All Growed Up...

...well, not quite.  My precious baby boy, Jacob, has graduated and I feel as though I have no more babies.  Ok, ok...I know he only graduated preschool and I know Miley is still 2 years younger than Jake and I know that we are expecting yet another child in just a few short weeks....BUT Miley is very much Daddy's girl (and she's aware of this) and the baby isn't here yet (plus, I think she'll be another Daddy's girl)...so, Jake was my last baby BOY...so sad.  Actually, both Jake and Miley graduated from preschool last week, but since Miley will be re-enrolled next fall, it was more just for show on her part.  Jacob has been enrolled in Kindergarten and will be gone all day long for 3-4 days a week.  (Nampa did away with half-day kindergarten last year.)   Here are a few shots of our 2 little graduates...

Intently listening to Miss Brianne...

 Jacob accepting his diploma...(paul did something weird to the camera)

Miley hamming it up while receiving her diploma

from Miss Brianne & Miss Meagan

 They each had to have a pic taken with proud daddy...

...and chose Pizza Hut for dinner after the graduation.

***

The summer break officially started here last week.  I always struggle with this time of year because I still like to keep some sort of schedule and I don't like the kids to feel as though they can just lounge and waste away the summer  (I know, mean mom).  Last year, I stayed home with the kids and we worked from home-school workbooks a few days a week.  I'm just so afraid everything they learned the last 9 months will slip out of their little brains during the next 3 months.  Jacob is also concerned that he's not able to read well enough for kindergarten so that is something I've promised him that we will work on this summer.  I do have some fun activities planned for them this summer...so I'm not entirely mean, right?

***

A few weekends ago, I was getting pretty restless in my present state.  I wanted to be able to go do something before the baby's arrival.  So, I suggested to Paul that we go camping/fishing for a night during Memorial Day Weekend.  Stupid.Pregnant.Lady.  First off, we knew it would be a tight fit with the 6 of us + 2 carseats + tent + misc. camping gear + fishing gear (I swear we need a Suburban but I refuse to own one); so we had to pick a spot fairly close by.  We chose Fairwell Bend in Oregon.  My aunt and uncle had taken Gavin and Ben last year to this spot and the boys just loved it.  It's not the mountains by any means, but it does have a great campground next to the River, complete with bathrooms and showers.

We arrived on Sunday afternoon and started to set up our tent.  Of course (as with most Memorial Day weekends around here), it started to rain.  At first, just some sprinkles (thank goodness we were able to get the tent up during this time)...then it started raining even harder.  Great!  The plan was for me to go fishing on Sunday and Paul would go on Monday (we only had day passes for Oregon)...well, that didn't work out since this Preggo wanted nothing to do with standing out getting soaked while holding a pole waiting for a catfish to bite.  Instead, I tried to stay in the tent as much as possible.  It did finally stop raining by the time the sun went down and we were able to enjoy some S'mores with the kids (messy).

Then, it was off to bed.  Anybody who thinks camping with a tent and sleeping on the ground while 8-1/2 months pregnant is a good idea ought to be slapped...just sayin'.  Even Jacob told Paul, "we shoulda gone to a hotel, daddy.  They're more better."  Out of the mouths of babes.  Tossing and turning all night, I don't actually remember any sleeping going on...I could not wait until morning so I could get up.  Of course, nobody else was even thinking about waking up at the hour I did.

Anyway, by the time we did all get up, Paul and I had to start taking down the tent and packing up.  He was going to try to get a little fishing in after we were ready to go.  By chance, he decided to start the Tahoe when...it wouldn't start.  Grrrr.....  Seriously!?!?  We found the campground manager and he was able to jump us.  We let it run for a bit, turned it off and started it again...all good.  Crisis averted.  Paul was finally able to throw out a few casts and then we decided it was time to get going.  All 6 of us packed back in the Tahoe and we were ready when...it wouldn't start AGAIN!  Paul did NOT want to ask the same person for another jump (within an hour of the 1st one), so he decided to find another camper.  Luckily, he ran into a former Marine...whooha!  My father would be proud!  Finally, we were truly on our way home.

Gavin & Ben playing some football while we set up camp...

 Our little pyro takes after both his parents...

All the kids waiting for dad to finish fishing...

***

And, to wrap-up our long weekend, we made a visit to the best Marine of all...my Dad!  He started chemo last week and has been tremendously tired lately but we were glad to be able to spend a few hours with him on Memorial Day.