We are either brave, or foolishly optimistic, to take our two babies on an overnight trip to the lake. In 24 hours, we experienced enough ups and downs to last us for awhile. Kate's behavior seemed especially volatile, one moment laughing and playing, the next crying hysterically and throwing a tantrum. Lilly fared much better, but feeding her is always a challenge without a quiet spot to retreat. Which leads us to our main "problem," though problem is probably too strong a word. Our motel room was tiny, or it just seemed too small for two adults and two babies. Bedtime led Jeremy and I to sitting in a dark, stuffy room at 930 at night, unable to turn on lights or open the blessed screen door. Fast-forward to morning and find Kaitlyn saying "'Illy? 'Illy?" at 5:15am. She waited until 5:45 to get up and rouse us out of bed, though. Sweet girl.
We arrived at the Southwinds Motel on Stockton Lake at around 8pm, because we stopped to eat, and because we got terribly turned around. That's putting it mildly. About 60 miles turned around. According to the proprietor, our Google Map directions led us astray because "when 911 changed things around, they changed everybody's addresses in the area and now no GPS or internet mapping works for the entire area." We had a real address to drive to, but according to the nice ladies at Hot Spot, the local gas station, we were heading to a bed and breakfast that no longer existed. So we stopped and I ran in to get directions from them, as well as the phone number for Southwinds, but our cell phones had no service anywhere around there. "No service" while driving in a 60-mile circle around Greenfield, MO, either. And the last hour Lilly screamed her head off.
We arrived and unpacked while we tried to calm Lilly and entertain Kaitlyn. After a little while, baths for the babies, then bedtime. Jeremy gave Kaitlyn her bath because she gave me much grief about it, as she did for just about everything the whole trip. She listens to her daddy, though, thank goodness. Better one of us than none of us!
The next morning, Kate and I drove off in search of breakfast and worms while Jeremy and Lilly slept a little more. We ate our breakfast of coffee and donuts (juice and donuts for Kate), then played with Kaitlyn on the playground and fed Lilly. Kaitlyn and I ate our breakfast on a swing overlooking the lake, it was peaceful and beautiful, one of our best moments. Then while I swung and relaxed, she played on the slide and the swings. After breakfast we headed to a fishing dock where Kaitlyn met her first fish, a little bluegill swimming around the dock. The first fish she acted a little cautious, the second interested, and the third she actually touched and laughed. Funny thing, after she watched Jeremy throw the first one back, she would point to the water when he caught another, as if saying, "Back in the water, Daddy!" So cute! Lilly hung out in her car seat on the dock and in our laps while we fished. Then Kate fell into the water walking along the shore, and the two of us headed back to change her and make lunch.
After lunch on the dock, we needed naps - all of us. We slept about two hours before waking up and heading out to the fishing dock again. This time, though, we dropped Jeremy off at the dock, and Kate and Lilly and I went to the beach around the corner. This was one of my other best moments of the trip. After playing on the beach, all three of us sat in a chair together and just looked at the water, occasionally commenting on what we saw. Kaitlyn first called the lake "pool," and though we taught her to say "lake," she called it both. I took her shoes off and she played in a puddle by the water for awhile. I loved watching her experience that for the first time. I saw the wonder and excitement in her eyes that I still feel for nature, rivers, and lakes. Lilly sat on a towel and immediately started shoving sand in her mouth. Mmm... gritty. I cleaned her mouth out as best I could, then put her in my chair.
After an hour, we picked up Daddy and started to drive to get lighter fluid to grill our steaks. Somewhere on the way, (before or after the behemoth spider crossing the road?!) we decided to pack up and drive home to spend the night in our own beds. One night proved enough for this young family.
Would we do it again? Yes, for sure. Are we crazy? Yes, for sure.
We arrived at the Southwinds Motel on Stockton Lake at around 8pm, because we stopped to eat, and because we got terribly turned around. That's putting it mildly. About 60 miles turned around. According to the proprietor, our Google Map directions led us astray because "when 911 changed things around, they changed everybody's addresses in the area and now no GPS or internet mapping works for the entire area." We had a real address to drive to, but according to the nice ladies at Hot Spot, the local gas station, we were heading to a bed and breakfast that no longer existed. So we stopped and I ran in to get directions from them, as well as the phone number for Southwinds, but our cell phones had no service anywhere around there. "No service" while driving in a 60-mile circle around Greenfield, MO, either. And the last hour Lilly screamed her head off.
We arrived and unpacked while we tried to calm Lilly and entertain Kaitlyn. After a little while, baths for the babies, then bedtime. Jeremy gave Kaitlyn her bath because she gave me much grief about it, as she did for just about everything the whole trip. She listens to her daddy, though, thank goodness. Better one of us than none of us!
The next morning, Kate and I drove off in search of breakfast and worms while Jeremy and Lilly slept a little more. We ate our breakfast of coffee and donuts (juice and donuts for Kate), then played with Kaitlyn on the playground and fed Lilly. Kaitlyn and I ate our breakfast on a swing overlooking the lake, it was peaceful and beautiful, one of our best moments. Then while I swung and relaxed, she played on the slide and the swings. After breakfast we headed to a fishing dock where Kaitlyn met her first fish, a little bluegill swimming around the dock. The first fish she acted a little cautious, the second interested, and the third she actually touched and laughed. Funny thing, after she watched Jeremy throw the first one back, she would point to the water when he caught another, as if saying, "Back in the water, Daddy!" So cute! Lilly hung out in her car seat on the dock and in our laps while we fished. Then Kate fell into the water walking along the shore, and the two of us headed back to change her and make lunch.
After lunch on the dock, we needed naps - all of us. We slept about two hours before waking up and heading out to the fishing dock again. This time, though, we dropped Jeremy off at the dock, and Kate and Lilly and I went to the beach around the corner. This was one of my other best moments of the trip. After playing on the beach, all three of us sat in a chair together and just looked at the water, occasionally commenting on what we saw. Kaitlyn first called the lake "pool," and though we taught her to say "lake," she called it both. I took her shoes off and she played in a puddle by the water for awhile. I loved watching her experience that for the first time. I saw the wonder and excitement in her eyes that I still feel for nature, rivers, and lakes. Lilly sat on a towel and immediately started shoving sand in her mouth. Mmm... gritty. I cleaned her mouth out as best I could, then put her in my chair.
After an hour, we picked up Daddy and started to drive to get lighter fluid to grill our steaks. Somewhere on the way, (before or after the behemoth spider crossing the road?!) we decided to pack up and drive home to spend the night in our own beds. One night proved enough for this young family.
Would we do it again? Yes, for sure. Are we crazy? Yes, for sure.
1 comment:
Everyone was probably wore out but also had a blast! Glad you all could spend the time together, and that you are the kind of parents who will do these things with them! They look precious as usual. Hope to see you all soon. Love, Mom, Grandma/Debbie
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