Don't let the difficulties of the present moments overshadow the reality of God's promises. God's promises still stand. And God's promises are stronger than our failures.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Camping....Days 2, 3, and 4

2nd Day:
G10 (at 8:30 a.m.) What time are we going swimming?
Me 4:00
G10 (at 8:45 a.m.) What time are we going swimming?
Me 4:00
G10 (at 9:00 a.m.) What time are we going swimming?
Me I will not scream, I will not scream, I…
B9 I only had 2 s’mores last night…can I have 4 tonight?
G2 Scream…loud
G7 She wants my Leapster but I’m playing with it
B9 Grandma there’s a huge spider in the bathroom. No kidding. Huge. It has 4 legs and everything.
Me Spiders have 8 legs, not 4, so that was probably something else.
B9 Nope, it was a spider for real. And it hopped everywhere.
Me Spiders do not hop, grasshoppers hop.

We decide to make a quick trip to WalMart since my Birkenstocks are rubbing a blister on B9’s toe and his tennis shoes are still wet and sure don’t need to be making the trip to the beach. Besides we need more eggs, because who knew they would all want scrambled eggs, after their chocolate donuts and chocolate Pot Tarts? And we need more drinks, because who knew they could drink that much in one day? They all four want to ride on the cart and can’t understand why when I try to push it the darn thing won’t budge. We find water socks/shoes for B9 after trying on several pairs just in case the others felt better and yes he knew they were all the same size. One wants apple juice, one wants CapriSun cherry, one wants CapriSun grape and one, thank goodness for that one, will drink anything. B9 also wanted to pick out the eggs - he carefully checked three cartons before one satisfied him. Four children, when together in WalMart, do not understand the concept of walking behind each other so others can get around you - they walk in a wad, a closely compacted wad that takes up the whole aisle. Finally, as the WalMart employees cheered, we left.

They ride bikes, they swim, they color all the railroad ties around the campsite with sidewalk chalk, they put together a jigsaw puzzle, they watch a movie, but mostly they eat. G10 meets a friend and the girls all go bike riding. G7, who still has training wheels, gets left behind. She stoically returns to the camper, goes inside, and spends time alone. Eventually she comes out and refuses to ride her bike ever again in this lifetime. When G10 asks G7 to borrow her notebook to write on G7 gets a totally blank look on her face and says, "What notebook?" G10 describes the notebook, everything in it, and where it is. G7 is adamant that she has no such notebook. I think that's called payback. B9, who doesn’t like girls, for some reason refuses to ride bikes with the friend he met and instead hangs out at our camp with G10 and her cute new friend. Hmmmm.
I took 18 pictures. We want to remember everything.

3rd Day:
Grandpa, bless his heart, takes them swimming twice. Except for G2 who has refused to go swimming since the first day. She does not want to go swimming. She does not want to wear a bathing suit. She wants to watch Barney. Thank goodness for Barney.

Upon their return from swimming:
G10 Did she have many poopy diapers while we were gone?
Me Huh? You would want to know this why? Do you want someone asking you if you pooped much today? Ok, I’ve lost it. I haven’t discussed poop since my own kids were little and that was at least a hundred years ago.

The big three get bored. I explain ever so sweetly that if you are bored that means you aren’t using your brain. “Figure something out!” They ride bikes, they swim, they watch a movie, they play with those awful game things that make weird noises. We make s’mores. B9 eats three plus a piece of chocolate. And immediately asks if he can go in the camper now because he doesn’t feel so good. “NO! If you’re going to throw up do it out here on the dirt! Not in my camper!” He’s offended but I’m past caring. I take 3 pictures. We want to remember everything.

4th day:
We are going home! I’m still alive! I haven’t had makeup on in three days and haven’t combed my hair in two but who cares! I’m going home! As they leave my car to get in their parents’ car G7 sweetly asks, “Grandma, when are we going to do this again? Can we go next week?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ya'll are brave, I'm tellin' ya!

Just get you a good rest and come back to see us all!☺

Pat said...

I have one grandson, aged twenty-three, so I don't have much in common with your post. However, I do remember my two kids when we were traveling someplace....a test of patience..but they were dear anyway. I found your blog on Quilting Bloggers and just wanted to say hi as I live in Arkansas too.
Pat at birdnestontheground

Rosie's Whimsy said...

hehehe ....... I really enjoyed your camping posts ..... I can't wait to be a grandma!

((hugs)) Rosie

Anonymous said...

Hello Marlene,

Welcome back to the world of sanity!
:) I so enjoyed your camping posts - all the frustration aside, I think you are one swell grandma, or your grandson wouldn't have wanted to do it AGAIN next week, hahaha.

I love your table topper as well - so pretty!

Hmmm... as for borrowing my husband... let me think real hard about it! ;) Will let you know. :)

Sharon said...

You are a braver woman than am I! I think I learned something today - I will never take grandchildren camping!!
I hope you have a nice, quiet, clean week!

Anonymous said...

Hi Marlene,

Thanks for the kind comment on my feather quilting. The freehand feathers are actually easier than they look - I didn't want to spend the rest of the my life marking feathers on the quilt top before quilting. So, I decided to give freehand a try... :)

Have a wonderful night!

Dandelion Quilts said...

I love how the picture count goes down each day. :) You make me laugh with these fun moments! I bet you were ready for a vacation when you got home.

The Blonde Duck said...

I would have lost my mind. Good for you!

Lori said...

Whew, you are one brave Grandma! Ours aren't old enough to take yet but when our 3 boys were little, we camped on a regular basis with some other families and there were14 kids all together. 11 of our own and of course, there were always at least 3 friends brought along. It got a little hairy but oh the memories that were created that the kids still talk about now.
Kudos to you - creating those memories for your grandkids!

Joanne said...

ROFLOL -- Thanks for the levity this morning -- I was so with you on that trip! I am so trying to figure out a way to get out of taking the 4 and 1 year olds next month! vbg

Dawn said...

Ha! I loved, loved this. I often wonder what exactly the grandparents are feeling when our kids are spending time with them---thanks for giving us the inside edge of what ReAlLy goes on! *grin*

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Way to go G-MA! It took me a few minutes to catch onto the numbering system...

Mine goes something like this.

b19
b17
b7
g5
=
one tired momma!!!!

Kudos to you and your husband for doing the hard thing with grandkids and camping to boot! You win the award this week, hands down.

Thank you, also, for your open arms to receive them, even as you did your own children in their time of deep need.

Who cares what others say?!!! You did the right and best thing by embracing your reach. I hope your girls know the full measure of such love.

peace~elaine

Anonymous said...

This post made me smile. And it also made me think that being a Grandma isn't easy when you've got all the little ones with you, lol!

(I saw your comment over at Mindless Junque and loved what you shared there...so true:)).

Rue said...

I loved this post. I can't wait to be a grandma :)

rue

Rue said...

I loved this post. I can't wait to be a grandma :)

rue

Unknown said...

LOVE THOSE SMILES!!!

Heather said...

I LOVE you for touching on the poopy diaper question. I was cracking up!! I have someone in my life that apparently needs to discuss it quite often.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all about your camping trip. The kids will remember it forever and you are amazing grandparents for taking them.

Anonymous said...

OMGosh...that is soooooooo funny. You gotta write a book! So good with words...had me ROTFL!