doll) all piled into it.

My husband met us there with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.  Everyone there cheered him on and an awesome woman from first class told him, with quite a bit of attitude infused in her voice, “That’s right.  You better have gotten her flowers.”  Another woman chimed in, “And a key to a hotel room for a night by herself!”

 

 

A Tale of Two Journeys: The Departure

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”  

Charles Dickens, in A Tale of Two Cities

Three weeks ago, my grandfather was admitted to the hospital.  Two days later, surrounded by family and friends singing hymns and sharing memories, he slipped quietly into eternity.  My mother, the middle of his three daughters, had been caring for him and my grandmother in her home on the East Coast for the past year.

She called me in tears to share the news and my heart was ready to do whatever she needed from me.  Somehow, a mother’s tears have magical motivational properties.  At least, my mother’s tears do.  They must.  Because it turned out she and grandma wanted me to come for the services and bring my four young children across the country.  And I agreed.  What in the world?

They found a secret bench in the airport

Before really thinking it through, I scoured the internet for some reasonably priced tickets from California to Washington D.C., found a good deal, and purchased them quickly.  Only then did I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach and visions flashed before my eyes.  Airport Security.  Busy airports.  Bathroom breaks on tiny airplane facilities.  Young children sitting for 5 hours on an airplane.  Carrying a car seat (with which hand exactly?).  Short layovers.  Snow storms.

Two days after that, my husband took me and the kids to the airport, helped me check my bags, helped me get everyone to the bathroom and walked me right up to airport security.  He could go no further.  From now on- for the next 10 days- I would be on my own.

Thankfully, the Lord provided a couple right behind me who were about to become grandparents.  Bless them, they helped me wrangle children through security and then carried my car seat to my gate (before it had been wedged in the back seat of my double stroller -I do love my Joovy Caboose!).

I did get a lot of comments from parents taking fewer than four children through the airport: “Wow, you have your hands full!”  (Yes, quite literally) and “You are so brave!” (Yes, I heartily agree).

While at the gate, the kids watched the airplanes take off and land, ate snacks, colored, played with their toys, cried for water, tried to go down forbidden stairs and attempted to enter locked doors.  Meanwhile, I talked to the airline employees to try to arrange my seats so that I would be sitting by my children.  I wasn’t too worried though- I figured even if it didn’t work, once I got on the plane, no one would want the children sitting by anyone but me.

A great place to watch the airplanes

When it was time to board the airplane, a very kind man carried my car seat to the front of the line and then one of the flight crew carried the seat onto the plane for me.  The flight attendant worked out all the seating arrangements so that we ended up with one whole row- three seats on one side and three seats on the other- to ourselves.  I was very thankful.

X-man and Princess K spent the next 5 hours happily coloring, doing sticker books, and playing with their toys they had in their backpacks.  I spent the next 5 hours trying to keep Z-urchin from climbing over the seats and running down the aisle and unbuckling his seat belt when the light was on and trying to keep Shortstop from crying and kicking the seat in front of him.  Snacks worked for awhile.  Shortstop liked to color.  But almost nothing helped Z-urchin for long.  I’ve blocked much of those 5 hours from my memory.

Playing with Ace, the Talking Dog Pen

What I do remember is crowding Shortstop and Z-urchin into the airplane bathroom when I had to use the restroom.  It worked better than I expected.  I remember that Shortstop did not take his nap at his normal hour and then when he finally did fall asleep, Z-urchin thoughtfully woke him up so his cries filled the cabin for a short- thankfully- while.

I also remember spending all of those 5 hours worrying about making my next flight.  Due to airplane repairs and the snow storm that had hit the East Coast the few days before, my first flight was nearly an hour delayed.  My layover in Charlotte was only 1 hour long.  The next flight up to D.C. was at 7:30 in the morning.  We would arrive in Charlotte at 11 pm.  What was I going to do with tired cranky kids in the airport?  Certainly not try to go to a hotel for 4 hours. And also I worried about how on earth I was going to get off the plane with four children, four backpacks, four blankets, four coats, a doll, a diaper bag, and a car seat?

