First Family Camping Trip

This past weekend we took the boys camping for the first time. Not only was it the first time with the boys, but for Nick and I to go together as well. Neither of us are big camping people, so it is just something we have not chosen to do together. We like the outdoors, just not sleeping outside. The boys got flashlights and sleeping bags for Christmas this year from their uncle Gary, so Kenan had been asking to go. This past weekend happened to be Gary and Kenan's birthday weekend and Gary was going camping with his girlfriend, Tina, so we decided to tag along.

We ended up having a great time. I would have preferred going for the first time when I was not 33 weeks pregnant, but I did my best. We were just going to stay Saturday night, but when there was the threat of bad weather we decided to stay Friday night instead. When the weather ended up staying nice, we decided to stay Saturday as well because we were having a good time (and I was not looking forward to packing up all of the stuff you have to bring to camp). Going camping one night is almost not worth the time and effort. Gary and Tina have a camper, but they used to use a big three room tent that they let us use. This worked out great for our first time because there was plenty of space and since we were at the campsites with electricity we even had a fan in the tent. It rained just briefly, but both times we were still in the tent or camper. Also, we were right across from the shower house and restrooms which made it nice for this pregnant girl.

We did a variety of things such as going to the nature center, playing on the playground, riding scooters, and going on an edible plant hike. But the boys favorite activity had to be playing in the sand on the beach and swimming in the lake. They loved this. I joined in a bit because I was hot, but Nick just watched us. On Saturday night Nick's parents came up for dinner and Tina made jambalaya over the fire. It was really good.

One thing I am extremely grateful for is that our boys like to sleep. The sun came up around 5:30 and although it woke Nick and I up, we had no problem falling back asleep. Now most kids would have gotten up as well, but luckily our boys slept until almost 8 the first day and and even later the second. Not that we needed to sleep that long, but it gave us time to get up ourselves and get ready for the day.

I would have to say the experience was a success because Nick even said he wouldn't mind making this a birthday tradition for Gary and Kenan (and Nick is even less of a camper than I am).

Kenan's Preschool Graduation

Tuesday May 10, 2011 Kenan had his preschool graduation from Friends Forever through CFC. He has gone there the past two years and we would highly recomend it for anyone looking for a preschool. They had a very nice program which consisted of the kids singing many cool songs while wearing shirts they had made, a picture slide show, and the awarding of diplomas. When they awarded the diplomas, the kids had changed into caps and gowns and looked so beautiful on stage all in white. Kenan was a little shy at first, but warmed up quickly and really got into the songs. He was so proud of himself as he came off stage. Easton was the first to greet him and it was the cutest sight. I can't believe he will be going to kindergarten next year.

His teachers Ms. Michelle and Ms. Betsy. They were so good with him.

At the cookie reception afterward.

Here are some pics from the singing part of the graduation, as well as one last pic taken outside his classroom before graduation started.

The Past Few Weeks

The past couple of weeks have been full of sickness for our family and combined with the constant rain it has been nice to have some sunshine. I taught multiple Truth Talk classes at North last week and that was a stretch for me because I was starting to come down with the illness that has gone through the family. Monday I barely had a voice and was lucky to even have that since I couldn't even talk on Sunday. I felt fine though so I didn't think anything about it. By Wednesday I had a voice again but was starting to feel miserable. Needless to say I had to call Chris and have him teach the last class Thursday by himself. Thanks Chris Chaudoin. I feel so bad because Nick came down with this stuff Saturday. He thought it was his allergies kicking in because he was outside in the yard all Friday, but today he was miserable and had a fever and chills. He has been confined to the bedroom and says he is feeling better and will be at school tomorrow. It is the last two weeks before finals and he is trying to finish everything up. He never gives himself a break.

Besides being sick and being cooped up in the house, I have been trying to get my garden going for the year. It started out well, but hit a stand still a couple of weeks ago. I don't know if it was the rain, my soil, or something else, but the plants I started outdoors kind of stalled and have not grown the way I would have liked. My dads lettuce is already edible and mine has looked the same for a couple of weeks. It isn't dead. It still looks good, it is just barely growing. I have since added some organic fetilizer and feed in hopes that it will help before it gets to hot for those veggies. The transplants on the other hand have had their share of problems as well. Right when it started the never ending cycle of rain I think they were at the point of needing to be either placed out in the garden or transplanted to bigger pots. I didn't want to spend money on more pots or soil so I decided to wait it out and that turned out to be the wrong idea. Everday they started to look worse. Finally I got them transplanted thinking they would turn around. A few have, but the tomatoes just got worse. I don't know if they developed a disease or were just poorly nourished. I ended up going to buy some plants this weekend and pulling up the transplants. It saddens me because last year I was so proud of the fact that my garden turned out great and it was my first year and I had done everything by seed. Oh well. I just hope the new things I planted stay alive. I am really trying to figure out what I need to do, whether it be to the soil, etc. There is a lecture at the library this saturday about vegetable gardening and I plan on going. Maybe my questions will get answered and everything will turn around.