Fall Break--Part 1

Almost every year we have gone somewhere for fall break. This year we stayed home and I let Meg, Ben and Sam each choose something that they wanted to do.

Ben had Monday, "Day One" of fall break. He choose to have "Pajama Day." We stayed in our p.j.'s all day, went and got take-out McDonald's for breakfast, made crafts, watched movies, and did NOT practice the piano or do any chores. This was one of those days I HAD to just let it go. It was hard, but I succeeded and we had a FUN day. Here we are eating McDonald's breakfast. . .in our p.j.s

Making a craft. We did one of the little bead designs that you iron together. Yes, I'm STILL finding beads around my house.

Mom's choice--writing in our journals that night for FHE. In order to make this a little more successful for my kids, I have found that if I do a fill in the blank type of journal page, it's a lot more successful. We wrote about the summer activities.

Meg's choice was Tuesday, day two. She chose Incredible Dave's, an indoor amusement park. Molly had school and I had asked a friend to watch Molly for me after school so that we could stay all day. We started by playing with some of the big blow ups, and then did the obstacle course. But the highlight was the bungee jumping.

Meg "schooled" us all how to do it since she has done it before.

Ben mastered the double back flip.

Sam loved it!!!

After bungee jumping, we hit the bowling lanes.

Sam once again told me that the day was fun, but it be would more fun with dad. I asked Rusty if he ever says the same thing to him when I'm not with the group, and the answer is. . ."no."

I don't know if you can see the score, but I barely won. Ben was a CLOSE second.

Wednesday was spent doing chores and getting ready for the camping trip, which was Sam's choice (see next post). It was really fun being with my kids. With them getting a little older, it gave me a small taste of what it's going to be like when we're more on a "peer" level.

Fall Break-Part 2

For at least four months Rusty had planned on taking the kids camping, and since we weren't able to leave for fall break (Rusty's new law firm is taking a lot of his time--later post to come) he decided to take a couple of days and go that week. The problem came when we read the forecast. It was going to be a beautiful 70-degree-weather day (the first day), but the second day was 100 percent chance of rain and high of 49 degrees. They went anyway. The chosen destination -- Red River Gorge. It is beautiful there, and my friend even further motivated me with one of her posts.

Here is a description of the trip in pictures (I was so happy Rusty used the camera and did an awesome job in documenting the camping trip).

It's not an easy feat getting four people ready for a camping trip with all types of weather. The van was packed to the hilt.

Leaving. . .

A picture of Natural Bridge

The path leading to the bridge.

Day One--Rusty went with our good friends, the Miller family. They have boy and girl twins Ben's age, and Meg, Ben and Sam LOVE to be with Max and Dominique. This narrow corridor leads to the top of Natural Bridge. The group was able to hike, build a fire, grill hamburgers, make s'mores and enjoy the outdoors the first day.

Posing on a rock with Natural Bridge in the distance. It's a good thing I WASN'T there; I would have freaked out having my kids that close to the edge. Dominique, Meg, Max, Ben and Sam (notice the rolled up pants on Sam, like the girls).

Getting ready to make s'mores.

Day Two--the rain hits. It rained a solid 24 hours, but the weather didn't slow them down. They went on a LONG hike.

Sam needing a little assistance.

Thank goodness for lap tops and portable DVD players. They watched a movie in the afternoon under the pavilion to get a break from the rain. They did tell me that it was FREEZING however.

Because they couldn't cook outside, and because Rusty heard that Miguel's Pizza was the best in Kentucky, they went for an early dinner. . .

. . .before camping out at the Hemlock Lodge for the next two and half hours. The kids parked it in front of Disney Channel while Rusty and Brian "nursed" the fire.

It was so cold, and after a day of rain the tent was a little wet, but not the gear (Rusty takes pride in his camping skills and obviously REALLY earned that Eagle), so they decided to sleep inside the van. Rusty pushed the two captain chairs together to make a bed for Sam. Sam didn't budge the entire night.

Rusty, Meg and Ben tried to sleep in the back of the van but found it a little crowded, so Ben moved up into the passenger seat and laid it down. He didn't budge all night either.

Day Three--even though it had rained and was super, duper cold (Sam's verbage), the kids LOVED camping. They drove around and saw the entire area and rock climbers the next day before coming home.