Busy...Busy...Busy

It has been over a year since my last post on this blog.  I must say...I have been through some ups and downs and consistently BUSY the whole time.  I find myself saying more and more that the years fly by and the days drag on.  It seems like only yesterday that I was on here writing my post on our Halloween camping trip.  Not the case.  That was a year ago and so many things have happened in that time.  I went through some weird health issues throughout Christmas and the dead of winter.  I gained some weight.  Summer came around and things got much better.  I lost some weight.  School ended and I taught summer school.  We chose to stay close for vacation to put some more money into the house.  I (with the help of mom and dad) built a deck around the pool.  I painted the house (we now live in a white house).  I started classes to get my master's degree. 

The extra workload on getting this degree had (and still does on occasion) given me some serious stress.  It started by taking all of the extra time that I had.  I have slowly figured out how to manage my time better.  Honestly, I read a book that made me just stop complaining and looking for excuses and to just man up and get all my stuff done.  I now get up at 3:15 AM during the week to have time to workout, read my Bible, do my tutoring and get all my work done at school.  (I will be reviewing this book on a later post)  I was not looking forward to this new schedule of mine, but I must say...I love it! 

Well, I just wanted to break the long cold spell I have had on blogging.  I really do enjoy doing this, but if you don't hear from me for awhile it is probably because I have another 26-page master's paper to write (yes, I have had more than one of these).  God bless!  Romans 8:34

Halloween Camping Trip 2018

Halloween Camping Trip 2018

First off, this was our first camping experience with the Halloween Camping Weekend and it was a blast.  The consensus from the family was...BEST CAMPING TRIP YET!

The trip couldn't have started off any better.  I was able to get home right after school, beating the buses out of the building.  Kelly picked up the boys from school.  I was able to get home throw the last couple things in the camper, hook up, put the dog in the back and we were off.  We have never been able to get on the road before five o'clock before. 

The road to Lake Wappapello State Park is best of all state parks we have been to.  It is straight as an arrow until the last 15 miles.  It was cloudy when we got there, but the boys still wanted to run around and play.  Paxton of course, wanted to go down to the water and throw rocks.

The first evening at the campground is usually not that eventful.  I set up the camper and start getting the campsite ready while Kelly makes the beds and sets up the inside of the camper and the boys run around and explore.  I made a fire and we ate some hot dogs.  

I must say that the shower house at the Asher Creek campground at Wappapello is small, but it was very clean and the boys said they really liked it.  It has actual shower inserts instead of just concrete floor with a drain.  The boys and I showered and we came back to the camper for bed.

In the morning, I woke up and started cooking breakfast.  I try to make a hot breakfast for everyone when we are camping.  Bacon and eggs for Kelly and me, and waffles and bacon for the boys.  After eating it was time to head out.  We had a full day of adventures ahead of us. 

Right off the bat, the boys saw a big flock of geese.  They grabbed their iPads to take pictures and videos.

The view from our camp ground was AMAZING.  The camera DOES NOT do the colors justice.

Coffee and Chill

The boys and I went on a hike while Mom enjoyed another cup of coffee in peace.

Paxton was the Map Master on this hike.  He kept saying, "According to the map..."  When did he start saying all these adult phrases?

Best buddies...especially when we camp!

It was so beautiful!  Once again doesn't do the colors justice. 

Lake view all along the trail!

Love them!

When we got back from our hike, the camp hosts were driving around and delivering the questions for the scavenger hunt.  I love doing the activities at state parks.  I am kind of a nerd like that.  This is one of the reasons I will always vote for The Parks, Soil and Water Sales Tax to fund Missouri's State Parks.  This was just the first page.  There were 57 questions that took you all over the park to find the answers.

We started with a picture at the Welcome sign and what it said on the back.  We went to the park office to look through a bunch of brochures and get some buckeyes.  Then to the nature center to answer questions about animals found in the park.  

We also had to get a picture with a park employee.

We also had to hike a trail to an old family cemetery and take a picture with the angel.

There were lots of creepy old tombstones from the 1800s.  Camden was acting goofy and talking a hundred miles a minute.  I honestly think he was a little freaked out by it. 

It took about two and half hours to finish the scavenger hunt.  We had time to kill before the fall fest wrap-up party, so we carved some pumpkins!

This picture was taken right as a bee (attracted to the pumpkin guts) stung Paxton on the hand.  He was a trooper though.  Mom got his hand washed up and he wanted to get back to his pumpkin!

