Saturday, November 8, 2008

The Good, The Tolerant and The Stupid

Caleb had Thursday & Friday off of school so we thought it would be a great idea to sneak in one last weekend of camping (in a tent) before it gets too cold. We packed up all our gear, both kids and a bunch of warm clothes and headed off to the Santa Catalina Mountains to camp after Rob got off work on Thursday. Here is the play-by-play:

4:00pm - Leave Scottsdale
5:00pm - Kids are fussy - they proceed to eat a whole sleeve of Ritz crackers (food is the one thing that can keep Myah quiet in the car)
5:33pm - Sunset
6:15pm - Arrive at Catalina State Park - Set up tent in the dark
(thank goodness for headlights) - Myah is crying so Caleb pushes her around and around in the stroller
6:20pm - Car battery goes dead - windows are rolled down and keys are stuck in the ignition. Dig out propane lantern, pray lighter works, set up tent by lantern light
6:45pm - Tent is set up - Rob pumps up inflatable mattresses by hand - Melissa sets up propane stove to cook beef stew for dinner
7:15 pm - Food is ready, kids are fussing, Rob & Melissa are (almost) ready to go home
8:00pm - Kids put on two pairs of winter pajamas each, go to the bathroom and go to bed - one is a bit louder than the other (guess who?)
8:01pm -
Due to dry conditions, wood fires are banned - Rob & Melissa decide that looking at each other by the light of a hissing propane lantern is not as romantic as lounging by a crackling fire
9:00pm - Rob & Melissa decide to go to bed after checking on the kids and making sure they are bundled up - Melissa discovers that she pulled a muscle in her side while setting up the tent
11:00pm - Myah cries - Melissa gets up
12:00am - Myah cries - Melissa gets up
1:00am - Myah cries - Melissa gets up
4:00am - Myah cries - Melissa gets up
4:30am - Myah cries - Melissa cries - Rob gets up - The decision is reached that we will not be staying another night
5:30am - Myah is wide awake - Melissa is wide awake - Rob is wide awake - Myah joins us in bed
5:45am - Caleb climbs into bed with the rest of us
6:00am - Everyone gets up, gets dressed and bundled up to go outside. The kids eat breakfast at the picnic table (with a portable heater) - Rob and Melissa break down tent (in 40 degree weather - without gloves)
7:15am - A park ranger is radioed in to help jump start the car
7:45am - The car is packed, the kids are packed, the parents aren't sure if they should laugh or cry
9:15am - After three unsuccessful attempts, a shop is located to replace the car battery
10:00am - Get detoured all over Tucson because highway is under construction and all ramps are closed
10:30am - Pancakes at IHOP - Melissa can finally feel her toes again
7:30 pm - Return home

The rest of the day is spent driving around Tucson, hiking, visiting different parks and seeing old Indian ruins. All in all, it was a good trip - we learned that Myah can pack away a lot of crackers, Caleb enjoys listening to Vivaldi CDs and is good at keeping track of time (are we there yet?) and that you should never, ever go camping in a tent with a baby who is a lite sleeper or when it is going to get into the high 30's/low 40's at night. Now that you've read my novel, I'll let you decide who best fits which description in the title. lol

1 comment:

Amy, Ryan, Aidan and Lauren said...

Hi there! I found your blog through the big list of Taiwan adoption blogs. I looked through your older posts and wanted to let you know that our daughter Lauren was cared for by the same foster mom as Myah from October 2006 through March 2007!

Congratulations on your beautiful family...nice to meet you!

Amy