Camping with the Workmans

The two bad "after-effects" of a fun week in KY with our family:

1. The horrible homesickness that I went through all of last week after returning to Tennessee.

2. This crazy rash that is on my legs that continues to spread itself about, even one week after returning from the woods.

Neither will prevent us from returning for another 4-5 day trip in July!!


We had such a fun time camping two weeks ago with Memaw and Pepaw. We had hoped to camp from Wednesday to Sunday, but the weather chose not to cooperate on those first days. However, that did not dampen the boys enthusiasm in the least. Caleb and Seth were soooo excited to be sleeping "outdoors." As soon as the camper was set up on Wednesday evening, the boys were all over it. It took all of 5 minutes for the first injury of the trip to occur. In all of new adventure excitement, Sethie planted his little face right down on a metal bar, barely missing his left eye. So, Seth sported a nice little gash for the rest of the trip. It matched the one he had received a couple days earlier just below his right eye. I guess he likes symmetry.





































The weather looked promising Wednesday evening, so the boys decided to spend the night at camp. Memaw and I planned to come back and join them on Thursday afternoon for the rest of the weekend. Ahhh...plans of a whole Thursday all to myself. In someone else's house, so I wouldn't be distracted by my own household chores. A whole day to READ and relax. That was the plan.


Well, as I said, the weather chose not to cooperate. The rain began Wednesday night, and with it came some chilly weather. Caleb was awakened in the night by the sound of rain and although he was not getting wet, he thought he was. Eric awoke to calls of, "Dad. DAD! What is happening to me? Put me back in the camper." When Eric reassured Caleb that he was inside of the camper, Caleb said, "Oh." And went back to sleep. This time cuddled up next to daddy.


In the morning, the rain continued and the boys discovered that if you leave a carton of Capri Sun drinks out over night, you will awaken to them being consumed by a thirsty raccoon. The tracks were there to prove it. Lesson learned.


The boys did try to rough it in the rain on Thursday, but it would not let up. And did I mention, it got downright cold. (Remember, to a southerner, anything below 50 degrees is snow suit weather) I enjoy "roughing it," but I require a certain degree warmth in which to do it. So, at about 10:30 on Thursday morning, the boys rolled back in to Memaw and Pepaw's house, bringing my day of reading and relaxing to an abrupt halt. It was okay, though. At least, I got to sleep in. And Eric and I got an unexpected date night on Thursday night, so all was good.


The rain stopped on Friday and it started to warm up, so the boys and I headed back to camp in the early afternoon, with Memaw and Pepaw to follow in the evening. When we re-arrived at camp, we took the boys to the beach and then let them ride bikes around the campground loop. And in the eveing, one of the best campout traditions was had: S'mores. Over a miniscule fire that just would NOT catch. But luckily there was enough flicker to melt a marshmellow. (Thank goodness Memaw brought chicken so we didn't have to rely on our little spark for cooking) But we tried. And kept trying. Only to determine that ALL of our wood was a little too green to support a blazing fire. Pepaw remedied that the next night and we were able to cook dinner and stay warm by a roaring blaze.

























Saturday and Sunday were spent boating all day. We could not have asked for more beautiful weather. On Saturday, Uncle Greg, Aunt Tammy Sue, Bret, and Jeana joined us for the day. It was a fun day that ended with us being stuck out in the middle of the lake for quite a while. But that story is a whole other post in itself. The boys absolutely LOVED being in the water. The water was a bit too cold for me to spend any time in it, but nearly five-year-old bodies work on an entirely different thermostat and actually do not register water that is too cold to play in. I don't think that there is such a thing. I guess you just don't notice the chill when you are constantly climbing in and out of the boat perfecting cool new jumps into the water. Eric and I remembered being exactly the same way as kids. Once the boat stops, you have to get in the water. That just a rule...when you are a kid.




After watching the others, Caleb was even ready to try water-skiing. We were not surprised. Now we just have to get some skis to fit his little feet and then he will be set. I do not doubt that he will love that, too. He is already a big time tuber!























Sunday was even more gorgeous, which made it even harder for us to leave. But the time did eventually come that we had to hit the trail and head back to Tennessee and reality. We had a great time and left hungering for a little boat of our own....And a camper, too. Neither of which can will acquired this summer.


But there is next summer.