Off We Go

Let me start off by saying I am impressed with my husband. Only having been camping a handful of times in the last decade, he knows what to do and he has the stuff to do it. I'm glad I was with Ranger Reiss (a term sweetly given by Christian's buddies) on my first camping adventure.

Now when people hear that I went camping, they assume we parked the car and pitched a tent. This is called car camping. That would be fun and apparently too easy. Christian likes backpack camping. This is where you park the car, hike, and then pitch a tent. I like to exercise, so sure, I'm in.

We arrive at Chicot. I have no make up on. Gross. I feel like I should crawl back in bed. We throw our gear on which mine was at least 50 pounds and Christian's was a good 80 pounds (Christian said he is going to do a counter blog to correct my facts. Something about exaggerating. Whatever. It was heavy.)


I can't get this picture to flip. Sorry.

This was trip 1. We still had trip 2 to make.

We brought our bikes and decided we would ride them back to the site on trip 2 when we didn't have as much to carry. Let me just say this was not what I expected. Ranger Reiss went camping with his buddies in January at Lake Fausse Point, and he told me about their hike. I expected that. We start hiking and we don't stop for 34 minutes!!! It took 34 minutes to get to our campsite. What?!?! About 90 seconds into it, we quickly realize that Ranger Reiss' experience in January does not match up to this current one. There is NO way we can get our bikes down this path. It is not flat, not smooth, and not easy. Nearly 10 minutes into the hike, I fall flat on my face. I get up and keep going (for 24 more minutes by the way). We get there and pitch the tent, and then hike back for hopefully 34 more minutes. Unfortunately, no. We took a wrong turn so it turned into about 50 minutes back. Now don't get me wrong with all this complaining, I liked hiking. Just not with 50 pounds on my back and arms on my bag. So the 50 minute hike was nice. Ranger Reiss was aggravated - not me.

We make it back to camp and Christian sets up the potty because I gotta go already.

Christian's bathroom. Convenient.

Mine. Not so much. Ranger Reiss calls it liberating. I don't.

We were exhausted and it was getting dark so mo more exploring for tonight. We ate chicken fajitas for dinner, and it was delicious.


Our view from our campsite


My headlight to use the bathroom. Again, nice.


The next morning we went mountain biking. This was my favorite part. We met a dad with his 2 pre-teen boys biking on a trail, and they said it was easy. Well, they flat out lied. No way those 2 pre-teen boys are in better shape than this momma that exercices and has run a marathon (shhh it was only 7 years ago!). It was so hard, but it was so fun. We had a blast.

I am constantly asked if I had fun camping. I did have fun camping. I had fun with my husband, and I liked doing something with him that he loves. But do I like camping like I want to go again and again and again? No. I like hiking. I like biking. I like eating smores. I like the bonfire. I also like my bed, make-up, and a shower. So next time, let's go camping, biking, and hiking, but let's sleep in one of those rustic cabins that we can rent.

What did I get out of this besides some good QT with my husband? I earned a manicure, pedicure, and a new pair of running shoes. Evidently camping is not for good running shoes and I just might have secretly known that so I could get a new pair. But I will never admit to that.

So Close

Christian and his good buddy asked their wives to go camping. Looking forward to some quality time together, we said yes. After weeks of excitement on the husbands' end, our friends backed out the night before. Bummer. Packed - check. Kids going to grandparents - check. Us unexpected free time - check! Christian asked if I wanted to go camping still or do something else. Like stay at the Hard Rock on the coast? Yes! But being the nice wife I am, I let Christian pick since it was his big weekend. He was so close...my fingers were crossed tightly, and he picks camping. Great. I almost had my weekend: a couple of movies, staying at the Hard Rock, a really big shower, and a really comfy king size bed, and maybe a good steak dinner.

As I was packing my bag, I look up as Christian is carefully rolling tiny rolls of toilet paper.

Christian: "Ash, how many times do you think you will go to the bathroom?"
Ashley: "What?"
C: "I need to know how much to bring."
A: "Uh yeah, bring the roll."
C: "No, we are backpack camping. How much do you need?"
A: "I am not telling you how many times I am going. Bring the roll."
C: "Maybe we should just go to the coast."
A: (Smiles really big)
C: "What are you bringing in the clothing sack?"
A: "Um, I have 2 pairs of pants, a pair of tights, 3 shirts, 2 pairs of shorts and a sweatshirt."
C: "What? I'm bringing a pair of pants, underwear and a shirt and I probably won't even change.We are only going for one night."
A: "That's gross and I'm a girl. I'm bringing my clothes."
C: "Maybe we should go to the coast"
A: (Smiles really big)

So off to Chicot State Park in Ville Platte 3 hours away.

