OBX

Our next camping trip actually happened because we signed up to do a half marathon in Nags Head. Instead of staying in hotel we decided we'd take the kids and camp instead. Our childcare plan didn't work out so we didn't do the race and just had a great weekend away weekend away on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. Getting to the camp ground is quite a trek. We booked the 4:30 pm Cedar Island to Ocracoke ferry (Click here for the ferry reservation website)  Suggested arrival time is 30 minutes before the ferry leaves. We got there just in time at 4:15!

On our way to the Cedar Island ferry

The 2.5 hour ferry ride was surprisingly uneventful. I was completely expecting to have an urge to feed a kid (or three kids) to the seagulls but they loved it. We took plenty of coloring books, crayons, markers and games to keep them occupied.  The cabin of the ferry was super comfy, roomy and air conditioned!  This was definitely a new experience for us since back in the day when we'd go to the Outer Banks we took naps on the way there and back.

The wind was a little strong.



The gift of a beautiful sunset....aaahhhhh

When we got the Ocrocoke we had a short drive to get on another ferry but this time it was only 30 minutes. We got to Hattaras around 9:00 and still had another hour long drive to get to Camp Hattaras which is actually in Rodanthe.  We finally made it to the campground around 10:00 and had to set up our little home away from home. Thankfully, it doesn't take very long!

This was the first time we had been to the Outer Banks since Hurricane Irene.  On Saturday morning my husband rode to the nearest store to grab milk for the kids' cereal. The lady working there told him that it was the first time they had opened their doors and he was their first customer since the hurricane had devastated their town. Later that day we drove down Hwy. 12 and saw water slides in pieces on the side of the road, stores without windows still, roof tops blown off. The coolest part was all the new wood where they have worked so hard to rebuild what was lost. New picnic tables at each camp site, new stairs leading down to the beach, new homes going up everywhere.  It made me think about my own life and how at some times it would have just been easier to lose hope and move on but instead I (we) work hard to rebuild what was broken. If it's worth fixing then you stay and fix it and even make it better than before.

We spent a few hours on Saturday at Jockey's Ridge State Park playing on the sand dunes. OH MY GOODNESS! That was an insane leg work-out but so much fun!! The kids had an absolute blast running up and down those dunes. The view from the top was pretty amazing too.  I added hang gliding to my bucket list that day.

Jockey's Ridge

Saturday when we got back to our humble little abode we all swam in the indoor pool (the outdoor pool was still under construction). Camp Hattaras has a 9 hold mini golf course that the kids enjoyed too. The at fishing ponds weren't great so the boys gave up after about an hour of no bites. It think they may need to restock their ponds. I learned a few things on this trip. I like that with each trip we learn a little more about how to perfect this whole camping experience. OR maybe it's not be be perfected but the funness is that it's not perfect at all and we are all learning. 

Here's what I learned:

• I (not my husband) will make the camp site reservation for two reasons: 

1.             There is strategy involved that my husband doesn't consider. Mostly that being near the bath house   is essential for us girls. 
2.            Driving an extra hour to the campground is no fun for a mommy or kids who have been in a car for several hours already.

• Camping at the beach is WINDY! There will be sand in every crevice of the camper, car and your body.
• PLAN! PLAN! PLAN!  I wasn't nearly as organized this time and it was evident. No towels were packed and the kids had no toothbrush.
• Take an earlier ferry from Cedar Island. 4:30 was too late!
• Apply sunblock to myself when applying it to the kids.
• Take bikes
• The pouring rain doesn't have anything on our little camper. Not a drop of water came in during the monsoon we experienced while we slept Saturday night.

We asked the kids what their favorite part was:

• Taylor said the surf shop and ferry ride.
• Landon said the ferry ride, ice cream shop and getting a treasure chest from the gift shop.
• Kenly said getting a new bathing suit and the pool.

Here are a few pictures from OBX, NC:

Grillin' and Chillin'

Super cute little camper lights. The wind was too strong to leave them hanging.

Our three little campers







Happy Campers

We finally did it. After years of dreaming and talking we finally broke down and bought a camper. Instead of taking a big vacation each year we'll take several mini-vacations instead. We set up the camper in the back yard the first weekend we had it. Our boys and a couple of their friends had fun camping in the back yard. We even lit a little fire in the pit and had s'mores that night.

