March 27, 2024

(click for today's pictures)

  • Today was another school day-at least Whitman didn't fall sound asleep and start snoring like a man while I read this morning to everyone. He did that yesterday! I probably just should have let him sleep because I am sure that he operates at a sleep deficit.
  • Graham and Reagan went to work at noon, and Anderson left a little bit after them to go and paint the fields at Raymar. While it was quite in the house, I walked Bentley outside for a little bit and listened to my book. 
  • When I came in, Whitman and I did spelling and really before I knew it, Reagan and Graham came blowing in from work. She saw some of her senior pictures-I asked her about them but she told me I would just have to wait.
  • They weren't home very long before they left again with Anderson, Keaton, and Campbell. Tonight was the referee meeting so they had to be there early. Whitman and I didn't leave for a few more minutes, but we had to leave early too so I could run in the library and get some eclipse glasses.
  • Tonight at church Whitman and all of the rest of the kids had an Easter egg hunt. It was organized chaos, but I think that they all had fun. Anderson and Campbell stopped at ChickFIlA on the way home while the rest of us came home to pizza rolls that Robby made. I was starving so I couldn't wait until they cooled so of course I burned my tongue.
  • Meanwhile, Reagan is eating and drinking everything in the house-she gets her wisdom teeth out tomorrow morning so she is fueling up now.

March 26, 2024

(click for today's pictures)

  • We did the school thing early this morning-actually, I keep getting up later and later which makes Campbell happy. Last night she begged that we could start school later-we did though it was just about 4 minutes later than usual.
  • Tomorrow, I hope to start right on time since I won't be able to read with them Thursday morning-that is the big wisdom teeth day for Reagan. Actually, one of our friends was only in the back for about 15 minutes so maybe I will be home for some of the usual reading time. 
  • I ran to Walmart and Kroger this afternoon with Keaton and Campbell. Our mission was to get the Easter basket things. I think that we did pretty good-I still have to buy something for Anderson and possibly for Reagan. The baskets are pretty light this year, but seriously, my people are need in nothing.
  • When I came home, Whitman and I did spelling together-he acts like he hates it and even did half of it while fake sobbing. I honestly think that he really does like it! At least I hope he does, because we have lots of spelling time in our future.
  • Reagan went to work this afternoon and just about right after Keaton, Robby, and I left for the first soccer practice. I decided that I would go too and take Bentley so she could remember how to act around people. She did fine, but she still has a lot of work to do to be a perfect dog.
  • Keaton's soccer team looks pretty good this year so that will be fun. For some reason, we all do seem to enjoy the soccer season-though Graham was trying to get out of reffing games this year. It won't happen though.
  • We didn't make it home until 8, and Robby is working, and Keaton is anxiously awaiting to watch on of our tv shows. Campbell made brownies while we were all gone, so that is going to be my next sanck!

March 25, 2024

(click for today's pictures)

  • It is kind of nice to get back into a routine for sure. Well, at least I think so but I am not so sure that the kids agreed with me. I seriously love doing school at home even though I am at the point during the year where I am done with this year and ready to start all of the new things for next year. 
  • I tip toed in the boys' room to quietly wake up Whitman. He sleeps with his blanket wrapped tightly around his head. This morning when I touched his blanket to pull it down, I heard him giggle. He was already on his ipad. I asked him when he woke up, and he said he thought at 2. I don't think he really woke up at 2 or maybe he just did briefly.
  • If you remember, on Saturday, Whitman felt pretty rough, but then rebounded that night. Yesterday, he just had cold like symptoms, and today he has even less. However, the kid has played a game, wrestled, chased people around the house, and even did most of his school work by himself-not only has he not felt bad, but he has been full of energy-which is definitely not his normal. 
  • Even though he has felt better, this afternoon he was standing right beside me looking out the window. I was quietly reading until he started jumping up and down and screaming. Of course, I start yelling "what? what?" He stumbles backwards pointing to a wasp on the ground and shouted "that." There was a wasp by the window, and it stung him through his pants. I just asked and he said that it was pretty much gone.
  • Graham and Reagan went to work this afternoon. They came home saying that the finished it all so that is good-just as long as there is more to do on Wednesday. This afternoon I did manage to get Keaton, Anderson, and Whitman to play a game with me. We have had this game for years, but we never could figure out how to play it. Today though we learned, and it was fun.
  • Graham had his Dgroup tonight so Robby and I dropped him off. Then we ran two places to pick up food for all of us-Robby gave the kids a choice and surprisingly everyone picked the same thing. It was fairly late when we did get home-Reagan even had her bowl, napkin, spoon, and cup filled with ice ready to go.
  • I don't think that basketball is one-or at least no one has turned it on the tv in the living room. Robby is working in his office, and it is just Whitman and I in the quiet living room.

