Weekend in the Woods

We hauled the trailer up north again to trade in the 100+ temps around here for a rain and hailstorm. Definitely a good trade. Once someone asked me, "What exactly do you do while camping?" I didn't really have a lot to say in response because it is just very relaxing and yet very entertaining all at the same time. In true LP fashion, I took a lot of photos, and so I'll allow those illustrate what, exactly, happens when we spend three nights in a trailer with two small kids.

You play with toys and dump trucks...

Go on walks...

Dote on this sweet little one...

Play bocce ball...

Get a helping hand on the new bike from a nice big cousin...

Eat ice cream with cousins at the Mormon Lake Lodge...

Visit donkeys and pigs and bison...

Play on a playground (and if you're Gavin, you poop your pants on this playground, too)...

Go for more nature walks...

Take the old bike out for a spin...

Find a rope swing at the next campsite over...

Roast a lot of marshmallows...

Eat a lot of s'mores...

Cuddle the ones you love...

Make time for selfies...

Show some affection...

Take your brother for a ride...

And then introduce him to a shovel...

Whittling lessons...

Rhino rides...

No photos, please, my midriff is showing

Hunker down in the trailer during the storm and listen to public radio or watch the evening news on TV...

Horse around on the bunk beds...

and eat a LOT more s'mores!

As you can see, a lot happens, but it's a pretty kicked-back pace, and I just love it. Gavin gets so amped while we're camping that he just won't sleep. He goes to bed late, refuses to nap and wakes up early. So he was kind of a terror on this trip, which led me to do something that was probably more common when our generation was young but is highly frowned upon now. I medicated him with Benadryl. In my defense, he did have a runny nose, too. And you know what it did? Absolutely nothing. He carried on all day perfectly normal. And I tried it again the next day. Same thing. This kid and sleep are like oil and water, and I have a feeling he will be this way his whole life. He pushes my buttons non-stop and gives me a run for my money every single day. So, if you're wondering why I look like I've aged 25 years in the last 3 years, now you know why. He's going to give me a million gray hairs and make my wrinkles run very deep, but it's all totally worth it. Because it's nothing a little hair dye and plastic surgery won't fix! (Kidding. Totally kidding.)

And now that we've made it to hump day, I may as well include a mid-week update in this post. It's been a Week of Lu, for sure. Gavin checked in an extra day at Dawn's since we skipped last Thursday, and I left the baby with my mom for a couple hours to get an extremely overdue haircut. It was at a walk-in budget place because I don't have my act together enough to make an actual appointment, but it turned out okay! I had moms group and dinner out with my cousins and reunited with Kris for lunch today. It felt so good to make my life a little more well-rounded. Who knows if I can keep it up, but I have high hopes that I can.

Trying to get some actual good photos of this little one proved to be a challenge for my mom and me.

I've still lost all control in this animal house.

And look who turned 5 months old! This sweet thing is such a delight

And with that, it's time to tear my 2-year-old away from the screen and engage in something productive.