Camping with dogs...

While we were at Darien Lake, we had our first mishap with the camper.  We weren't there so we still don't know for sure what happened, but the dogs had a go around with 3 of our aluminum blinds.  I'm VERY thankful that neither dog eats anything but food or we would have had some sick dogs on top of the mess.  

The third blind isn't bad and we were able to bend the couple pieces back into place.  Both dogs were very excited to see us back at the site and neither thought they had done anything wrong.  We have our suspicions, since at least one of the blinds we know Chloe did and she is NOT a chewer, that something was going on outside the camper.  While we were gone from lunch to the closing of the park, we got a whole group of teenagers next to us.  So I'm not sure if they were messing around with them, if they just made the dogs nervous or what the deal was.  But needless to say we have a couple blinds to replace now.  Thankfully they aren't expensive and for now they are workable as is.  I cut of the jagged and bent pieces so they still go up and down and all.  I think we are going to wait to fix them till next summer! 

I'm back!

I'm back and FINALLY feel like I'm caught up on everything here around the house that needed to be done.  So now I can update this ;)

We had an awesome day at Darien Lake.  God was so good in giving us beautiful weather.  It's tough when you plan a day like that so far out in advance.  Yet God was gracious and very warm, but bearable day.  There were quite a few people there, but while we were in the main park, they were in the water park and when we headed to that area, they headed home!  God is good!  We were able to take full advantage of both the dry and wet rides!  

So the big thing this year was the Moto Coaster.  Both girls really wanted to ride it.  We knew that it was going to be iffy with Madalyn.  You have to be 48 inches to ride and she is 47 1/2.  When we got there there was no way she was going to get on.  She took it well though and Doug and her left to find some rides to ride while I waited in line with Marissa, Mom and Dad.  Marissa LOVED it and we decided that we would be sure and come back to ride it a second time before the day was done.  

While Doug and Madalyn were on their rides, they were told by a ride operator that he could take Madalyn to the front to be officially measured.  They would give her a bracelet with her height and she would be good to go the rest of the day.  So we decided to do that before we headed home for lunch.  Sure enough, they measured her at 47 1/2.  The guy was so nice and said she was close enough and marked her for 48!  Madalyn was so thrilled.  

We headed back to the camper for lunch, changed into our swim suits and then headed for the water park.  It was such a nice day for it.  We were ready to be cooled off!  The girls loved the water rides.  The lazy river I think was their favorite although, I'm not sure how "lazy" it is when you ride it with the two of them ;)  They also loved the slides and the "toilet bowl" as Marissa calls it...I'm not sure what it is actually called, but it is a pretty thrilling ride and I was and am so shocked that it was one of her favorites.  

After spending a few hours in there, we headed to get dry so we could head for the Moto Coaster.  

Madalyn was pleased as punch waiting in line.  This was her first official coaster.  Marissa just kept telling her how awesome it was.  

The ride operator was so nice, although I'm pretty sure she didn't speak a lick of English.  She made up for it with her thumbs up and huge smiles!  She helped Madalyn get ready and looked for her when we got back after the ride was done to see how she did.  She did well through the ride, but I think she was a little unsure of it when we were finished.  I asked her if she wanted to ride again and she said ummm, no!  I explained that it is a lot better the second time because you know what to expect.  She agreed to do it one last time.  

Well that one last time turned into 6 more times!  I wasn't sure we were ever going to get her off it!  I wish I could have actually gotten a picture with her on it.  Boy did she look little!  

It's so exciting to see my kids grow and mature and start to enjoy things that we enjoy.  It sure does make a trip like that so much more enjoyable!  

I'll have pictures and more information on Monday's update!

Family Outing :)

We are headed out for a family day this morning!  

We get a really good deal on tickets through the homeschool group and so we have kind of decided that this will be a yearly trip for us as long as we all keep enjoying it :)  We had a great time last year.  We go before school is totally out and the park is usually just about empty.  Hopefully we make it through the day pretty much rain free and we have a great time!  See you all tomorrow!

The best part about camping :)

Bikes and mud held the majority of the kids attention over the weekend.  They spent a little bit of time up at the play ground as well, but most of it was spent on bikes or in the mud, or riding their bikes through the mud ;)

I love it! 

Alex, Katie and Zoe came on Sunday and they flew kites for a bit.

But then right back to the mud puddle they go!

They were so filthy when we pulled out on Sunday, but it was so worth it!  I love it when kids can be kids!

Santa Claus

Saturday was Christmas in June. (Isn't that suppose to be Christmas in July?)

People had Christmas stuff all over the place.  Santa came around on a golf cart.  As soon as my girls saw the red suit, this is what happened....

One of Doug's co-workers spent the afternoon with us on Saturday.  He couldn't stop laughing at the girls and their fear of him.  It was pretty funny watching them hide from him behind and under the trailer.  

Our Campsite

We had a beautiful spot at Happy Hollow.  It wasn't super shaded, but it worked out well because it wasn't super warm either ;)  That tends to be our pattern when we have the camper.  Anyhow, we had planned on being across the way from Rich and Beth and the twins.  But when we got to the camp ground that night and checked in, she said that if we wanted to more, we could because no one else was booked so it would just be drive ins.  It had rained a bunch so the site we were supposed to take was pretty soggy.  We decided to go right next to them and I really liked it.  It was nice to have the kids be able to have two sites basically...well and the dogs too for that matter.  Here is a picture of our site...

The girls out grew their chairs that Aunt Laurie got them when they were 2 and 4 I think.  So this year we went ahead and got them adult chairs that hopefully will last them for a while.  Molly thinks they are pretty comfortable as well.  

