UGH and MORE

I am hardly ever sick. I had the flu - which morphed into a runny nose - and now I'm simply congested...sinus infection type congested on one side of my face. Mike and I were going to go camping last night - alone. Instead, I spent about 14 hours in bed. I'm doing tea tree oil steams, taking a decongestant....Mike thinks I need to snort salt. I think that may make me gag - but I'm going to try it.

We plan on camping again next week. I'm open for suggestions for favorite camping meals....My head hurts too much to think......NOTHING sounds good to me right now. LOL

Cy got a package in the mail today......Oh, he also was told that Chick Fil A is sending him to Atlanta for a big manager seminar....he's pretty excited.

Taking Camp Apart...

We all have our jobs when taking a site down....this a.m. we simply weren't sure what those jobs would be....we'd never taken this sort of camp site down before....

I took photos.

Jared & Arielle checked the site for trash.

Cy did various things and here he mans the wheel at the van.

MIKE did sewer...have you ever wondered where the sewer lines are STORED - the bumper - shew! I was about to gross out big time.

Jamin handled jacks.

Arielle watched Stacia.

Stacia plays with her brothers light saber - it makes a better microphone in her estimation.

Zander raises the trailer.

Nolan attaches the sway bar and reefs on some bar ::grin::

CACHING ~ PART2 ~

T-Poisoning Illustrated

It's not often that you get to catch t-poisoning on camera...but here you go. Mike was at the office and we were looking for this cache.

We found it....Can you spot it?

Find the "V" in the tree and look up the right branch. NOW - how were we going to get to it and how would we put it back up there????? *I* began to think this out. I've noted that there are quite a few "older" cachers in our area, and I doubted that anyone would place a cache in a spot where the only way to get it down was to CLIMB....since it was listed as a 2.5 in difficulty.

While I thought, the boys sprang into action.

First, Jared climbed on to Cy's shoulders....wasn't tall enough....

Then Cy climbed on Jamin's shoulders....grabbed the tree at the highest point he could reach...and climbed.....He grabbed the cache and realized it wasn't giving....

A ha!!! - A green rope runs from the Cache to a nearby tree...

Josiah holds the rope as he and Jamin prepare to replace the cache....

I'm convinced the girls and I would have thought this one through...but the boys were up that tree and down as quickly as we would have found the rope. We laughed long and hard when Cy found the rope and the boys realized the cache was on a pulley system. Great fun. We were going to have Mike go back and see how he would initially respond....but we couldn't keep from telling him the story. We'll never know for sure....

CACHING

Nolan uncovers a find!

Our 50th find... This was themed cache - zoo animals....unfortunatley, we had no animals in our caching bag, but we'll go back again and leave some and take some...the younger set loved playing with all the animals.

Wednesday...

I came home early this a.m. to put in a produce order. Ran back to the lake and Mike had breakfast ready. It's been VERY windy and we all decided to pack up and come home.

We're home from the lake. Mike had to run to base to register for a week-long trip he is taking in April. I'm still not sure if I'm going. He'd like me too...but I need to figure out if I CAN leave the children for that long. ::snort::

The children and I unpacked, ran some laundry and re-packed.
Here are some photos...and I'll upload more as I have time.

Setting up Camp for the first time with the trailer:

Stacia knows how to set up a camp....

Mike wrestles with the water line while Cy hams it up with the sewer line...

After being assured the tanks were empty, I uncapped the sewer...this gave me QUITE a moment of ALARM...

I felt better when Mike had the same trouble...

QUICK UPDATE

Jamin gives Michael a copy of his book, I still need to call you Becky and get your copy off to you....

Saturday - The day was spent checking out all the systems on the trailer, loading the trailer etc.


Sunday - We left for the local lake. This is not to be a "camping" trip per se....but a chance for us to try out all the systems on the trailer before we leave. It also gets ALL of us away from home, so that no one knows where we are and we can reconnect. Josiah ran into town for a graduation meeting.

Monday - More fun at the lake....geocaching, basketball, tennis, playgrounds, crochet, boccie (photos will follow when the camera is here). Mike had to go to base to begin in-processing.


Tuesday - Mike had to go to base early this a.m. to finish in-processing. The orderly room told him that he has two weeks off starting WEDNESDAY (tomorrow). Because of other obligations we have decided not to leave and go camping until the 27th. This may give us time to work on that Honey Do list before we hit the trail.

Mike wants to spend another night at the lake tonight...we will. We're home now. I'm making produce co-op calls (letting everyone know we are not doing produce NEXT Fri. as I'll be camping), doing a bit of laundry, grabbing food and clothes for another night at the lake. Mike has gone to the RV dealer to buy other little things he's discovered we need on this quick "camping" trip.

We're having a blast. We'll be in contact when we get home.....more photos tomorrow....I knew I should have grabbed the camera when we left to come back to the house.

NEARLY PERFECT DAY

 (only way it could have been better would be to have the girls here)

I had shown a bit of foresight and cancelled speech today. There was no drama or weight management class for me.

Jared, Arielle, Nolan and I hung banners, put up balloons, and bows this a.m. I'll show pictures later - I'll need to blur names on uniforms and signs before posting.

Heather and Kelli came over and helped sort produce today! What a BLESSING! They stayed and passed out produce, put away tables and such. There was a bit of a mix up today...seems we have two new women today Sandra and Sandy....and I really mixed it up...but all were understanding and it worked out fine.

We ran out of house with 20 minutes to get to the airport. It's just a few minutes down the road. Josiah looked over and said, "Are you a bit excited, Mom?" YIKES I was going 65 mph and I wasn't near a freeway. I slowed down to 40 mph. I simply can't think of WORDS to describe my feelings and such...maybe tomorrow. They say a picture is worth 1,000 words - so I'll post some photos below.

Mike got to talk to the girls. I missed them terribly today. Krista had called last night with orders for me NOT to climb on top of the RV....goodness that girl knows me. She said the boys were younger and would bounce better. ::snort:: We compromised with a ladder and Jared held it. I'll show the photos of the decked out RV tomorrow or so....

Initial Michael Sighting

Cy had the camera and snapped photos....as I wrote earlier home for me is wherever this man is....

Stacia, however, is not so sure of Michael right off the bat. He is GOOD - he had a stuffed pig for her in his carry on.

A Man and His Dog...

Mike removes the last link in our homecoming chain and is home at last!

We were milling around outside, hooking up the battery and about to check out the RV, when Margie came by. What great timing. She welcomed Mike home and took a family photo for us.
We gave Mike the tour of his gift...Zander opened the control panel (right at child level as you enter) and said, "ta DAH!" Then he showed Mike the "master suite" and said, "See - we got you a bed. You can sleep here instead of in the house!" ::snort::
Mike was making phone calls to family and fell asleep. Stacia peeks over the footboard...she seemed to wonder why I was allowing this man to get into "our" bed...but she's warming up...she curious now. LOL

Mike is still on Middle Eastern time. He fell asleep while calling family....I think this means he'll finally get up early with me tomorrow morning! ::snort:: We are starting to figure out what we want to do with the next two weeks. The Air Force gives us 2 weeks of "recon" time. The first week seems to be full with briefings....but I think we are going to get away for a bit the second week. Darshia, Jamin and Mike got those AK plates installed right away on the RV. LOL