bluegrass 2012

The 3rd weekend of September is our favorite weekend of the year.

And it's come and gone already.

 

This was the earliest we've ever taken the camper (that we borrowed) and saved our spot (one week before). And we're pretty sure next year we'll go even earlier.  It is amazing how packed in things get.  We had the best we've ever had, but it was a little on the small side.  Or maybe it was just all the extra friends we added this year that made it seem small.  We need more space for more friends and for more kids to run around camp.

 

We headed out Thursday in the rain.  Dave said I was a genius to think of having rain boots for the kids and I.  He liked the idea so much we headed to Walmart to get him a pair too.  Thank goodness, because the next day all the rainboots in the entire town were sold out. 

 

 

 

This little guy sure loved the camper. And altogether was a dream baby the entire weekend.

 

 

 

There was only so long we could hang out in the camper, so we found some errands to run in town and visited some good friends in town.  Whenever we visit, Taylor always has to go see "big" Taylor's room.  She requested that I put it on Instagram for Taylor to see.

 

 

Even though the rained kept us from enjoying any of the festival on Thursday, we still had such a great time camping.  It was so nice and cozy in the camper.  Especially when there are games, legos and movies to watch.

 

The sleeping arrangement was fabulous. The kids both slept together in the loft above the table.

And Gavin's bed fit perfectly in the back of the camper, and there was even a door that pulled closed that separated him from the rest of the camper.  It made it so easy to put his music on and shut him back there all alone.  He slept perfectly.

 

 

The kids absolutely loved the camper.  And so did we.  It definitely makes camping with 3 kids pretty easy!

 



 

The rain stopped right in time to be able to cook dinner over the fire.  I loved everything about this evening. Fall weather, chili, rainy evening, cozy camping and a movie night all cuddled together in the camper.

 

 

After the rain stopped, the weather was perfect the rest of the weekend.

 

 

The kids had a blast this year. It was fun to have another little friend at camp with them. 

They entertained lots of people on this road, and attempted (and succeeded a few times) at selling their bubbles and play-do on the road right outside our campsite. (in case you're worried about our children playing near the road, this isn't a normal street with traffic although it may look like that. It's one of the campground roads with slow moving vehicles. and they were super good about staying on the very side.)

 

 

One of the highlights of the weekend is eating good camp meals. 

 

 

Pancakes, smoked ribs, breakfast skillet, harvest skillet, eggs and bacon!

 

 

 

It was just a little bit muddy in a few spots. Our kids were pretty much in heaven getting to actually walk in it.  This was probably reason #23 I was glad we all had rain boots.

 

 

 

 

 

 2 of my favorite spots to be...sitting around the campfire and sitting on the hill at Stage 2.

 

 

Camping is definitely made easier when you have an awesome camp neighbor who opens up his RV to us anytime to use the restroom and shower.  The is the 2nd year we've been spoiled.

 

 We ended the weekend with face painting for good behavior and a concession stand lunch.

It was an awesome year.  We had more friends than ever join us (I think we fed near 20 people on Saturday night), and the kids love it more and more every year.  Dave thinks we will camp for a whole week one of these years. But I reminded him we now have kids in school.

And so the countdown begins for next year!

gavin {9 months}

Oh goodness I think we need a new plan for Gavin's monthly pictures.  I think last month didn't go so well either and I had hoped this month would be better.

It wasn't though. In fact it was the worst ever.  A complete stressful family event, if I was being real with you.

I thought it was the perfect morning, Dave was home and he could help me in hopes to have it go better than last month.  Surely he'd be able to get Gavin's attention so he'd look up at the camera and re-position him so I didn't have to get up and down off the ladder.  In the end Dave said I needed to find another photography assistant.

 

I kept asking him to move Gavin's arm closer to him because it was being cropped out of the frame. 

I was as high on the ladder as I could get and had my fixed lens on so I couldn't zoom out to fix the problem.  You wouldn't think that moving a baby's arm a few inches would be so hard, but it was.  And in the end I couldn't get a single shot without it being cropped out.

 

 Nor a single shot without tears or pouty faces, and now I'm noticing his yucky eczema too.

 

 

 We had 2 other kids running around being distracting, a dog in the way, a cow bell that wasn't doing the magic, a stressed out daddy being asked to move the blanket, move the sign, move the baby, ring the bell, dig leaves out of his mouth, and stop him from crawling off the blanket....all while I was trying to snap away hoping for just ONE good shot.

 

We didn't get a good one until he got to sit up.  Of course.

But doesn't he know that his mama wants all of his month shots to have identical poses to it's easier to see his changes?

 

I wanted so badly to find a time for a re-do. But our last month has been a little bit insane, and finding time to lug out the quilt, print a new sign, set up the ladder, and have some extra hands to help me is quite the challenge. I'm lucky to even get the pictures taken at all. And I'm sad that he's now just a week and a half away from being 10 months. A little too late to get realistic 9 month pictures.

So these will have to do.
 

 

Gavin, here are a few things I want to remember about your 9th month:

*you still scream at the top of your lungs to let us know you're here. It's not that you're mad, you're usually quite happy while you're screaming. You do it in the store up and down the isle. It really is painful to the ears. People stop and look at you all the time. We are trying so hard to teach you not to do it. It hurts Daddy's ears A LOT.

*we finally stopped swaddling you, and you still sleep like a champ.

*you are walking along the furniture and beginning to reach out and try to get from one thing to another.
 

*you started waving

*you finally started talking to us more than just your squeals. You have jabbered away this month more than ever.

