I’ve been thinking lately about the difference between Bloggereality and, well, reality. I’ve observed a rather large gap between the two, at least for myself, and–I am hoping–for all of you (if I’m wrong on this, then I really did get the shaft and my life is pitiful compared to everyone else’s perfect children, dream vacations, and stunning good looks.) So, though perhaps my own reality doesn’t always “bite,” it doesn’t always smile, either. Case in point: Big, Annual Camping Trip, lots of planning, some of our best friends, perfect location, lots of junk food shopping, lots of packing, lots of excited kids, lots of excited adults. Bloggereality would report that this trip went perfectly, as evidenced by the perfectly posted pictures, but I am here to set the record straight. I learned last weekend that coming down with something akin to Strep Throat, complete with fever, chills and vomiting in a “cabin” (dare we give it that much credit?) with nothing nearby but an outhouse is, in the end, its own brand of adventure. Real adventure, not sissybloggingadventure. You know what I mean.
After a miserable first night, Derrick kindly suggested we pack up and go home, but I had waited all year to hang out with the Shorts and (name the B movie that made this tune famous) Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us Now. So I knocked back enough Extra Strength Excedrin to see me through the day. (btw: did you know that Excedrin is loaded with caffeine? I had no idea, but it explains why it made me feel so geeoood.) I pasted on a smile and tried to have fun, and loved Rachel and Jason all the more for forgiving my going to bed at 9 pm and the wet mop personality I surely had all weekend. (How tragic for them to miss out on my usual, fascinating self.) They even allowed me and my germs to eat at the same picnic table with them. Rachel called me today, almost one week later, to kindly ask how I was feeling and wondered: did I find out if it was strep? She just wanted to know because–and please don’t feel bad, Jen–every last one of her kids now have what I had, just in time to go back to school. (And I thought being a wet mop was my worst offense.) She wasn’t annoyed at all, just hoped I felt better. Do you see why we’re still friends?
So. I didn’t get to be hyper and goofy with my kids and howl at the moon in the great outdoors, like I’d planned. But…
I did get to go on a horseback ride with Rachael (my daughter) which was about the coolest thing we’ve ever done together (horses are super pretty and smell good when you’re buzzed on Excedrin.)
And on our last day I got to follow the children through the trees to the “secret place” they’d been doggedly hiding from us all weekend, which we parents had to admit was pretty spectacular.
And I got to smell Megan’s proud find (think dead. think fish. no. think only fish skin.)
And I got to consume mass quantities of Rachel’s sublime homemade-yes-straight-from-her-garden spaghetti sauce, which is the new Bomb in my life (need that recipe, Rache! need you to grow the veggies for me, Rache!) I missed out on canoeing, fishing, and the slip ‘n slide (achey body napping in said “cabin”)…
but I got to be in the beautiful mountains with my great friends, great family, and great weather. When you’ve got the essentials covered, even if things aren’t
blogperfect, they can still be really, really good.
There was dirt, there was a graham cracker, there was chocolate.
That’s all we know.
These two hotties got even hotter when they
made us breakfast two days in a row.
Ethan and Max. All weekend. Do not even ask.
Ethan cruelly takes advantage of Mom’s illness and realizes lifelong dream of eating nothing but BBQ Lays for two days straight.
For once, when dealing with Ethan, Dad isn’t the only horse’s as*.
The elusive Secret Place
Clara had to be the sweetest, quietest, happiest baby I’d ever been around. Yes, I am including my own children in this assessment.
We thought it would be a good idea to let the kids spend alot of time unsupervised in this rocky, secluded area that had lots of water and the lingering possibility of bears. Children do need to explore.
Meg wasn’t quite old enough to do her own trail ride, like Rache, but she was a good sport about doing a pull ride with her dad. Considering her size, she may just have a future in jockeying.
The dead fishskin find. Still not sure where she found it, how she got it, why she wanted it. Never did get a clear answer on that.
Remember that s
cene on City Slickers when they talk about their “best day?” I think the day of the trail ride was Rachael’s Best Day. She just couldn’t stop smiling. I was so happy to be there with her.
Doped up as I was.
Sorry to comment so much tonight. But I just wanted to let you know that your blogs are absolutely delightful to read. Thanks for so clearly passing on your wit and awesome sense of humor through your writing 🙂
By the way, that last comment was made by me, not Derrick (just so the Andrew McCartney thing didn’t leave any lingering questions…)
And is it McCartney or McCarthey?
50 bonus points for Shelli! Glad I’m not the only one who had a thing for Andrew McCartney (sp?) in the eighties.
oh yea I forgot to ask if the B movie yor talking about was “Mannequin”
Shell
So glad to hear that I have normal friends – people ask me all the time how I do it with 6 kids, (they really haevn’t spent too much time at the bagley house for the insane) Seems like your family had a great time. Hope you did too a little –
Shell
Sarah–
It’s called Ensign Ranch and is halfway between here and Seattle. It’s actually church owned. It’s very, very cool.
Rache–
Thanks for making Jake take the heat! You always were a loyal friend.
Lisa–
Yes, I love that pic of E–just wish his face was a bit cleaner!
Bummer….don’t you just hate it when you get sick at the most inopportune times?
That first picture of Ethan was beautiful!!!
What a magnificent post. This post is why I’m so glad you are a blogger! Honestly, I’m so sorry you were so sick, but you sure put on a happy face and made it all look blogeriffic! We had fun…my kids are begging for more. Right now Jaykob thinks it’s his fault that his siblings are sick…I won’t let him in on the truth so as not to ruin his desire to camp with the Smiths in the future. Take care! We love you in sickness and in health!
This is a dream camping trip. (minus your pain. and, oh do I feel your vacation-strep pain, I have been there). Where does one go to camp and ride horses and have lovely streams to play and hide in? Looks so fun!
Thanks, Mel! You are too kind. I love your pics of your camping trip, too. And I still wonder–are those digital or regular scrapbook pages? They are lovely!
Randy–
Buzzin’ and lovin’ it. Why go back to my (biting) reality?
Hey Jen-
After that post, you need to lay off the Excedrin. I think you’re still buzzed. 🙂
You crack me up!!
Thank you Thank you Thank you! We are perfect mothers who go on not so perfect adventures with our beautiful and amazing families and live to tell about it! I love the pictures you took on the trip – they are so cute! I am so sorry you were sick – I can say we didn’t have anyone sick so you had that on us and you did it for more than one night! You are given the rank of Saintly Mother! Love you!