The Family Night

My oldest child is away at Boy Scout camp all week. He's gone to the mountains of South Carolina and doing Boy Scout things, working on his certifications and he tells me he's going to advance three levels on his quest to Eagle Scout while he's there. He has a really wonderful group of guys he's with and I can remember my own days at camp well enough to know that he's having a great time.

We had originally told him we weren't coming for Family Night. It's way up in the mountains in SC almost to NC, almost touching TN also. But we decided to surprise him so I took off early yesterday and northeast we went. It was serendipity that as we pulled up he just happened to come walking by.

He's bunking with his buddy, and despite the fact that the radar showed DOOOOOOM two nights ago (that was the official forecast) he says it just rained some, no big deal. I can't express my relief enough, let's just say I was more than a little worried and had trouble sleeping. No I'm not over protective at all why?

Julia was incredibly excited to see Louis and shortly after she decided she was going back down the hill for flag ceremony with all of the boys, she then fell and skinned her knee and had to come back. I'm told she screamed "I NEED MY PARENTS." Which is very oddly funny to me.

When the boys came back it was pizza time, a meal for everyone to enjoy together. Not exactly simple camping fair but easy.

Miles started having a bit of a meltdown as soon as the boys went to flag ceremony. We stayed up at the campsite thankfully. I regretted not going for a moment but after his meltdown progressed into full on crazy tantrum (for no apparent reason) I was glad we weren't below embarrassing Louis.

A meal seemed to change everyone's demeanor greatly, Julia was the only person who ate three pieces of pizza. That cracks me up since most of the boys are in high school.  After dinner it was time for some Frisbee or HISBEE as Julia keeps calling it. She was ECSTATIC because the boys let her play with them and they all cheered for her every time, even when she missed.

While the boys all played frisbee and hung out, the adults started a big tub of ice cream. The scouts all took turns making it and since we had a lot of kids, we had a lot of participation in the turning of the crank.

Making ice cream was nearly as much fun as playing hisbee from what I can tell. Not quite as much fun as eating it, however.

Everyone was a pretty darn big fan. I even remembered not to cuss while I was there, I was pretty proud of myself.

I said DANGIT like 50 times. Also DANG. I think I'm gonna start sighing the word "SUG" (as in sugar) like Dale's wife on King of the Hill as a swear and expression of frustration.

He's coming home Friday instead of Saturday - I think because bad storms are forecast for the weekend. I'm sad he's losing a day but glad he's home earlier. I know it's been a week of freedom and learning for him. He's not the kid who has to help take care of his disabled siblings, or who has to help watch his wild child baby sister, he's just Louis for a solid week. He's solo, single, a solitary unit in the world without all of the responsibilities of his normal day to day life.

I bet it's a wonderful and welcome break.
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The Family Night

My oldest child is away at Boy Scout camp all week. He's gone to the mountains of South Carolina and doing Boy Scout things, working on his certifications and he tells me he's going to advance three levels on his quest to Eagle Scout while he's there. He has a really wonderful group of guys he's with and I can remember my own days at camp well enough to know that he's having a great time.

We had originally told him we weren't coming for Family Night. It's way up in the mountains in SC almost to NC, almost touching TN also. But we decided to surprise him so I took off early yesterday and northeast we went. It was serendipity that as we pulled up he just happened to come walking by.

He's bunking with his buddy, and despite the fact that the radar showed DOOOOOOM two nights ago (that was the official forecast) he says it just rained some, no big deal. I can't express my relief enough, let's just say I was more than a little worried and had trouble sleeping. No I'm not over protective at all why?

Julia was incredibly excited to see Louis and shortly after she decided she was going back down the hill for flag ceremony with all of the boys, she then fell and skinned her knee and had to come back. I'm told she screamed "I NEED MY PARENTS." Which is very oddly funny to me.

When the boys came back it was pizza time, a meal for everyone to enjoy together. Not exactly simple camping fair but easy.

Miles started having a bit of a meltdown as soon as the boys went to flag ceremony. We stayed up at the campsite thankfully. I regretted not going for a moment but after his meltdown progressed into full on crazy tantrum (for no apparent reason) I was glad we weren't below embarrassing Louis.

A meal seemed to change everyone's demeanor greatly, Julia was the only person who ate three pieces of pizza. That cracks me up since most of the boys are in high school.  After dinner it was time for some Frisbee or HISBEE as Julia keeps calling it. She was ECSTATIC because the boys let her play with them and they all cheered for her every time, even when she missed.

While the boys all played frisbee and hung out, the adults started a big tub of ice cream. The scouts all took turns making it and since we had a lot of kids, we had a lot of participation in the turning of the crank.

Making ice cream was nearly as much fun as playing hisbee from what I can tell. Not quite as much fun as eating it, however.

Everyone was a pretty darn big fan. I even remembered not to cuss while I was there, I was pretty proud of myself.

I said DANGIT like 50 times. Also DANG. I think I'm gonna start sighing the word "SUG" (as in sugar) like Dale's wife on King of the Hill as a swear and expression of frustration.

He's coming home Friday instead of Saturday - I think because bad storms are forecast for the weekend. I'm sad he's losing a day but glad he's home earlier. I know it's been a week of freedom and learning for him. He's not the kid who has to help take care of his disabled siblings, or who has to help watch his wild child baby sister, he's just Louis for a solid week. He's solo, single, a solitary unit in the world without all of the responsibilities of his normal day to day life.