Where's the ground?

Jack was scared during one of the previously mentioned awful bedtime routines. I figure it is one of his stalling techniques when he tells me he's scared. I say scared of what? Parents are awake, your door is open, and the hall light is on. Stalling. Christian says he thinks Jack's really scared. Christian used to get scared a lot at that age at bedtime, and we all know Jack and Christian are IDENTICAL. So scared he is.

I laid in bed with Jack and told him he could pray and ask God for him not to be scared. He teared up, and we prayed. Then Jack told me God lives in his heart. He asked me how God gets there. I told him God gets in a person's heart when we ask him into our hearts. Jack asked if we could do that. So we prayed and Jack asked God to come into his heart. Then he asked me where the ground is in his heart. Ground? "Yeah, Mommy. God needs a place to walk around in my heart."

Awww. He melts my heart.

I think I handled this night okay. But something tells me these questions are going to get a lot harder!

It's Final

I did it. I let myself be talked into cutting Coop's hair. For real. No trim. The. real. deal.

And I regret it. Mom's, don't cut your baby's hair. Ever.

I still think my little baby is adorable. But he doesn't look like such a little baby anymore.

Paw Paw Zot

Losing a grandparent at any age is a hard thing. I'm sad, I'm sad for my parent, and I'm really sad for the spouse left behind. To me grandparents aren't your parents, but growing up they are the best next thing to your parents. I spent a lot of time with my dad's parents as a child and for that I am grateful.

My Grandpa was a great man that loved his wife and family above all. Growing up I was very close to him and my Grandma. They were the ones that babysat us all the time, kept us if my parents went on vacation, and kept us home from school if we were sick. I have many memories of him, but one thing that he asked all the time was, "Did you brush your hair today? Why do y'all let her go out the house looking like that?" I think it is funny because I don't necessarily remember being an "unkempt" child, but I think I did go through a stage where I didn't feel like doing much with my hair! Paw Paw Zot loved us and loved my boys. I wish my boys could have known him longer, and I can only hope Jack remembers him.

Grandpa's funeral was very nice. My dad gave a great eulogy, and Chad and I both read scriptures. The best part of the funeral was at the burial. Three members of the Navy came to present the flag to my Grandmother on behalf of the United States of America as the bugler sounded Taps. There wasn't a dry eye out there as we watched my Grandfather being honored for his dedication to our country. Paw Paw Zot was a loving man, hard worker, and dedicated to our country. He lived a successful life.

Night Night Bob-O

Bedtime has always been an ordeal in my house. We are AWESOME parents at getting a baby to sleep in his crib. As it turns out, we are equally unAWESOME at getting a child to sleep in a big boy bed. What happens between the crib and the bed? We don't know and are still unsuccessful 2 years later. Presently our routine is to read some chapters from a chapter book, tell 2 stories with toys (Mommy does one and then leaves and Daddy comes in for story 2), tuck him in, and then wait. Because he's coming. It's only a matter of time. And the time usually happens 2 1/2 to 15 minutes after we leave his room. I hear the pitter patter of 2 feet that I don't really want to hear at the moment, and then he says, "I have good news, bad news, and angry news. What do you want first?" He tells us the made up news, and then says, "Tuck me in whenever you feel like it." One of us goes back in there to tuck him in hopefully for the last time of the evening until one of my "Mommy" calls in the middle of the night.

This is what I found tonight when I walked in his room to "tuck him in whenever I feel like it"...

And this too...

Jack managed to make me smile even when I really really dislike bedtime routines.

Sweet dreams Jack Jack and Bob-O

Cookie Monsters

I think I have created 2 little cookie monsters. These boys want cookies every night for dessert. There little faces show such disappointment when I say, "Come get your apples" or "Come get your graham crackers". I think they should get cookies every night. If only Christian wasn't listening every night and being my conscience.

Birthday Month

Happy Birthday to me! I spent my 32nd birthday doing what I love - spending time with my family. I had my cake of choice that I get every year and my 2 sweet boys singing in my ear. I loved it! Christian surprised me with my pretty new MacBook...can't you tell how shiny and pretty my blog is! :) We finished my birthday weekend with dinner at Clancy's and then my favorite pastime event - movie!