*you are eating so much more table food than your brother and sister ever did at this age

*you love to play with balls
 

*we dig things out of your mouth constantly, and your brother and sister have gotten really good at it too. Even when we think the floor is all clear, you find SOMETHING.

*you finally let your brother and sister help feed you

*you are so content most of the time to just roam the house and find things to explore on your own.

*and you are pretty much into everything!

 

We are getting more and more of a glimpse of your personality and it's so fun.  You are one content baby, but when you get mad, you definitely have a temper.  Thank goodness you don't show that to us very often.  You already are learning how to be silly and make us laugh.  You aren't much of a cuddler and you are so independent when it comes to getting yourself to sleep.  If I even try to cuddle you before I put you down, you rarely go for it.  Last year at this time all your little friends were beginning to be born and we were getting so anxious to meet you too.  What joy you have brought our family these last 9 months, we love you so much sweet baby!



Mason's first day of Pre-K

 He's been waiting for 20 days for his turn.

And this morning it was finally time.

 

He was so excited last night that he laid in bed for an hour and a half talking and singing while his sister was out cold.

 

We took a few pictures with big Sis before she left for the bus.

 

After we dropped Taylor off, we came home and watched the clock until it was his time to go.

Of course we filled the time with a photo shoot that I began warning him yesterday about.

He's not usually too keen on photo shoots, so I tried to prep him.

He did pretty good!

This one is quite possibly my new favorite shot of him.

 

ahhhhh, another eyelash shot! 

Daddy met us at the church where the Pre-K is (same place Taylor went, but with a different teacher).

 

 There was no hesitation at all.  He remembered where his cubby was from when we enrolled.

I can still tell he was a bit nervous because that tongue kept coming out.

 

 

 He was so ready to be there.  He found his name and sat down right away.  He didn't need the last minute hugs like his sister always does.  But we got some from him anyway.  I think Mommy and Daddy needed them more.

 

 

Even though we didn't do a special back-to-school dinner when Taylor went to Pre-K, Mason asked if he got to have a special dinner like Taylor did, and of course I said YES!  So tonight we'll have our special dinner just for Mason.  He requested cherry pie for dessert.  And since I don't make pies,  AT ALL, Dillons will be making my night super easy.

 

This morning was my first morning at home with just one kiddo.  As much as I get sad about my kids growing up and going off to school, and my house being more empty, don't get me wrong...there's the up side also!  2.5 hours (2 of which Gavin sleeps) to clean, sit and eat breakfast and drink my cappuchino in quiet, to have my quiet time with the Lord, to work on business stuff, to blog and check email.

 

Today felt pretty good.  Mason was ready, and that makes it easier on me.

But I think having sweet little Gavin still at home with me makes it all better.

Taylor and Mason are just 16 months apart, and that doesn't give a mama much time at all to recuperate from these big milestones and the reality of kids growing up.   But knowing I still get 4 years with my little one makes it better. 

Even if having them gone means more time to myself and time to get things done, I'm still glad that I have awhile before my house will be completely empty during the day.

 

 



one boy and one girl

I just have to get some of the most recent memories of these two recorded.  They are too precious.

And too funny.  And quite dramatic for a 3 and 4 year old.

 

Mason and Lily are kind of attached.  One of them may be a little more attached than the other.  Or at least more vocal about it.

 

 

 I really am thankful for their bond.

And that there's a little walkway through our fence to get from one house to the other.

 

You see, this little guy doesn't know how to play on his own.  And having a big sister at school means he just doesn't know what to do with himself.

I am challenged every day to make sure to stop cleaning the kitchen, stop trying to get laundry in, or check emails or even feed myself or the baby (well, if he had it HIS way, I would never eat, nor would Gavin), and just give him my undivided attention.  I will be honest and say it is HARD.  My mind goes in a million other directions.  I'm so used to getting kids up and spending some time with them at breakfast, and then they were always off as fast as they could to play all morning.

So it's definitely been a transition as I try hard to remind myself that I WILL miss this.  And in no time at all, he's going to be off at school just like Taylor.  And I will be sad.

 

 

We usually get home from the bus stop after dropping Taylor off, a little before 8.  I try my hardest to keep him from running to Lily's house till 9.  He asks about 25 times from 8 till 9 if it's 9:00 yet.

 

 

They are hilarious to watch and listen to.

They go from house to house, room to room, driveway to driveway, garage to garage.

They have the cutest conversations, and they eat their cookies in the most unusual way.

 

 

 I'm told that Lily professes her love for Mason nearly every day.

And her life is nearly over if he decides he's had enough "girl" time and wants to come home.

In fact, today Mason came inside and tried to lock her outside. I explained that this was not something we do to friends, and that we need to make sure they always feel welcome.  He proceeded to tell me that he just wanted a little break, but Lily wanted to follow him everywhere he went.

I helped him explain to Lily that he'd like to take a little break and then he'd be ready to play again in a few minutes. 

She asked if she could take a break with him, and then proceeded to sit on the back steps and stare into the window waiting for him to be done with his break.

It was seriously the CUTEST thing ever.  And I wish I had thought to grab my camera.

 

 

They share snacks, Mason helps her get drinks, they are in Sunday School together, they like to watch a little TV when they get tired from playing, they swing and build sand castles and ride bikes.

Sometimes they scream at each other, but they always give lots of hugs.

Sometimes they hit each other, but then other times I hear Mason saying "you can sit right by me on the couch."

 

 

Their bond is a special one.  We've been able to use this friendship as a way to teach Mason how to take care of girls, how to respect them and make sure they don't ever get hurt.  How to help them and be polite.  Although I'm afraid that sometimes Lily gets treated more like another rough and tough boy, there are at least a few glimpses of absolute preciousness between these two.