Turkey in July? Yes - Turkey Run, that is!

I’ve heard people say that camping is either/or. You either love it or you hate it. Well, the Kincaids definitely love it. We try to go every summer. In years past, we have been camping at Brown County, Indiana Beach, and Lake Rudolph to name a few. This year we decided to camp at Turkey Run. I am usually the planner of the vacation agenda, and I was all prepared this year, too. We could go hiking, swimming, horseback riding and canoeing. A total outdoor adventure! When we arrived, we weren’t totally crazy about our campsite, so we checked to see if we could switch – and we did. It worked out well. We ended up with a bigger campsite with more shade and a boy on the campsite right behind us. For those of you that don’t camp, one of the best things about camping is that the kids make new friends. Everyone’s out playing, riding their bikes, making s’mores and stuff, and it’s just a real friendly, fun atmosphere. We went hiking and swimming the first day and canoeing the second, then hiking again the third day. We also visited the nature center and went to a show in the planetarium.





The kids absolutely LOVED Turkey Run. The hiking was awesome – the sights and sounds of the beauty around us just had a way of ‘connecting’ you to the world around you. Hayden wanted to go on the longest, most strenuous trail, so, we did. Everyone loved it, but we sure did sleep well that night! And the day we went canoeing was certainly an adventure. We took 2 canoes, Hayden and mom in one and Mallory and the Waffle in the other. We packed a picnic lunch, and off we went on our nautical adventure. It was a good day, mostly. Except for the part where I freaked out because our canoe was turned backwards, moving toward rapid waters and a fallen tree in the middle of Sugar Creek! After I was done speaking louder than I should (read “screaming”) and we got our canoe turned back around facing the correct way, I was calm again. I don’t think Hayden appreciated getting smacked in the face with tree branches very much, though. Sorry, ‘bout that, bud!

Our last night, there were storms predicted to move through the area. Having camped in the rain before, we prepared ourselves. We took some of our stuff down and put all of our stuff under tarps. It never did rain through the night, but the next morning, it started about 5 am. And rained for 2 – 3 hours. Because we’d prepared ourselves, we just lay in the tent and listened to the rain, drifting in and out of sleep. It was wonderful. Yes, I said wonderful. After the rain stopped, we emerged from our cover, had breakfast, and packed up. We were hot, dirty, and exhausted, but there’s just something about cooking over a campfire and sleeping outside that relaxes us.

Scouts Visit the Ropkey Armory Museum

Pack 3310 held their July Pack meeting at the Ropkey Armory Museum just outside of Crawfordsville, IN. This place was packed full of tanks, jeeps, motorcycle, boats, helicopters, a bi-plane, a large variety of firearms and other weapons. It was total guy-heaven, ‘cuz you know, guys like to blow things up. Here's a slideshow of photos from the day.

Monkey Joe’s Party

Mallory’s softball team (sponsored by Monkey Joe's) had their end of season party at Monkey Joe’s. It’s a new indoor play place in town. It’s full of inflatable slides and ‘moonwalks.’ So much fun! The kids had a total blast. Here are a few pictures to enjoy!

End of Season Baseball Party

On June 28th, the Lafayette Life baseball team gathered at Prophetstown State Park to celebrate the end of the season. As the Team Mom, I organized and planned the events for the day. It was a super fun time! I made this VERY cool (if I do say so myself) cupcake cake in the shape of a baseball. In case you don’t know, this is a cake that is made up of several cupcakes arranged together and then iced together, rather than individually. Each of the boys also had their own “mini me” cupcake. It was a big hit! (Pun intended!)

After lunch, we played games – first was the water relay. We gathered all the players, all the siblings, and the coaches together, divided up into 2 teams and spread out along the length of the sidewalk. Each person had a cup. The object was for the person at the beginning to fill their cup with water, then pass that water from cup to cup all the way to the end. The first team to fill their milk jug to the line was the winner. It was such fun that we played it several times. Of course, kids just love water.

Tanner and Hayden work together.

The little sisters played, too.

After the relay, there was the water balloon toss. The last 2 person team to have a water balloon that didn’t pop was the winner. And then, the big fun was the water rockets. The Waffle was in charge of this one. You take an empty 2 liter, fill it half way with water, then place it on the launcher. Add a little air pressure, thanks to the air compressor, and BLAST OFF! This proved to be quite entertaining. After launching their ‘rockets,’ the kids got to go into the prairie grass to hunt for them!

Before blast off.

And after!

Mallory's turn!

All in all, it was a fun day for all. We gave the coaches their thank you gifts – a baseball signed by each of the players. And they parents gave me one – a $20 gift card from Bath & Body Works! Sweet! I enjoyed this summer’s baseball season more than any other. I believe it was a combination of good kids, good coaches, and good company!

