Day 6 - Nana Camp

Monday, July 9
After about three hours of sleep I woke up extremely happy this morning. Camping was about to be over. Although it did go very good, actually extremely wonderful, I will be ecstatic to be back in my own bed tonight, soaking in my bathtub, and being able to hear the beautiful flush of the toilet. Yes, I am very spoiled. I need to be thankful every single day of the luxuries I enjoy and take for granted. Everyone in the world is not as fortunate.
Mack cooked everyone an awesome breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs, biscuits, and even gravy. He is an expert camper and the kids were amazed you could cook all of those things outside, and with no electricity. I was very thankful for Mack. Otherwise oatmeal pies would have probably been on the kids breakfast menu.





It was off to baseball for the boys. Luke Krieger filled in for Jay, who had to go out of town. The boys loved Luke. They played homerun derby along with getting training in batting and fielding. He did an outstanding job with the guys.





Adorable Aunt Carolyn took the girls to her house for a few hours of fun. They made precious doorknob hangers, and they made stepping- stones they could put around their house with their fingerprints, shiny colored stones, and personal effects included in them.








It was home for lunch quickly and then off to school where Amy did mind-blowing science with them. Today’s activity was building individual volcanoes. Yes, I heard all about the eruptions coming from my classroom and all the excitement that was taking place.


“Quiet Time” today was clean up time for broken rules. It really pains me to say this, but my house is not tidy at this time. It is looking a little like a hurricane blew through. I really do not know what has happened. One day it still looks presentable and the next it is a wreck. Yes, much to my dismay there were scattered shoes, clothes, and plates. You name it and it would probably be found in my house right now. It was nothing compared to last year, but it was not as I had planned. Yes sir, all of the campers have once again broken a camp rule. I gave all of them the directions they needed and told them I expected perfectly clean living quarters within the hour. Every single one of them worked like crazy. They were vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning up everything everywhere. I was quiet impressed. They did a bang up job. Now the house is once again like I want it to be. Keeping the house clean and the clothes washed is an everyday chore. There is no such luxury as having the clothes all washed and dried. I have washed more towels and wash cloths this week than I do in months. It would not surprise me if my washer broke down at anytime, and it is only four years old. It has stayed on 24-7, I do believe.

 

After all was tidy again we headed to Mr. Bob and Edith Broadfoot’s home. He lived in Alaska for three years and went on numerous hunting excursions. All of his animal’s heads, the bear rug, and all the moose antlers were a huge wow factor for the kids. They loved it. After he finished it was a constant, “Nana, take my picture with this.” Jane and Mack brought over Evie, Logan, and Henry also, and it was loads of fun.


I made spaghetti and Barbie cups for dinner. The kids seemed a little tired today, but they were still asking when we could start the games. Grampy and I just looked at each other, wondering if we would survive this. The last two nights had given me a total of about six hours of sleep and I honestly didn’t think I could hold my eyes open. Some of it was that I just couldn’t sleep. My mind was going in a hundred different directions and sleeping on the floor in a tent was hard as a rock, especially since I, Nana, had forgotten my quilt and pillow. Oh well, this too shall pass.

We were well behind schedule with the games and tonight we needed to do some big time catching up. We started with the 50-yard dash. Carter came in first, Camden second, and Joshua third. In the intermediate division Caley came in first and Marah was second, with only an inch behind. In the primary division Noah came in first, Abbie second, and Bailey third. Macy ran with everyone zipping in and out amongst them all.

In the broad jump competition Joshua came in first, Carter second, and Camden third. In the younger division Marah and Bailey tied for first, Abbie was second, and Caley was third.


“Team Tag” was next. Carter, Joshua, Marah, and Abbie came in first place with Camden, Caley, Bailey, and Noah coming in second place. Macy said she won on both teams.


The “Corn Toss” was so much fun. Grampy’s friend Tony, built Grampy two awesome Auburn corn toss games, and surprised him at work and gave them to him. They were top -notch quality and something Grampy and I will always cherish. We will use them for years to come. Camden came in first place. Carter was second, and Joshua and Caley tied for third.


“Musical Chairs” was hilarious. They all had planned to win this one. They thought it should have been easy enough to just find a seat when the music stopped, but when nine all planned to win the competition was on. Joshua came in first, Noah was second, he was more determined than I remember seeing him in a while, and Camden was third.




