I bought a lot of that Rustique fabric, so any opportunity to use it, I will. A pillow that will rarely be used! Yes please!
And of course a banner. Because every Scamp needs a banner. Duh.
Oh, want to guess how lazy I have become in prepping for our Scamp trips? So lazy that I can no longer retrieve our four pillows from our beds and take them to the Scamp. It was just too much. Instead, I bought four new pillows and sewed four new pillowcases. These new pillows will stay in the Scamp because, you know, the lazy.
Have I mentioned that next summer we're going to Germany to visit my parents? Well we are. And in order to best prepare my kids, I knew we had to visit an Oktoberfest because I'm sure it's 100% authentic and exactly like our German experience will be (end sarcasm font) We found one in rural Virginia and went Saturday morning.
The drive was lovely (yes, I am turning into my parents, or just old), and the little town was nice. The festival was good, as were the bratwurst, huge pretzel, German music, and dancing. Good times. But sadly I forgot my camera in the car and have no pictures of any of this. Bad times. Although the boys did get to sit in these little cars.
But when we finished being German around 1:30, I knew it was way too early to head home. As we were close to Harper's Ferry, we took a quick side trip and finished our day there. My only regret was that we are a couple of weeks early for fall colors, but that just means we have to go back. Oh and bonus for us! Saturday was Free Public Lands Day so we saved on the entry free to the park. I love when that happens.
Pretending to be park rangers. And first time ever banging on a typewriter. I love those WPA posters.
Confluence.
Fighting about which direction we should hike on the AT.
Church ruins.
Jefferson Rock. Can you find Ollie?
It turned out to be a great Saturday. One where you love where you live and love the people you're with.
P.S. We love this dinner. Seriously so good. Strong flavors, filling, comes together quickly. Added to our dinner regular rotation.
Last year Chuck's job had a different schedule than his new one. Then: 12 months, no automatic school holidays, must take leave for time off. Now: 10 months, automatic school holidays, can take leave, but don't need as much because of school holidays. So last year for Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, Chuck didn't have off while Rhett did. I had this great idea to take the boys camping, just me and them. But sadly it got rained out.
Even though this year Chuck did get the Jewish holidays off, I still wanted to take the boys and give Chuck a little break. So we did it. I invited some friends and only one was crazy enough to join me. The kids did great (no middle-of-the-night bathroom trips nor wake ups!), I did great, Chuck did better than great. Maybe it'll be a new family tradition!
Since buying the Scamp, we've kind of committed ourselves to camping more often, even if it means quick one-nighters. But because we have the Scamp, the overnighters are just so easy! Except for food, most everything is ready to go. Love it.
Even though we've visited this state park before, Cunningham Falls is quick and easy and lovely. The boys particularly loved the hike as it was filled with huge boulders--the perfect medium for climbing kids. Chuck particularly loved doing it without a herniated disc in his back. I particularly loved doing it without an infant.
Yes, the banner is new. I'm sure someday we'll return to eating outside, but for now it's just still such a novelty to eat inside the camper.
Even big boys love climbing rocks.
We've got a two-nighter in the works for October. Sweet.
I knew the hours while Ollie was in school would go by quickly, but not THAT quickly! Man. It was so fast that on Wednesday I ended up doing only two things from my list. I got the haircut, but by the time I got home, my four hours were half gone. Then, because Ollie's cookies required parchment paper and because I had only one cookie-sheet's-worth of parchment paper and because I didn't want to wash dishes, I had to bake those cookies using only one cookie sheet...which took forever! By the time I finished that, I had only 50 minutes remaining. QUICK--do something productive! So I organized our small linen closet. (Which strangely produced two changing pad covers and one crib sheet. Weird.) Then it was time to go get Ollie from school.
Crazy.
I didn't read the paper. I didn't vacuum the basement. I didn't do the dishes. I didn't go to lunch with Chuck. I didn't read (so I didn't nap). It was pathetic. I promise to do better next time.
The boy was nothing but happy about preschool. Happy when doing his hand-print shirt...
happy when taking pictures the next morning...
happy when walking to school to drop off Rhett first and then go to his school...
and happy to get there.
And miracle of miracles, there was no problem when I left him in his classroom. And when I came to get him, again with the smiles! Who IS this boy?! I'm just hoping this happiness continues. Man, I like this boy!
P.S. And yes, that is the same shirt that Rhett wore on his first day of preschool. How amazing of you to notice.