Seven Years Ago

On this day exactly 7 years ago I was absolutely furious with a medical professional. It was the doctor who told me that I wasn't in labor and sent me home from the hospital where I had been for the past 4 hours. Well, I said it then and I'll say it again - he was wrong. That night I went home, tired, sad, and frustrated that the baby I'd waited for for 9 months wasn't coming today. The next day, I forced myself into frequent, regular contractions. I walked ALL day long. Yes, I was exhausted from being in labor so long and not sleeping well, but I was also determined to have our baby!

A full 24 hours later, after having contractions for more than a day, we went back to the hospital for a second try. This time, it was certain, the baby would be coming soon. I had originally been scheduled for a c-section on August 6th, so when the nurses determined that my contractions were frequent enough, things moved pretty fast. Call the doctor, sign the papers, get the epidural, and, it's off to surgery we go!

For 9 full months, I had believed I was having a boy. Not because of an ultrasound, but more because my second pregnancy was so similar to my first. So, there was an amusing exchange between me and the anesthesiologist when the baby was born. He said "It's a girl." I said "It's a girl? I thought it was a boy." He said "Oh, it's a boy? No, it's not - it's a girl!" Surprised me - that's for sure!

I couldn't believe how beautiful she was. Unlike her brother, her head was perfectly round, her skin was blemish free and so smooth. Just a little peach fuzz for hair. And everybody loved her. Hayden was so sweet 'petting' her head when he came to visit for the first time.

A girl? Does that mean I'm going to have to play dolls and tea time and dress up? I'm so NOT prissy that way. Well, it's amazing what a sweet little girl will do to a family. We all get a treat every day, enjoying our sweet little Mallory.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Pasta on Parenting

Being a parent is both a job and a joy. I have a magnet at my desk at work that says "Parenthood - The only job that's REALLY full time." How true is this statement?? Parenting never goes away. Some days this makes me mad because I just want to be me - all by myself. I don't want to have to take care of everyone else's needs before I can attend to my own. Some days this makes me exhausted because the 'tending to everyone else's needs' just never seems to end. Ever. No, really, I mean E-V-E-R. Then there are some days when this makes me feel important because I have people who depend on me for their needs. Needs such as, "Mom, where is my ____?" (Fill in the blank with any item that is lost, misplaced, or maybe even in plain sight.) And some days this statement makes me feel sad because I can't really be with them full time like I wish I could. And then there are days when I am so happy about this statement because I know that parenting truly is the most important job I have.

I have had some recent milestones as a mother - you know - the little jabs in the arm that you feel when you see positive results and progress in your children. The one that comes to mind most easily is Hayden's maturity. Yes, I know that because he is male that he will, by definition, be immature until he is about 30 years old, but I did say progress, not completion! He has been showing maturity is several areas, but mostly what it boils down to is respect and consideration for others. He's thinking more about the world (and the people) around him and less about himself and his own feelings. It's wonderful to catch him in the middle of it. I sorta stand back, and go "Wow - he's really growing up!" It's awesome.

And Mallory (who will always be my little girl, my baby) is getting ready to start 2nd grade. She's a little social butterfly, she's a space cadet, and she loves attention, but I'm starting to notice something unique and interesting about her. She not only loves to receive attention, she also loves to give attention. She doesn't care who she talks to or plays with. It doesn't matter if they are much younger or much older than her. It doesn't matter if they don't look the same or talk the same. She does not show preference or avoidance. She is just as happy to play the 3 year old little boy who lives next door as she is to spend the afternoon with a grown up. And to me, that is amazing. That she hasn't developed a sense of who is different from her.

So, today I feel successful as a parent. Because even though they drive me crazy when they argue with, pick on and nag each other CONSTANTLY, they also make me so proud when I hear them say encouraging, kind or thoughtful things to the people around them. I honestly believe that the mark we make on the world will be made on the souls of the people with whom we interact. I try to work on myself and my "mark" every day - and I'm seeing that in the kids, too! Hooray!

S'mores anyone?

My mom was in town last weekend for a few days. She came up to go camping with some friends. She had called me about a week earlier to let me know she was coming and insisted that we join her to roast marshmallows. Being the outdoor lovers that we are, we were excited to sit out by the campfire (and to see my mom, of course). I told her that we would bring chocolate and graham crackers because if we were doing marshmallows that the kids would definitely want s'mores.

So, we packed up our lawnchairs and goodies and off we went. The weather was beautiful, making me anxious for our own upcoming camping trip. Just being in a campground gets me feeling all "one with nature," you know?

After they finished eating and the kids finished wading in the river bank, my mom breaks out the marshmallows. I have never seen anything like it in my life. Yea, they're just marshmallows, but check it out . . . . .

Looks like a mini marshmallow and the jumbo ones, right? Nope. It's a jumbo marshmallow (on the left) and the ones my mom brought (on the right). They were H-U-G-E.

Here's another photo to give you an idea just how big:

Mallory couldn't even eat her s'more because her mouth was too small!