A few weeks ago while watching an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in which the characters go camping (all they do is set up tents and go fishing; they don't even camp. Don't get me started.), Jackson announced that he wanted to go camping. Ever since then I have been trying to wrestle a weekend away for us to go. No matter how much I tried, we had been unsuccessful. The longer we wait the colder it gets. I don't sleep well most nights and it doesn't help when sleeping is much worse for me when camping.
Looking forward it didn't seem as though camping this year would happen. I finally just decided, what the heck, let's do it during the week. We did! I slept horribly but it was memorable and I think Jackson had a good time. In the end that is all that matters.
Yesterday, I flew home from work so I could cut the grass. Jackson helped, by helped I mean he ran around. Sometimes, he disappeared and I would have to stop what I was doing to make sure he wasn't getting into trouble. Then we pulled out the tent. Jackson had no interest in what I was doing until the tent popped up and he realized that this loud thing I was playing with was actually a tent. Then he got really excited and wanted to go inside. We got a quick dinner. I ran and borrowed a friend's portable fire pit. I was very proud that I was able to get everything set up and going before it was dark.
Courtney, Jackson, Parker and I got to enjoy the fire together! We roasted marshmallows and made s'mores! Jackson was only interested in the chocolate and graham crackers. Interestingly, Jackson seemed to get nervous when it got dark. As long as mommy and daddy were near by he did great. Just before 8pm, Jackson's bedtime, he asked to go to bed!! He never asks that. He just wanted to go into the tent. We all got in the tent together, read scriptures, sang and prayed. Court and Parker went into the house and Jackson and I got into bed. My sister said it would drop to about 50 degrees, so we were prepared.
For the next hour I tried to get Jackson to relax and go to bed. He would ask what all the noises were. 'That's a car. Those are crickets. That's a truck. That's a motorcycle. That's a helicopter (we live next to a hospital with a helicopter). That's a dog,' and on and on. When I got tired of that I asked if he wanted to sing songs. He agreed. After the first song he immediately suggested another and then another. When he ran out of songs he asked me to sing more. When that got tiring. I thought maybe if I hold his hand he would calm down and relax enough to go to sleep. From then on until he fell asleep he held my hand as he tried to find a good position to sleep. It was really sweet! His head would pop up at a new noise or to see if I was sleeping. 'Go back to bed,' I would say or 'put your head down, please.' Finally just after 9pm we both fell asleep.
Due to me not sleeping well I would wake up every hour or so. Part of that was to check to see he was warm. Sometimes, I would wake up and he would have his head hanging off his pad. I would readjust him and go back to sleep. That happened three times. Once, he was completely off his pad. I had to pick him up and put him back on his pad and make sure he was warm. When it got cold I pulled a hood over his head. Somehow that came off a couple times during the night. He sure tossed and turned a lot. I don't know if that is normal or due to the fact that he was not used to being confined in a sleeping bag. Needless to say, it was an eventful night. It was interesting how loud it was in the evening and how quiet and peaceful it was early morning around 2:30am or so.
Finally, at 6:30am I had had enough and thought he was stirring. I asked if he wanted to go in and sleep in his bed. He said, 'Yes.' I brought him into bed. I was able to put everything away except the tent before everyone got up. I showered. After everyone got up I was able to get both boys bathed to get rid of the smoke smell. After all of that I was still able to get to work this morning at a reasonable time.
Talk about a crazy and awesome midweek camp out! I'm not very spontaneous at all. This was out of the norm for me. I'm glad I did it! Now poor Courtney gets to deal with tired boys all day while I'm away at work. She is such an amazing wife and mom. She felt it was more important to have the fun memory than worry about tired boys. Thanks! I love you!
Shawn
Looking forward it didn't seem as though camping this year would happen. I finally just decided, what the heck, let's do it during the week. We did! I slept horribly but it was memorable and I think Jackson had a good time. In the end that is all that matters.
Yesterday, I flew home from work so I could cut the grass. Jackson helped, by helped I mean he ran around. Sometimes, he disappeared and I would have to stop what I was doing to make sure he wasn't getting into trouble. Then we pulled out the tent. Jackson had no interest in what I was doing until the tent popped up and he realized that this loud thing I was playing with was actually a tent. Then he got really excited and wanted to go inside. We got a quick dinner. I ran and borrowed a friend's portable fire pit. I was very proud that I was able to get everything set up and going before it was dark.
Courtney, Jackson, Parker and I got to enjoy the fire together! We roasted marshmallows and made s'mores! Jackson was only interested in the chocolate and graham crackers. Interestingly, Jackson seemed to get nervous when it got dark. As long as mommy and daddy were near by he did great. Just before 8pm, Jackson's bedtime, he asked to go to bed!! He never asks that. He just wanted to go into the tent. We all got in the tent together, read scriptures, sang and prayed. Court and Parker went into the house and Jackson and I got into bed. My sister said it would drop to about 50 degrees, so we were prepared.
For the next hour I tried to get Jackson to relax and go to bed. He would ask what all the noises were. 'That's a car. Those are crickets. That's a truck. That's a motorcycle. That's a helicopter (we live next to a hospital with a helicopter). That's a dog,' and on and on. When I got tired of that I asked if he wanted to sing songs. He agreed. After the first song he immediately suggested another and then another. When he ran out of songs he asked me to sing more. When that got tiring. I thought maybe if I hold his hand he would calm down and relax enough to go to sleep. From then on until he fell asleep he held my hand as he tried to find a good position to sleep. It was really sweet! His head would pop up at a new noise or to see if I was sleeping. 'Go back to bed,' I would say or 'put your head down, please.' Finally just after 9pm we both fell asleep.
Due to me not sleeping well I would wake up every hour or so. Part of that was to check to see he was warm. Sometimes, I would wake up and he would have his head hanging off his pad. I would readjust him and go back to sleep. That happened three times. Once, he was completely off his pad. I had to pick him up and put him back on his pad and make sure he was warm. When it got cold I pulled a hood over his head. Somehow that came off a couple times during the night. He sure tossed and turned a lot. I don't know if that is normal or due to the fact that he was not used to being confined in a sleeping bag. Needless to say, it was an eventful night. It was interesting how loud it was in the evening and how quiet and peaceful it was early morning around 2:30am or so.
Finally, at 6:30am I had had enough and thought he was stirring. I asked if he wanted to go in and sleep in his bed. He said, 'Yes.' I brought him into bed. I was able to put everything away except the tent before everyone got up. I showered. After everyone got up I was able to get both boys bathed to get rid of the smoke smell. After all of that I was still able to get to work this morning at a reasonable time.
Talk about a crazy and awesome midweek camp out! I'm not very spontaneous at all. This was out of the norm for me. I'm glad I did it! Now poor Courtney gets to deal with tired boys all day while I'm away at work. She is such an amazing wife and mom. She felt it was more important to have the fun memory than worry about tired boys. Thanks! I love you!
Shawn
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