School Days

Today was day three of Streed's speech camp. He has enjoyed all of them so far despite the shows he put on the first few days when I dropped him off. A boy two doors down from us also attends the camp. His dad picked Streed up today so that I didn't have to unload all of the crew. The parking right in front of the building is blocked off due to construction. I have had to walk a good distance the past few days while lugging Nate in his carrier. I literally have a bruise on my hip and thigh from trying to balance out some of the weight.

This week's theme of the camp is the solar system. Yesterday when we were getting in the car Streed said, "that is one of my friends." I asked Streed what the boys name was. He said, "astronaut". I asked what his name was and he said, "space ship". This cracked me up. I don't know what all they do during the three hours but I guess they got new names. Streed is on the green team and had to wear a green shirt the first day. Ella cried the first day he left. He brings his back pack full of supplies--crayons, markers, scissors and glue stick. He loves the scissors the best. They have a lion on them.

Thank you

I love staying up late updating my blog. It is especially nice when I have 15 comments the next day! Thanks for the encouragement!

Added to my favorites

A post to follow later but I just had to share this picture I took of us today. He was cold at the beach and crawled into my lap to warm up. Sweet boy!

Time with Nate

A few days ago Chip had the two older kids in the pool. Nate does not like being out there. I tried to sit under an umbrella but he was just not having any of it. So, he and I moved to the shade. He still wasn't totally content and I was feeling lonely just staring at the kids playing. So, he and I moved inside. It turned out to be a sweet time for he and I. I decided to get out the kids' hymn book and sing to him. He loved it. I make up songs a lot but I enjoyed singing the hymns. Then I got out their children's bible and read to him and showed him the pictures. Then we read Psalm 1:1-3 and I told him that those were the verses I was praying for him. Then we prayed. I hope we can make it a habit of getting that one on one time. I know I need that with all of them. I feel like Ella is the only one that doesn't get too much. Streed usually stays up a little later than Ella and so we read together. I need to think of something for me and baby girl. Our time together is mainly spent spanking and then hugging. Maybe this week when Chip has some free time. Streed is dying to go play Putt-Putt. I will think of something to do with Ella.

Here is Nate when we came in from outside. His eyes get big when we come into our dark room.

Week One: ROUGH

I can't actually say the whole week was that bad. I think that it all just caught up to me by day 6. The days are long. The space is limited. Time to myself is non-existent. Chip takes the kids swimming in the afternoons when he can but all this means is I have time to wash bottles and/or go to Wal-Mart. I should be thankful for going to Wal-Mart by myself. Ususally I am. Not yesterday. I was full to my eyeballs with tears for a good 24 hours. They finally runneth over this morning. We are attending Woodlawn Methodist for the summer and we are all splitting up into various Sunday School classes. Chip and I, and the guys he is leading, are going to an older adult class. I do not know their exact ages. They all have grown kids and our teacher has been married for 48 years, if that gives you any indication as to their age. So, the teacher begins by talking about the differences between today and many years ago. The first thing she says is that when she was a little girl that Monday was wash day and that meant that ALL DAY you scrubbed the clothes on a wash board. Immediately I started crying. I was trying to contain the tears but I could not. I just thought, "I do not have it that bad". Then she talked about how her grandmother had 8 children and had to kill her own chickens. It was a good perspective shift for me. I still had moments of frustration as the day went on but all in all I am better. I went to the beach by myself for two hours this afternoon so that helped. It will now be my Sunday afternoon routine while I am here.

What we do: Part 1

Basically we correct and discipline and redirect all day long. We do all this while we sit outside of our rooms and watch the random people that live, work and vacation here. It can be quite depressing at times. We are working on getting a schedule. The first week is really a transitional time. It takes a few days for it to sink in that you actually are staying here...for many weeks. We have found that the library here has story time just like ours at home. I think we will check that out in the morning. Also, the church we are going to here has a program on Wed nights that Streed and maybe Jadyn can go to. We eat our meals outside on our little table. This also acts as a perfect spot for playdough and snacks.

Occasionally we swim. It is an ordeal though. I have to get siked up to 1)Put on my bathing suit, 2)put on both of theirs, including Ella's swim diaper, 3)lotion them all down, 3)lug all the pool toys out, 4)put on their floats, 5)convince Streed to jump to me, 6)convince Ella to wait until I catch Streed before she jumps, and 7)hope Nate doesn't wake up. If he does, we have to do all this in reverse and head back inside. He can't stand being outside when it is really bright, even in the shade. But, I love looking at this so sometimes we just have to do it anyway.

We also regularly look for baby and papy. These are must haves for Ella to even consider sleep. She is an EXCELLENT sleeper but she must have those two items. After a few stressful moments I am now trying to keep them in her pac-n-play. This isn't always successful. She and Jadyn like to push their strollers around outside. Actually they like to push each others and then fight about it.

Arrived Safe and Sound

After getting our room somewhat set up we went with all the staff to Pineapple Willy's for dinner. The kids got to play on the beach beside the restaurant while we waited on our food. Ella LOVED the sand, so much that she kept putting her face down in it.

We're going on a trip

(You must sing the title of this post in the tune of The Little Einstein theme music.) Here are some pics from the trip to PCB.

Ella fell asleep and Streed grabbed her hand. They have these sweet moments often.
Then I had to get a pic of sweet Nate. He is wearing a 6-12m onesie. I think this is what we bought Streed when we found out he was a boy.

We stopped in Malbis and ate with Chip's sister and her husband. It was a good 1 1/2hour break. We ate at Chick-fil-A and they got to play on the playground. We turned in their toys for ice dream cones. Ummm. I think we are about to go get some more and play on the playground here when Ella wakes up. There are some other guests here in the pool. A family. With lots of kids.

Crooms or Clampitts, You Decide!

With three kids I think it truly was impossible to pack for 7 weeks. We can't fold down any seats. Even though I will be home for some of that time, we still had to pack lots of things for the kitchen and for the kids to play at our concrete paradise. So, we made the decision to start a new trend...taking a U-Haul to beach project. I am still embarrassed as I type this. It was so nice to have room to crawl back to the back when I was needed and not have to try and kill myself by crawling over all kinds of mess. My family knows that our van is jammed full on just a weekend trip. So, enjoy the photos. Despite the humiliation and driving 60mph the whole way, it was worth it. It didn't even seem like a long trip because inside the van wasn't stressful.

Beach Bound

our soon-to-be home away from home.

aren't you jealous!