la la land pt.1

It's been a long while since my last post...I've been on an extended vacation!

The family and I have been camping, had family come visit us, went camping again, and now visiting family in Washington.  On our way back home, we'll be camping again.

As you can tell, we love camping.  Our family started  off camping in a small family tent.  We eventually moved up to a big family tent.  Then, my husband, bought a pop up cab over trailer (which was just too small for a family of five), so we sold it and bought an old but very helpful pop up camper trailer to sleep up to six people!  I don't care how old it is.  I don't care that it is not beautiful.  I love this thing!  We stay warm and it gives us plenty of room to move around.  One day, we will buy a brand new one.  Maybe a much bigger one with more storage, but for now, it works just fine.

What is the best part about camping for you?  Our family enjoys being out in the mountains...near a lake...and having no internet service or phone service available.  The kids enjoy running along the lakeside and even playing in the ice cold water.  We go fishing, build camp fires, and east smores.  The kids are playing with each other and with whatever creature they can find, like tad poles.  Which I had to firmly put my foot down because the children wanted to bring them home!  However, being disconnected for a few days is very rejuvinating.

And for the record, you can still go camping even if your child has Down syndrome!  New parents, your life doesn't have to change.  Lillian goes camping with us, travels 8 hours in a car with us, and goes swimming in the lake and river with us.  Lillian will also wake everyone up in the mountains with her screaching laughter and angry screaming when she has to go to sleep.  Note to self....Don't ever forget her playpen again on another trip, unless she knows how to sleep in a big bed!

I can't wait to share some photos of our trip so far.  Although, it isn't over, I thought I should show you the beauty of some of the most wonderful and amazing places to reconnect with mother nature. 

Tomorrow.  I will share more!

Gone Camping

The family is taking a five day camping trip!  Internet Service will be almost nonexistent.
So, if you are new to my blog, please take a minute to read some of my past post.  I Hope I will learn something positive about raising a child with Down syndrome.  Or, being a military family.
To my regulars...have a great week!
Sonia

My dog and camping

Angel and Bobby

OK, a couple of weeks ago I told you guys I wanted to share a story about my dog and our camping trip. So, here goes....

The family decided to take a camping trip to La Pine, Oregon in the Deschutes National Forest. Now, from an earlier post, you all know that I wasn't too crazy about this place. The dirt was horrendous and just trying to get to the river with 3 small children and a dog was not an easy task either. However, if we should do this trip again, at least I will be better equipped...I hope!

On our second day there was when we took everyone to the river. The day was very hot and we walked for maybe half a mile. Well, because the entire trail was dirt (the type of dirt that makes clouds as you walk) it was very hot to the touch. Our dog, Angel, did good on the walk there. She did OK going down the steep hill to get to the river. I think she enjoyed the water. I'm sure it cooled her down. But, on our way back, she was not having any of it! I thought it was the kids at first. Maybe, she didn't want them to walk her, so I took over. Still, after a few yards of walking, she would plop to the ground and just look at you. So, after some gentle prodding, we were able to get her to walk to the shade where she rested. A few minutes later, we would walk, and she plopped to the ground again. This time, she was not going to budge. My dear husband had to lift her up and carry her to the next shaded area. Mind you, she is not a poodle, she is a mutt that weighs 55lbs! So, needless to say, she was not an easy carry! I'm not sure why she did this. The dirt was hot. I wouldn't want to lay in it. But, maybe it felt better to lay in it than to walk it?

This ordeal took place the entire walk back to our campsite.

She did not go an anymore walks with us again!

But, I have to add, the girl is not a young spring chicken either. She's been with us before we had children, almost 10 years! Poor girl. Oh...and let's not talk about how she hogged the air mattress and stayed under the covers at night (it was very cold at night).

Camping...revised

I'm not sure what happened to the last 4 posts, but it should have been one and not broken up like that. I guess trying to use my blackberry to write a full post didn't help a bit...so here it is again, written so you can read it correctly!

Well, we survived or first night of camping. It was so cold last night! I am so happy we brought our little space heater! And it didn't help that Monkey Girl thought she should make all sorts of noises until 11:30 at night. I hope our fellow campers will forgive us!