Labor Day Camping Trip

 

We have been planning to go camping all summer and finally decided to just go somewhere close.  Past Labor Day Holidays we've gone up to Hourglass Lake but this year there were to many extenuating circumstances to make that happen.  Our plans to go north with Melissa's family fell threw.  But we didn't want to allow the entire summer to go by without a camping trip.

So Sunday afternoon we decided to take what we had and just go up into the mountains overnight.  That way the boys would have the experience of sleeping overnight in the tent and we could check it off our to-do list.

We didn't get out of town until after 7:00 pm once we finally decided to go.  That put us in the mountain to set up in the dark (this is a Petersen Family tradition, to set up camp in the dark).  However, due to the holiday weekend we ended up going much further than originally anticipated to find an acceptable camping spot.

Once we had arrived we set about to establish camp.  Me and Michelle unloaded the suburban to get the tent and bags set up.  The boys were on fire duty.

 

 

It seems that the boys were having a little difficulty getting the fire started, most likely due to the recent rains and the lack of appropriate tinder (paper).  We had brought Aleky's birthday present along because we needed the use of a sixth sleeping bag for the boys.  Ironically, the wrapping paper proved to be the "fire paper" needed to get the camp fire going.

We did a quick little celebration by singing to Aleky and letting him open his birthday present early and then we went back to work establishing camp.

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Once camp was set up Michelle got dinner ready.  This year we did green smoothies.  We felt that it would be easier and more convenient to bring them along rather than try and prepare a dinner at the late hour of the night.  Plus, we haven't actually had green smoothies in a couple of days and we can feel the difference.

 

We all sat around the camp fire and drank our smoothies.  The four older boys were having fun lighting sticks on fire and then watching them smoke, writing their names in the air or just waving them to watch the ember tracks in the sky.

 

We finally called it a night and put the boys in bed.  However, due to a recent change in privileges, our boys decided to stay up and read.  When we're at home the boys use their headlamps as reading lights and they may stay up past their 8:00 pm bedtimes if they are quietly readying.  Tonight was no different.  The boys read until they were tired and fell asleep.  David read until after midnight (at least until after Michelle and I were safely tucked in bed and trying to sleep).

 

 Monday morning we woke up.  The boys got a lesson in fire starting to try and improve their skills.  David was the only one interested enough to complete the lesson.  He was able to get the fire started without any "fire paper" but it took until breakfast time to do it.  Fortunately it was warm enough that it didn't really matter to anyone, just the fact that we finally had a fire was good enough for the family.

Michelle made us her special hot cereal for breakfast.  The boys all lined up for chow and at very politely.  This is the best table manners they've exhibited during breakfast and we didn't even eat at a table.  However, the great outdoors was too great a distraction and the boys didn't eat nearly as heartily as they normally do.

We don't have the cool guns that the Petersens do but we brought the BB gun and the pellet pistol and had some fun shooting some plastic bottles for targets.  Donovan, Aleky and Quinten each had a turn but the lack of the semi-automatic guns with the associated "pop" of the bullets shooting drained their excitement very quickly.  David and Michael, however, seem to have a never ending fascination with shooting and they kept at it until it was time to pack up camp.

While the boys were shooting Donovan decided to head off and do a little exploring.  He didn't go far but it was interesting to see him leave the shooting range to explore the landscape.

 

 Michael, before he got started with the guns, spent the morning drawing pictures.  He was able to draw our complete campsite along with two other colorful pictures.

Aleky found it very difficult to follow directions and was breaking most of our camp rules.  He finally ended up in timeout to rethink his actions.

After packing up camp we drove through the area to see if there were better camp sites available.  At one point we almost got stuck in a mud puddle but fortunately we were able to slide out with just enough traction to escape.  Otherwise, we had a pleasant drive through the mountain backroads, found a couple more camping spots for future adventures and returned home without further incident.

We're glad we went and were glad were back.  Our family may be built for these quick little excursions for the time being.

Fall From the Highest Bunk



Last night as I was getting ready for bed I heard a very loud thud and knew that something large had been dropped from a significant height.  Michelle and I went to the boys room to discover what was going on.  When we got there we discovered Donovan on the floor in a heap, just a lump on the floor not moving at all.  There was no crying or screaming.  We tried to talk to Donovan but he was unresponsive.

 

The unresponsiveness was quite alarming!  We brought him out to the living room for a more thorough examination to determine if advanced medical attention would be required.  Once in the light we noticed a huge contusion on his right temple and so we concluded that he must have fell off the top bunk and landed right on his head.  We tried to rouse the sleeping child for a good minute and we were about to rush him to the hospital when he started to respond to us.  He was very confused and couldn't remember anyone's name or even where he was.

 

I checked his pulse and it was slow and steady, about 80 bpm.  His respirations were normal and neither eye was dilated.  When we shined a light in his eye his pupil reflex was normal.  Michelle quickly put some essential oils on his temple to reduce the swelling and then she put a covered ice pack over the bruise.  Once Donovan had finally woke up he started crying mostly because he was so tired.  Since all of his vital signs seemed normal we decided to let him sleep on the couch so that we could check on him through the rest of the night.