The two older are happily engaged with their toys, the younger one is wiggling more than coloring

The pilot’s voice was finally heard over the loudspeaker, “We are beginning our final descent.  Prepare for arrival.”  Immediately, Z-urchin takes off down the aisle.  He gets halfway up the airplane when I call his name.  He looks back and says, “What are you waiting for?”

My answer: “The plane to land, you crazy child.”

Once we touched down, I noticed that would have about 15 minutes to wait for our gate-checked stroller and make it across the airport to our next flight.  There was no way we were going to make it.  The flight attendants had requested that anyone not trying to make a connection remain seated to let those who were get off the plane first, so I decided to be one of the ones who waited.  Me and the four children would only slow everyone down.

So, I took the time to get everyone’s coats on, backpacks on, Shortstop’s monkey backpack leash on, their blankets wrapped around their necks or in their backpacks, and made sure Princess was holding tightly to her doll, Rose.  I got Shortstop out of his car seat, put my own backpack on, and then hoisted the car seat upside down over my head.  I felt a dusting of cracker crumbs land in my hair and trickle down my back, but I was in a hurry and didn’t even care.

With one hand holding Shortstop’s leash and the other hand holding a diaper bag, I followed my running children (whom I could not see due to the car seat hat that covered my eyes) down the aisle and out of the plane.  I was the object of many laughing cheers.  I was quite a sight for sure.  I would have laughed at me too.

When me, the four children, and all of our junk loaded up on the stroller arrived at the gate, I breathlessly asked, “Where is gate 26?”  A very kind pilot surveyed the scene in front of him (cracker crumbs in my hair, children running circles around me, a stroller loaded with carseats, backpacks, and blankets) and took pity on me.  He walked me over to the computer screen and directed me to my flight.  When he saw what time it was scheduled to leave (only 5 minutes from then), he told me to start running and he would call ahead and see what he could do.

I started running.  They held the plane for me.  When I boarded the plane, sweaty and out of breath, I was never more thankful in all of my life.  I would not have to manage any details with small children trying to escape and I would not have to try to get my children to sleep on airport benches.  Praise the Lord!

That second flight was actually much better.  For one, it was only an hour.  Two, Z-urchin was actually sleepy.  He laid down across two seats and dozed.  Shortstop was not, but he happily colored on a drawing pad.  My other two were happily occupied again.  Though my daughter was very loud with her delight at take off.  It is like a roller coaster, apparently.

Once we landed and reached the baggage claim, my brother and sister were there to greet- and help- me.  My checked bags had not made it, but I didn’t even care because we did.  That was a victory right there.

Playing in snow for the first time

Outside, in the parking lot, there was snow.  My two older children squealed with delight as they stomped in the snow, covered by jackets my sister had borrowed for their use. ( We got to play in the snow for the next few days and it was a lot of fun!)

We took two cars to get my brood to my mom’s house.  My Grandmother’s delight in seeing her adorable (if I do say so) great-grandchildren- some for the first time- did not wipe the memory of the day away, but it made it worth it.

Great-Grandma O and her great grandson watching the snow fall

Stay tuned for the next installment of my Tale of Two Journeys: The Return.

Old Faithful

At Old Faithful of California

This weekend, we found ourselves with a few hours to kill.  That is, there was a party happening in the afternoon at Grandma’s house and we really needed the four children under 6 to be out of the house and not undoing all of Grandma’s progress.  My husband grew up in the area, and so he had an idea of a place we could go:  Old Faithful of California!  So we took the kids on a field trip.

We arrived mid-morning and the kids found plenty to climb on and to investigate.  We saw crazy four horned sheep and fainting goats with spooky eyes.  The geyser was really fun to see and the kids noticed that it smelled like boiled eggs.  We had a really fun adventure.

It was a beautiful day, we had sweet fellowship as a family, and Grandma’s house stayed clean while she prepared for a very fun party.  A successful morning indeed!

