Family Camping and More

When I met James 14 years ago, one of the first things I learned about him was that his family liked to go camping. This weekend we went on our annual family camping trip. They have been going to the same place since 1973! Once I get past the fact that it is a 4 hour drive each way and it means spending 36 straight hours with all of my in-laws, I actually tend to enjoy myself.

It is fun to watch the kids grow and remember the hikes and to hear some of the stories of what James did when he was a kid. It was extremely entertaining this time to watch Brian's dog Alpine dig from here to China trying to get all the little animals buried under the ground. It was even cute to watch Dawson carry around grubs that he dug up from the ground like they were his pet. (Of course I made him wash his hands twice before I would touch him, but it was cute to watch.)

When we come home from camping, we usually go out to dinner because everything is a mess and I am too tired to cook. So, tonight we headed out to dinner. When we pulled in the parking lot, the first thing my son noticed was the sticker of the silhouette of the naked woman on the car next to us. Then when we get out of the car, the truck next to us was blaring, "Porn Star" during the chorus. James and I just looked at each other. After dinner we managed to get behind two drivers in the middle of a road rage moment and Colton asked why they were yelling and waving their middle fingers at each other. So lovely.

The moral of the story for me is, although I may dread the family camping trips sometimes there are things to be learned.
1) Spend time with family when you can because you never know when it will be the last trip.
2) Let boys be boys. Get dirty, get messy and have fun.
3) Living in the woods may not be so bad...it would help me avoid having to explain a LOT!

Mother's Day Surprises

This Mother's Day has been filled with surprises. Not the typical surprises like breakfast in bed or cards and flowers. Surprises like stomach bugs overtaking my house and my life.

We didn't have a lot planned today. One of the greatest gifts to me is to be able to just take a day off from everything. James was going to get bagels for breakfast on his way home from shift, we were going to watch movies, make a yummy dinner at home and just enjoy the day.

Instead, I got a phone call from him at 7am letting me know there would be no bagels. He got the bug and was on his way home and headed straight for bed. Not only was my day changed, but all of my not-so-favorite things became a part of it like dishes, laundry, and decontaminating the house (for the fourth time!)

This isn't exactly how I would choose to spend my Mother's Day, or any other day for that matter, but it does reinforce what is important. Mother's Day is not about all the hype. I am blessed to be a mother. I am lucky to have kids with hurts and illnesses to help and to love and to be loved by. There are many women in this world who would give anything to take care of kids with the flu if it just meant they got to have kids. I am lucky to have a husband to take care of (and that takes care of me) and to know I am not alone. I am lucky that my biggest health concern at this point is a little stomach bug that has inconvenienced me for a week. I am lucky that my mom is still around and that she is so involved in my life. I am blessed. And although this day looks nothing like I thought it might, it is a good day.

Another One Bites The Dust

I am frustrated today and I am going to whine about it. Sunday night we went to our small group barbecue and everyone was feeling great and doing fabulous. Then, I woke up in the middle of the night sicker than a dog to my stomach. I thought it was food poisoning. I hoped it was food poisoning. I called a couple of the other families and no one was sick. Was that good or bad? I wasn't sure. I was down for the count for a couple of days, but everyone else seemed to be hanging in there.

Wednesday James went back on shift. Did I forget to mention he was on shift the night I got sick too? The good stuff only happens when he is gone. Anyways, I took the boys to football practice. Everyone was feeling great and doing good. I was even starting to have a little life come back. We went for dinner afterwards, showered and were off to sleep. Until 3:30am when Colton came in my room and then ran for the bathroom. Now he was sick. I wasn't sure if he had gotten it from me since it had been three days or if it may have come from another kid in his class that had left throwing up that day. All I knew was that I was back to bleaching the house and disliking my hubby's job at that particular moment.

I decided at that point, that he was just going to stay home Thursday and Friday from school to make sure he got better. Thursday night things were starting to look up for him. I was looking forward to trying to get a solid nights sleep and was super excited about going to Muffins for Mom with Dawson the next day. And then 2:30am came. And Dawson had his head in the toilet. Another one down. Seriously?

I was so upset. I was sad for him and Colton. No one likes to be sick. I was frustrated and I couldn't believe that it was going through the entire house. But overall, I was having a pity party for myself. I missed Muffins for Mom. This was my last Muffins for Mom. My baby is done with kindergarten and moving on. That in itself is emotional, but to miss the little moments along the way is just plain heartbreaking for me. Only having two boys means only having two shots. The first one is so special because it's the first and the last one is precious because it's the last.

When everyone is better, we are going to have our own Muffins for Mom and Dawson's teacher is so sweet that she said if I come into class on Monday they will sing for me one on one. Right now, I am just praying that since James has been lucky enough to be at work for most of the fun that he will also be lucky enough to escape this oh so fun stomach bug as well.