Camping

Friday the 15th, I got up at 4am and headed to Walmart to pick up a few things that we needed. When I got home, I woke all the boys up and we loaded the van. We left the house at 6am. We ended up meeting Betsy, Burlon and Travis at the Burger King in Hope, AR. We ate lunch and drove the last hour to the campsite. We got to the campground, got checked in and put up all the tents.



Around 6pm we decided to head to the diamond mine.




Burlon stayed behind to cook dinner. It started to drizzle while we were there and by the time we got back to camp, it was pouring. Our tent got a little wet because Lee and I didn't put the rain covers on correctly. We had put a screen cover over the picnic table before we left so when we got back we all headed in there and ate. It didn't protect us too well from the rain so we hurried and then got into our tents. By 10, almost everyone was asleep. Ashley had stayed home so she could work so I called her before I went to sleep.
We woke up before 7am and ate breakfast that Burlon made. By then it had stopped raining. Lee was anxious to go back to the diamond mine so we left around 8am. Burlon and Betsy stayed behind at camp. We arrive at the diamond mine only to find that it is nothing but 37 acres of mud. We were slipping, sliding and sinking in the mud. We find a place to start searching and get to digging. We play in the mud for quite a while and then Betsy and Burlon join us.





We end up staying until about 1am and then head back to camp for lunch. Everyone goes down to the lake to go swimming while Burlon and I stay back and make dinner. After dinner we hang around camp and Travis makes a great fire. At dark, we get the marshmallows out and begin roasting them around the campfire. We all go to bed and sleep alot better than the night before.


Sunday morning we get up and just hung out. Burlon gets the boys fishing poles out that he got them, so we headed to the edge of the lake for them to fish.



We decide to head into town and go looking around. We ended up going to Narrow's Dam and then had a picnic lunch. They boys went swimming.





We get back to camp and Betsy and the boys go swimming again. We eat dinner and again roast marshmallows around the fire. We sat around the campfire and talked. Travis was telling the boys funny stories and they really enjoyed it.




After that we all headed to bed.
Monday morning we got up and ate breakfast. We began taking down the tents and loading the vehicles. We leave the campground around 11am and head to Texarkana. When we get there we stop for the restroom and then head our separate ways. It started raining shortly after and rained the whole way home. It rained so hard at times that Lee could barely see the road. I was a nervous wreck. We stop right outside Dallas and have lunch. We get home around 6:30 and unload the van. We all had a great time. It was very relaxing and the boys loved spending all that time with Grandma and Grandpa. I took 369 total pictures during our trip. I have posted all of them on Snapfish if you want to see them all.
www1.snapfish.com/home/t_=141734201

Tuesday, Lee and I were both off work so I take the boys school shopping. We go to the outlet mall to get there shoes and some clothes. Then head to Walmart for their school supplies and some groceries.
Wednesday, Cody and Ashley had to go pick up their schedules. Ashley took Cody to his school and then they went to hers.
Thursday, Sam and Brady had back to school night so I took them to meet their teachers. Brady seems a little unsure of the whole kindergarten thing. I am sure he will do fine.
Friday night, the boys had their end of the season basketball party at CiCi's.
Saturday, their games were at 3, 4, & 6. We took an hour nap and when we woke up,I jumped up off the bed and stepped onto the floor wrong. I hit the floor and thought for sure that I had broke my ankle because I heard a pop. I laid on the floor for a few minutes and then Lee helped me up. I wrapped it in an ace bandage. It is still really sore and I have a knot and a bruise on my arm, but thank goodness nothing is broken. Cody says I fell because I am getting old:) Anyway, we headed to the games and they all got trophies. That night, Brandi (Ben & Nate's mom) came over with the boys to see if they could stay the night. She even took Brady because she had promised him before that he could come and stay one night. I was a little skeptical but she kept reassuring me that it was fine. I stayed up until almost 2am cleaning there room and shampooing their carpet.
Today, I have been doing some cleaning and getting ready for the first day of school. Lee and I are both taking Brady for his first day and Lee will be home when he gets off the bus. Tuesday he will begin going to Brandi and Dan's after school.

Hope all is well. Love ya!!