Thanksgiving Camping Trip

It’s been crazy around here, as usual, but it sure has been FUN!  We went searching for some fall color with 5 other families and had a blast camping – in an RV, of course, because I’m not insane enough to tent camp with an 8 month old.  (I actually admire those of you who are willing to do that!)  Tony makes sure I remember my “camping” experience included a microwave and refrigerator, so he’s hesitant to say we went camping.

Either way, it was tons of fun and the kids had a blast.  Little man was great and just hung out in my Ergo most of the trip…even the 5 mile hike.  We never heard a peep out of him.  He just enjoyed the scenery and took a few cat naps.

Bear was another story…we heard plenty from her by the end.  Five miles was pretty adventurous for her little legs.  The next day, she had no interest in going on any hikes until we were going on one that ended at Crystal Caverns and she knew she could look at crystals in the rocks.

Rocks are her love language.

That’s a pretty sweet deal for me since that means she’s happy with her rock “hamster'” that lives in a real hamster cage.  Rock hamsters are not smelly at all.  And, we didn’t need to find anyone to feed it when we went camping…(nice segue back to the camping trip, huh?)

Go, Bear, Go..up that Texas mountain!

Here’s our laidback little guy, ready to go wherever we drag him.

 

Bear’s ready to explore the cave.

Bear didn’t care that is was hard work getting there…she was motivated.

We came home in time to spend Thanksgiving Day with our family.  I hope everyone had a relaxing day. 

Off to the Theatre.

We love going to see plays at a children’s theater in Houston.  They always do a fantastic job.  What makes it even better is the kids get to sit on the first row of the rotunda, so all of the action is right in front of them.  It’s very cool seeing everything up close like that.

And, we have to say, “We’re going to the Theatre” in our most snotty voice, just for fun.   Of course, it’s not a fancy theater.  We’re in Texas.  Notice in the picture below that the rotunda is “This a way”.  They’re just being funny – we don’t really talk like that. 

Okay, yes we do.

The last show we went to see was The Secret Garden.  My kids loved that book.  I was shocked when Bear asked me if that was the one with the bird and the wall.  She was only 4 or 5 when I read it to the kids.  That really taught me a lesson about how much these little ones pick up.  I would have thought a long book like that would have gone over her head.

Of course, I could not take any pictures of the play, but the kids posed outside the theater.

Now, I’m off to read Treasure Island to Gideon.  I don’t want him to get behind.  ha! 

Grandparent’s Club

On Thursdays, we head on down to a local nursing home to spend some time with our “adopted” grandparents.  When we were first asked to join this group, I was thinking this was going to be a real stretch for the kids.  I even wondered if it would take them too far out of their comfort zone.  I  thought we could try it.

Each of the kids have their own grandparent they sit with each week.  They visit, do a craft together, have a snack, and then play a little Bingo – complete with prizes from the Bingo Basket!

When the kids got in the car to leave after our first visit, they asked me when we were going back.  I told them we would go next Thursday. 

Then, they shocked me with their response.  They said…

You mean we get to come and do this EVERY week?!

What a blessing to this momma’s ears to hear them say “get to” instead of “have to”.

Grandparent’s Club is super easy.  We have around 10 families that come each week.  Every week, one mom brings a snack (I brought cinnamon mini muffins and cups of water) and one mom brings a craft the kids can help their grandparents with.  We all pitch in items for the well loved Bingo Basket.  That’s it!

The kids learn valuable lessons.  We teach them we are there to bless our grandparents.  The kids don’t earn Bingo prizes - they help their grandparent mark their cards and the grandparent wins the prize.  Also, the kids go and serve their grandparent the snack first, then they can go get one for themselves.  And, we make sure all the grandparents have made it back to their rooms (some need to be wheeled), then we leave the place cleaner than we found it.

The lessons are great for the kids, but I’m also so happy they get to meet interesting people with great stories.  That’s the beauty of having the same grandparent each week – getting to know them.

Here are the kids having some fun. 

 

Car was so happy to find a grandmother that will make funny faces and play with him.  Look how precious she is!  She’s 90 years old and was copying what Car was doing.  I love it!