(The blue teeth are from a lollipop.)
Sleeping bags have been all the rage here. . . . .(they’re new.)
We are leaving tomorrow morning to go to NY to visit family and have a vacation. The children will be attending VBS at the church my parents took us to when I was growing up. . . .their VBS program is almost unchanged since I was a child and I LOVE my children being able to go. Not only that, but they get to spend time with their cousins, who go to that same church.
Rich and I reserved a cabin at a state park for the family to stay in for the week. Hence, the new sleeping bags. The cabin sleeps 6, has a fridge and a stove, so I’m not sure if you can technically say we are CAMPING but hey~ it’s a campground so I think we can get some credit for being a little more nature-minded this vacation. We have never done this before and I’m hoping that it will be a great time for us. Rich has been working way too much lately and we really need to slow down and spend time together. He is looking forward to it just as much as I am.
I have to pack today. I always put it off until the last minute.
But first, a couple of random photos:
The other day, just for fun, the kids and I made GREEN SUNDAES. This is pistachio ice cream, whipped cream that I dyed green, and green cherries that Grace found at the grocery store~which is how we got the idea for green sundaes. The kids thought it was so exciting.
Also, little Caleb, three years old, is finally in a big boy bed. Last night was his first night in it, and Jacob took this picture. We were all proud of him.
He did so good! He stayed in it (which was sort of a miracle) and looked at his pile of Thomas books with the last remaining light of the day coming through the window. Later, after it was dark, I went to check on him and he had the whole pile of books on his legs and I could barely see his big eyes. When he realized I was in the room, he stirred and told me breathlessly, “Thomas, he fell in the stream”. . . . .he was just quietly thinking about Thomas stories and I thought he was so precious that I kissed him all over his face and then left him to his pleasant thoughts.
Well, that’s all I have to say this morning. The boys are out in the kitchen frying eggs and I suppose I better get ready for a day of organizing and packing. We will be gone for an entire week! Will you miss me? 
Seriously, I hope you all have a great week and I’ll be looking forward to sharing vacation memories when I get back. I’ll be checking my blog throughout the day so if you have any camping tips or ideas. . . . . . .
Good to be Home 
I hope you enjoy your vacation!! That is so nice to be able to spend time with your family like that & take a break. I don’t have any camping advice, I’ve never been:) I would say only take bug spray, which I’m sure you are doing. Not really good advice I think:)
Wow Caleb looks so cute in his new bed. That is amazing that he stayed in it all night, I know the first few weeks Matthew was out of his. Enjoy your trip & you will be missed!!
My camping tip? Take extra tp! Have fun ~
I hope you have a wonderful vacation sharing your childhood VBS memories with your kids and making new ones for them to pass along!!! 🙂 Hey! That sounds like camping to me! 🙂 Kids, campfires, smores , dirt, lots of laughter…good times ahead!!!
We just took Jacob out of his crib last week! I took pictures of the crib being dismantled and felt weepy! It really feels like just a few short months ago that we set it up. Sigh. But he is already over three! He does not want to stay in his new bed. I never had this much trouble with the others! 🙂 He is still in Sarah’s room and I wish for now I could just put him in her big old bed. But it is a really high four post bed and falling out is not an option!!!
Love the green Sundaes!
Blessings!
Have a fun trip! I like his bed, I think Isaac is going to start liking Thomas.
Have a fabulous vacation! SOunds like so much fun!
Have a good week. There is just something about the quietness of nature that takes you away from the regular world. On the other hand it’s a good kind of noise because between the birds and bugs,there are a lot of sounds!
Hooray for you to be spending a week camping. We’re also camping next week (3 days) and I’m glad to know I won’t be missing out on your new blogs. Happy times and memories to you….
We’ll miss you! Would it be out of sorts to have the boys bring the guitar and the violin? I think that’d be nice to listen to in the evenings. Encourage them to have a duet. Now I’m second-guessing…is it just Ethan who plays both or does Jacob play one?
Sam saw that picture of Caleb in his big boy bed, and he said, “Who’s that friend?” I started to tell him about Caleb and how much he loves Thomas and how he just had a birthday and got lots of trains. He said, “Ohhhhh….” They would play for hours together, I’m fairly certain.
Heather (brezomayo) talked about the “Day Out With Thomas”, and I looked it up. It is coming near here the end of September. I’m so excited. We’re going to surprise Sam and Maryn. You should check to see if it’s headed your way. Caleb would be head over heels.
Have a great time camping! We did a lot of camping when our kids were younger and they still talk about it.
I love camping – especially in a cabin. You will love it! I can’t wait to see you! – Love You! (can you tell I’m excited by the exclamation points?!!!!)
Oh, your cabin vacation sounds WONDERFUL. My husband and I both grew up in families that camped all the time; his did the more “authentic” tent-camping, but my large family had a huge camper (that slept 11!) or sometimes we stayed in a cabin, like you all. It was so much fun. Mom always brought her big electric griddle, and my memories of mornings are filled with smells of the bacon and pancakes that she would make each day (she would make a pancake mix before leaving on our trips and simply add eggs, milk, etc.). Yummy! I have the same problem of putting off packing until the last minute. It always causes me to be up late the night before we leave on our trip, so I’m working on this – last time I started three days before, and that really helped!Have a FABULOUS WEEK! We will miss you. ❤
I am NOT a camper, but I hope you have a delightful time! Thank you for sweet pictures, especially that last one of Caleb.