 

My kids being themselves- crazy, cuddly, capricious, clueless

Always finding something to climb

Gazing at Goats

Four Horned Sheep

Princess found an acorn

Oooh! Geyser time!

Watching the geyser go!

The water shot up really high!

What a beautiful morning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camping: Lessons Learned

What I learned in my Forty Hours in the Woods:

1.  Going with friends = good

We went camping with another family from our church.  Their kids and our kids are good friends.  They played together the whole time and they had so much fun!  In general, we did not have to provide activities or direct them in any way.  They occupied themselves fully.  The oldest girl (my friend’s daughter) had them playing hide and seek, follow the leader, audience to her national anthem concert, and so on.

2. Bringing only one sweatshirt = bad

Note to self: When camping with kids, assume that the weather will be opposite of what you expect and assume that the clothing you bring might end up unwearable due to small children spilling hot chocolate, spitting up, acquiring poison oak, etc.  Therefore, bring at least two sweatshirts.  Or one for you AND one for your husband so you can commandeer a warmer item of clothing than a thin long-sleeved t-shirt.

3.  Air Mattress = very, very good

Obviously.

4.  Socks for the toddler = what’s the point?

Next time, I think I will have them wear crocs or sandals all the time.  Their socks got filthy and we had them remove their shoes every time they entered the tent (which was a good idea- it made clean up easier), so Princess K especially did not enjoy putting on shoes over her very dirty socks.  Or wearing those very dirty socks (she ran- heh- through socks very quickly and thus had only dirty socks just a few hours into the trip).  Z-urchin wandered around in socks and got them soaking wet and muddy.  Ick.  So next time: crocs for sure.  Socks at bedtime if their feet are cold.

5.  Preparing the meals ahead of time = good

My friend made the chili ahead of time so we just had to warm it up and it was ready to eat.  This was great since we were setting up camp and didn’t have too much time to make dinner.  Then I had prepared the taco meat and beans ahead of time, so all I had to do for dinner the second night was heat it up and set out the taco fixings.  I definitely overpacked when it came to food (I didn’t want anyone to go hungry!) so now I have a better idea of how much we’ll eat (of course, it might change from this year to next, I do have many boys to feed!) and perhaps I can pack a little less food to free up some space for an extra sweatshirt!

6.  Any food not in sealed containers = bad

There was a little wooden locker type cabinet at each campsite so I thought our food would be safe in bags in there.  Nope.  Squirrels or something small got in and clawed through the bags and ate our avocados.  X-man and Princess K were indignant.  I probably should know this food in sealed containers stuff already, but I have only really been camping once in my life.  When I was 13, with my mom, brother, and sister.  We mocked her for packing up the entire van for an overnight excursion 20 minutes away.  Yeah.  I take that back now, Mom.

7.  Relaxing at night (with a blanket wrapped around me) by the warm glow campfire, snuggling Z while he fell asleep, roasting marshmallows with sticky, dirty kids, and playing Apples to Apples with friends = really good times and really wonderful memories

8.  Playing Superchick really loud on the way to and from camping and dancing like idiots in the car with our kids = awesome (definitely not dorky at all)

So next time, I’ll pack a little less food, a little more warm layers.  If we do end up going next year, Z-urchin will be nearly 3.  Maybe by then he’ll have more sense than to go wandering in the road.  But then Shortstop will be just a little over 1 year old.  Probably just beginning to walk.  Maybe he’ll be content in the pack ‘n play?

Anyone else have any tips for camping with kids?

Forty Hours in the Woods: Our first camping adventure with children.

Our family is going camping!

Hour 1 (6:30): We arrive at the campground.  We unpack the car (every square inch of space had been utilized!) and set up camp!  We are all excited!  Daddy sets up the tent and I figure out how to set up the camp stove all by myself!  I am so awesome!