 

Except for a headache he still seems to be doing just fine.  His head has a slight bruise over that right eye but that's about it.  If his headache persists then we'll have him checked out.  However, I think we need to rearrange the bunk beds to additional safety.  We don't need boys doing head dives onto the wood floor in the middle of the night.  It doesn't prove to be a restful night for us when they do.

 





Gidean's Climbing

I'm not ready for this!!!

(video)

Gidean is really starting to move and he does his best to follow his brothers.  After following his brothers up into the playhouse he realized a new sense of freedom.  Climbing has become a hobby for him and it's really making us nervous.

(posted 11/15/12)

The Jones Soccer Team

David has been participating in our city soccer program.  The rest of the boys have been wanting to get into the action.  With just a little assistance from our good friend Starr, our boys are now prepared to play, practice and spending the rest of the summer in intense training!

(posted 11/15/12)

Green Smoothie Moustache

How can you help but take a picture of this supper "Green Smoothie Mustache".  It's too cute for words.

 

Boys Play in the Stake Soccer Tournament

Our Stake has started an annual soccer tournament that is held toward the end of summer.  It has been held the past couple of years and has grown in popularity.  This year they lowered the age for the youth participants so that both David and Donovan are able to participate.  This year, instead of doing ward vs ward teams they have taken the boys and split them between all the teams so that the kids get to meet some kids from the other wards in the stake.  It also helps to reduce the competitive nature of some kids (and their parents).  After all, since this is church ball we want it to be a great experience for everyone.

 

David turned out to be the star of his team.  He scored all eight points in the first three soccer games.  However, that burst of energy drained him for the championship game.  Fortunately, his teammates stepped up to score their four points to win the tournament.

 

Donovan was instrumental in his team's victories.  His coach called him "stonewall" because no one could get past him.  Wherever the ball went Donovan was there to stop them.  He seems to have a natural ability to sense where the ball is head and to meet the ball there on defense.

As luck would have it, David and Donovan played on the same team so they were champions together.  I was pleased with their sportsmanship and soccer skills.  They may both have a future playing soccer.

Bunk House

Early in the spring of 2012 six young men were anticipating a move out of state and sold their bunk beds at the family yard sale.  Unbeknownest to them, the move out of state was never to happen.  Several months ensued with sleeping on the floor around the house.  And then a wonderful grandmother came to their rescue.  The bunk beds were restored and the boys rejoiced!

 

 

These are not the original bunk beds.  Two of the bunk beds were were used by Michelle and her family as she grew up.  The third bunk bed was one that I and my family used as I was growing up.  Now our boys get to used them as they are growing up.  So were all using the same bunk beds as we're growing up.

We've actually switched bedrooms.  The six boys are now in our room since it is the larger of the two bedrooms.  We have moved into their room since there are only two of us.  The beds just fit, end to end, around the room.  It's going to be an adventure!!!

Painting the Boy's Room

We have landed into a fortuitous set of circumstances.  We are getting two bunk beds for our boys.  This great change in our fortunes brings with it a certain amount of work.  The bunk beds won't fit into the boys room but they will fit into our room.  And if we're going to switch bedrooms with the boys, now would be the best time to get the bedroom painted.  It's been on our to-do list since we bought the home six years ago but we're just getting around to painting the bedroom. 

 

 

We want to paint the ceiling a flat white and the walls our signature tan.  In order to do it right we are cleaning and sanding the walls so that the latex paint will actually stick to the walls.  This project is turning out to be bigger than I remember!

 



Since we haven't actually switched rooms yet were are living in the construction zone...not the most pleasant of circumstances I can assure you.  But if we keep everything covered while we work it should keep things clean.

 

Now that the ceiling is done we are getting the walls painted.  The painting isn't hard by itself but having to maneuver around everything adds an element of challenge.

 

And we can't forget all the corners in the closet.  Not only that but Michelle has decided that she wants a semi-gloss white on the top half of the closet because boys will be storing their stuff up there and the white will help the closets seem brighter.

We just need to finish this coat and apply a second coat and we'll be done with this room.  I don't know if we're going to have the energy to paint the other room now that we're moving to that one!  This is just a lot of work.

Stuck Behind the Couch

We had gone over to visit with our neighbor and Quinten went to explore the house.  I noticed his head poking out from behind the couch, next to the lamp in the living room.  It was kind of funny to see him stuck back there so I grab a few seconds of video before Michelle rescued him. 

(video)

Happy Birthday Starr

The boys were so excited to do something for Starr's birthday today.  Michelle said she would make a cake and the boys wouldn't sit back until the cake was made.  We also made a personalize family card.  When we stopped by Donovan made sure that Starr read the birthday card first.

 

 

It was a funny moment when Donovan and Michael were trying to teach Starr the proper etiquette for blowing out the candles on one's birthday cake.  Starr listened very intently and then followed their directions completely blowing out all of the candles before we were able to sing her "Happy Birthday".  Michelle relit the candles after that false start and we enjoyed a simple birthday celebration with a most wonderful friend and neighbor.

(video)