Friday, June 17, 2011

Camping. And not camping.

Sometime in May, the five of us went camping. It was a beautiful spot, a bit past the nearby village of Bistritsa. Only about half an hour away, and just... beautiful.

Usually Maeve and I don't go with Z and the twins. I think this was our... second? Yeah, second time camping. Just our family. Last summer, of course, we all went on the Rollins family campout in Oregon, but once the weather turns nice here in Bulgaria, Zachariah usually takes Bran and Nuala every two or three weeks. Often their little friend from church, Mia, goes, along with her daddy, and so there's not room for Maeve and me in the Explorer anyway, what with all the camping gear! I'm okay with that.
This camping trip was fun, but I spent the entire time following Maeve back and forth between the fire and the creek, making sure she didn't throw herself into either. Which she really, really wanted to. Not really a relaxing time, but then again, I didn't have children so I could relax, did I? Hahaahaaaha!! Children... relax... hahaaha! Oh... (sigh)... that's a good one... hehehehh... Alrighty...
Nuala and Bran are seasoned firewood scroungers. And super strong.
This was a total accidental up-the-nose-ing. She does look quite tickled about it, I must say.
The tykes staring at a mouse hole, willing the occupant to emerge... This is the following morning, after one of the coldest nights of my life, and I've experienced more cold nights than I planned to, back when I was a snug, cozy little lass in footie pajamas. I don't know why I was so cold! I have a good-quality, warm sleeping bag. I was wearing fleece pants...wool socks... my sweater! I woke up freezing and then did the whole "stay half-awake and try not to move all night" thing. Then Maeve woke up and wanted to nurse, which did nothing for my poor, newly exposed...parts. It was weird, that I was freezing. No one else was cold at all, apparently.
Z found this nest of caterpillar/webworm things. We were all crowded around it, ooh-ing and ahhh-ing, when he kindly decided to bend the branch down a bit, so the kiddos could see them better. Those are wimpiest little creatures! He really barely moved it, and about a third of them when hurtling through the air. Several landed on Nuala's head and the back of her neck and shoulders, but she kept her cool. Mostly because she didn't realize what happened. She does love bugs, though, so she didn't even mind once it dawned on her (me brushing her off and laughing clued her in). She just wanted to make sure she got to hold one.
So camping... it was fun. Zac took the twins again tonight, this time with Mia and Curtis, and also with some work buddies and their boys. So four dads, two girls, four boys. Good times!
Maeve and I had our own good times tonight. After they left, we visited the dogs (oh, and our friends, too ;) next door, then went on a little walk to the creek. Then we ate dinner, which included a lot of cherries from our tree (YUM! They are just perfectly purple-red right now...), and then we went outside into the beautiful evening and swung on the tire swing while eating MORE cherries. Right off the tree. I love it. We were both stained purply-red by the time we went in. Me on my fingers, from pitting cherries for the babe, and the babe on her white shirt, of course! What kind of mother doesn't remove her child's clothes before going cherry-crazy?! Don't answer that.
Sometimes I just want to freeze time. Okay, often I want to do that. She's in the process of standing up on the swing here. Her preferred position. Probably, of course, because that's what N&B do...
On the left, she had just dismounted from the swing. This is where she ends up half the time... stuck in the middle. This pic was taken about a nano-second before she went beserk trying to escape the inner circle. The other pic is just cute, in case you couldn't tell.

8 comments:

Aislinn said...

The pictures are fabulous! Curtis is very, very jealous that you can camp without melting at this time of year. Me, not so much. ;) The webworms are cool and Nuala does look thrilled to be holding a new little friend, LOL! LOVE the tire swing pics! Maeve has the best grin and look at her adorable, pudgy little belly in the last pic! Awwww! Too cute! <3 Glad you're having fun while Z and the twins are camping! The cherries sound sooooo yummy! Mmm...

Megan and Greg said...

Maeve is so stinkin' cute! I would have flipped if multiple worms flew on me. I could handle one, maybe a FEW, but many squigglies- oh man. I would have felt like I had worms on me the rest of the day. Camping. I hate it. I wish it wasn't the only time we get to see you guys. Otherwise I would never go.

David said...

A beautiful camping area. N & B are doing a great job collecting wood. Did B save a stick for a sword? Sorry you were so cold, it got down to 76 degrees here last night. Had to turn off the AC (ha). Maeve was happy to have you to herself, especially with the cherries. She needs to watch N & B dismount a bit more. Wonderful post,

love, Dad and Mom xoxoxoxoxo

Tara said...

So many cute pictures! I love the one of Nuala with her huge firewood stick...and the three of them in the camping chairs...Nuala carrying Maeve. So cute. It does look like a really gorgeous camping area. And Maeve in/on the tire swing is so adorable, too, I bet she had so much fun having you all to herself for a night.

Sutherlands said...

What a fun post. That is so cool that Z takes the kids camping so often. I was loving camping last year because Alex was finally old enough NOT to jump in the fire. Now, Austin crawls and is on the verge of walking, so here we go again. :) Kids...relax...can those two words even go in the same sentence? HAHAHA YOU are funny. :)

Grandma said...

LOL yea who has kids and expects to not have to chase them. Awesome Job Fiona of chssing that munchkin. umm where was your long underwear for Belgium? It is horrible to freeze all night. I feel for you. Mauve is sure tickled pink over her talent for standing on the swing.

Dan said...

The kids are growing, so fast, and cute.
Looks like fun.

Rob and Erin Smith said...

Love the tire swing pictures! She is so adorable! and the cherries sound so good! Camping looks like fun too! Even Maeve has some firewood to contribute! They are strong, look at those huge branches Nuala and Bran are pulling! Lucky kiddos!