Camping KOA

Over the 4th of July holiday weekend, we all went camping on the Neuse River with Jeremy, Marie, & Kaleb. This was the first time we had ever camped at a KOA campground since we usually stick with state parks. The perks to KOA are the activites they offer to the guests & the facilities (like a pool, laundry, etc). The only down side we could come up with was that it cost more to stay there & that the camp sites are right on top of each other. We certainly weren't used to this!

This was our set up: See the camper on the far left? That's us- literally right ON the playground & i was standing right in front of the fence to the pool to take the picture... so we were right in the middle of all the hustle & bustle - which the kids really liked & it did make it convenient to take bathroom breaks with the kids! I was just thankful for the sound machine since our window, where Eli's pack & play was set up was right there at the end of the camper with all that noise!

But again, the activites made up for the small sites because we weren't in the camper or at our site as much as we usually are. The first night we were there they had a movie in the grass set up (we attempted, but as you already know, that lasted about 10 minutes). They also had a pool party with a DJ & wet slide set up. Jackson & Kaleb really enjoyed this slide....

Eli did this during the party.... (how i don't know with all the noise RIGHT behind our camper- thank you sound machine!)...They had a 4th of July bike parade for the kids & they gave away prizes for the best decorated bike & dog. We didn't decorate because we barely got out of the pool in time to make it to the parade. This kid was an interesting sight to see at the parade (& all weekend really!)...
STATS:

name: caleb
age: 3 (can you believe that? He was a BIG 3 year old!)

weight: 55 lbs (yes, i asked, he was so big for his age!)

defining characteristic: mohawk (yes, this 3 year old had a mohawk- did HE want that or his PARENTS?)

We watched fireworks while we were there also, which were far enough away that the kids enjoyed them since there wasn't a lot of booming going on, but the adults were a bit disappointed. Oh, well!

They also had these ducks that lived there.... which of course Eli loved to point to & "talk" about. We had a chance to feed them & they were in fact pretty snobby birds. They ate about 4 nibbles & decided they didn't want any ( i guess they do get fed alot) so we resorted to feeding the fish in the creek. We went on a "glow stick" hayride, where they gave all the kids the glowing necklaces & bracelets, & pulled them around the campground with a golfcart. It was cute & the kids enjoyed it (especially the glowsticks!) We did much more than this (can you believe that?) but since this post has become LONG, i will do a second post with all the rest of our trip.....

Some Becca Love....

The boys cousin, Becca, is such a fun cousin! She has always played HARD with the boys & they get so excited when they see her. They just love her so much. She graduated from college this year & has a full time job now, so they don't get to see her as often (frown), but when they do, they STILL play HARD! She isn't afraid to get dirty like the rest of us! Hee Hee

It looks like maybe Mommy & Daddy should have a date night & call BECCA to watch the kids.... Hmmmmm.... keep your phone on Becca, it will be ringing soon!

More Pictures by Grandad....

Here are more pictures that Grandad took, but these are of Eli. He is really coming into himself lately. He is either hot or cold these days & can go from being happy to screaming in a flat second. I guess the twos really are right around the corner, huh? He is such a fun kid though & is so sweet & loving. He is always ready to give you a hug, which i REALLY love!

playing in the grass...

this is the story of Eli's life- he always loses this one croc!
so handsome!
my mischevious "i'm up to something" face!

Pictures of my growing boy!

Every now & then Grandad emails me pictures he has taken of the boys when they are over & i just love getting great pictures of the boys that i have never seen before! He tends to capture a lot of great faces... Here are a few of Jackson....

He sure loves his baby!

cheese!
peekaboo, i see you!

And while we are on the topic of Jackson, i have great & exciting news to share about him. I am so proud of him because he has been dry ALL night for 6 nights so far! I can't believe it! Last week i just decided it was time to bite the bullet & wear big boy underwear to bed. He is usually REALLY wet in the mornings (his pull ups) but i have discovered that he is using the pull ups as a crutch so that he doesn't HAVE to get up to go potty. He got upset & didn't want to wear his underwear to bed the first night, so i asked him why & his response was "I want to pee pee in them (the pull ups) some more!" So right then, i just decided it was certainly a FINE TIME to start. And he is doing GREAT & he is incredibly proud of himself each morning, when he gets up & goes potty all on his own! Yay- less $$ to spend on pull ups!! WHoo Hooo Jackson!!

Camping for the next generation.....

here's a visual for you...

i am in the dark.... on the bottom bunk (underneath Jackson- don't worry there is a rail for him)...Eli is in the pack-n-play next to me snoring & the sound machine is going....Again...it is dark, except a night light & the light from my laptop screen...That's right, my laptop. I am camping & i have internet connection with my wireless network. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?? Now, when Randy goes fishing with Jeremy, & Marie & all our kids hit the sack, i can browse the internet & send emails out! FUN! Now that is how i like to camp right there.

