Going Places....

Shane's family is in town....which means we actually leave the comfort of our home and go do something. Now, when I say go do something, I really mean go do something. The family motto is apparently go big or go home...

We're in the go home phase now! There may or may not have been waterfall swimming involved. So all in all a super fantastic, going places, day!

The Endless Summer Lessons.....

So I haven't blogged since the beginning of summer. It might be best to grab some popcorn, and a drink and sit on down. This may take a while. Buddy has been asking for years to go to Disney World. The fine parent that I am, keeps deferring that trip, because let's be honest, my mother tortured me with too many trips to Epcot Center in my youth! Seriously, who takes their kids on summer vacation and then tries to make them learn stuff?Apparently moms do!

Actually, I take that back, some moms do. However there was no learning whatsoever on this trip to Disney World....

Unless, we include learning that walking in high heel shoes for 20 miles will do some serious damage to your feet....but apparently not enough damage to keep you out of going to Universal Studios while you're at it!!!

Or learning that ET is still my BFF after all these years....

After WAAAAYYYYY too long in Florida (seriously, amusement parks in the summer are LAME), Shane ditched us and Buddy and I flew over to South Carolina to canoe through Congaree National Park.....

Where some of us may have learned, that one of us takes their canoeing skills and steerage power WAY too seriously! After Congaree, we decided that since we live on a small island, and we didn't want Buddy to feel disadvantaged from the kids living on the Mainland,  we did a road trip. The road trip included a pit stop in Charlotte to see a friend from my youth's band play a show. The total upside to the pit stop, other than a bathroom....free merchandise. Buddy walked away with two CD's a t-shirt and a drink koozy! I'm almost surprised he didn't ask for an autograph while he was at it!!!!!

Then we drove up to Danville, VA to go to a tank museum....where Buddy may have learned that his mom isn't going to spend $200 on a remote control tank, no matter how cool it looks!!!!

The next morning we woke up bright and early and skedaddled to I think my newest favorite place on earth....McAffee Knob....

I did all of my research before going,  so we knew that there has been an increase in bear sightings on this portion of the Appalachian trail. Thus, being the diligent mom, I made sure to buy us each bells for our packs and a can of bear spray each....which I may have learned is easily dispensed if you have it in a side pocket and slide something against the aforementioned pocket!!!!

The next day we hiked more of the Appalachian trail and conquered Dragon's Tooth...

and we may have possibly learned that when you have done the most spectacular hike in the world and then do a meh hike....it's a little bit of a let down!!!! 

The next day we were supposed to go to the Smoky Mountains, but somehow we decided to get our coon skin hats on...

 and go recreate this picture instead....

 Mission accomplished!!!!

We stayed with one of my aunt's in Kentucky and Buddy loved watching her backyard....

I think he may have loved me not forcing him to walk 20 miles a day too....but I'm not certain!!!

We hung out with the family for a bit...

I think Buddy really, really especially hated the driving in a 4 wheeler and going to my uncle Buford's hunting tree house and shooting.....huge disappointment I'm sure!!!!

Sadly, we had to come home, because this had to happen...

Thankfully, or not so thankfully (depending who you ask), I get to go to the same school as Buddy!!! It's a dream come true, I'm pretty certain Buddy may have learned that I can't get enough of him!  

In other news, last weekend, Buddy, his cousin Kiara, Shane's cousin-in-law Alyssa and I competed in a Spartan Super (8 mile course with 25 obstacles) which was on my bucket list....

 Where I may have learned that I could really use some upper body strengthening....and that Buddy and Kiara are AMAZING!!!!! So all in all a super fantastic, adding Burpees to my routine, day!

Leaving it to the professionals....

I totally lucked out and got to hang out at Scout Camp with Buddy. He went for two weeks to work as a Junior Staff member, the first 4 days he was cleaning the campsites and getting them ready. Then I showed up to be a medic during the Cub Residential Camp for two days, then we had a week of Boy Scout Camp..... 

 During camp, he made sure to take lots of showers....

 Invented a new delivery system that is maybe not efficient

 but definitely cute. 

He turned a new corner with all this newfound responsibility, and is finally breaking free of his fire starter ways.....

 Just kidding! He told me that they fill those cans with fire starting liquids when no one is around....not sure if I believe him, but......it is Buddy we're talking about here!!!

While he was working, he had time to polish up his food service skills....

and his whittling skills....

Since he was the quartermaster this year (translation, newest kid in the group so most boring job this year), he really got his time for whittling in!!! I, on the other hand, got to polish up on my sharpshooting skills...

(with my personal instructor, nonetheless)

AND

I got to practice my pancake flipping skills....

https://www.facebook.com/johndlandersiii/videos/10218718620814606/

 Hopefully that link works, because I'm pretty amazing and those pancakes were huge!!!!

I'm lucky that I get to have insider info on the whole camp....not because I'm important being the medic, but mostly because the camp director likes me. That insider info brings you this story. The camp director went to go look for a junior staff member to help him one night at camp. He couldn't find any kids, except for Buddy. So he asked Buddy if Buddy could help him with a really "crappy job". Buddy said yes....turns out, the crappy job was really crap!!! Some kid pooped in the shower and someone needed to clean it up!! HA! Thank goodness, for both of their sakes, I think, the shower was one that didn't have a lower enclosure so they just had to spray it out! Seriously gross, but seriously hilarious that the camp director had asked Buddy for help with a crappy job!!!! Our camp director is awesome! We are so lucky to have the best volunteers in the universe....but I may be pretty biased, but seriously, what other group of goofy men will do this....

Just to make you laugh because you told them the camp logo was awfully manly!!!! Yep, that's right, I got me a special edition wild hogicorn mug for my service. Buddy got a knife....because the 15 that he has, just really isn't cutting it! We are already looking forward to next year, and Shane is desperately trying to finagle his way in to join us!!!! 

In other news, in 2 days the Budster and I are headed to Utah, and then for an amazing dream vacation filled with camping, hiking, kayaking and mice! We are super excited!!! So all in all a super fantastic, trying to conquer our laundry mountain, day!

Growing up....

 The boy is headed off for two weeks to work at Boy Scout Camp tomorrow. He's enthused.....

Just kidding, he really is excited to go, if only for me to stop nagging with my prize worthy naggy advice and my 3,397,345 attempts to take a picture of Buddy's new shirt. 

Since Buddy and I both get (thank's dad) to work tomorrow, we decided to celebrate Father's Day today. We looked for hot coals to rake him across...

I guess hot cement will have to do! In other news, Happy Father's Day to this guy...

BEST DAD IN THE UNIVERSE!!!!!I couldn't have asked for anyone better, well, I could've asked, but not sure the dad jokes would have been up to par! So all in all a super fantastic, pre- Happy Father's Day, day!