Happy Campers

The record breaking heat was all it took to convince me to go camping at the Mogollon Rim for the weekend. Dylan searched high and low for a trailer for us to rent, but in the end our generous friends, the Meabons, allowed us to borrow their pop-up trailer for the night. I'm not real girly...but I'm also not that into squatting to pee and not showering. So, it was nice to have a comfortable place to sleep, but I was ready to get back to the comforts of modern civilization by the second afternoon.

We got up to the rim late morning on Friday and met up with Max and Cruz. We set up our little area and enjoyed an early afternoon rain, and a short while later Kristin arrived with Hudson and Pierce. The boys headed to the lake, where Gavin rode on Uncle Max's boat. We heard about Uncle Max's boat, Uncle Max's trailer, and Uncle Max's big truck from Gavin all weekend long. The rain brought the temps down into the 60's, making it hard to believe that our friends at home, just a couple hours away, were in the 117 degree heat. Gavin had the best time wandering around camp and playing in the mud. As for the dogs, it was the best time they've had in probably a couple of years. After being cooped up for most of the summer, it was nice for them to run free and get dirty.

As nightfall approached, we got Gavin ready for bed. Since we couldn't figure out a space for the pack n play, the plan was for him to sleep in a bed with me. He has slept in a bed with me maybe three times in his whole life and not since he was a little baby. Since he didn't get a nap at all, he was already overtired, and the whole process was great comic relief for all of us. I tried to create a barrier with my body so that he wouldn't get off the bed, but it wasn't dark enough, and he knew that people were around, so he just wouldn't calm down. The child is a party animal with a serious case of FOMO. He's one of those kids that won't go to sleep unless it's really dark and he has some white noise...and not because I created the situation (actually it's exactly the opposite of how I'd like for my child to be), but because we've spent his whole life trying to figure out how to get him to sleep since he's always been so completely resistant to the idea, and that's just what it's come to. So, he spent the better part of an hour walking around on the bed, laughing, talking and climbing over me and escaping. With my increasing rotundness, it just wasn't great to roll over and heave his weight over my body and back into bed, so I was getting pretty tired of it. But, when the dog would bark and he would yell "Joe! Joe! Joey! Joe!" it was so hard not to laugh. Finally, Gavin settled a little, and I nodded off before he even called it quits to finally curl up near my feet. He woke up too early, but other than that, he surprisingly slept well through the night.

The guys just relaxing

Out on the boat at Woods Canyon Lake

A busy day at the lake!

Obligatory bike ride.

Aunt Kristin gave Gavin the tiniest little ice cream cone.

Eating some sort of gross meat. #likefatherlikeson

Kristin, Meredith, Baby Atlas and me

Warming up by the fire.

The next day, we enjoyed the company of the Palmers and the Buttons, who showed up after G and I had hit the hay, and we spent a little time at the lake. Despite several attempts and our very best efforts, a nap was not to be had, yet again. By about 4pm, Gavin was walking around delirious like a drunk person. Since our plan was to be on the road by 7am Sunday morning, and deep down I knew that the massive amount of work it takes to pack and unpack for a camping trip would make that nearly impossible, I made the executive decision to hit the road that night. I wasn't about to deal with Mr. Delirious for yet another night, I wanted a shower, we would never get home in time if we stayed the night, and even though it was a fabulous 65 degrees, I knew it was the best decision. Dylan wasn't happy with me, until we got home before 9pm, and then he said...for the first time ever..."I'm so glad I listened to you and we came home." We were able to unload, wash the dirt off our bodies, get a full night of rest, and clean and return the trailer and make it to the birthday party today at noon. It was so fun to finally spend the night on a camping trip instead of just coming for the day. I'm so glad we went, but I'm pretty sure I won't be doing it again until we have something with a bathroom, kitchen and good space for a pack n play. (#snob) This trip confirmed what we already knew...Gavin is definitely not ready to move out of a crib and into a bed.

Gavin really hit the jackpot with pizza, apple juice and ice cream cake at the birthday party.

Followed up by a ring pop from his goody bag. #sugarhigh

Back at home, stomping in my shoes.

Today was Jaylen's 6th birthday party, so we spent the afternoon swimming at Lifetime and eating ice cream cake. After a Costco run, we made it home. I recently sat down at my computer when I realized I had spent the better part of four hours doing simple things like unpacking, washing a load of laundry, cooking dinner, and a bedtime routine...oh, and making homemade ice cream, of course. (Because it's the best.) How do these things take such a long time? It's absurd. Anyhow, this time of night is my favorite time of the whole day, with breakfast in a close second place, and I am happy to relax while Dylan hits the movies to see Mission Impossible. It was a fun weekend, and we've got a busy week ahead!