The “Pillow Case Hop” was too funny. I do dread washing all those pillow- cases, but it will be worth it. Marah hopped her way to first place, Joshua was second, and Bailey was third.

“Go for H2O” was harder than it looked, although it too was fun. They blew and blew in the straw to advance the drop of the water to the finish line on the wax paper. Camden was first with an awesome finish. Noah was second, and Abbie was third.
 “Airplane Flights” was short, but fruitful. Joshua’s plane was first, Carter was second, and Marah was third. In the younger division Noah was first, Abbie was second, and Bailey was third. Macy’s airplane kept going the wrong direction, but she loved every minute of it.

“Spinners” was a little hard at first, but after giving them all some practice time everyone finally got the hang of it. Camden’s top lasted the longest coming in first, Carter was second, and Joshua was third.


“Washers” is anybody’s game. Camden came in first, Joshua was second, and little Miss Macy herself came in third. She was the proudest little thing and kept telling everybody how she had beat them.


By this time Grampy and I probably looked like we had been in a hurricane. Macy came up and sat in my lap and said, “Nana are you tired?” I told her that tired wasn’t a good word for it. Nana was passed exhaustion, and close to passing out in the backyard and sleeping on the ground again. As I was sitting in the swing I just caught my breath, looked around at all the kids as they were running around everywhere, laughing, hollering, and asking me and Grampy what they were fixing to do next, and I thought to myself that all is well. When I see Camden, the oldest, running and tagging the others, and laughing his head off, and I see Macy, hopping off my lap to once again inform Caley she won the “Washers” game, then I know all the in-between ages are happy as well.


It does my heart good knowing that Grampy and I had a tiny part to do with the smiles on their faces. Things can change. Things will change, but right now at this very moment, Grampy and I have had some precious memories added to our lives and theirs.


We actually got everyone into bed early tonight. It was more for Grampy and I than it was for the kids, but we needed every minute extra we could muster to regain any strength we once had. Our strength tonight was tapped out. We did a lot of catching up, but we are still a little behind. We only have one more entire day. The week has gone so fast for us. All is well tonight. I am afraid I will fall asleep in the tub, and Grampy said for me not to call him because he will be in shower stall asleep as well. Signing off, Nana.

Day 5 - Nana Camp

Sunday, July 8


When everyone woke up this morning I was elated even though everyone got into bed late last night all baths were given and hair was washed. I just don’t know if I would have had it in me to do it this morning. I think the last several days have taken more of a toll than I first anticipated. Overall I am very happy about the way “Nana Camp” is going. I know all the kids are enjoying it, and that is what matters.



Shortly after breakfast it was off to church and I was impressed with the kids. Usually when they come they write on the cards in the pew and this time I told them they were all old enough not to do it anymore, except Macy. They were wonderful. They were quiet as a mouse. Maybe they are a little worn out too.

Right after lunch Grampy had to go help Paige and Rodney set our tent up for the big excursion tonight, which is camping. We borrowed their tent and while they are setting up I called Carolyn and Judy to help watch the kids at the creek while I went to Wal-Mart. I needed to pick up several more things for the cookout. Sunday night services started at 5:00, so I was hurrying to try and get everything ready for tonight.

 We didn’t get back to the campsite until just before 7:00. There are really no words that will describe the preparation for camping with nine munchkins. It was worse than Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I was frazzled by the time we even got to the creek. The kids were like bees in a flower garden. They were everywhere. I know it is probably just the Nana in me, but I was continually counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 to make sure someone hadn’t wandered off or hadn’t been snatched by a water moccasin. Grampy, on the other hand, doesn’t have a care in the world on outings like this. He thinks I am a little ridiculous that I keep such an eye one them. I teach fifth grade and since Camden is entering that this year I am well aware that they are old enough to be given leverage. I really depended on him a lot this week to help with the others. He seemed to like being in charge, and I took full advantage of it. They were too busy catching crawfish to even watch where they were going, or what was in the water around them. I am petrified of snakes and of course I told the kids to make sure they watched for them. Grampy told them not to worry about them that they would run off as fast as they could when they saw the kids coming.

