Camping

I know you've been waiting. All 10 of you faithful little followers (and those others who read this blog under the radar) have been waiting to see if we made it out alive. If we made it out sane. If we made it out still one big happy family. Before I tell you all the sweet and wonderful stories. Let me say this one thing. If you are thinking of taking your young kids (older kids too I assume) on a camping trip. And. You are thinking that you are going to relax. And. You don't bring any reinforcement (grandparents). You're crazy out of your freaking mind. As I think Brian and I both were. We made a special trip to the store just to buy booze. Because we were going to party after the kids went to bed. Let me just say, that we came home with about as much alcohol as we left with. Now. All this isn't to say we didn't have fun. Because. We did. And. We'd do it again. We plan to do it again. For a longer stay even.

The other thing I'd like to mention about our camping trip. Is that just like hiking, camping in the midwest is very different than camping in Arizona.

In Arizona. You pack up, head out, drive for two hours, get out and you're in the mountains where it's 20 degrees cooler. You go from T-shirts to sweatshirts 120 minutes. Here you pack up, head out, drive for 20 minutes, get out and you're in an area with a bunch of trees, planted between corn fields. And, it's the same hot temperature it was 20 minutes ago in front of your house. I packed the suitcases full of wintery camping clothes and one million blankets. I had a fear that all three children were going to leak out of their diapers all over their blankets- 4 times each. Yes. We were only gone one night. 

We arrived at our cabin. And started unpacking. Kaden had to go potty.

Brian, being the good father/role model taught Kaden how to go in nature. This is Kaden giving me a thumbs-up through the window after peeing on his very first tree. Such a proud moment. (I can't wait until he's a teenager)

Next. We were going to chill for a bit, have some beverages and relax.

I put Finley in the bumbo. You know, to free my hands for relaxing and stuff. He decided he wanted to try (as in eat) every single leaf and rock within arms reach (he has long arms). So I let him sit on my lap. And he dumped out my drink. Love you too, Buddy. Kaden and Myles were too excited and hyper to sit still at this point, so we went on a hike. 1 point kids. 0 points Mom, Dad and relaxation.

Kaden navigated. I agree with his technique. It's easier when the map is upside down. The falls are behind us. Nope. Wait a minute.... 

Before running around to the front, both Kaden and Myles peeked underneath. Just to make sure no one was asleep inside the tent. 

The hike to the falls was too much for the stroller so we had to carry Finley. It's a good thing he doesn't weigh much. On the way I snuck over to get a look at the river. I found a train track. I thought the boys would love it.

They just looked and looked for the train.

 "Where is it? I can't see it yet."

It never came. Brian didn't understand why I liked being by the river. "It smells like a river." He complained. I just liked it for the pictures. 

And. Yes. I wore appropriate shoes for our hike.

The boys were just hiking away.

We made it to the falls. Here is my realization. Midwestern waterfalls are as big as their mountains. It's pretty profound. I know.

 Myles is the fearless one. 

Seriously. After the hike we walked by the lookout tower. 130 steps high (I counted. And multiplied). Myles ran up the whole way. Never stopping once to see if anyone was following. He ran in circles on top. Shouting, "I already up here! I already up here!"

Kaden clutched onto my hand the whole way up, and then ever so gently tiptoed over to the bench. By this time Myles was already started down.

After yelling at him loud enough for the entire camp to hear, he stopped to wait for us. When we got down Kaden said, "Myles, you're so brave. You can go all by yourself." "Yeah! I not scared!" 

 We roasted hot dogs for dinner and marshmallows for dessert. This is what the boys were most excited for. Marshmallows!!! I don't even know where they got the idea. As far as I know, this was their first experience with them... Grandma?? 

After dinner, Kaden and I went back up the tower to watch the sunset. I may or may not have thought the buffalo hanging out by the trees was real. Even with the teepee. I got excited. "Hey! Kaden! Look! .... Oh. Wait.... It's not moving, thats weird. Well I guess the teepee.... Oh. Okay. I get it now." 

We came back down and I was all ready for campfire time... Well...Let's just summarize that night by saying. Boys 100 points. Mom, Dad and relaxation 0 points. 

The next morning as we packed up, I tried to get a picture of the boys in front of the cabin. This was the closest I got of them looking at me. 

After breakfast Myles longed to go back up. They loved that thing. Go figure. 

 There was a tennis court by the lake. We stopped in. 

 The game is called tolf. He didn't actually hit anything on that swing. Maybe Papa Mike could teach him a thing or two about golf. 

Myles is a natural. (Poor Kaden.) They stayed behind to practice. 

