Q and M Camp- Quarantine Edition & Whitewater Center Trip

This post will cover 2 weekends...

After many child reminders that Queenie and Mantis Camp had not bee scheduled this summer,

it happened.

Displaying the signage.

The 8 cousins arrived and Q and M's house for Cousin Camp!  

Miss Esme' loves Hunter.  So sweet.

Here are some pictures from this year's camp which did not include the full itinerary of last summer's camp but the kids still had a blast.

Mantis and Queenie with the Great Eight.

The craft was creating kites out of paper and then competing

Bennett demonstrating the kite

And because I was not blogging last year, here are some pictures from Q and M Camp '19.

Q and M Camp Summer 2019

Thanks Mantis and Queenie for loving on these kiddos so well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This past weekend, Nolan planned for the family to go to Whitewater Center for a fun day rafting and "adventuring". Queenie stayed behind since they have the new puppy (Oh gosh!  I havent blogged about Oak... soon.)  

The group

Unfortunately, what we refer to as "the littles", couldnt participate as you have to be 8 to do most of the fun stuff.  So, Mantis and I volunteered to sit it out this time and watch Bennett, Esme, and Eva.  We stayed busy and even snuck in a surprise visit to GrandmaDeans.to get out of the heat for a bit :) 

I couldnt get pictures of the group rafting but they all had a great time with Nolan and Tarra both getting tossed from the raft.  They also ziplined and one group did a couple ropes courses.  The last activity of paddle boarding got weathered out.

Killed at least 40  minutes climbing the tree

At the end of the day, we discovered a place the "littles" could at least get wet.

Mantis, the ultimate gamer. FYI- He beat them.

It was such a fun day.  I look forward to going again with me and Bennett getting to "play."  Thanks for planning Nols.  Even though the activity was in a stricter Covid state, we were outside the whole time and it didnt feel Covidy at all.  It was gloriously refreshing.

A Hike and a Cold Swim

My middle brother and his kids invited us to go hiking/ swimming with them at a State Forest in NC.  We jumped at the chance!  

Awkward selfie group shot!  Look how big Oakley is getting!

Mantis, Queenie, and Oakley met us as well, we ate lunch, and then took a mini-hike to another waterfall.  

The adults!

It was packed!  My brother, ever chivalrous, let us unload and then had to park in "BFE".  The 8 kids (minus Ashton who just couldnt take the cold water) jumped into the water and swam/ climbed through a mini waterfall.  The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast.

Hunter and Aunt Anna having a laugh about something.

Hunt is such a good brother.  He jokingly call him "Daddy Hunter"  He made sure Bennett was safe on the rocks.

Nephews and Shep

Shep, he busted it about 10 times at this swimming hole and where they went to jump rocks.... Mr Clumsy

Ever brave, Bennett ventured where the big boys went.  I did not allow him to slide through the waterfall though!

Ashton did not even get into the water and he was cold!  Eva did get in but was just shivering!

I cant trash talk Ashton though because, as you can tell, I am dry too!  It was chilly water.

 There are many funny stories of us getting lost on the way, leaving the lunch in the car and having to hike to go get it, and mom driving around the parking lot endlessly trying to find a spot to park... but, we will pretend that it was perfect with no complications! :)

All the kiddos and a tired puppy

Thanks for the invite Z and A!  It will be smoother next time!

The Summer in Review

Well, I blinked, and then summer was over.

I had a ton planned for this summer from things for work to places to go with kids to things to do at my house, I knew it was going to busy.

Here is our summer in review.
1- Phoenix, AR- For work, I was able to go to the National Career Development Conference in Phoenix with 2 of my co-workers.  We had such a good time and the conference was pretty good too.

In the distance is Mexico.

Suzan and me right before a Kenny Chensey concert.  Love this lady!

Traci, Suzan and I "snuck" in for the last 20 minutes of a WNBA game.  

2- Carowinds.  We went ahead an got season passes this year.  Did NOT get our money's worth.  We only went twice.  I know it is opened until Christmas now but still the fall is always super busy.  Oh well, lesson learned.  We did have fun when we went.  They loved the water pack... I took a bunch of pics but dont feel like going through them all

Little vegis

Taking a snack break at Carowinds

3- Of course, the beach.  Blogged it here.

4- Trip to Cowpens with Mantis.

The cannon picture

monument outside of Cowpens visitors center

5- Mom and I went to Gastonia over the 4th to hang with GrandmaDean

6- Hunter went to youth camp for a whole week and then had a sleepover and then went to one of his best buddies bday parties.  That 9 days was super packed for my recluse of a child- however, he loved it!