Pumpkins carved and off to the party!  I didn't really think to take pictures while we were there.  They had a big, hot bonfire and all the hot dogs and s'mores you could make.  They gave the boys a nice Halloween bucket and they got to go around and pick all the candy they wanted from other buckets.  Paxton went though and got all the M&Ms and spider rings, Camden, of course, was embarrassed by this.

They went over the scavenger hunt answers and we got second place.  With second place and answering some random trivia questions and distance traveled to the park, we walked away with some serious State Park Swag!

We won two free camping coupons to any State Park.

A Bass Pro Sleeping Bag

Lake Wappapello coffee mug

Lake Wappapello can koosie

Two big buckets of candy and glow sticks

Chocolate Bars and Marshmallows

This definitely made running all over the park worth it!

We headed back to the camper to light up our pumpkins.

I put together a special treat for the boys.  I rigged up an outdoor movie to enjoy.

While we ate candy, drank hot chocolate, and watched Monster House, I added a package of Mystical Fire @mysticalfiresa into the fire for some added spooky effect!

One package of this lasted almost 30 minutes!

Perfect evening!

Off to bed!

In the morning after breakfast I took Winston on the full two mile trail next to our campground.  I really love hiking and I like to take longer hikes that the boys just can't quite do yet. 

He was an excellent trail buddy!  He walked in front of me right on the trail the whole time!

Asher Creek Trail is one of my favorites that I have ever been on!

This pile of rocks is new.  I added my rock to the top for posterity.

Just amazed at how beautiful and peaceful it was.  I love getting away by myself for little bit to talk with God. 

After getting back from the hike the boys were doing puzzles in activity books they got from our scavenger hunt.  Kelly and I talked about how this is another reason we love camping.  Normally we would have just thrown something like that out, but in this setting, away from TV and video games, little puzzles and word searches become something they want to do.  

We finished the trip with another quick hike along the lake to soak up the view.  We went down to a point on the lake and the boys threw some more rocks and then it was back to the truck to head home!

Both Kelly and the boys say that this was their favorite camping trip that we have ever taken and I agree!  I feel so very blessed to be able to give my family these opportunities.  We have spent more quality family time since we started camping.  I love that we get to make these memories and hope that they are traditions that they pass down to their families some day!

Last Summer Break Camping Trip

One Last Summer Vacation Camping Trip

Kelly said, let's go camping one last time before summer break is over.  That is about all it takes for me to want to go.  I had been doing professional development at school the week before and after all those meetings, I was ready to head out!  We booked a spot at Sam A. Baker (old tried and true). 

Before we left I whipped up a new camping recipe...Stickless kabobs.  It's all the Kabob goodies wrapped in foil.  In hindsight, I put too much in there, just one of these fed both Kelly and me. 

When we pull into the park and I get the water tank filled and back into our spot, I literally sigh and all the stress disappears.  Everyone was so happy to be back.  As soon as we park the boys are off on their bikes.  It is a little hot out so they got all nice and sweaty!

Even Winston likes it now!

Goofballs!

Cookin' up Campfire Kabobs!  I really like them.  Kelly would rather have regular Kabobs.

A little fire dancing!

We woke up bright and early the next morning.  There were a lot of programs at the park that weekend and we were going to try and get the boys their first Missouri State Parks Explorer stars. 

Paxton loves to be first and ask questions the whole time.

Climbing the rocks

Showing off their cool rock finds

Gotta get some learnin' in!

We went back to camp for some late breakfast and then back to the Visitor's Center for a bead craft thing.  I didn't get any pictures of this, but I think Kelly liked it even more than the kids!

Camden was the Clue Champion!

Welcome to Loserville!

Creatures of the Night Presentation!

Everyone slept like a baby that night.  It was a day full of bike riding, hiking, swimming, presentations, and activities.  One more activity at the Visitor's center before we leave on Sunday.  Fill the Bill, all about how a bird's beak is designed to handle what they choose to eat (fish, seeds, nectar, etc.)

The boys had an opportunity to identify some of Missouri's wildlife to earn their identification credit.

Happy boys holding their stars.  Hopefully, these are just the first of many to come!  We love our state parks.  All of these great activities are funded through Missouri's Soil and Water Tax:

 (click here to find out more)  If you don't get outdoors often (or even if you do), you should make a visit to your local state park and see all the great things they are doing and take advantage of all their programs, free of charge.  We are believers and I will always vote to fund our state parks!