Weekend without "the kids"

A couple weeks ago the older three kids got to go to "Cousin Camp," a tradition Grandma and Grandpa Moffat have started with the grandkids who are 4 years old and up. They spend a couple days/nights doing all kinds of fun things (Enchanted Forest amusement park, hike, pool time), mixed with some Bible teaching/lessons. This year the theme was "Super-servants"--all about serving others. They had t-shirts and everything. The kids had a blast making wonderful memories with their cousins and grandparents. Grant, however, wasn't old enough yet to go, and he was NOT happy about it. Grandma had a little bag of goodies for him when we went to drop the kids off on Friday morning, and that helped a lot with the good-bye, but he really missed his siblings when they were gone. He kept asking, "When are we going to get the kids?" "Can we go get the kids NOW?" "When are the kids coming home?"

He and I had a good time at OMSI that morning, doing whatever he wanted to do, but that first afternoon when we got home was very, very sad. I saved a Playmobile set we bought using Grant's birthday money from Great Grandpa and Grandma just so he would have something new to distract him that weekend. It worked! We putting it all together, and played until Greg got home. Then we went out to dinner at Red Robin that night, just the three of us. It was strange, but nice, sitting in a regular size booth! It really is crazy how easy and relaxed it feels to just have one kid with you when you're used to four.

On Saturday morning we took him with us to the community clean-up day at the school we meet in for church. Grant raked bark dust and worked alongside us and others (actually, mostly alongside his buddy, Aidan, who is Joel's age and very sweet and patient with his little Grant-shadow), and then later that afternoon Grant helped us wash the cars.

Sunday morning was another rough one, as he was ready to no longer be an only child. We went to church, and he had fun at the picnic afterward. The bounce house and slide made for fun times.
Grant was one very happy little guy, though, when his siblings came home Sunday afternoon.

 

Rockaway--Final day

On our last day we took another early morning beach walk. The kids ran and ran and ran through the fog.

We finally caught up to them.

And they were off again

Aubrey hopping on what she called "lily pads"

photos by Aubrey

 

Aubrey did great on this one!

Our little photographer. Loved her stance.

And this one was a self-portrait to remind me of our horrible drive home. For the last couple weeks, we'd had one kid vomiting at a time, one a week apart. First was Grant, then the next week Kari. We figured if the pattern continued, we'd have another sickie the day we were supposed to come home from the beach, but we didn't really think it would happen. Well, it did. Joel threw up in the back of the van just before we drove past the zoo on Hwy 26, just as traffic was backing up. We were stuck on the highway in traffic on a hot day with one kid vomiting, one kid sleeping (thankfully), and two kids complaining about the stench. We drove with the windows down the whole rest of the way. It was one LONG drive home. We got home just in time for Aubrey to throw up. Not fun, not fun at all! It was a relief, however, to have the last two get sick at the same time and not a week apart. We were finally done with the strange sickness. Greg and I never got it.
So, great beach vacation with family, terrible way to end it! Memorable, that's for sure.

 

Rockaway--Day 3

The third day was sunny once again, and we spent a long time on the beach.

I have lot of photos much like this one--Grant running with a big grin on his face.

Joel was able to stay in the water the longest. The kid just doesn't get cold!

I was pretty far away, but I captured this sassy Aubrey moment. Looks like she's "daring" the waves to knock her over.

Working on their "airplane" in the backyard at the Carl's. Who needs the beach when you have sand in your backyard?

smores

 

Rockaway--Day 2

Day 2 was pretty cool and cloudy. We went for a walk in the morning but didn't end up back on the beach the rest of the day.

tuckered out already

Grandpa offering to share his crab with Grant

We played a bunch of games with Blake and Lindsay, which was fun. She liked Dominion.

Getting ice cream in Rockaway

Fishing off the dock that evening

Joel catching (and losing) a fish!

Now he has a "fish-that-got-away" story

 

Tired kids and Grandma watching a movie that night