7- All the half birthday dates... blogged here

8- Lots of yardwork... blogged here.

9- Riggs watchin'

Riggs did me wrong... we brought him back with when we went to Carowinds.  He was a bad dog and chewed the seatbelt in half (in the new car).

My boys

Riggs loving on Charlee and Ashton

10- Spend the night with A-ville cousins.
     Anna took the picture... and I dont have it!
11- Hours and hours spent playing Legos.  Funny story- First, I love legos..... I was playing with them and look around and realize that I was by myself and had been for almost an hour!!! haha

Massive lego city

12- Numerous pool activities at both grandparents "pools."

13- Circque du Soleil on Ice with Grandma, Uncle Tommy, Aunt Sandee, Charlee, Sami, and Joey

About to find out seats

cousins

Such a fun summer, now time to hit it again.   Kids start back to school Monday and I started back this week. 

Soaking in the last few days of summer

Come on In!

I have to chuckle at the two extreme titles of this post vs the last... oh, what a difference a week makes.

Though I still have so many things on want/ to do list, I feel ready to head back to work... tomorrow.  I would love to be able to take a week or two to really enjoy the house, but back to school we go.  The boys still have another week, but us teacher folks start tomorrow.

If you were to show up at my house right now, this is what you would see.  Some rooms are not done, other rooms are basically done.   As I complete rooms, I will post about them but here is what we have now.

I threw in a couple before pics (the small ones) just for a comparison.

If you were driving to our house, this is what you would see.

BEFORE

After

Love our long driveway.  Hunter says I back out "like a boss"  haha.

Side view

Walking to the front door.  This fall/ spring, I will get on the landscaping.. But short term, I trimmed bushes, yanked out dead stuff as well as that awful plastic stuff, and spread pine needles.

Door is open- some come on in!

Before it is ours...

Day 1 with us.

View from the front door.

The couch was a perfect fit... it is the only piece of furniture that will fit but it looks good.

View from the kitchen.  Paint color- Agreeable Grey

I love a good gallery wall and I think this one turned out pretty good.  This room was originally a formal dining room.  We decided to have a sitting area instead.  It also extends seating for tv watching and is a great reading nook. Paint color- Poised Taupe

This is not the kitchen of my dreams but, now that we are in the house, it is a lot better than I was expecting

Before.... bleh bleh bleh

Eat in dining- use the armoire as a pantry- Good idea mom!

One of my favorite features we added... a laundry shoot.  Just realized today that I forgot to paint the drywall section.. haha

The very messy garage... However, all that cardboard in the front is dump bound.  So, pretty soon at least one car will be able to be parked in the garage.

Our workout room.  We also have the desktop and the Wii is currently set up out here.  Still so surprised by how much I like this weird little room off the garage.

 Heading back inside...

Master Bedroom.  Still some stuff to do here but it could be awhile

The master bathroom is officially the only room that has not been painted yet.  I will get to it when I get to it....

And the last room on the 1st floor... Bennett's room.  I caved and let him pick out dinosaurs covers... I figured if it made it happy to have his own room (he still wanted to share) then it was worth.  Plus, I bought them from Wal Mart for under $35.   I have a few little touches to finish for his room but it is close to done

 Upstairs we go.

Shepherd in his art zone.  I have a lot of stuff to still hang up and he needs some new bedding.  He wants Minecraft and I said, "he!! no" (in my head) and "uh, no" (out loud).  We are looking for bedding with brighter colors and kind of block like.  I will know it when I see it.  But, for now, it is fully functional

The new upstairs den.  We still need some seating.  On the look out for something smallish as this room is not real big.

 And, the new section

Before the house was ours.

Part way through the process

This is worth the wait!  The new hallway.

Hunter's room.  Again, new bedding.  I hate these covers plus his sheets dont fit so lots of changes coming to this room in the coming months.  

Ashton's room.  Ashton actually has the largest room as the fusbol table had to go into a room.  Hunter really needs his get away time from his brothers so Ash was all to pleased to add the fusbol table and forego on some privacy.  Again, lots of changes coming to this room too.   He opted to stay in his twin bunk bed but add some seating underneath.  We got some clearance bedding at Target a month or ago... Figured this black and white check would blend with any sports stuff we add.

Boys bathroom upstairs.  More pics coming

 So, there is a quick tour.  I cant believe my summer is over.  It has been so busy.  With Chad working so much, I have had so many people step up to the plate to help out with the house and the boys.  So, thank you.