Clammy Camping

This weekend we went down to the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky for a camping trip, and met up with Dad’s sister’s family from North Carolina. We had a really nice time and it was great to see everyone. It would have been a much nicer time had the weather been better. The first night it rained hard ALL night. We slept in a pop-up camper, and the noise from the rain was deafening, which was fine because it drowned out the noise of Dad’s snoring. It was pretty warm when we went to bed, and I made the rookie mistake of leaving the covers unzipped on the screened “windows” at my end of the camper. By the time I had realized the mistake, it was too late and my bed was damp and clammy the whole rest of the trip.

Near where we stayed was Cumberland Falls, which was really beautiful. The overlook at the top of the falls was very close to the water, and it was just incredible the force of water that came through there.

We did have a nice time, but I think I’m grateful that camping is not something we’ve done much of. I just don’t think that having fun should be that much “work”. The campground we stayed at was really nice and Jack had a wonderful time- it was heaven for him since we were outside all the time. He had a hard time getting to sleep at night though and didn’t nap much, so by the end of the trip he was having regular meltdowns, and I think he was as glad to get home as the rest of us were.

(See a few more pictures here.)

Friday Fun 3

Via Casual Keystrokes, here’s a nice grocery list generator - just check the items you need and it will spit out a list!

Oscar the Cat Grim Reaper - this cat lives in a nursing home and has an uncanny knowledge of when patients are going to die. He has become so accurate that the staff calls in family when Oscar takes up residence in a patient’s bed.

Another amazing photography project: The Face of an Age

We went to the zoo last Friday, and saw an interesting sight:

The monkeys were resting their feet on the window and folded in half, taking a nap. They were oblivious to the kids pounding on the glass - it was hilarious.

Who needs TIVO anyway?

I used to watch a lot of TV. Too much. After Jack, I managed to at least keep up with LOST, and then I gave up on that as well. I figured I would just catch up when I could check out the DVD from the library 3 years from now. I had tried to watch it online, but could never get it to work because we had the cheapest version of high speed internet. Well, recently we upgraded and I have discovered the joys of watching TV shows whenever I want to, without commercials for the most part.

So far, I haven’t gone back to LOST, as I’ve discovered a new disaster show: Jericho. It’s the same old story: unknown evil-doer drops multiple nuclear bombs on the US; small town people try to figure out what happened and how to survive amidst much melodrama. Remember the TV movie, The Day After? It aired in 1983 and I remember distinctly going to bed after watching it, in a terrorized daze, as at that time we were still under the cloud of the Cold War. Anyway, these days I can watch a show like Jericho and enjoy the shock value and still sleep at night.

I am, of course, not advocating sitting around and watching hours of television, but, it is nice to be able to watch things with almost no commercials, on your own schedule. Just remember to turn the volume down on your headphones when the few short commercials do come on, if you value your hearing.

Doesn’t this look like fun?

“Grandmas Mommaws hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever.”

Jack @ 2 Years Old

Two years ago yesterday, I was swollen up like an overfilled water balloon. We headed to the doctor’s office 5 weeks before my due date for a regular check up, only to be sent to the hospital (do not pass go, do not collect $200) for a 3 hour test (yuck) to see if the protein detected was a false positive. It was not and I then had to spend the night to obtain a 24 hour “specimen” (double yuck). Turns out they didn’t need to wait that long. I was into full-blown preeclampsia within just a short number of hours. Mark and I were naively discussing how we would handle it if I were to be put on bed rest and what we were going to buy at WalMart when they let us go, when the doctor came in to say “get ready, you’re going in for a C-section in 45 minutes.” There was much weeping and wailing (on my part, not Mark’s), but it had to be done…

And now he’s two years old and full of grins and giggles, fight and frustration at all he wants to do and can’t. God blessed us with such a sweet boy. We’re truly grateful.

Jack loves company, even in bed. He’s started sleeping with a stuffed animal most nights, and it’s so cute to go in after he’s asleep and see him clutching it. Usually I just hand him one and put him down, but I got curious as to whether he actually had a preference. I gathered up an armful of 4 different animals and took them over to where Jack was standing up on the changing table. I asked him which one he wanted to sleep with, the bear, rhinoceros, bunny or elephant. He surveyed the choices and looked thoughtful and then reached his arms wide and gathered all of them into his arms! I guess the more friends you can take to bed (when you’re a child), the better.

This month has been a month of firsts:

First sandbox. (an early birthday present) Initial comment was “MESSY!”, but he loves it. It’s interesting how that sand can get everywhere, even inside his diaper. That’s gotta be uncomfortable.

First fireworks. Scary. Very scary.

First movie. We went to the free movie at Easton last week- Ice Age 2. Jack did so great at standing with me in line (you have to get a ticket, even though it’s free), handing the man his ticket and riding up the escalator. He was excited at the prospect of getting popcorn and followed me right into the movie theater, up the stairs and climbed up into the chair beside me and said sighed loudly, like he hears us old people do all the time. He waited like an angel for half an hour while for the movie to start and was fine with the intro to the DVD that was playing on the screen. But… when the movie started, it was just too overwhelming, and he started to cry. I wasn’t surprised. Seeing it through his eyes, I certainly understood how it would be scary.

He’s got a great memory- we went to Polaris mall the other day and rode up and escalator. Halfway up he said, “popcorn??”

Jack is still learning to use his “inside voice”. It’s a hard lesson. He just can’t contain his excitement and has to repeat whatever he’s excited about over and over, louder and louder! EHPANE!!!! YOU HEAR IT?!!? MOCYCLE!!! PUDDING!!!! He lives his life with the caps lock on.

Check out Jack’s big adventure.

God’s Beautiful Creation

When I see pictures like this, I am just awed by the brilliance of God’s creation:

These photographs came from a site called ColourLovers.com - you can see more pictures of beautiful birds in their original post.

They just don’t write ‘em like they used to

Last weekend we went to visit Mark’s parents in Kentucky, and Jack got to go fishing with Daddy out at the pond. Mark bought a fishing pole for Jack before he was born and he finally got to use it! Well, he mostly got tangled in the short line, but he had fun anyway.

I sat down at the piano and opened the Country and Western Gospel Hymnal to pick through the hymns and pass the time as they were out fishing. You know, they just don’t write hymn titles like they used to. Wonder why we don’t sing these classics anymore?

“At the Corner of Glory Avenue and Hallelujah Street”

“Circuit Ridin’ Preacher”

“Life’s Railway to Heaven”

“Brighten the Corner Where You Are”

Okay, I know why we don’t sing them anymore, but it is fun to look back through the old books.

Fireworks are scary

Jack experienced his first fireworks last night from a wonderful vantage point at the Prince’s house. I was interested to see if we could get any good pictures of the fireworks from our camera, and Mark captured a couple of interesting shots, including the one to the right. We were super close to the display, and that first boom caused Jack to pop up like toast from the front porch and make a beeline for Mommy in the lawn chair. He was not amused. Screaming ensued. We went inside to get away from the noise and actually had a better view from their living room window. When he calmed down, he was able to sort of enjoy them, until the finale. I knew they might scare him a bit, and being an hour and half past his bedtime didn’t help matters. I was all set to deal with a cranky boy today, since he was ready to get up near his usual time this morning, but he was full sunshine and grins all morning, and I’m left thinking that maybe I should keep him up late every night!
Here are some pictures from playtime this morning. Check out Emily sporting a “whale spout”. Since all her hair towards the back wants to stick straight up in the air anyway, I gave it a little help today.