Kaden, Finley and I went to the lake. I'm a water girl. I was happy. 

We found some ducks. Kaden tried talking to them in quacks, but they never responded. 

This innocent looking picture was THE exact moment that started the tantrum of all tantrums. You see. We were getting ready to leave. The boys wanted to stay. Kaden found a stick and forgot all of his troubles. Myles took the stick and threw it in the lake. Oh man. You can imagine how well that went over. Brian dug the stick out of the lake so that Kaden could throw it in (He's such a good daddy). We said, "Let's go!"

Kaden and Myles ever so slowly walked away from the lake. In full-on sobs. "I *breath* don't *breath* want *breath* to *breath* leeeeeaaaaaavvvvvvveeeeeee!" If you go with the logic that the bigger fit at the end directly equates to the amount of fun had; then this was the best trip ever! Seriously though. We had a good time. And will do it again. With grandparents. 

A little piece of fall hitched a ride back. 

Midwest Style Hiking

It's September and starting to look like fall. My instagram is blowing up with pictures of Pumpkin Spice Lattes and people are starting to discuss Halloween costumes. Even the boys are getting in on it. Kaden said this afternoon, "First it's Myles' birthday then Christmas and Halloween." "Well Bud, Halloween comes before Christmas, but yes they are both after Myles' birthday." "Um. How 'bout we do Christmas first. It's my favorite." I'm not all anxious to skip fall and go right to winter like my children seem to be. For now I am enjoying wearing layers and cardigans. 

This past Saturday, I had the day off. I told Brian, "Let's get out and go do something. But like really do something. Like hiking. Let's go hiking." And even though there are no mountains, which makes hiking by my Arizona influenced definition impossible, we decided on a spot. Mahoney State Park. 

 The first thing we did was the lookout tower. Kaden clutched onto my hand the entire way up. Terrified of the heights and saying that he didn't want to go.

Another difference between Arizona hiking and Nebraska hiking is when you hike by water in Arizona, you can actually walk alongside it, see it and even get in it if you so desire. Here this was the closest view we had of the river all day. 

 Kaden tip-toed his way around the lookout tower. Almost as if he was afraid that if he stepped too hard he'd fall right through. 

On the ground again- Myles looked up and said, "Whoa! that's really tall." (not to mention the fact that he looks all grown up in this picture!)

 I probably should have thought through my shoe choice a little more. At least my feet looked cute.

 The whole time in the car the boys kept saying, "We're going hiking! We're going hiking!" and "I don't see hiking yet. Are we there yet? I don't see it!" After all the anticipation and excitement, the first thing Myles says on our walk is, "Can you carry me?"

 He was asking to be carried in this picture too. 

They're brothers. And best friends. 

Future boy scouts. They were picking up all sorts of things and showing them off. 

I've been driving by wild sunflowers for a few weeks now, and have been wanting to take pictures of them. I almost pulled over the other day to take a few quick shots. But... Figured with two out of the three boys crying in the backseat, that might not look so great. You know what they say about patience.... Well. I don't actually know, but I figured someone has said something profound on the subject that would fit appropriately right about here. 

We made it to the lake. There is something about water that makes me happy. I love being on and around all forms of it. When this blog makes me rich and famous I will buy a boat. 

Shortly after the lake, we decided it was about time to move on. The boys didn't agree. "I don't wanna leave the park!" There may have been some heavy pouting that went along with the pleas to stay. 

Driving out we decided we still had time (and a state park pass) so we thought we could check out Platte River State Park. The lake at Platte River was way better that the lake at Mahoney.

We rented a paddel boat. Let me tell you. When you see these in the movies and it looks all fun and relaxing... It's not. I mean it was fun. But I still feel the burn 5 days later (and uh... I've been working out, so it's not just me) 

I paddled.

 Myles steered. 

 And Kaden. Well. Kaden was successful in not falling out. 

We had a 30 minute rental. I think I made it seven minutes. Then tag team parenting was in full swing. Brian made it out far enough to see the three little ducks (you see 'em?) 

For our last stop, we went to Soaring Wings Winery. We were supposed to go there once. When we had a babysitter. And then something happened. And it must have been important. 

The winery was on our way home(ish) and we were just going to drive by. Then we talked about taking turns staying in the car while the other one tried samples. Then we just decided to take the boys with us. It seems weird, but really it's no different than taking them to a bar I... uh... mean restaurant... 

 There was pretty scenery

 And wine tasting, which makes my kids fade into the background (joking!)

And of course. A bit of "green soda." 

It was such a great time, we decided to do it again. Overnight. As in camping. Tomorrow. Wish us luck!