I bet it's a wonderful and welcome break.
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Boy Scout Camping

The oldest boy went on his first Boy Scout overnight to kick off Memorial Day weekend. He practiced making eggs for weeks, on the weekends, so that he could make them over the fire. The trip was cancelled a week ago, because of very bad weather, and I think I never saw such a sad boy. To say he was EXCITED to go might be an understatement. 

I could barely get him to stop, turn around, and let me take his picture. He's saying "Can I go?" through clenched teeth right here. 

The other boys had found a dead snake you see. He couldn't miss that.

So off he went. Away from me, and into the great outdoors, even if just for the night. I hear there were s'mores and playing with dead snakes and no air mattresses. 

Sounds like ten year old boy heaven.

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Boy Scout Camping

The oldest boy went on his first Boy Scout overnight to kick off Memorial Day weekend. He practiced making eggs for weeks, on the weekends, so that he could make them over the fire. The trip was cancelled a week ago, because of very bad weather, and I think I never saw such a sad boy. To say he was EXCITED to go might be an understatement. 

I could barely get him to stop, turn around, and let me take his picture. He's saying "Can I go?" through clenched teeth right here. 

The other boys had found a dead snake you see. He couldn't miss that.

So off he went. Away from me, and into the great outdoors, even if just for the night. I hear there were s'mores and playing with dead snakes and no air mattresses. 

Sounds like ten year old boy heaven.

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How Being Invited Into a Threesome is Useful

It IS useful and I can prove it to you now, and teach you how to use this experience to your own personal benefit - both practically and emotionally/spiritually.

You might be saying to yourself, "Self, Gidge has flipped her wig - she's talking about threesomes and emotional growth."

But I'd say "Just follow along."

See, once upon a time - about oh say, 15 years ago, I had this really really jackass boyfriend who got it into his head that he and this FORMER girlfriend of his (okay not formal girlfriend - ummm friend with benefits?) and I might make for a spectacular naked puddle of human jello.

Yes indeed he did.

And he was surreptitious about it - smooth even. Did the old "Oh I want you to meet one of my best friends" routine. VERY smooth.

And then we both figured out what was up.

And politely declined.

What we DID do however, was become friends ourselves. Good friends. The kind of friend who even if I didn't talk to her for three months, if she showed up on my door with a bag and said "I have to move in with you," I'd be like "Yeah, ok - no worries."

Because I don't have to be all up in your face 24/7 to love you like that.

And she's the type of friend who LIKES going to goofy places like Dinosaur World with us - despite it's goofiness.

And while we were in Florida she offered us respite from our Vomit filled tent.

And we were able to sleep in the unbelievably luxury and comfort of the best bed in the entire world (it seemed this way after the night in vomitopolis). It was extremely convenient for the morning when I woke up with a sky high fever and wishing I was dead.

It was far better to writhe and sweat in the guest bedroom of a friend than a vomit scented, super heated tent down on the waterfront in Florida.

And well, a huge bonus that might not occur to adults but was not lost on a certain six year old.

She has dogs.

Dogs that will do tricks for you, even.

Which from what I can tell, when you are six, is about the best thing ever. It almost even makes up for missing two days of vacation because everyone is so sick. Almost.

So the only real point, is to say that you don't actually know where you are going to find your friends, but it's probably important to remember that some of the best ones you will ever meet - might be standing in the unlikeliest of places.

Love you Kris! We miss you already.

How Being Invited Into a Threesome is Useful

It IS useful and I can prove it to you now, and teach you how to use this experience to your own personal benefit - both practically and emotionally/spiritually.

You might be saying to yourself, "Self, Gidge has flipped her wig - she's talking about threesomes and emotional growth."

But I'd say "Just follow along."

See, once upon a time - about oh say, 15 years ago, I had this really really jackass boyfriend who got it into his head that he and this FORMER girlfriend of his (okay not formal girlfriend - ummm friend with benefits?) and I might make for a spectacular naked puddle of human jello.

Yes indeed he did.

And he was surreptitious about it - smooth even. Did the old "Oh I want you to meet one of my best friends" routine. VERY smooth.

And then we both figured out what was up.

And politely declined.

What we DID do however, was become friends ourselves. Good friends. The kind of friend who even if I didn't talk to her for three months, if she showed up on my door with a bag and said "I have to move in with you," I'd be like "Yeah, ok - no worries."

Because I don't have to be all up in your face 24/7 to love you like that.

And she's the type of friend who LIKES going to goofy places like Dinosaur World with us - despite it's goofiness.

And while we were in Florida she offered us respite from our Vomit filled tent.

And we were able to sleep in the unbelievably luxury and comfort of the best bed in the entire world (it seemed this way after the night in vomitopolis). It was extremely convenient for the morning when I woke up with a sky high fever and wishing I was dead.

It was far better to writhe and sweat in the guest bedroom of a friend than a vomit scented, super heated tent down on the waterfront in Florida.

And well, a huge bonus that might not occur to adults but was not lost on a certain six year old.

She has dogs.

Dogs that will do tricks for you, even.

Which from what I can tell, when you are six, is about the best thing ever. It almost even makes up for missing two days of vacation because everyone is so sick. Almost.

So the only real point, is to say that you don't actually know where you are going to find your friends, but it's probably important to remember that some of the best ones you will ever meet - might be standing in the unlikeliest of places.

Love you Kris! We miss you already.