Hour 2 (7:30): Daddy and the older kids go on a wood-venture to obtain wood for our campfire.  The urchin, baby and I stay behind and blow up the air mattress -or attempt to run away -or impede all air mattress progress, depending on if one is the mommy (who does not want to sleep on the ground) or the urchin (who likes to wander) or the baby (who needs to eat).  We have chili for dinner and get a campfire going!

Ash is filling the air… yay for a campfire!

Hour 3 (8:30): We eat banana boats for dessert and X-man spills hot chocolate on mommy.  On the one hand, it is ok as it was more ‘warm chocolate.’  On the other hand, this is not ok.  Now my only jeans and only sweatshirt are sticky and getting cold.  And it is cold outside!

Putting another log on the fire

Hour 4 (9:30): We get all ready for bed and play the guitar and sing songs in the tent.  The older two start to think maybe camping isn’t all that fun:  “This ground is hard.  I want a real bed.”  Z-urchin is crying and wandering all around the tent bumping into things- and people- because his eyes are closed.  I pick him up and grab a blanket (after changing into sweatpants and Daddy’s only long sleeved shirt) and head to the campfire.  Z-urchin sits quietly in my arms and falls asleep near the campfire.  Now this is the life.

Hour 5 (10:30): Now it is time to feed the baby again and get settled into the tent for the long (and cold) summer’s night.  The air mattress makes this adventure seem luxurious!

Hour 6 (11:30): Everyone is asleep.  This is good.

Hour 7 (12:30): Sleeping mostly, but holding the baby does not make for super comfy sleeping positions.

Hours 8-9 (1:30):  Man oh man, it is cold.  Why am I doing this again?

Hours 10-11 (3:30): Sleeping mostly, but Z-urchin wakes up and is cold.  Daddy pulls him into his sleeping bag but there is now not much room.

Hour 12 (5:30):  Time to feed the baby again.

Adding some leaves to our morning fire

Hour 13 (6:30): It is light outside now- though gray- and it is still quite cold.  The kids wake up and want out of the tent!  They think camping is super fun again!

Chocolate chip pancakes and sizzling bacon! Delicious!

Hours 14-15 (7:30): We make a delicious breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, and eggs.  The kids play in the trees, draw, and play hide and seek.  The fire is going and even though it is cold, this is fun!

Enjoying his water by the fire

A daddy and his (son’s) guitar are soon parted (though reluctantly)

Hour 16 (9:30): Now it is time to wash the dishes in the very cold water.  It is all part of the experience, right?  Z-urchin decides to step in rock pit where I am washing dishes and gets his socks all wet (where are his shoes???) and then picks up the clean dishes and throws them in the dirt (thank you so much).  Where is daddy?  Playing guitar?  Z-urchin dumped into daddy’s lap and dishes are finished.

Hour 17 (10:30): We discuss our plans for the day.  It is gray and way too cold to go play in the creek.  We’ll go to Roaring Camp Railroad– it is a special weekend- Thomas is there today, pulling the trains through the redwood forest!  Let’s go see Thomas!  It starts to sprinkle.  What?!?!  Now I am wet and cold.

Trying to keep warm by the fire

We are getting ready to go see Thomas the Train… I am making sandwiches. They are climbing.

Hour 18 (11:30): It stopped sprinkling, but apparently it might sprinkle “on and off” today.  This has me quite concerned.  I’m not so sure I’m having fun anymore.  If it continues to rain, I promise you, I am leaving.  We make sandwiches and get ready to go see Thomas.

Hour 19 (12:30): We are in the car on our way to Roaring Camp.  We turn on some good music and I am willing myself to have fun again.  The kids are pretty amazed to see Thomas pulling the train, though they are quite sad to learn that they won’t be taking a train ride.  They find a little western scene with holes for their heads to stick through.  They have a lot of fun climbing on it and looking through the head holes.

Z is selling tickets

Lady K

X the horse

In the redwood grove

Hour 20 (1:30): We have lunch in the beautiful redwood grove.  We see very large trees and a skinny little Dawn redwood.  Daddy makes Princess K an aluminum foil rose and she is delighted with it!