March 24, 2024-Spring Break Weekend at Toad Suck

(click for today's pictures)

We slept a bit later this morning, and then Robby got up and turned on the church house for a little bit. We watched some and then started working on picking up. Robby and I took a walk with Bentley around one loop this morning, but it was super chilly so we moved quickly.

Then we went to work-Robby had his cooking things up, and there were things for me to grab as well. I would put something up outside and then go inside to straighten things. Reagan and Graham rode home with me, and maybe because they had both just woken up, but there was little conversation happening. Goodness, I tried, but other than a few grunts, I got nothing.

We made it home, and everyone went to town unloading things. The kids all grabbed their clothes, and then came back for a few more trips. It didn't take long at all for things to be out of the camper. I came in and put up things and then went back out to start cleaning. 

It wasn't too long until I left with Whitman. He had a birthday party to go to at Raymar this afternoon. They played capture the flag for a little bit and had cake. After presents, I grabbed Whitman and we headed home. 

We have done at least 5 loads of laundry tonight, and I would like to be able to do two more before we go to bed. Keaton didn't have long to rest this afternoon because she had to make cookies for her life group tonight. Reagan had her life group later than usual, but the boys and Campbell skipped Rock Creek tonight. I guess they just wanted one more relaxing evening before school starts back tomorrow.

Robby picked up Keaton, and then he and I went to the Wilson's house for a little bit tonight. We visited and planned another camping trip before Robby and I came home and started herding everyone towards bed. 

March 23, 2024-Spring Break Weekend at Toad Suck

(click for today's pictures)

I'm sure I say it quite a bit, but our mattress in the camper, which I didn't think we needed, is just divine. Robby can get up and go to the bathroom, and I have no idea. I usually still wake up and hear him, but I have to throw my arm on his side to see if it is him that is gone. We both sleep so well on it-now watch, we won't tonight! Hopefully, I didn't jinx us, but our mattress is one of the best things about camping.

My alarm went off around 9 this morning so we could get up and start cooking breakfast around 10. We weren't moving too quickly, but we brought our stuff to the Wilson's camper and started on breakfast. Robby made egg in the holes, chocolate chip pancakes, and bacon. It was pretty chilly at 43 degrees when we started so I spent a good deal of time supervising Robby cook so I could be right by the warm grill.

After breakfast, we cleaned up a little bit, and then we headed to walk a nearby trail. When we found the start of the trail behind a Walmart, I was a little concerned about what we were embarking on. However, it was a neat little trail that was about 3 and a half miles one way. The trail was super nice and just meandered through neighborhoods in Conway. 

Anderson, Campbell, and Whitman paused at a playground, but surprisingly, they pretty much caught back up with us. We didn't walk the whole trail, but did walk a total of 4 miles today. By the time that we were walking back, we realized that Whitman wasn't feeling the greatest so we let him and Campbell pause at the playground, and we picked them up when we made it back to the car.

So Whitman, who knows? He definitely felt bad today. After we picked him and Campbell up from the playground, we went to Sonic where Robby bought everyone a big drink, and since it was also a mystery shop, he got a hamburger which Graham and Whitman both wanted to split.

Whitman didn't drink any of his drink nor did he eat his half of the hamburger. He even took a good 2 hour nap-Robby had noticed that he didn't eat any of his breakfast nor did he eat any of his supper tonight. However, by the time we built a fire and pulled out the s'mores, Whitman was back to his normal self. When I came into the camper, he was watching a show with Anderson having a big time. After eating his s'more, he finished his Sonic drink, ate a snack cake along with some popcorn and candy so at least right now he is feeling much better.

When the rest of us came home from Sonic, we huddled in front of the tv and watched the Hogs play baseball. Actually, I sat in the sun which was perfectly cozy and had myself a little nap. When the game was over, Keaton sat up the pickleball net, and some games were played. There was a single tournament and a doubles tournament. Don't be surprised that I did not win in either bracket-though I sure did play hard in my singles match-hard enough I thought I was going to have to sit down to catch my breath!