It's a big day folks. Later today, Ollie will be in preschool, and I will have four blessed, quiet hours. I think I was a bit over-ambitious with my goals for today. All that's going to happen is the haircut, lunch with Chuck, and maybe I'll make a special treat for Ollie. And while that treat is baking, I'll read. I hope I don't fall asleep while reading and burn the cookies, because HEY. I'm old. Falling asleep while reading is totally a thing. In fact, it's how I set myself up for a nap.
Anyway, OLLIE. Right. The kid is a nut. I was really nervous about preschool because he does not do well at drop-offs. How many years has he been going to our babysitter? How many years have we dropped him off at either nursery or Sunbeams? A lot. And the kid still fights them both. So I knew preschool could potentially be fraught with troubles. I contacted the school's director who was happy to let us in one day to play. We stayed for an hour and he had a great time playing with toys. Last week we went to an open house for his preschool, so although other kids were there, so I was. Another good experience. Finally, last Friday I had parent orientation. Ollie was left in the room (not happily, but not kicking and screaming either). The meeting was only 45 minutes, and when it was done, Ollie was just fine! I really think he'll be okay today for the real deal. And he's been a lot happier and nicer lately, so I don't think he'll be kicked out. Or, as Vacation Bible School put it, "asked not to return." That Ollie.
Cute pictures of the first day of school will come on Friday. Until then, you'll have to be happy with this video of him reading his self-published book. He's a charmer for sure.
So remember nearly TWO YEARS ago when I made a tooth pillow for Rhett, thinking he'd soon be losing teeth? Wow was I wrong! Only nine days shy of being 7 1/2 years old, my boy finally lost his first tooth. It had been loose for a couple weeks, but when he had some annoying instrument in his mouth (is there any other kind?) and Ollie yanked it hard, well, it got a LOT looser. Chuck started fiddling and POOF! My boy suddenly had one fewer tooth than he had before.
Update: Rhett decided he'd rather keep the tooth than have money, so we didn't even need that darn pillow.
Welcome everyone to this installment of the Hubanity's Major Awards. This morning I'll be handing out awards in the "Laundry Division."
To the male (ahem, Chuck included) who makes me turn right-side-out the fewest number of clothing items (socks, shirts, underwear, etc.) goes the "Fewest Number of Inside-out Articles" Award.
To the boy submitting the highest number of matching socks goes the "Fewest Orphan Socks" Award.
To the boy who consistently gets his dirty laundry in his hamper while keeping his laundry out of his brother's goes the "Fewest Traitors" Award.
To the boy who changes his underwear at least as many days as there are days in the week goes the "Most Underwear" Award. (I will give out two awards if that encourages entrants to get the award.)
That concludes this Hubanity's Major Award announcement. Join us next time for awards in the "Kitchen Division."
Last week while at a park, new signs were being installed on the nearby trail system. Of course I'm too embarrassed to ask for the old ones; that's why I have kids! I sent Rhett to ask what they do with the old ones and he returned with the answer of, "Take them back to the warehouse." Oh well. I tried. BUT later the guys came over and offered one to us! Of course we took it. What's a 3/4-mile walk home carrying an awkward, sorta-heavy, definitely large sign? Nothing!
And when Chuck took his math clock to work, he left a vacant spot on the wall in the playroom. Perfect.
P.S. Holy crap. Here's a math problem you've likely never seen: humidity + trail run + late dusk + light rain = ??? FROGS. For reals. My running partner and I screamed and peed like little girls. I'm pretty sure we left behind us some serious carnage. Grossest run ever.
We start the back to school traditions on Sunday, with the stamping of the shirt (which, at age seven, he's already too cool for)...
...and the back to school dinner. Which has turned into anything for the entree and a side of tots on the trays. Because tots and trays just scream school lunch to me. Also, the boys got a box of milk, which was disgusting. (I chose pepperoni sandwiches because it's been a summer staple. And now that summer is over, I'm ready to serve real meals and have real fights over them. Sigh.)
We got the picture early in the morning (can't let anyone see us)...
...with the new hand print on the sleeve.
But right as we're about to leave, Rhett decides he needs to go to the bathroom and Ollie decides he needs a drink of water...both of which somehow require the bathroom. Which, of course, leads to a fight. Which, of course, leads to Ollie biting Rhett and Rhett punching Ollie. Hence this pic. Happy First Day of School everyone.
