• parented.
  • ate.
  • created.
  • learned.
  • gave thanks.
  • About Me
  • Home

camping

Playgroup Camp-out

Posted by Carolyn on July 27, 2017 Leave a Comment

Earlier this month we rented a whole group campsite for our playgroup.  It’s the perfect place for so many small people.  It is a place to run, to get toes wet, to roast things over a fire, to sing songs, to play on pirate ship logs, to stay awake too long, and to make some fun memories.

Two other families ended up joining us for the camping, while two other families camp up for the day.

I have loved watching these kids grow up together.  This fall, a huge number of them are starting kindergarten and that’s sort of unbelievable and really exciting.

 

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
Posted in: parented., photography, playgroup | Tagged: camping, playgroup

Forest Fairies

Posted by Carolyn on August 5, 2016 Leave a Comment

Sometimes, when you go camping in the forest, the fairies find you.  I mean, this probably usually happens, but sometimes you see the evidence.

During our camping trip, the girls found beaded necklaces hanging in a tree by the fairy log.  As Alma put it, “This is AMAZING!”

Alma and Harriet wrote them a thank you note and let them know about our fairy door.  Lately Alma’s been pretty sad that the fairies have never visited us in the door.  I suggested that maybe the fairies just didn’t know about the door.  Alma had me write our address and that they should fly safely since it’s a long trip from Wind River.

During our trip, Alma lost her necklace in the rocks.  Luckily when we got home, the fairies had been there.  They left a note thanking Alma and Harriet for telling them about the fairy door and even returned Alma’s lost necklace.

There’s always time for a little bit of magic, right?

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
Posted in: a little moment, CHOOSE, learned., nature, parented., parenting tips and tricks | Tagged: camping, fairies

Parenting is Not for the Faint of Heart

Posted by Carolyn on August 4, 2016 3 Comments

There is nothing worse than seeing your child’s blood on the outside of their body.  If there is one truth about blood, it’s that it belongs on the inside.  But, sometimes thing happen that destroy that truth.

This weekend, while camping, it was a rock that destroyed that truth.  A small rock in the middle of a path, directly in front of another rock that stuck out of the ground just far enough to trip my oldest daughter.

All the kids were running laps on a path that was alongside our campsite.  They ran and ran and ran.  Then one of them fell and they all stopped.  I don’t remember getting to Alma, but I do remember the blood.  It was already pouring down her sobbing face.  I scooped her up, said, “JESSE.” and don’t remember getting down to our picnic table.

I do remember exactly what went through my head:

  • Don’t overreact.
  • Where is a hospital?
  • Head wounds bleed a lot.  It’s not necessarily a big deal.
  • Don’t overreact.
  • Head wounds bleed a lot.  It’s not necessarily a big deal.
  • Head wounds bleed a lot.  It’s not necessarily a big deal.
  • Head wounds bleed a lot.  It’s not necessarily a big deal.
  • Head wounds bleed a lot.  It’s not necessarily a big deal.
  • Don’t overreact.

Everyone rushed to help.  Devon got the ice.  Heather got the band-aids and wipes.  Jesse, somehow, miraculously had a pocket full of paper towels.  Antonio and Drew got the lollipop.  Harriet got Sarah Bear.

Thankfully the bleeding stopped pretty quickly, and we were able to see that it was more of a puncture wound than a cut.  It clearly didn’t need stitches, though, in my opinion, it looked crazy how deep the wound went.

I also remember exactly the things that Alma said as I held her in my arms, bleeding:

  • We never should have come camping!
  • I don’t want a lollipop!
  • My sister is the best sister in the whole world.
  • I want to go see where I fell.

The rest of the evening was spent sitting in laps and getting extra cuddles.  I watched Alma carefully for signs of concussion, even though I had no idea what the signs of concussion were.  I only cried once, and not where Alma could see me.

We stayed two more nights and Alma bounced right back.  The bump has gone down and the cut is healing nicely.  The only wound that remains is the piece of my heart that broke along with the skin on Alma’s forehead.  But that’s the thing about parenting, and that certainly won’t be the last bit of my heart that will feel my daughters’ pain.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
Posted in: a little moment, learned., parented., story telling | Tagged: camping, my daughters, Parenting

Family Camping Weekend 2016

Posted by Carolyn on August 3, 2016 Leave a Comment

This year our Family Weekend consisted of 3 nights in tents, countless s’mores, a perfect river, campfires, fairy houses, one head injury, games, biographies by Grams, 10 kids under 10, 10 adults over 30, a surprisingly pleasant vault toilet, one Trump pinata, a beautiful forest, nice weather, fun, and, of course, family.

The kids spent so much time moving rocks and sticks around in this area.  They worked so well together building fairy houses and houses for all of the action figures. 

The Wind River was perfect for us.  We had a great beach right next to our campsite, with lots of big rocks in the shallow, warm river. We all worked together to reroute the river to create waterfalls and a wading pool for the little ones.

