Camping Trip #3: Mom's Impromptu Trip

I didn't think my trip was going to take place until next year, but thanks to my husband's campsite stalking I didn't have to wait! 

HELLO GETTYSBURG! 

 Our Campsite was one of my favorite parts of this trip! We stayed at the KOA and it was wonderful! We had a site that was close to the action yet felt so private! Look at all the boulders surrounding us!

 The kids loved playing on them and it felt so Gettysburg!

 This KOA was exceptional! The customer service was top notch and it was so clean and well kept! Definitely want to return!

The kids had a run in with their first frog, meaning the first one they actually held.  

Parker was a little skittish! HA, it was comical, he tried again after this leap.  

 So we were here for the reenactment weekend that takes place on July 1-3. It was amazing, for me. For the kids it's still out to be determined. They thought it was interesting but hot, and a lot of learning. We found out that they were having church services in the morning and thought this was a wonderful experience, not to mention we were missing our service.

Kinsley met some important people. She and Mrs. Lee bonded over her dress~

 The next day we went on a tour around Gettysburg that catered a little to the kids. Chris and I enjoyed it, the kinds tolerated it for the most part. They enjoyed parts of it, but I'll make little historians out of them one day.

We got to ride in a 1930s bus and it was an adventure to say the least.  

Kids got to learn about how hard it was to be a soldier, i'll spare you the 3 minute long video. 

Kinsley met more influential people. 

The KOA had a lot of really great features that the kids LOVED. This playground was great and we could see it from our campsite so the kids could go "adventure".

Parker asked about every half hour if he could go to the jumping pad.

We mined for Gems.. enter eye roll, the crap kids want to bring home. Yeah we were all so excited that but the time we got home the kids completely forgot about the Gems, so exciting.

I would say this picture is proof of a good trip. Chris and I learned right away that for us to have a stress free evening we let them fall asleep on the table bed watching a moving and then move them to their beds later. 

Gettysburg was a great trip but next time Chris and I are going to go without the kids. It's still a little too much learning with too much heat for them to be interested. 

Camping Trip #2 Parker's Trip

So, when we first brought our camper home we allowed each child to pick a destination. Parker chose Hershey Park! Whoo hoo only two hours from us!

This was perfect because when we bought our camper the dealer gave us a free year to Thousand Trails Campgrounds. You simply pick your zone and then you can camp for free at any TT campground in that zone. What you don't know is that Thousand Trails is the Southwest of campgrounds. No assigned spots. You either get lucky or you don't. Despite the super packed campground we got lucky with a great spot. The sewer plug didn't work, but our neighbors taught us about spider-dogs! It's a win. 

Thousand Trails Hershey was a really nice campground. It was clean and the spots were a good size. The pool was big and clean and it had a nice playground. We saw ducks and turtles, but let's be honest, this trip wasn't for the camping. BRING ON THE CHOCOLATE! 

But first, mommy juice!

This is my White Sangria Concentrate. 

Here's the low down to help your day go better. 

Fill a mason jar with fruit, I used peaches, strawberries and blueberries. 

Pour in vodka till 1/4 full

Fill the rest of the way with white wine (I had pino on hand)

Let it sit in the fridge (I made it the night before we left) 

Once you are ready to drink it you pour it into a pitcher and mix in a jar or more full of Fresca or sprite, depending on the potency you want. I thought it was weak until I ate the fruit, Hello Spring Break College!

Well as you can see we made it to the park the next day and we're still smiling!

Parker is still not a fan of characters. He doesn't want to karate chop them but he also still won't touch them. 

This was our first time seeing the seal show and it was so cute! 

By the end of the day Parker wouldn't even stand in the same space as the characters. 

So Kinsley did us proud. This was for her Daddy. 

This one was for her Sasha! Sasha loves her Rolos. 

And then some shopping and a free tour. 

We spent a lot of time at the water park, but keep in mind I was still injured. Walking around Hershey Park in a boot #allthehills #sohot #killmenow. But I couldn't wear it at the water park and paid for that later. Uh! 