Our first real trip was to Tabor City Jellystone. I called a couple weeks in advance to make the reservation for Easter weekend. The lady that answered was beyond friendly and helpful. I'm not sure who was more excited, me or her! She could tell how excited I was to be making our very first camping trip reservation.  I  had printed a map of the campgound already so I had a general idea of where we wanted to be...near the bath house. Our camper has a little shower and toilet but we only want to use those in case of emergency. Being close to the bath house is priority when camping with three kids (ages 8, 5, 3). I had also printed off the calendar of events for the weekend which happened to be tons of fun stuff for the kids! Candy bar bingo, fishing, egg hunts, games, ice cream, hiking, playing basketball, swimming. These are the things we managed to squeeze in during our weekend at Jellystone. 

Before we left I had made a menu of what we would eat all weekend. I knew we wouldn't eat out and I wanted to be prepared. Here's what it looked like:

• Friday dinner: Grilled hot dogs
• Saturday breakfast: cereal, milk, fruit
• Lunch: Subs with fruit and chips
• Dinner: Chicken kabobs (my mom and dad came for the day and got pizza from the snack bar too)
• Sunday breakfast: Cereal

Things we'll remember for next time:

• Take an entire box of bandaids. All three kids bled within 24 hours of being gone.
• Take fishing poles and bait.
• Put the awning up on the camper before raising the camper up.
• Take a broom.
• Rent a golf cart when making the reservation.

Here are a few highlights from our first camping trip.



Taylor became a pretty good fisherman



Just like home.



Our little set up



On the "HEY" ride with Booboo the bear

Hiking the nature trail



Sunset on the big pond




Saturday night's feast



Crossroads

I said the "D" word and meant it. I wanted out.

I felt like my life would be easier with just me and the kids. For better and for worse meant nothing at that moment when I looked him in the eye and said it. My mind was made up. That is until my son walked in the room. How would I tell him that mommy and daddy couldn't work out our differences and stay together? How was I supposed to look at my daughter and explain to her that I threw in the towel before she even turned two years old? My heart ached. No, I thought, this is for the best. I need out. Rock bottom had been hit after 10 years of marriage. I was mad. I was mad at myself, my husband and at God. How could this be happening?

Crossroads. How I hate crossroads. Loathe crossroads. The scariest place I've ever been is at this crossroad. It wasn't just me that this turn would affect. It was my husband's life, my kids' lives and my life. Our life was about to change drastically.

I love this man. I love our life. I love the idea of us with gray hair, wrinkles and age spots. I love the idea of our grandkids coming to visit us and swinging on our front porch with US. We had to dig in our heels and make this work. Our marriage was worth it and our kids are worth it.

My faith was stronger than this problem. Our marriage was and is stronger than this problem. I had prayed for God to do whatever it took to break this man that I love more than life. He had done it. He showed up. God didn't promise us that it was going to be easy but He did promise that he would be there with us as we trudge through the valley. My valley was dark. It was scary and it was hard. Restoration is about going through a dark place and coming out on the other side of it changed for the better.

We've come to a place where the D word is no longer an option. As much as I hate crossroads I'm thankful that we came to it. It sounds warped but I'm glad we hit rock bottom. I'm thankful that we've worked together to make our marriage work and made it stronger than it ever has been.

I got a new ring yesterday that I am proudly wearing on my "ring finger". It replaces a ring that I got for your 10th anniversary, right before our marriage almost ended.  This eternity band is symbolic of the new beginning of our marriage. There are infinity symbols all the way around it and the note enclosed said "For eternity I will love you".

Chalk Wall

This wall keeps us somewhat sane at my house. I got the calendar from a company that brought a bunch of free ones to my office. Underneath the calendar I write M-F, what's for dinner and who's keeping the kids what days that week (yes, it changes).  So it helps us all know what's going on at least tries to. It's helpful that it's right next to the door that goes into the garage and it's the one we generally use.

The Control Center

The kids get the bottom half to draw. My middle child is left handed so it's actually been easier for him to write on the wall to learn to write his name than on paper.

My little angel. She drew our family.

What-Iffer

I'm not sure what motivated me to post my GOALS the other day as I'm usually much more of a What-Iffer. Like if I'm thinking about doing something I don't post it all of Facebook and text everybody in my contacts with the news because WHAT IF it doesn't work out?! What if I don't continue on to get that degree that I never finished 15 years ago? What if I the Slow Poke Squad has to pick me up because I'm not moving fast enough? I mean they only give you 5 hours to finish 13.1 miles!  So now everybody that I advertised my goal to knows that I may or may not finish in the allotted time. Geez! It's easier to be a quitter to just myself. It's not as easy to be a quitter to other people. You catch my drift?

So, since I was temporarily insane and am now being held accountible my more people than just me I'd like to say that I really hate running.  I don't consider myself a runner but there is something about the accomplishment of a race that is super thrilling to me. So for the thrill of it, here I go.