Overall, the 4 kids got along sooo good!  

We really enjoyed ourselves and I know the kids can't wait to go back.  

No surprise here...

Yesterday didn't go as planned.  I got up and got Doug off to work.  I had plans of blogging, making bread, mowing the lawn, doing laundry and cleaning up.  I started with the laundry and cleaning up.  I got back around to the kitchen and decided to sweep it.  When I opened the closet where the broom is, (it shares a closet with the washer and dryer) I realized there was water on the floor.  At this point in time I'm thinking, "Really, water in here now?  What else is going to start leaking!"  I called Doug, who was at work by this point in time and couldn't answer and then called Cari and asked what her and Stefan were doing.  I knew I couldn't pull the washer out by myself.  They were so kind to come down .(along with Preacher and Rich that were heading my way as well)  I'm so blessed!  I figured for sure it was the water pump, but we think it was just the drain hose.  I ran another load yesterday and it was fine.  Then we ended up heading to church and pulling out junk out of a room that we need as another Sunday School room for the bigger kids.  Plans got tossed out the window, but we did get a lot accomplished!  

The girls had a slow start to the day yesterday, despite all the commotion.  Apparently camping really wore them out!  Madalyn didn't get up until 10:30!  I couldn't believe it!  She came out to the couch around 8 I think, but I'm not sure she was actually awake!   

So its another day and I'm going to take a stab at that to do list!  I hope you all have a great day!

What a weekend!

We had an awesome but crazy weekend.  We left Friday night in the rain and headed to our site.  We didn't go far and it was so great to get away.  We camped next to friends from church and the 4 kids had so much fun.  Bikes, hills, mud....too much fun!  I have a bunch of photos to edit and get up.  That is on the agenda for today.  

We still love our camper :)  It made packing and unpacking so easy when all you have to do is pack the clothes and food.  However, we have definitely had our go around with it!  When we took it to Louisiana, the fridge didn't work.  It spent the next 3 months at the dealers while they worked on trying to get it fixed under warranty.  We finally got it back 2 weeks ago.  Then we struggled with some corrosion due to all the salt we drove through and we were having some electrical issues.  An exterior circuit breaker had some bad connection that hindered the lights from working off the battery.  We got that fixed temporary and then the dealer sent us a new one.  So that is all set.  So this weekend we figured, we are golden ;)  Or not!  

We tested everything this weekend seeing as it is now un-winterized and full of water.  Everything started out good.  Then we found water in the bathroom on the floor and discovered that the hot water tank under the bottom bunk needed some teflon tape and was therefore leaking.  So I ran to the camp store and they had some for cheap.  So we got the leak fixed, water moped up and left the bed up so everything could really dry good.  Thankfully we caught it all really fast so there was no water damage.  About an hour later, Madalyn went in to use the bathroom and yells that there is water on the floor again.  We checked under the bottom bunk and it was completely dry.  This time it was coming from under the bathroom sink.  The fittings were all loose under there.  So we tightened those, moped up the water and then went to check the kitchen sink.  It wasn't wet under there, but the fittings were loose.  So we took care of that.  After a while you just have to laugh.  This is our life ;)  About the only thing we haven't had this issue with is the Pilot.  Its crazy.  But after Saturday early afternoon, everything ran smoothly so hopefully that is all behind us!  So there is our crazy weekend!  Or at least that part of it...pictures and kid stuff tomorrow!

Surprises :)

One thing about Doug being gone most of the time is never knowing for sure when he could come home.  I pack his suitcase every Monday and he tells me how long he will be gone for.  But a couple times since he has started working for Dairy One he sneaks home without me knowing.  Last night was the best one.  I was cleaning the house, the kids were in bed and I had music going.  The dogs were both sleeping as well.  I don't know what made me turn around, but I did and I saw white in the window!  I had no idea!  We got a bunch done for packing last night while the rain was holding off and booked our camping site for our Darien Lake overnight trip.  And then I got to have my actual cuddle partner instead of the 70 lb one that has scratchy paws ;)  So thankful!  Can't wait to spend an awesome weekend camping with my family!

4H project

Rachel and Brent (another homeschooling couple)  were so kind to offer their expertise, time, supplies, and workshop to do birdhouses!  The kids had a blast with them and I think us moms got a kick out of figuring them out as well ;)

These were my 3 kids I was helping so they are just waiting for me to put the camera down!  LOL

Bird houses are finished and drying so the kids all went outside to run a muck!  They found this awesome house on wheels that Brent made.  Very cool!

I think they did a great job!  The birdhouses look so good!  They can't wait to hang them up next spring!

Kids being kids....

I try my hardest to allow my kids to be kids.  The other day, I had the twins and then Katie brought Zoe over to play.  They left dirty and tired but boy did they have a blast!  

They started off by playing in a box that was filled with road sand from the winter that they had collected.  LOL  When we had a sand box, do you think they ever used it....nope! :)  This is way more fun!

And if you can have that much fun with road sand, imagine how much fun you can have with an empty trailer!  It made a great boat and safety place from anything "scary"!

Of course it "broke" often and needed some fixing before they could all get back in again ;)

Then the rain it.  It wasn't down pouring, just that really light sprinkle, so we just let them keep playing, but of course took pictures :)

I asked Haylie to say cheese and she full out posed! :)  Too cute!

Look at that dirty face!  I love it when kids aren't afraid to get dirty.

I love this picture of Zoe :)

I'm starting to see a little similarity between Haylie and Madalyn ;)

This one could be framed!

Love it!  She was in the posing mood too!

But not this little guy ;)

Sisters!

And then the rain let loose....

HAHA  Too much fun!