Cub Scout camping...

Saturday, Curtis went to pick Corey up bright & early...he came to spend the day with us, & that he did - from 8am until about 10pm that night! i think he must miss his brother & get a little bored on the weekends now...fine by us - that just means we get to see him more! :0)

that afternoon, we headed to camp Brethren Woods to spend the day with the Scouts...first, there was swimming for a few hours...

the kiddos really loved having Corey along...he's so great with them too - loves playing with em & teaching em new things...he's also super helpful to Curtis & i! we had a great time checking out his awesome diving board skills!

he encouraged the girls (who are normally nervous about the diving board & take lots of coaxing to work up the nerve to jump off) to just go for it...& pretty soon, they were trying out some tricks too! ~lol~

but my favorite part was watching him throw the kiddos around in the water...i remember begging my dad to do this to me when i was little...i bet it's fun having a strong big bro ;0)

we also got to do some fishing at the "lake"

& there were a few canoes & a paddle boat to play in too!

the rain showed up right around dinner time...but luckily, it was mostly just sprinkles

& we didn't let it stop us from taking a family hike...actually, we learned the forest makes a pretty good umbrella! ;0)

because Curtis had to work that evening, & i had a cake order to fill (plus 2 girls to watch), Jaden didn't get to stay over at the camp with the rest of his den...he was fine with that tho - happy to go home & set up his tent for some backyard camping instead

the girls had fun playing in the tent while there was still daylight...& of course, making some wild mushroom "soup" to eat at their "camp site"...but they had absolutely no interest in sleeping in the tent after dark!

i wondered if Jaden would mind going at it alone...i blew up an air mattress & got him all cozy inside...then Curtis went out for a bit when he got home from work - but Jaden almost insisted Curt go inside after about a half hour or so! i think he was interested in seeing if he could do it alone too ;0)

he woke up around 7am on Sunday & came inside...he woke me, to let me know he was up, then proceeded to fix himself some cereal...i asked him how it went, & he replied "well." ~lol~ so when he asked to do it again on Sunday night, i was like why not?! i snapped the above pic of him reading in his tent around 9pm...i went back out at 9:30 to check on him again & he was fast asleep with his light turned out!!!

if u know Jaden, u know that he sleeps very little (classic autistic trait)...he takes forever to go to sleep, & is up before the sun most days! something about that tent must soothe him (or confuse his body about what time it really is)...i was tempted to let him continue to sleep out there if he was that comfortable, but for now, we're only allowing it on the weekends (no school nights)

since Curtis felt a little guilty about the whole Jaden not being able to camp out with the Scouts thing, he did some sucking up on Sunday & took us all to the pool (a place the kiddos NEVER get tired of!)...we picked the perfect time to go too - we got there just as they opened & we were the ONLY ones for the first hour or so!

it was fun, having the whole pool to ourselves...& it also gave the girls a chance to practice their tricks off the diving board some more...it's too bad the summer is coming to an end - just as they're getting really comfortable with swimming in the deep end...oh well, i guess we've got something to look forward to for next summer!

weekend recap...

Saturday, we woke up bright & early for our yard sale...we've had an out-building full of toys, clothes & a few big items since we moved here last fall...finding a Saturday to devote to a yard sale was easier said than done, but my sis-in-law finally nailed me down to a date & we set up this weekend...

Matthew came along to play with my kiddos...& the girls had a great time making some money of their own, selling lemonade & cupcakes...unfortunately, the 100+ degree heat kept folks away & we didn't do as well as we had hoped (i made $75.50)...at least we got rid of all that junk tho - what didn't sell went to the Salvation Army

after packing up, delivering all the leftover stuff to town, & then showering & attempting to cool off (i mean, it was crazy hot...my face was red for hours after coming inside!), we had some lunch & headed out to join my parents at the campground

my parents set up the RV on Saturday & are staying thru tomorrow...the kiddos just came home this evening (just in time for VBS) - they camped the whole weekend, plus today...Curt & i went down to spend the days on Sat & Sun...then came home to sleep in our own beds & tend to the pooch ;0)

& all of us put a pause on camping for a family reunion on Sunday...we traveled back to Lost River State Park in WV for the afternoon

it's always great to see family...to eat & play in the creek - something i've done every summer for as long as i can remember...so glad that my kiddos look forward to it too!

oh, & i LOVE when i can get a pic like this...

Curt was sitting with the baby (my nephew, Levi) & Rocket, while the rest of us went thru the line to get our plates...i told him that he could have picked up any chick he wanted at that moment...a hot guy with a baby AND a dog? who could resist that?! ;0)

i hope u had a great weekend too!

weekend recap...

we got after midnight on Friday - we didn't leave Kings Dominion until their 10pm closing time & every1 was totally BEAT! the kiddos had fallen asleep in the car almost as soon as we pulled out of the park...& i even snoozed 4 over half of our 2hr trip home...i'm so thankful that my hubby enjoys driving on long trips!

but i still had 2 get up early on Saturday...my sister-in-law, Katie, had called me Friday eve desperately needing some1 2 watch Matthew (my nephew) while she & my brother worked Saturday morning...so at 8am, Matthew got dropped off...he's the smartest, most articulate little 2 year old ever! he's also a complete mama's boy...he cried when Katie left 4 work, but he got excited when i told him we could go upstairs & wake up the kiddos...he loves his cousins!

it was a beautiful cool morning out...so every1 headed outside...we drew with sidewalk chalk (the best invention ever!), kicked some balls around, hunted 4 bugs...it was fun playing having a toddler around again!