It was a great trip and left us all with smiles, and a few sugar meltdowns. 

Camping trip #1 the Maiden Voyage

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So for our first trip, they suggest you stay local so that if anything goes wrong or if you're missing anything you can fix it or get it. Well our friends live 10 minutes from us and have almost 50 acres and asked if we wanted to spend Memorial Day weekend with them and their family camping. In the back of the property they have hook ups (electric) for 4-5 campers, so we said "shooot yeah!" So off we went! 

Sadie can hardly believe her luck!! 

This was my poor old dog the whole time, laying in the rocks. She had a blanket but decided to just stay where she fell because she was so tired from the excitement.

First time setting the Girl up, think she's looking pretty good!

Well she got half on at least.

This little man could not have been happier about this trip. Since it's 50 acres of private land he was allowed to just go and explore and have fun with his friends. When I say friends the boy had 4 other boys to play with!!

So they have all this land because they have a farm! How cool right! So while there we got to teach the kids a few things and help with the farm chores. 

Which involved rounding up chickens, that don't lay anymore, to sell.



She thought they were more pet than anything.

They also sell goats for meat.

This was the kids 80% of the time. On some vehicle off somewhere. Don't worry we only let the 9 year old drive 😂

These are their 4-H show goats

There were also 3 Llamas and 2 donkeys

Fresh eggs every morning. Parker's #1 favorite thing to do

Besides this

Campfire cookin. That log is actually a concrete fire pit made to look like a log! I tell ya the Brown's don't do anything halfway.

Campfire cheesesteak

Don't you camp with a Margarita machine?

Our amazing host, who is also giving me her camping tips and tricks!



The last night they brought out their 8ft Wok to make us dinner. #notkidding

Oh yeah I didn't mention I had a level III sprain for this? Because I did, and it was new.



And our departure lunch? Well it's Maryland so of course we had crabs!!!

Once we got home and unpacked, everything went back to normal.

But we have found a new love and a new way to get those kids disconnected. Here's to many more adventures! 

Hey y'all

Hey y'all we're going to play a quick catch up game to get that all out of the way and then move forward, yes?!?? 

Currently I have a 7.5 year old.... wait what?

My baby is 5... no no that can't be right, we're going into Kindergarten?!?!

I'm currently blonde, well for now, ya know

I've been baking a lot of cakes for friends. Some have tried to hire me but when I don't quote them $20 they take offense to it, because you know cakes only take an hour to throw together (*cough punch them in their throat*), so I only have been doing cakes for friends, for free.

We bought a camper this year. Oh the camping, I'm sorry, GLAMPING is real, like all the time. I'll probably just write the next few post about just our trips.

And this man and I have almost made it 11 years married this fall! #killinit #onlythroughprayer #hesstillsexy

And that's the short of the long. I'll catch y'all up more but I wanted you to have a jumping off point BAM 

Love ya 

Mean it

This point in your life is known as Motherhood, aka Not your own

You know I take my hat off to all the blogs I read of mothers who have lives, who are in shape, who look cute on a daily basis. I am not one of those moms. You know what kind of mom I am? I'm the kind that works full time, a hour away from home. I'm the kind that's a little fluffier then I would like to be because I just can't bear to get up at 4:45AM to work out. I'm the kind of mom that stays up until 11 making things for my kids class party. I'm a mom that's constantly tired. I wear a fitbit to see just how much sleep I'm not getting and just how many steps I'm not taking.

Right now I'm in survival mode. I keep coming up with plans on how to take care of myself but, it's not happening, instead I just keep buying bigger pants.

I think an ah ha moment for me was the other day when my brother asked me "So what are you doing for fun for YOU"... I didn't have an answer, other than "Drink wine...?" There is no Me, there's Mother. It's not bad but, what happens later?

There will come a time when I won't hear the screams of "Mom I can't sleep alone" "Mom I need help getting ready" "Mom i need you to help me..."... eventually they will do it themselves, and I'll miss it, but eventually I'll be able to find me.