Hope your camping week goes great!!! I love to go and am definitly still learning on what to take and whats not needed!! I must say your pictures of your nature walk make me VERY jealous!!! I would LOVE to have a woods like that to go exploring in!!!!!
Camping ideas? KISS. Keep It Simple Sweetie. That’s my motto for a lot of things right now, and I think it applies to camping too. Also, a very practical idea my mom used to use for camping. You know those big rubbermaid bins? If you have a couple of those, they work great for packing. They stack nicely, are waterproof (although if you are in a cabin that might not apply so much), and animal proof (especially if you set something heavy on top.
A “cabin” with a stove and refrigerator???? Yes. That’s CAMPING!!! My idea of camping is to spend the day walking in the pine needle woods, maybe horseback riding, and then coming back in the evening to the “lodge” with running water, a/c, and beds with sheets!!!!! Dinner in the dining room sounds appealing, too!I liked the blue teeth pictures and wondered if the green sundaes left the same impression!?!Of course I’ll miss you! Have a great time.
I love the idea of a cabin! How fun! “Keep it simple” is my vacation motto so I’ll pass that along to you too! We will all most definitely miss you and your wonderful words and pictures! Have are great time!
Ok..trying again here..Xanga seems to have the hiccups this morning.What I wrote before was..I hope you all have a wonderful time together!!! Um….does Holiday Inn qualify as camping? Oh–I thought not.;pWhen you return from your vacay, be sure to stop over to my place to see any new pics of our NEW GRANDDAUGHTER!!!! Yay! Miss Anavah Grace arrived last night!She’s a keeper.See you later.xo
Hope you have a wonderful time. We were in NY visiting our son and his family (Larchmont, NY) last week. Wondered how far you were from there! Build a campfire, roast marshmallows and make smores! Take natural bug spray and enjoy!Liz Davis
Camping tip: take a baggie of clothespins. They are useful for so many things: hanging up wet swim suits, keeping snacks fresh in their bags, pinning curtains closed that want to pop open, and playing games (google clothes pins and games together – lots of stuff comes up!).
Alesha
Baby wipes are good for camping trips too. You can clean up messes that need a bit more than a towel with them. Definitely take clothespins, and if you have them some of those large, gallon-sized ziploc bags. (If something gets extra-dirty and you don’t want it to get on other clothes, or if the children find a treasure that just HAS to come home, but probably doesn’t need to get strewn all over.)
Have fun! It sounds like the week will be great!
Good for Caleb! And do have a wonderful camping trip…
We will definitely miss you, and we’ll miss the kids at VBS 😦 Hope you have a wonderful time, and enjoy your time away. 🙂 Love, Trish
Great photo opportunities when staying in a cabin at a state park! Hope you have a wonderful time!! Enjoy the solitude!
Miss you???? Oh my stars! There have been times lately when Purple Amethyst makes my day! God brought you into my life and I am so thankful and lifted up for a new little sister in Christ. I will miss you, for sure, and hope your vacation goes beautifully. I’ll pray that you and your hubby will share some super special, restful time together while your children enjoy their activities. I look flrward to the stories and pictures that you will be blessing us with when you get back. Big e-hugs, Gail (richggem)
Have a great time. Enjoy your trip in nature.
I won’t miss you because I’ll see you!!! Hopefully! I don’t have half day like I thought I did…
what fun pictures! And, I love the little story about “I just kissed him all over his face and then left him to his pleasant thoughts…” so sweet 🙂
We will miss you but it sounds like a much needed break away. I love camping! All I can say is keep it simple. Chances are there is a grocery store close by. Simple, simple. That is what camping is all about.
Enjoy your time together!
Xoxo~Amy
Enjoy your camping trip!We haven’t gotten to go on vacation in such a long time { a couple of years} and I was hoping that we would get to at least go camping but it doesn’t look like it’s in the picture :(I so want to make these last years with my children here at home memorable!Have a wonderful trip and a blessed day!
Oh the fun of cuddling up in a seleping bag and the adventures that can then be imagined!When you get home, I bet there will be requests to sleep out on the porch and someday in a treehouse May the Lord bless your week, the time spent with family, VBS, and rest for Rich
Caleb looks so incredibly comfy and cute with Thomas books and the cat! Our middle son did not sleep through the night until we put him in a big bed. Sounds like he had a sweet transition.
You will be very missed…though we know we will have wonderful pictures to look forward to. You are probably on your way by now….have a wonderful time. The cabin sounds like a wonderful experience……enjoy the natural beauty and your family. hugs, Jenny
Having just returned from a state campground, yeah, I’d have a few things to say, but you’re gone. I think you guys will have a great time!
& then we turn 20 and were that “bitch” still walking around the house. lmao… i love your family. i can’t wait to have kids of my own. all of my friends have kids… but.. im waiting until i finish school first. you’ve given me something to look forward to. i’m so young & confused. dunno..if i’ll ever have what you have. a husband..and a family..cuz these 20 something guys are..just… CRAZY!!! seriously.have fun!!
Oh what joyous memories you will create at the cabin. Enjoy your week my friend and yes of course you will be missed.
You will be sorely missed- but I wish you the best trip ever!
I’m going through withdrawls! I’m addicted to your site….looking forward to you being back and hearing all your dear family did. May God bless you today and the rest of your vacation
Yes, I miss you and I hope you are having a marvelous time. Is the weather cooperating? I can’t wait to hear all the sotries and see all the pictures. Blessings and daily prayers, with love in sc, m