& when he did start asking about when his mommy was coming 2 get him, Curtis distracted him with a Playstation game - 4wheeler racing! u know, that was right up his alley! ;0)

around noon, Katie scooped him up...then we got our wheels turning & got ready 2 head 2 the campground...my parents had just left that morning 2 set up camp & were planning on staying through Tuesday...since our beach trip was canceled, they asked us 2 join em 4 the weekend...& they wanted the kiddos 2 spend the entire time there - nights & all!

we happily obliged!
♥

we were also able 2 grab Curtis Jr & Corey & bring them along! they were "free" & made some time 4 us...i was just thrilled 2 get 2 see em again so soon! the kiddos too - they literally squealed when they heard the news!

as soon as we arrived, every1 headed out in different directions...Jaden immediately took off on his bike - his fav thing 2 do is just ride around the campground...Gabby wandered off with Deandra (my niece - my sis & her kiddos came down 4 just Saturday) & they stayed busy riding bikes & exploring the river - Gab really looks up 2 Deandra & is thrilled 2 have an older girl 2 hang out with/show her the ropes...Curtis & the boys couldn't wait 2 go fishing - so off 2 the pond they went...that left Corinn & i...we took a walk down 2 the waterfall 2gether

she brought along her net & found some excellent treasure! ;0)

then she couldn't resist - she had 2 get in the water! the area in the river by waterfall is the best little place 4 kiddos 2 play - they've dammed it up with rocks & created little pools

u can see it in the background of these pics below...i love this series of shots! can u feel the love & admiration? my girls absolutely ADORE their big brothers!

Jaden too - the boys just express their love a lil differently...

~lol~
believe it or not, Jaden loves when they roughhouse like this! he's constantly egging them on

around dinner time, the rain showed up...it wasn't so bad at first - but just as we sat down 2 eat, the floods came pouring down! lightning, thunder, the whole 9 yards...we made the most of it & after about an hour, it had blown over...but boy, what a muddy mess after!

the kiddos loved it tho! they rode their bikes thru the puddles, played in the mud...just had a good ole time getting messy!

the boys kept busy in the game room...

Corinn & i came up 2 say hello...she played a game with Jaden too (well, she thought she was playing anyway ~wink~)

we stuck around until dark...i gave the kiddos showers & helped get em ready 4 bed...we made some s'mores & then headed home...the 3 youngins stayed in the RV with my parents, we took the boys home so they could sleep in their own beds, shower & get ready 4 day #2...Curtis & i went home...ALONE!!! ~big grin~

the next morning, we picked the boys up nice & early...then us 4 went 2 Shoney's breakfast buffet...it was nice 2 spend some quality time with them - 2 b able 2 have a conversation without the 3 lil ones piping in

that afternoon was the Foltz family reunion back at the Lost River State Park in WV (the park where almost all our family reunions take place)...we met my parents & the kiddos back there & got our grub on

the kiddos hunted 4 minnows, crayfish, etc. in the creek...it's funny cause this is exactly what i used 2 do as a kid, at every single reunion

Curtis & the boys were on the hunt too...they were planning on using the crayfish as fishing bait back at the campground...we also took some of the tiny minnows home 2 Socks - he LOVED em!!!

look at this - i mean seriously - does it get any sweeter?!?!
♥

as soon as we were back 2 the campground, off the boys went 2 try out their bait...

not a whole lot of luck at the pond...but the fish in the river sure loved the taste of crayfish!

the 3 youngins & i headed 2 the pool...by this time (Sunday eve), most of the campers had checked out from their weekend stay...the place was empty compared 2 the day b4 - especially the pool! we had it all 2 ourselves!

just as it was getting dark, i realized i hadn't take our traditional kiddo pic in front of the waterfall - & i especially wanted 2 get 1 since the boys were with us this time! we rushed down 2 the falls & got there just as the sun had finally set...u can't see the falls much, but i still had 2 get the pic ;0)

we had s'mores & helped get the kiddos ready 4 bed again...then took the boys home & headed home ourselves...again ALONE - how the hell did we pull that off?! not only 4 that evening, but 4 Monday eve too! Curtis fixed us a steak dinner on Monday - it was so romantical! ;0)

Mom & Dad kept our 3 youngins through til the end of their stay...here's a pic they had a fellow camper take of them on Monday

they spent most of Monday at the pool & Jaden even tried out karaoke that night - singing his fav song! the video that mom took is very dark, but u can hear that he did well...she said the monitor displaying the words would distract him, but as soon as the chorus rolled around, he'd jump right back in!

they were so exhausted Tuesday night - i mean, almost in tears kinda tired! after KD & 4 days of camping, they'd reached their limit...we gave em baths & put em 2 bed early...they fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow!

we're back 2 life as normal...well, as normal as it can b right now! Curtis is still on the job hunt (keep the prayers coming!) & working some side jobs 2 bring home a little cash...the kiddos r back at summer daycare...my 30th bday came & went without too much of a fuss (just another day in my book)...it's VBS week at our church, so the kiddos r getting 2 do that every eve...& in almost a week, Curtis & i will get 2 get away 4 the weekend with our BFF's (we planned, & thankfully already paid 4, a cabin stay with them months ago) - it'll b sans kiddos too (thx 2 my amazing mom!)...we're so excited!

pretty soon it'll b time 4 school 2 start - i can't believe how this summer is flying by!