Family Camp

We attended our church's "Family Camp" for the first time this year (July 15-17).  It was at River Bend County Park, six miles east of Sweet Home (about an hour from here).  It was a really nice campground.  More "cushy" than we generally like, but perfect for something like Family Camp.  There was a great playground, a really nice swimming area in the river (even a good spot for little kids, as you can see), very clean bathrooms, and FREE showers.  We did not take advantage of the showers.  It started pouring on Friday night and pretty much continued until we left on Sunday.  I didn't feel the need to get any wetter than I already was.  Thankfully, it was still really warm, so I didn't have to worry about Judson being wet the whole time.  (It was basically impossible to keep him dry.)

These pictures are all from Friday afternoon.  It was a gorgeous day, and we had no idea at that point that the rest of the weekend was going to be SO. BLASTED. WET.  Saturday afternoon and evening were dry (for a few hours), which was a nice break.  Overall, we still had fun, and we got to know some people better.  A number of families went home early, however, and it would've been a lot more fun to be in dry, sunny weather!

Heading to the river as soon as we got there

32 weeks pregnant...

Helping Dada.  When did he get to be such a big boy?!

Dinner

Second S'more ever...neater than the first  :)

 We have one more camping trip tentatively planned for this summer.  I have already forewarned Nate that I will not be going if rain is forecast.  Once in a summer (or decade...or lifetime) is enough for me!

Picking Strawberries

Judson and I met JuliAnn and Madi to pick raspberries this morning (that post will be coming soon!), and Jules brought me a CD of her pictures from our strawberry-picking adventure.  Since it was a couple of weeks ago and I already mentioned it, I won't say much about it.  It was indeed an adventure, as we were 30 weeks and 35 weeks pregnant and we brought with us two plant-trampling toddlers who kept pulling up the marking flags every time we weren't looking.  (Though, honestly, the flag system didn't really make any sense anyway...)

Judson got dirtier than I had anticipated, which wouldn't have bugged me, except that he wasn't in old clothes.  I spent the afternoon stain-fighting, and I'm happy to report they look almost as good as new.

**Though Judson seemed so filthy to me that day, as I looked through these pictures, I realized he really wasn't that dirty, especially in light of today's adventure.  God is gently teaching me that he is ALL BOY and I'm just going to have to accept the mud that comes with the gift of this child.**

This is one of the few pictures I took before my camera stopped working.  It's JuliAnn's unattended bucket.  Can you tell which FIVE berries Judson added?!  :)

 

 

 

 

  

A bouquet of flags.  At first we wouldn't let them touch the flags at all, and then we decided we'd let them each carry one, and we'd just put them back when we were done.  Clearly that plan didn't work!

Stay tuned for our raspberry-picking adventure.  I promise it won't disappoint!

Fourth of July Weekend

We were able to spend the long weekend in Bandon, and after a really LOOOONG drive (left at 8:30 pm, came upon an accident outside of Drain and had to backtrack to get back on the freeway and drive further south, and then that exit was closed so we had to meander to get where we needed to be) on Friday, the rest of the weekend was very fun and relaxing.  We picked raspberries at the Nelsons', played outside, went to the parade (which is pretty lame, really, but Judson loved it because it was just all sorts of vehicles), played at the beach, ate lots of really good food, and even saw the fireworks show.  (We woke Judson up to take him and I'm so glad we did!  It was an impressive display, he loved it, and he said, "Again!" as soon as it was over.)

Here are some highlights in pictures...mostly from the beach. 

If only I could get him to look at me once in awhile!!

Judson loved playing with Uncle Morgan

I have no clue what they were doing...

Laughing at Grammie (now called "Gammie")

The guys decided to build a dam, and they took it very seriously.

Anna and Macy came for awhile.  Anna was smug that her baby just sat nicely (read: CLEANLY) on a towel...not for long!  :)

Judson inspecting the finished dam...and about to destroy it.

Tired, frozen guy who did NOT want to leave...

Judson's first camping trip

We went camping with the Olson Family the last weekend of June.  It was the only time that worked for both families, since Baby Olson is due a month from now.  I was a little worried the weather wouldn't be very good and that we'd get NO sleep.  Thankfully everything went really, really well.  We didn't have reservations, but we were able to get a terrific double site at Breitenbush Campground (outside of Detroit).  It was huge, flat, and right next to the river (with a chain-link fence, so we didn't have to worry about our kiddos).  The daytime weather was perfect, we didn't freeze to death at night (though I thought we might...it was SO COLD!), Judson and Madi played together really well, we had so much fun with our good friends, and we even got pretty decent sleep!  Thank you, Jesus!

Here are lots of pictures.  I just can't help myself.  And since I don't see myself doing any major scrapbooking anytime soon, someday I just have this blog made into a book, and viola!  Documentation.  :)

Judson's first campfire...tired guy

Fishing the first day

First catch (one of two that Nate caught the first day...none were caught the other two days)

Watching the daddies fish from a safe vantage point

We took Jules' parents' trailer so we wouldn't have to worry about packing carefully.  The kids loved playing in it.

We noticed so many differences between boys and girls during our weekend together.  For one, Madi is such a poser when the camera comes out, unlike Judson who MIGHT look at the camera, but definitely won't smile.

Playing in the freezing river.  Notice my foot off to the left.  I had to be ready to grab Judson, who kept lunging into the river.  It was painfully cold, but he played in the water for close to an hour.  I was the "lucky" one who got to freeze my feet to keep him safe.

My feet had long since gone numb, so I was no longer in excruciating pain from the frigid water.  :)  You may think I'm exaggerating, but I'm seriously not.  Between the sand in my shoes and the temperature of the water, it felt like my feet were rubbed completely raw until they went numb.

One of many rides in the bike trailer.  I guess Judson will share it after all!

 

Tickles

 

Hugs

 

Judson spent close to an hour using his tiny shovel to load up his wheelbarrow.  Madi decided it would be awfully fun to dump it for him.  It made him really nervous, but, alas, her parents wouldn't let her.  :)

Mr. Sandwich Maker...that day, anyway

First S'more...I think there are some people who will be very impressed that I was able to let him get this messy, especially without a  shower nearby.  Though there is a small part of me that still wants Judson to stay clean, he is ALL BOY and I've come to accept that he will rarely, if ever, be clean for more than about five minutes, unless I keep him in the house.  And that would just be torture for both of us.

Look at those eyes!

Okay, so not the most flattering picture of the pregnant ladies, but it must be included.  :)

Our campsite - looking toward the river from where our cars were parked.  Such a perfect spot for little ones!

The adorable Olson family

34 weeks and 29 weeks

Let's do it again next year, Olsons.  Surely FOUR kids won't be that much harder...?!?!  :)