Camping and Summertime Life

 So, I guess I need to explain a bit about this camping trip... we do it every year and --we seem to have a need to "do it better" each time. :) There is about 35 or so people that are officially family~ But we always have people come and join us-- we have foster kids, and people who plan to marry one of our crazy members! We are  a hard working bunch.   Often a small comment, or request for help will involve the whole family.

 Our Uncle Bob... who happens to be a builder... (Bob the builder) had a trailer that was wired incorrectly-- Since we were all able,willing and happy-- the guys tipped the trailer on it's side and proceeded to rewire it ... by taking an extension cord apart!  Yup, we are the Get 'er done type of family! :)
I thought it was funny that almost every guy that was with our group came by during the rewiring to give their opinion, and or supervise!
                                                                             

Here are Shane and two other boys enjoying the sand and rocks by one of the fire pits... These boys were dirty from sun up to sun down... we did make them shower... but you couldn't tell.

 This guy being a daredevil on our new tube is our newest members and he fits right in!  He is in the Air force and  will be deployed in a few weeks... Jerry, the kids and I took him and his wife out on our boat... we squeezed as much fun into that boat ride as we possibly could.  Poor guy ended up with some rub marks on his knuckles and his feet.-- But the smile on his face was well worth the discomfort.

 This is my Aunt Sue,-- all week long we had a jokes going about the nuts... we ate them, we put them on the ground, we kicked them around, we fed the squirrels with them... It was all so much fun !

 This is our kitchen area... we have a master cook... Jason, who will let you help... but only if you follow his instructions. :) If you aren't able to help  prepare or cook then you are provided an opportunity to wash dishes or put away things.
We had some REALLY good food camping...  We had people stop by and ask if we were professional campers... I guess you could say we are wanna be professional campers... but we haven't found someone to pay us...yet! :)

 Jessica and Shane on the tubes out in the water... Shane wanted to slow down and Jessica wanted to speed up... (typical siblings)

Yup... there's some more of the guys workin' on the trailer.   People were driving by looking for a campsite, they would stop and ask what was going on... our.."men" were happy enough to explain just... what they were doing! ?


I am happy to report that there was only a few meltdowns... and not all of them were Shane's! :)

I've been BUSY....

I haven't been around here lately... I've been chairing our school Scholastic Book fair...

We are finally finished ... ah, joy!  I had some great mom's who came to help and just did the things that needed to be done... and to be honest I had two people who came just to get away from home-- those two happened to want to stir the pot  of negativity again and again. 
I don't like to talk bad about people--but I figure if I can say it to their face then I can mention it here.  I had some really awesome workers who kept me from losing my sanity... with their humor, their attention to detail, and their funny statements.
 I have a mallet in my car, and I know how to use it! haha -
- I did a much better job of delegating tasks, and then some things I decided not to do... With the exception of two people, who shall remain nameless--- I got great comments from the teachers and staff. 
I am however SO glad that we are DONE... I still have to do some paperwork-- and I need to order books for our teachers but ... most of the "stuff" is done.   We didn't make as much as we did last year-- but I think that our community is really struggling, gas prices are astronomical-- some of our teachers have received pink slips-- and things aren't the best.-- 
My motivation was never the amount of money made... it was books into kids hands... and not a lot of drama-- I would say that we did that .... well mostly! :)

One night I had the kids stay at a friends' house while I was working the book fair, I didn't see my kids until it was bedtime... poor Jessica almost cried when she saw me... Shane was extra rambuncious....
Yesterday -- he got a level 3 at school... his first for the year--because he kicked another student in the chins for revenge... from the day before when they were being baby sat. 
I had a feeling that this was going to be a tough two weeks or so ... and it was -- But I am glad that the kids realized how much they missed me....I think they are SO used to me being around that it was good to show them what it is like when I am away.
I should be cleaning and organizing-- but I am just taking today to rest and re-group.
I want to get to some sewing and cooking some good food, but for now -- I'm just sitting here collecting DUST!



It's only water... but I was SO done at this moment  :)

 Oh, and I met another mom -- who's son also has SPD... we got to compare stories about our kiddo's what Joy that was... she is a really involved mom and I think we are going to be GREAT friends! yahoo!