We spent lots of time cooking, eating, talking, and singing around the campfire.

One of the highlights was the pinata.  Each family was asked to bring some sort of entertainment.

Of course, the kids had a wonderful time with their cousins.

And I always love when I get to spend so much time with this handsome man.

Save

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
Posted in: gave thanks., gratitude, nature, parented., travel | Tagged: camping, family weekend, washington

October Camping… err, “camping”

Posted by Carolyn on October 21, 2015 Leave a Comment
October Camping...  err, "camping"

Last Christmas, Alma’s gift from my mom and step-dad was a camping trip with her cousin Liam and their dads.  They decided to go to Silver Fall State Park.  Of course, it turned out to be the first rainy weekend in months.  They went anyway, and decided to play the camping part by ear.

andthenthey camping 1When they got to the park, it was sunny and warm.  They hiked around the waterfalls, in the woods, and had lots of fun.  They had a picnic lunch in the lodge and hiked some more.  andthenthey camping 2 andthenthey camping 3Alma and Liam are just a few months apart in age, so it was fun for them to get to spend so much time together.  andthenthey camping 4One of the stories they came home with was from the caves.  Alma said to Liam, “Will you protect me?” and Liam replied, “I AM SCARED.”  andthenthey camping 5 andthenthey camping 6 Alma has been looking forward to her camping trip for months.  She would tell me, “I’m going camping with Grams and Grandpa.  You are not coming.  Harriet is not coming.  Daddy is coming.”  She was very clear about this.  There was no way I was going to sneak into the car.andthenthey camping 7 Of course, the rain showed up.  They embraced the water and got soaked.  At this point, it didn’t matter if the rain was falling, or the creek was splashing.  It was warm enough that it was still fun.andthenthey camping 8 andthenthey camping 9It was so wet, though, that everyone decided to head home.  They realized they would have just spent the whole night in their tents as a fire would have been impossible and everything would be too wet to sit on.  I don’t think Alma was too disappointed.  They got to do all the fun things of camping without sleeping on the wet ground. andthenthey camping 9aI can’t wait for this to be an annual tradition.  Maybe next year Grams and Grandpa will take Alma and Liam without their parents… maybe they’ll take Harriet, too!

The photos in this post were all taken by Jesse.  He did a great job, didn’t he?

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
Posted in: gave thanks., gratitude, learned., nature, parented., story telling, travel | Tagged: adventure, alma, camping, kids, nature, Oregon, Parenting, photography, travel

Friday Gratitudes 29

Posted by Carolyn on July 28, 2014 Leave a Comment

…on a Monday.

20140720_164721 20140720_173209 20140723_121149Friday the 18th: Friends.

Saturday the 19th: Picnics.Teddy Bear Picnic, Jesse’s company picnic, a picnic at Dad’s pool.

Sunday the 20th: Nature.Alma’s first camping trip.

Monday the 21st: Papa.Harriet got to spend the night with my dad while we were camping.  They have such a cool bond.  I love it.

Tuesday the 22nd: Katrina.We got to celebrate our friend’s birthday!

Wednesday the 23rd: Rain. Love. Love. Love.

Thursday the 24th: Bradshaw. As in, Dr. Bradshaw.  We are so lucky to have such a caring, loving, positive, intelligent, and wonderful doctor for our kids.  Especially when they end up with hand, foot, and mouth disease.  Ugh.

 

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
Posted in: friday gratitudes, gave thanks., gratitude, one little word | Tagged: camping, friday gratitudes, grateful, gratitude, Oregon, Parenting, photography

The First of Many

Posted by Carolyn on July 24, 2014 5 Comments

Our first night away from Harriet.

Alma’s first camping trip.

It was quite a trip.  We met my parents at their annual group camp-out.  They go up the river every year and spend a few nights playing music with friends.

We have never actually spent the night at this camp-out.  This year we tried.

We almost made it the whole night.  Jesse got food poisoning and we ended up driving back to the valley in the middle of the night.

Looking back, there were a few signs telling us not the try to camp.  My sister-in-law had a baby that morning (we thought maybe my parents would want to go meet him right away – the decided to wait until the next day).  Our air mattress didn’t fit in the tent (sweet Marsha traded us for her tent).

Oh well.  At least we tried.  And Alma got to experience most of the camping experience.

And Harriet had a great time having a slumber party with my dad.

 

 

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
Posted in: learned., nature, parented. | Tagged: alma, camping, music, nature, outdoors
If God said, ‘Rumi pay homage to everything that has helped you enter my arms,’ there would not be one experience of my life, not one thought, not one feeling, nor any act, I would not bow to. -Rumi

Recent Posts

  • 3 for 1 Pumpkin Brew Fest (2019, 2021, 2022)
  • Pumpkin Beer Fest 2020
  • SEPTEMBER 2019: Currently
  • Dear Harriet, Age 6
  • OCTOBER 2018: CURRENTLY

Archives

Categories

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Copyright © 2023 and then they....

Theme by ThemeHall.

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.