back at home after vacation

Fall is here

Being at my grandparents house made me really want to have a clean house too. While we were driving up from Bracey I made myself a list of things to do once we got home. I knew we would all be tired from the long trip so I made it a small and doable list. I put down things like unpack and do laundry and clean out the car but i also picked 2 small areas that are just mine (my dresser and my bookshelf by my side of the bed) and decided to clear them up.  

Here is my dresser which you can only see in the after version because I was sleepy but also because I never take pictures of trashed looking things.

I also went through clothes and took out 2 big bags of clothes and shoes for donation then David did his as well.

My bookshelf looks much better too.

In the light of all that self improvment Megan and I also got our hair cut. Me for a clean up an dher for bangs out of the eyes. Kiernan decided to document our adventure and asked for a lollipop as payment after we were done.

While we were gone mom did some Halloween decorating. Everything looked much more fall like when we got back.

We tried to settle down to a regular week routine but it still felt Florida warm.

We got through the week with no major illness and no major problems.

While we were gone Kelsey found the thing that hit me in the face (not quite in the eye).

It was a bit sharp and I sort of want to keep it as a trophy.

On Friday we did our community service (work pays for that) at a park clean up.

nearly the whole group got to go to the same event.

Here is my new lab group.

Here are some of the 29 bags of trash we got out of the park.

(Plus 2 shopping carts)

Last Saturday Kiernan and I went to STEM camp, Nana went to the Alzheimers walk, Megan took daddy to a big birthday party and Pax wondered where everyone went without her.

STEM camp was at Aberdeen Prooving Grounds and lots of fun in the morning when we did experiments.

It was really fin at lunch too.

There were demonstrations of military vehicles and strawberry DNA extraction and firemen with real fire to put out.

There was even an obstacle course.

The afternoon was not as well structured (at least for our group).

Giving 8 year olds a 3 hour lecture session (outdoors) after lunch didn't work well. 

After it was over Kiernan and I went out for a mother son day of hiking and camping.

We got subs and frozen yogurt and we went to Cunningham falls.

I was so happy to be away from all the people and into the woods.

Kiernan seemed really happy too.

On the way out he said he want sure that he wanted to camp because he was missing daddy.

Then when we got out there he relaxed so much.

I gave him a lot of camp responsibility.

He picked the camp site and set up the tent.

I built the fire and got dinner going.

He set up the sleeping bags.

I set out the chairs and we settled down with books and headlamps and s'mores.

We tested out the camping hammock.

All night I heard owls.

He slept well.

He poured water on the fire when we left.

The next morning we headed back by way of the Cactotian Iron Furnace.

Then we went home to meet Grandma Mary for her birthday celebration.

Megan and I took her back to Cunningham falls.

We actually saw the falls this time.

Then we went to Frederick to meet up with Uncle Chris and Aunt Pammy and Cousin Kaleb for some pizza and playground.

Then we had a day off before the Cub Scout Halloween Party.

Oh man.