Oh... Happy 4th of July everyone!!

Things only Daddy's Do....

These are pictures i FOUND on my camera when i was getting ready to upoad to this site. Apparently the men have fun with our children when we are away. What is the saying, "When the cat is away, the mice will play?"

Frugal Pool Time

To beat the heat this summer, Aunt Becca & I have been taking the boys & their cousins Emma & Leah to the pool every week. We had originally planned to become "members" of a local private pool, but when it came down to it, we just weren't willing to dish out the cash for it ($500 for 3 months of fun! No way!) So we found out about a public pool through a parent i work with & they have punch passes (15 times at the pool per pass for $9 for each kid- you can NOT beat that price!) For that price, we have been going multiple times some weeks & the pool is super nice. I was a little squeamish about a "public" pool until i saw this one. It is very clean & super chlorinated to kill any germs! And really, it isn't that busy during the week when we go- we avoid the weekends!
They have a kiddie pool, where the kids spend most of their time, a big lap pool, & a spray yard. We stay for hours when we go & the kids are never ready to go when it is time. We have been packing lunch & snacks on the days we go & the kids eat, swim, repeat. Here are some pictures from some of our days at the pool....

Eli begging to go into the spray yard before lunch is over...

Having a snack (in each hand)... Eli always insists on food in each hand, ever since he was old enough to hold his own food- he's our little piglet.
Jackson is swimming under water! Can you believe it? He loves to do this all day!
Eli has lots of fun, too, but he prefers NOT to get his face wet like Jackson!
Cold, but cute!
Warming up & drying off after a days swim....
Chasing torpedos in the water- those things are sooo cool!
Daddy got to come one day when he was off work, & Eli did this most of the time Daddy was in the water. He loves his Daddy!

Sense of Order

I walked into the kitchen last week & i found this: Apparently, Eli has now developed his sense of order! He knew exactly how he wanted to arrange these. What i missed with the camera was the incredibly cute GRIN & snicker he made when i first walked in (because he KNEW he was supossed to stay out of those cans, - he had been told all week)
But he went on to sort them by type (color to him)- he made me so proud.... And then Jackson had to get involved in the "no no" that had just become a "yes yes" for a photo opportunity! Breaking the rules is fun!

NO TRAINING WHEELS!

About a week ago, Randy mentioned that he wanted to take off Jackson's training wheels on his new bike. Well, I was NOT having this! I mean, this kid is only 4 and a half! I nicely stated that i didn't feel there was a hurry, nor did i think HE was ready to ride without them. Well, you leave the man alone with the kid for a few hours, & this is what happens! He took off the training wheels! Of course, there was an excuse mumbled in there about how the training wheel broke & that it had to come off anyway. (I personally NEVER saw that broken wheel, but nevermind). Well, he ran along the side of the bike with him for awhile, & then let loose! (And he did make me proud by running to get the camera- so since he was running with him, the pics are blurry). Apparently Jackson has the balance to ride the bike without the training wheels all around the backyard! However, we aren't letting him ride it on pavement just yet. (Plus, i refuse to chase him around the yard, so he can only ride right now when Daddy is home- so Randy ran to "wallyworld" to get him more training wheels tonight before our camping trip this weekend!) Enjoy the pics! I am just not sure i am ready for my baby to be big enough to ride a bike with NO training wheels! I love the concentration with the tongue!
Ouch- at least the ground doesn't hurt like pavement!
trying again...
So proud of himself!

Boredom Busters

The summer is in full swing, and as a result, we have a little more time at home. I, personally welcome this change, but i can tell the days that the kids are getting bored! I have had to come up with ways to keep the boredom at bay so we have done lots of fun things!

We hit the movies one day with Grandad & Kaleb (note to self: do not try again unless i KNOW that the kids like the movie!) We ended up leaving about 45 minutes into the movie! After getting there early, sitting through previews, etc, they just couldn't sit still ANY longer... When we came out of the movie, i said "Was that a good movie guys?" "YESSSS!!!" "What was it about?" Jackson said, "Ummm... I not know!?" EXACTLY!


One day i let the kids "paint" outside. I put water in paint cups with brushes & they went to town. I used to do this with Jackson when he was Eli's age, & he loved it. I had forgotten about this trick though until last week. Jackson practiced writing a "J" for Jackson, & Eli just scribbled all over the sidewalk.

When this got old, i gave them washclothes & more water & let them clean the front (glass) door. They thought this was too funny, & i went ahead & gave pointers on which areas needed the most!!

My biggest challenge in the boredom busters so far is to RELAX. Everyone knows i get stressed out when the kids demolish the house (which i hear is natural with boys , well & kids in general)... But i can't help it.... it stresses me when they get out anything & everything & strew it from one end of the house to the other. And it just creates more work for ME! But i am learning to let it go & let them have fun.... Here is the proof! Who doesn't remember doing this as a kid?