Ladies camp-out

 We'll be having our 4th annual Ladie's camp-out after Thanksgiving.  Our family doesn't really camp.  We sometimes sleep in a tent, but it is usually just a way to save money.  We usually come in after hours and leave before the check-out desk is open.  We rarely use the fire-ring.  The boys get to go on semi-annual camp outs with the stake or ward.  Even with scouting done away, the men still gather this way.

For our ladies camp out we cook dinner on the camp-fire and make breakfast using a camp stove.  We stay up late playing cards and sing songs.  This year we will be camping at the springs and I hope we get lots of time in the water, and hiking up to the head of the springs several times.

We don't do sleep-overs but are inviting friends and family ladies to enjoy this outing with us.  Hurray!

Coast to Coast

 We have thought it would be fun to do a sunrise/east coast and sunset/west coast trip.  Sunday we did it!

 

We watched the sunrise at Butler Beach at 7:20, went to church, visited grandma, ate turkish delight and brownies, then watched the sunset on the west coast.  

 

We camped at Rainbow springs Sunday night.  We were in areas with no cellular signal and I forgot to call and get the code for the camp-site.  Just navigating to the park was hairy with no cellular.  P walked into the park and we waited at the gate in case someone came with the code.  We prayed that someone would come through.  Around the time P was finding the camp host, a pizza man came through and gave us the code.  Hurray!  The kids and I prayed in gratitude for the pizza man was kind, and that someone ordered pizza.

In the morning we broke camp and went to see Rainbow Springs.  It was beautiful!

 

We left at 11 to visit Homasassa Springs.  Lu the Hippo was much bigger than I remembered.

We drove back to Gainesville to visit with P's friend AL and his family.

We departed in another hurry to get back to town for M to give a piano lesson.

It was a great trip.

Animals we know

 I was reading Jan Brett's book "Noah's Ark" recently and was amazed at all the animals we knew because we had actually seen them.  We've been to the Jacksonville zoo every year for 10 years.  National Zoo 3-4 times.  Alligator Farm 10+ times.  Santa Fe Zoo.  Homosassa Wildlife Area.  Hogle Zoo. 

The book was beautiful and made me so happy for the childhood our children have had.

Yes, Mom

Sometimes I tell the kids to do something.  They sometimes respond "I know!"
I tell them "I think you meant to say 'Yes, Mom."

And if they are complaining about something not being as good as they wish  I will say "I think what you meant to say was "Thank you, Mom."

P is awesome at training the children to be nice to me.

Lessons from the Oregon Trail

 I heard a story on the radio about a teacher who did Oregon Trail with her class.  They learned math and history and had fun.  I thought it would work nicely for our homeschool group.  I never played the Oregon Trail game so I've had to do some research this week.  I've played 5 times and made it to Oregon twice.  

I've learned to never attempt to ford a river.  Someone dies every time!

You can only carry 100 lbs of meat to the wagon so don't shoot a buffalo.  It's so wasteful.

Stop for rest when people are sick!

Go hunting often and don't let your food go below 400lbs.

Save some money for tolls.

You can't buy supplies in every stop and they get more and more expensive as you go.

Don't give your company members real names.  It's so sad when they die.  And they die.

This is the first time I've played a role playing computer game.  I did play Dungeons and Dragons once a few years ago.  I'm generally not into a game that takes more than 30 minutes.  

I hope to teach the children some geography, math, hand working, and who knows caution.

busy

 Sometimes I'm so busy I have to make a list with specific times that things need to happen.

2:00-3:00 groceries and bike tire
3:00-3:30 make dinner
3:30-4:30 pick up M
4:30-6:30 B to piano
6:45-8:30 Kids to youth activity
8:30 Scriptures and Prayer
9:00 Bedtime with L

Yesterday was one of those days.  I am so fortunate to have a husband who values all the things I do.  All the things! 

In past years I have met cool people and wished they had time for me in their busy lives.  Now I'm in the busy life and it's tricky to coordinate time to see people.

Perspective change for the better

 I recently heard the idea that if your kids were someone else's, you'd want your children to hang out with them.  That is absolutely true.  My children are awesome.

Chores

 We have a monthly rotation of chores for the 5 children.  Someone helps with each area of the house, and specific tasks are somewhat balanced.  Each of them is more or less able to do each task.  M is hardly home!  L does his chores as part of his daily work chart.

2022 Family Duties

Bathroom  Wipe down counter  Keep towels stocked toilet paper stocked  Empty Trash Sweep Floor

Kitchen Sweep Load Dishes Unload Dishes Clean Counter

Front of house Towels on shoe shelf Sweep Vaccum Pick up in front room

Big room shoe shelf clear table clear under table tidy floor vacuum

Firepit and back of house tidy floor vacuum blow leaves bathroom towels