Campground Guests

In our small but wonderful living arrangements right now, it is difficult for me to find time during the day to sit down and update my blog. 😬 And by the time all three kiddos are asleep for the night, I'm usually too tired to do much of anything at all.

We continue to search for and apply to jobs, but there's just not a lot going on right now because of the pandemic. Thankfully Andrew has been working a few days a week here at the campground, doing anything from weed-eating to prepping the fishing poles for customers over at the trout pond. I've had two promising interviews with a Head Start program, but I'm waiting to hear back from the director because she admitted she's not sure what's going on for the upcoming school year. I picked up school enrollment packets for R and H the other day, and the principal told me there's an option to do remote learning or in-person learning for the first semester (at least). Andrew and I have talked and weighed the pros and cons, and we feel it's safer for our kids and our whole family if they start off the school year at home with us. There are just too many variables and unknowns right now about the virus, and it just makes sense for our family. If I get offered a full-time job first, then "Professor Papa Bear" will stay here with the kids. So many new adventures!

morning snuggles...in a laundry basket

E.J. likes to hang out with us some evenings, and we love having him!

Shepherd "helped" me sort laundry one morning and got into Harper's pile. He grabbed a clean pair of her underwear, put them on his head like a hat, and went back to playing like there was nothing strange about his choice of headwear at all! 

another bass

and another one!

Shep likes to climb up into chairs now all by himself.

the perfect spot for Ryder's hat when he isn't wearing it

another lost tooth

Harper is the queen of the pond around here!

One hot afternoon the kids walked the creek and collected any garbage they saw. When they finished, they took the bag to Mr. Tony and Ms. Karen and received an ice cream treat. 

There is a HUGE snapping turtle Mr. Tony has been wanting to get out of the catch-and-release pond because it eats the fish. He told Ryder and Harper there was a $20 reward if they could catch it and bring it to him in a trashcan. Andrew helped them rig a line with bait, and then they checked it a couple of times each day. It was almost a week later when Ryder discovered the line had gone taut, and he was able to pull the turtle up! Thankfully Tony was mowing nearby and helped grab it by the tail to lower it into the trashcan. Ryder was so proud!

The turtle was mean, ugly, and hissing at us!

After the 4th of July, Pops and Grann brought their camper up and stayed for a week so we could see them. We had all been self-isolating and social distancing for the past two months, so we were happy to be able to get together! Ryder and Harper were proud to show them around and introduce them to the baby goats they've been helping with. We spent lots of time outside (while swatting the flies that were horrible for a couple of weeks before disappearing completely) and made trips to the Hiwassee Dam and Fires Creek Falls. Steve, Alison, and Maisie also happened to be renting a house for the week in Blue Ridge, so they joined us one afternoon at the campground so we could spend some time together too. It was their first time meeting Shepherd in real life, and he just kept studying them. :) The cousins played together in the creek and then did the gem mine that Mr. Tony and Ms. Karen operate next to the trout pond. 

It was a group effort to put up a screened tent from Hal and Thelma. We left it over the picnic table for the week, and it ended up trapping just as many flies inside of it as there were outside. Oh well!

sifting for gems at the gem mine

the cousins with their loot!

Maisie and Ryder have always been close 😍

Shepherd is really into George the Giraffe right now! He loves my reaction when he tries to stand up on the seat...on one leg. This boy is a daredevil!

Shep was sure studying Maisie!

cartwheels in the creek

Maisie brought gifts for the kids, and Ryder's was a robot-building kit.

Maisie gave Harper a nail art kit, so the girls had to try it out immediately!

While in North Carolina, Pops and Grann wanted to visit Asheville and tour the Biltmore again since they hadn't been in probably 30 years. It's only about a 2 hour drive from here, and they took Ryder and Harper with them so the four of them could have some time together and the kids are old enough to appreciate the history. Andrew and I felt comfortable since we know the Biltmore has tight restrictions in place now for COVID-19; tours were done by appointment in order to limit the number of people, and masks are required at all times. Pops and Grann bought dinner and breakfast foods for the four of them to enjoy in their hotel room, and I know Ryder and Harper had a blast at their hotel room "slumber party."

lunch in the car on the way to Asheville

just relaxing :)

Ryder enjoyed making decaf coffee in the Keurig

dinner time!

I never in a million years would have thought I'd have a picture of my kids wearing masks in front of the Biltmore. Such a bizarre time. 

yes, another fish

Hello again, E.J.!

I can't remember, but I think they were picking small seeds or rocks out of the groove in the bench.

my two little peas in a pod

When it's super hot and humid, anything can be turned into a kiddie pool! :)

He kept climbing in and out, in and out....

standing!!
As long as Shepherd has something in his hands to distract him, he will stand on his own until he realizes he is doing it. Then he slowly squats back down to the ground like he isn't sure how he got up there. 😂