Camping Trial Run

Several months ago we decided we should go camping at least once this summer. We thought about a couple of different weekends, but never actually went. We were always hesitant because we didn't know how Sam would handle it. Now, here in August, we realized how fast we were running out of time. A few weeks ago, we decided the best option was to do a trial run in our back yard. If Sam passed, we'd consider still trying to get in a weekend camping away from home.

As soon as Jason got home from work last Friday, we pulled out the tent and started our "camping trip." Sam was a little confused about it all, but still had fun watching daddy set up a big thing to play in.
Great campsite, huh? We purposely put it up right by the fence, so it would block direct sunlight in the morning. We're such dedicated nature lovers, especially in the morning.
To get full use out of the tent, we heated up some pizza and quesadillas and had a tent-picnic.

Sam had a lot of fun playing in the tent, especially since there are two rooms, which are great for hide and seek and jump out and 'scare' daddy.
Poor Maggie, she wasn't welcome inside. She was sad.

After we ate, we set up a pack-n-play for Sam and our air mattress and brought all our pillows and blankets out. We watched the first half of Princess Bride out there on the laptop (once again, we're awesome with nature...) An hour after Sam's bedtime we finally put him to sleep, thinking that the real trial was about to begin. He went right to sleep, just happy to be in the tent. He was an angel in fact. Jason and I even watched the rest of the movie out there, and he didn't complain that he was stuck in the other section. We realized the real trial only began when WE went to bed. Since air mattresses are so awesome, especially for someone that is 8 months pregnant, we knew there was a possibility that we wouldn't still be there in the morning. Jason warned me he might go in during the night. I didn't think we should leave our child outside in the middle of the night by himself, so I figured I would be the one to stay out there. After two hours, I wanted to cry because of the amount of pain my body was dealing with, my parched throat, my filled to the rim bladder, my sciatic nerve, and my throbbing hips, just to name a few. I finally got up to go inside to use the bathroom and just move around a little bit. I looked longingly at my wonderful bed, but was determined to not chicken out. So outside I went again. After four more hours, with still not really falling into a deep sleep, Jason, also nice and awake, informed me he was going inside. We realized we were crazy for actually thinking we would betray our bed in this way, picked up Sam, carried him to his bed, and had a great rest of the night!

Summary: Sam gets an A+ in camping. Daddy and Mommy get an F. We will not be camping again until we forget this whole night, which will probably take place next fall, when we reconvince ourselves that we can be campers for a night. Then we will be reminded again of why we don't camp... ever.

Thanksgiving Point Activities

The week following Jason's work party, we had a couple of passes to the different Thanksgiving Point sites. My sister-in-law, Allyson, and I went together with Sam and his cousin, Brigham.
First we went to the gardens, which are huge and beautiful. On a hot day, the walk got a little longer, and it didn't help being 7 1/2 months pregnant...
Sam had lots of fun with Brigham smelling the flowers and running all over the place when we would let them out of their strollers.


It's really funny to watch two toddlers trying to run downhill. Sam probably would have been fine, but he thought it looked fun each time that Brigham fell down, so he would fall down too.

After the Gardens we went to the Children's Discovery Gardens. We didn't realize until we got there that most moms brought their kids in swimming suits... Hope they didn't mind that our kids were only in their diapers...
Our next stop was to the Dinosaur Museum. Sam is looking up at the bones and stuff hanging from the ceiling. I think it was all a little confusing to him.
until he met this guy. This one made more sense than just a display of bones. They became such good friends, he didn't want to say goodbye. Oh and Brigham liked him too!
Our little archaeologist...
After the Museum, Allyson and Brigham went home, but Sam and I decided to make one more stop at the Farm Country. Sammy loved to pet the animals... of course most were hoping for a little corn instead of dirty little fingers, but I'm sure they found the flavor of his hands to be similar to the stuff they eat...
We went on a little carriage ride at the end which was fun for both of us. (probably because he was tired of walking and he's really hard to carry around these days...)
We had lots of fun, but by the end we were so tired. Sam fell asleep pretty quick once we got to the car. The next day he kept talking about the animals he saw, and wanting to pet them again. Maybe we'll go back someday....

"Carnivale"

Last Saturday was Jason's summer work party. Sam didn't have a great nap that day, so I was a little worried that he would be a major pill... until I realized that a little sugar goes a long way with a small child's attitude! For the party, Omniture rented a carnival... which in a child's world means... a lot of sugar. (It's hard to say no when it's all free!)

Here is his first shot of sugar... his beloved 'stwawbewwy ice'
While we waited in line at the ferris wheel, Sam enjoyed watching the Tornado... I think he would have preferred to be on the other side of the gate... well, at least until it started going.
I was worried that he would be a little scared of how high we would go, but he had more of a smile than a frown, so I took that as a good sign. Plus I think it helps to be jammed in between the two people in the world that you trust the most...
Believe it or not, he actually did get one of the little bean bags in the pocket, I was actually impressed. He has a good throwing arm, but not the best of aim usually. You can see the red bean bag in the yellow pocket.
Sammy met Sammy T the clown. Gotta be honest with you, I think he was a little weirded out. It was the first clown he's seen as far as I remember. But it was all ok when he handed him his very own balloon sword.
This would be his sword about 5 minutes after the previous picture. It didn't like the biting.
While we waited for our turn on the cow train, Sam found popcorn kernels on the ground. After watching him pick them up and try to eat them, I decided it would be best to let him have his own bag...
The cow train that Sam still talks about.
I got a quick picture of him before I crammed myself in there too to hold him, since he probably would've tried to climb out if he had been left on his own. If you're wondering how I fit, I promise you don't want to try to visualize it... it wasn't pretty. It didn't cross my mind that I should look for a bigger cow... so we picked one of the smaller ones. Apparently Bella is one of the more petite cows... but fit I did, in my own way. And I only ended up with a small bruise on my knee from the bumpy ride with a child jammed in between my crunched up legs. I don't think the fetus enjoyed it too much... yeah, so it was pretty much the worst ride of my life. But Sam loved it!
We had so much fun. Later in the evening (when Sam should have been in bed) everyone gathered on the grass for the usual Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament, a band played and then it ended with a great fire work show. The whole time Sam was exactly as you would expect a 2 year old to be with a body full of sugar... totally wired. But he loved dancing to the band and his eyes would light up with the fire works.
I think most of all I enjoyed the fact that we were together as a family. I feel so blessed to have Jason and Sam in my life. Jason was so patient with me as I tried to give Sam all sorts of carnival experiences that maybe weren't entirely necessary... I'm so blessed that my children have such a wonderful daddy.