Robby cooked supper tonight-nachos and quesadillas on the blackstone. We all agree that those two things are much better cooked on the griddle. For dessert we pulled out the s'mores. That is a favorite for everyone plus tonight we had things that made the fire change colors. Keaton had given these packets to Robby for Christmas, and it was really neat to watch-Whitman certainly enjoyed it-enough that I put some of those on his Christmas list.

We stayed right around the fire tonight until almost 9:30. Most of the kids stayed out a little bit longer watching the basketball games. It was pretty chilly this evening, but the fire was roaring so that was nice. Now we are all in the camper with a few folks in the bed and others watching tv. We still have two beds to make and I'm about to change into my pjs and call it a night! 

March 22, 2024-Spring Break Weekend at Toad Suck

(click for today's pictures)

It didn't take me too long this morning to get a little bit bored. I finished my chores along with my book. I also finished putting all of my stuff in the camper, and then I just waited. I tried to think up things to do around the house and to help on Sunday, and I did a few of them, but mainly I just waited.

The kids started stirring around 11, and soon they were all moving around the house-I honestly think that they were a bit excited about going somewhere. And they all love talking to Bentley about going "camping" because this thrills her.

We started heading to the camper around 12:45 and were soon off to Toad Suck. I drove the minivan and followed behind Robby. Anderson and Reagan rode with me-they were a bit chatty on the drive, or at least they were too chatty for me to listen to my book.

We got here, and Robby drove in like he knew exactly where we were going-and he did. Then he whipped into our site, and we did a few things-hooking up, putting out the mat, tablecloth, and trash can-and then we went to the Wilson's campsite.

Toad Suck campground is a whole lot like Maumelle Park. We are not near the river, but we are right near a basketball court which the boys spent a good deal of time playing. Anderson, Graham, and Brett went down the road to a church to play some pickleball.

While they were gone, we took a walk and the Wilsons cooked supper. Robby set up the tv, and we watched basketball while we ate, and baseball while we had dessert, and more basketball while we sat around the fire. 

We haven't been camping in a good while-I guess since near Thanksgiving, so it was a little hard to become motivated to prep for this trip. However, it was all worth it-it is so nice to be back in the camper!

March 21, 2024

(click for today's pictures)

  • Today has felt like a Saturday to me. We had heard that Costco puts their sale items on sale Thursday morning and even heard that there are usually people there early waiting to get in. Last night I debated going early to see if we could find any bargains.
  • Campbell said that she might go with me, but when my alarm went off this morning, I saw a text from Keaton saying that she would go with me too. Until I had read that text message, I had almost convinced myself that we could just go another week; however, I decided to just get up and get ready.
  • I went upstairs to wake Keaton and Campbell up, but Keaton then decided that she didn't want to go. Campbell got herself ready and soon we were out the door. We laughed at the traffic this morning going and said that maybe they were all going to costco. 
  • When we pulled into the parking lot though, we quickly realized that everyone else was not going to Costco-it was still closed. So, last night when I was looking at the opening time, I must have been really tired. I looked at the closing time: 8:30, so when we pulled up a bit before 9 we were very early for the real 10:00 opening time.
  • Campbell and I did the camping grocery run-Robby text me everything that he could think of that we needed, and Campbell and I added a few things. Unfortunately, we didn't need to many things, and we are quick shoppers. Once we finished shopping, we ran to Sonic to buy her a drink. Then I drove through Chick Fil A to pick up a free chicken biscuit which we split on the way to Costco.
  • By this time, it was almost opening time and the parking lot was indeed full. They did have a few more than usual sale clothes this morning, but nothing extraordinary. However, Campbell found herself a 7 dollar sweater, and I bought a 3 dollar sweatshirt for me.
  • Then we came home, and I started on the day's chores. It wasn't too long before I turned on the oven and started looking for Keaton. She had a party at 1 to go to and still had cookies that she needed to bake (she had made the dough yesterday.) Once her cookies were made it was time to take her just down the road to her party.
  • I did some packing today and quite a bit of school work for next fall. Keaton stayed later than she planned which was fine. For supper, I made pasta for must folks' supper while the others just found something around here. 
  • Campbell and I went to pick up Keaton, and I even let Campbell drive us home-it wasn't far at all. Basketball has been on the tv all day long around here, and we are all comparing our brackets. So far, I am already pretty far behind!