Daddy’s gift to his daughter

Hours 21-22 (2:30):  Naptime for me, baby, and the urchin.  The urchin does not sleep and when he finds the maglight and begins wielding it near the pack-n-play where baby is sleeping, I send him out to play with daddy and the kids so I can get some sleep.  It is so nice and cozy warm in my sleeping bag.

Hour 23 (4:30):  Daddy and the kids take a nature walk while I begin making dinner.  It is a little warmer, still gray, but not sprinkling.  I guess I can stay a little longer.  They return before I’m ready so they snack on grapes and cuties and do crayon rubbings with tree trunks and leaves.

Dinner time!

Hour 24 (5:30): We have “tacos in a bag.” (taco meat, beans, shredded cheese and lettuce, and sour cream in little personal Doritos bags)  Tasty and very fun!  Of course the kids pretty much just eat the chips.  We grill corn on the grate over the campfire and it is absolutely delicious!

Gooey chewy marshmallowy goodness

Hour 25 (6:30): S’mores time!  Princess K toasts marshmallows but will not touch it to her mouth.  Daddy eats hers quite happily.  X-man loves the s’mores.  Z-urchin takes a single bite of everything that ends up in his hands and then drops it in the dirt.  Then I get him cleaned up and ready for bed and hold him at the campfire.  He falls asleep in my arms.  This is a perfect moment in life.  The kids are happy and sticky (or asleep) and this is fun!

Hanging out and falling asleep by the fire

Hour 26 (7:30): Z is cozy in his sleeping bag under a couple of blankets and we get the other kids ready for bed.  We discover poison oak on X’s hands and wrists.  Uh oh.  We scrub his hands with a special soap.  And then Daddy and I scrub our hands and faces and arms with the same soap… just in case.  Once the kids get into their sleeping bags, they fall asleep quickly.

Hours 27-28 (8:30): We have hot chocolate and some spills on daddy’s arm.  On the one hand this is alright because he is wearing a short sleeve shirt (I am still wearing his long sleeved shirt- it is still pretty cold!) and so nothing gets sticky.  On the other hand, he gets pretty scalded as this is “steaming chocolate.”  Poor guy.  We talk and play some cards.  I have phantom poison oak.  I keep getting prickles of itchiness all over the place.

Hour 29 (10:30):  Time to get ready for bed.  It feels a little warmer than it did last night, hallelujah.

Exploring

Hours 30-34 (11:30): We sleep and I am nice and warm in my sleeping bag.

Hour 35 (4:30): Z-urchin wakes up and cries because he is cold and cranky.  Daddy pulls him into his sleeping bag again and again, there is not much room.  Oh well, this is ok with me because at least he has stopped crying.

Hours 36-38 (5:30):  Sleeping again.  At least I am; I’m not sure about Daddy and Z.

Hour 37 (7:30): The kids are awake and raring to go.  They want out so they can go exploring!  I get ready and check in the bathroom mirror for poison oak.  None to be found, thank goodness.

K is getting taken OUT by Z!

Hour 38 (8:30): We have instant oatmeal and bagels and cream cheese for breakfast.  We toast the bagels with our marshmallow skewers.  So fun!

He doesn’t look thrilled to be here

Hours 39-40 (9:30): We get packed up and the kids decide that they no longer are interested in playing in the trees.  They want to walk over the tent we are folding up or track mud into our car and pretty much find all ways to get in the way or otherwise impede progress (Z-urchin was fascinated with wandering into the road).  X’s poison oak looks much better.  Yay for that great soap!  Finally I strap Z into his carseat and for the first time, he is absolutely contained.  Why didn’t I do this earlier?

Hour 41 (11:30):  We are packed up and ready to go home.  We are filthy and tired, but very happy!  We did it!  We went camping with four small children and didn’t permanently lose one of them!  The kids, all buckled into the car ask, “When are we going camping again?”  Shudder.  “Next year.  Maybe.”

I have triumphed over the rain and cold and poison oak! I did it!

See y’all later! I’m going home!