Daddy's Home

Ben is finally done with the back and forth for the spring.  Now we just have to soak in as much time as possible until he leaves for training camp July 25th.  Here's a little bit of what he's been up to during his time in Charlotte.  He had a great spring and, although his body is feeling older, he is holding up very well.

House Update

It's been slow going the past few weeks on the house.  Not really sure why.  I think they have been waiting on material or something.  At any rate, here is where we stand today.  Tile looks to be finished up and stair parts are in.  Cabinets are in the process of being made and the trim guy is about to finish up the last of his work.  Paint decisions have been made and are about to get signed off on.

Diving

Whitney learning to dive.  The first one was really a jump. This one loosely resembled a dive/belly smacker.  Love watching her learn, especially when she loves it so much!

Muddy Creek National

On Saturday, during our camping excursion, we ventured up to the Bristol, TN area to go to the Motocross race.  The first one in the southeast in the last 15 years.  Ben was loving life!  It was super hot and we got lucky with some tent passes so the girls could be out of the sun for most of the day.  It was the only thing that made it bearable for them.  That, and the jumbo lemonade, and ice cream, and cookies.  And if we weren't dirty before we got there, which we were, we were doubly dirty when we left with all the dirt flying around the track.  Totally worth it though, seeing my hubby so happy watching those guys race.  He loves that stuff!

Elkmont Camping

We went on our first family camping trip over the weekend.  Not just first for the family, but a first for me and for Ben, which I can hardly believe actually.  No RV this time my friends.  This was real, tent camping.  And at that, it was camping without showers, without electric, keep your food in your cars at all times so you don't attract bears, kind of camping.  We were just outside of Gatlinburg, TN in the Smokey Mountains.  A few of our friends have gone over the last couple of years to see the synchronous fireflies.  As word spread, this year there was a group of 21 adults and 28 children to go on the adventure.  Unfortunately, we were a little ahead a schedule for the fireflies, apparently due to the cool spring, but it was still an awesome trip.  The kids played around the campground, tubed down a little mountain stream, ate lots of smores, rode bikes...there was no electric, no cell coverage, no Wi-Fi.  Completely disconnected from the technological world.  Off the grid.  Pure bliss if you ask me.

Loaded down

Setting up the tent

Our home for a few days

All those other tents you see were our friends.  We kind of took over our area of the campground.

Family love

Breakfast time

Tubing

Mike and Jacob about to take on Ben!

Roasting marshmallows

My loves!

 

On Friday we were all separated into "tribes" and the kiddos competed in games planned by Ben.  Field day type games that got quite competitive, mainly by the cheering parents on the sidelines.

Team Tie Dye

Team Camo

Team USA

All lined up with their tribal torches before the games began

Dizzy Izzy

Shoe Relay

Straw-Pretzel relay

Blow up a balloon until it pops...Ben had to pop them because they were all about to pass out!

Pass the orange with your neck

Saltine cracker whistle

Tug of War

Then, Mr. Ben versus

all the elementary school kids!

And later that night at "tribal council,"  Team Camo was named the champions!

 

We loved our first experience and from what we've been told, if we can survive this kind of camping, everything from here on out will be easy-peasy.  We pretty much experienced the full gamut of camping.  No showers, lots of dirtiness, campfire cooking, a little rain, lots of bugs, oh, and coyotes, right outside our tent.  Yep, we totally forgot that we had food in our game bag that was sitting out.  Friday night the coyotes found a bag of pretzels and Hershey kisses.  Ben was on the look out all night for us.  It was creepy!  Lesson learned.  Loved the time with great friends.  And my sweet family all snuggled up in one tent.  Stinky and all.