Where the elk run away...

Time to play a little blog catch up.  Again.

We are now all fully recovered and rested after our third trip to Benezette for a weekend of fun with my family.  It's funny how this whole thing has evolved from an "I-don't-really-know-what-to-expect-here" experience into something that we're all really looking forward to from year to year.  It was almost amazing to me to think about how much Joshua and Brooke have grown since our first trip, but I love watching the kids as they explore the outdoors and learn to have fun like we did when we were kids.

When we left on Friday morning, I honestly thought we were prepared to stay for 6 months by the looks of the back of the van.  Seats were down and everything was stacked high--- it begged the question of what we're going to do next year when that seat can't be put down because we'll need it for car seats!  And then how on earth are we going to fit pack-n-plays, Boppy pillows, etc. etc. in with all the rest of our stuff.  But I tried not to let myself get too far ahead of the game and realized that we'll figure it out like we always do.  Or should I say Jason always does.  My job is to gather it all up.  His job is to make it fit in the vehicle.  I totally win on that one, and I know it.



Immediately upon arrival, the kids wanted to strip out of their clothes and get into their bathing suits.  Libby and Brooke were already playing in the baby pools and having a good time, and Joshua and Lauren weren't about to miss out on another second of that.  After lunch we set up a slip and slide for them to play with in the yard.  The water from the hose was just shy of icicle temperature, but it didn't slow them down.  Libby wins the Aunt of the Year Title for sitting down in the ice cold water and sliding with the kids.  It was fun to hear them all squeal.  But I'm pretty sure this yelling was the beginning of the end for our elk viewing on the trip.  The noise level wasn't quite what I would call inviting for the calm, serene elk to graze through the yard as they've done in years past.

Squealing, running, giggling and chasing continued until all of the kids fell into position to start settling down for the night.  I know you'll be impressed with our lavish sleeping conditions, right?

 The sleeping arrangements have really evolved over the past three years as we have more and more munchkins to fit into the number of beds and bedrooms that there are in the camp.  Last year Lauren wasn't loving her pack-n-play and I spent the majority of the weekend sleeping with her in my arms while she nursed on the couch.  So this year, we thought it best to just stay in the living room and try to set up some sort of air mattress kingdom for me, Josh and Lauren.  Joshua did great, and really so did Lauren all things considered.  I'll just say I was thrilled to lay down in my own bed when we got home on Monday night.

We had a campfire each night, and Joshua says that his favorite part of the trip was eating s'mores.  For a child who doesn't eat much, he certainly enjoyed his sticky, gooey treats.  We had to stop him at 2 s'mores each night or else he'd have kept going until he threw up.

 Lauren liked the s'more goodies too, although she mostly ate them separately.  Her favorite part was the chocolate.  Surprise, surprise.  When you ask her what her favorite part of the trip was, she'll tell you it was the "big elk" that we saw at the new visitors center.  She has actually been having pretend phone conversations with Nana and Pap this week while they're still away.  They go a little something like this:

"Hewwo.  Hi NanaPap.  (one word for her)"
"What doing?"
"Oooooooh.  Big elk?"
"MWAH.  Bye bye."

Somehow I think Nana and Pap avoided the camera most of the weekend, but I did manage to snap one with Joshua around the campfire.

We are so grateful for the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful camp like Winslow Meadow Lodge, and to do so with our extended family is such a gift.  The kids are starting to remember it from year to year.  Maybe this will be among their cherished memories like Poe Valley trips are for me.  All we can say is a super special thank you to Nana and Pap for setting this all up again for us all to enjoy this year.  There is no greater gift than sharing time with people we love, and this was an awesome trip.