 

 

I had the hotdogs ready before we left, so more of the time could be spent by the kids making smores. The kids burnt marshmallows, lost marshmallows, threw marshmallows, ate marshmallows, and hid marshmallows. I am thankful I brought bags and bags of them because they loved every minute of the cookout.


I had invited two of my friends to bring their grandkids and campout with us. Jane and Mack brought their three, Henry, Evie, and Logan. Judy brought Luke with her, and Lauren and Jordan also came. We had four tents set up near the creek. I also volunteered my precious sister, Carolyn, to come along with us.
 Lawrence and Polly Alexander were wonderful to let us use the beautiful site. Lawrence raises Airedales and he brought one down to the campsite and told the kids all about the Airedale dogs. They ate hotdogs with all of us and we had a great time.



After supper we all sat in a circle and the kids took turns telling stories and singing songs. They laughed and laughed. The kids made all of the stories up on the spot, but they seemed to love it, and that is what counted. The little ones informed the older kids right off the bat that no scary stories were allowed to be told. Noah set everyone straight on that account. He has done an excellent job all week keeping me informed about everything. He has even let me know when he felt like someone was even fixing to break a rule. If the fire needed more wood, if the drinks needed more ice, or if the marshmallows were too burnt, I could count on Noah to let me know.



About 10:00 we had decided that the stories must finally come to an end and it was off to bed. Needless to say, off to bed did not mean off to sleep. Joshua asked me a couple of times what the howling sound was he kept hearing. I assured him it was Mr. Lawrence’s dogs. He said one time he had to sleep on the ground when he was camping with his Pappy, and he said he was scared all night because he thought the coyotes were going to come and get him. I was very thankful he was asleep because around 3:00a.m. I thought they might be coming to get me. Macy still had not gone to sleep at midnight. She said her tummy was hurting her, so she sat with me outside the tent with Aunt Carolyn, Judy, and Grampy. I was not really sure if her stomach was hurting or not, or if she was still just too scared of the spiders that the boys had informed the girls were inside the tent. Of course there were none that I found, but the boys thoroughly enjoyed hearing the squeals from the girls. After all, isn’t that what camping is all about too? Thankfully by 11:30 all the kids, except Macy, were asleep.

I have to be completely honest here. I do not like camping. I do not like it at all. I am not a camper, I am a soft bed Nana and I was dreading this trip. I do not know what possessed me to come up with such a plan for “Nana Camp” that included camping, especially with nine kids. Grampy, on the opposite spectrum, is all about the outdoors. He was definitely in his element. Well bully for him. I do not like bugs. I do not like the heat and humidity that comes with camping. I do not like to be dirty at all. I will not go behind a tree and use leaves for toilet paper, like my mom told me they had to do sometimes. Grampy had gone and borrowed a potty, much to his disagreement, just to try and pacify me, and I loved it. Carolyn, Jane and all of her family, as well as Judy, and all of hers, stayed true to the woods, and went behind trees. It is easy for boys to do, but I am not a fan of it in any form or fashion. I think all of my granddaughters are going to be just like me because they all used my potty. We know how to camp with a little finesse. Hee Hee


We had a half moon that gave some light all of the nighttime hours, expect when there was heavy cloud cover. I ended up a little after three going inside the tent to sleep with the girls. Abbie woke up twice, sitting straight up and mumbling something I could not understand. When she saw me she just smiled and went back to sleep.



Carolyn slept outside under the stars on a cot near the tent doorway. Grampy had brought two cots and I did not have room for one inside the tent with the nine kids. Grampy too slept on a cot under the stars, on the back of the tent. The more I think about it the more I should have ragged them about having a cot. Everybody gave me grief about the potty and said it wasn’t a true “camp” experience. Well I think using a cot is not a true camp experience. They should just have slept in a sleeping bag on the ground. Oh well! All is well that ends well.


Although camping is not on my list of 1000 best things to do, it was an experience I would not take anything for doing. I would do it again in a heartbeat. The kids will always remember it. They had a blast. I had tons of glow sticks, bracelets, and necklaces I had bought to use and I totally forgot all about them being in the back of the van. The kids were excited about them and they forgot about them as well. I will have to use them tomorrow night or Tuesday night. Is it really just two more days until they all go home? I cannot believe it. I have got to make the most of the two last days. We didn’t even have time for games today. I am so behind. The next two days will be packed to get in all the things I had planned. I am the luckiest Nana in the world.