Day two of Camp Valium actually happened last Friday, but with the excitement of several graduations, school getting out, and a case of procrastination, this post was put on the back burner. Sorry 'bout that.
On day two, I woke up to my daughter's morning breath beating down on my face from within my sleeping bag. After feeling a bit homesick (me, not her) we had both stuffed our bodies into one sleeping bag like a badly encased sausage.
"Mom? Mommy? Maaaa-oooommmm! You gotta get up and make breakfast. You signed up for it, remember?"
What seemed like a great idea a month ago, was not so peachy at 7AM on a Friday morning. After putting my hair up into a sloppy bun and slapping on my favorite sweatshirt to hide what I wasn't wearing, I stumbled out of the tent into the light of day. Thankfully, Mrs. P and her other more responsible camp helpers, already had the coffee brewing and they quickly supplied me with a cup.
After three cups of Joe, I helped to whip out a huge batch of pancakes, bacon, and fresh fruit. It was a great way to start the day and the kids really seemed to enjoy breakfast:
After breakfast, the other parents and I participated in kid torture by making them do the dishes. Sure, enough soap was left on the plates to guarantee it's next user the runs, but it was all about the learning process:
You can tell it wasn't such a torturous process since they seem to be smiling way too much.
The kids also had a special visitor that morning in the form of their principal. It's always a welcome sight to see your principal sans the confines of his office and for a good reason. So much better than when you have to, such as when an errant spit ball goes off it's intended path and hits the wrong person. Or window. 'Nuff said.
After breakfast, I heard the familiar sounds of a certain diesel pickup (the T-Ruck 250 as my boys would call it) and realized that Hubby had also come out to join the fun. He quietly called me over and I instantly became worried. We have no cell phone service at the camp and this lack of outside contact made me a bit concerned. He said nothing to me as I walked towards his pick-up, even though I pushed and prodded with incessant yelled questioning.
By the time I got to his door, I was really started to get PO'ed from his question answering failure and I was increasingly worried he was going to tell me we had won the lottery but he had spent all of our money on hunting gear and Slim Jim stock. Crazy, I know, but a day and a half in the woods will bring the Brittney Spears outta ya.
My fears were immediately soothed as soon as the smell of a venti sized, non-fat white mocha with a hint of caramel, crept out of the open cab. I lunged for the cup, already high on the camp coffee, and immediately began chugging it like a todder with her favorite Starbucks sippy cup.
"I didn't want to cause a camp mob, babe." was his explanation for the silence I had endured. It was worth it as I gulped the liquid gold down and watched out of the corner of my eye for any parents wishing to attack me for my caffeine high. Seeing none, I languished in the golden glow of mocha goodness and professed to Hubby that he was the greatest man EVER.
After our secret rendezvous, I rejoined camp and we headed back down to the river to identify creepy crawly things and "accidentally" fall into the river...again:
Once the bugs were caught, released and sufficiently analyzed, we returned to camp for a ritual sacrifice:
KIDDING!!!! But how else would you describe that picture?! Gunny enjoyed it ;-).
We actually returned to camp to break down tents and participate in one last event: owl barf. I'm sure there is a technical name for it, oh something like regurgatatus discugustinous, but I think my name provides a sufficient description. The parent running the table said that the owl pellets we were dissecting were actually similar to if an owl had fur balls and then spit them up (like a cat would do). I dunno but the last time I checked, my cat's furballs didn't have this poking out of it:
Nor did it look like it had thrown up a kitten:
One of students couldn't find a fresh owl pellet. He hunted and searched and finally found one...in the BBQ:
He was really disappointed when he didn't find any mouse bones in it after feverishly working for 15 minutes to cut it apart. Word...briquettes are hard.
After a thorough hand washing, Gunny mowed the campground while I helped to prepare lunch:
Lunch was easy - sandwiches, chips, and fresh fruit:
As I cut up the watermelon, I heard several of the parents reminiscing about the days of BBQ's with watermelon soaked in adult beverages. Of course, I immediately had a flashback of a sorority toga party and our own special fruit salad soaked in a highly potent adult beverage. You know, back in the day when drinking out of a bathtub placed in the middle of the yard, was considered to be normal. But alas, our watermelon was rated "G" and the memories had to stay what they were. Which is good since I'm sure the statute of limitations may not be up on some of those parental confessions....KIDDING!
After all was said and done, every piece of trash picked up, and each kid located and secured in a vehicle, we parted ways and headed back into town. I think Mrs. P was ready to go home because we found her like this, obviously physically and emotionally exhausted:
She was actually "it" in a wild game of Hide-n-Seek. At least that's the story she fed to us parents.
Taters flicked me a bit of 'tude about not wanting to go home yet as she has a lot of anxiety about long car rides. In fact, we call our car the vomit comet on long trips due to her queasy stomach. I struck a deal with her, allowing her to have the shower first if she would just take a nap on the way home allowing mommy to drive fast and take chances. She was out within five minutes of listening to the Jonas Brothers on the I-pod and I was home within record breaking time.
I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to Mrs. P and all the parents who went with us on this fun camping trip. It was not nearly as painful as I thought it would be and I actually had a great time. Mrs. P, you're an awesome teacher and made Taterbug's third grade year a total success. Thanks!!!
