A-Camping We Will Go!

Last weekend marked year 10 that my college buds and I have embarked into the wild (and by wild I mean within 2 miles of civilization with modern bathrooms no more than 10 feet away) and together experienced God's wonderous nature while camping. We've come a long way, baby! Our first trip was at a teeny tiny campground bordering a cow pasture (I believe cow tipping was the activity of choice that year) and included a keg. We're MUCH more sophisticated now! This was year #4 that we chose Pokagon State Park in Angola, IN (on the Ohio border). A BEAUTIFUL park with wonderful facilities parked on a sweet little lake.

On Friday James and I left our boys with various generous family members and, cackling as we sped away (sweet freedom!), made the two hour trip to the campground. Upon arrival Friday evening we set up our tent and then spent about 20 minutes sitting in Minnie the Van while we waited for a rain shower to pass. This did not make me feel optimistic about the weekend ahead, I'll admit. However, the clouds did pass, and we enjoyed our first evening around a roaring fire, noshing on pudgie pies and s'mores and basking in the fact that nobody needed us - we could park our heinies in those chairs for the duration of the trip and no one would be maimed or starved in the meantime! Overnight we snoozed (without being awakened! Can I stress enough how much we needed a short break from our offspring?) to the sound of more rain and awoke on Saturday morning to overcast conditions. Again - my optimism felt a bit squelched. As is our tradition, we had rented a pontoon boat to cruise around the lake for the day, and this is generally more enjoyable when you don't have to wear three layers and bring an umbrella. Generally. So we took our sweet time cooking up a sweet camp breakfast and then braved the water. We parked at a sand bar that comes complete with its own restaurant (seriously - a boat that serves up such delicacies as chicken wings, french fries, and sloppy joe. Camping utopia!). The sun did make an appearance for about an hour, and the rain held off, so it was good enough for us! We lasted about 3 hours or so and then returned to camp for showers and a fantabulous dinner of "combos" (another tradition) - Italian beef & Italian sausage accompanied by various salads and drinks. Yum yum. Following dinner, commence...MORE SITTING! It was just glorious. We enjoyed another evening around the fire, catching up, cracking jokes, and just in general making merriment. So much merriment in fact that we got chewed out by the park "rangers". Twice. It's not often that a group of 30-somethings (oh, alright, and a few of you who are still twenty-somethings. Pbbbbbt - that would be me blowing rasperries at you) must be reprimanded in this manner. But hey, you try laughing hysterically with twenty people - not easy to do quietly. I'll admit (and perhaps this was due to the vodka lemonades but I think more to do with just my general euphoria at being with adult (and only adult) friends) it was pretty hilarious to have an individual mysteriously cloaked by early morning darkness not-so-delicately threaten our behinds with campground expulsion and then as he turned to go hear our friend Russ (tucking heartily into a pound of macaroni salad) utter enthusiastically, "This is great potato salad!" Insert more laughter here. For all we know, really, the guy could have been a disgruntled fellow camper. In any case it kind of killed the party atmosphere and so we all turned in. (Disclaimer: I DO, in fact, feel guilty that we perhaps kept awake families and other camping individuals at 1:15 A.M. I know I would have been pretty ticked if it was James and I and our kids and a rowdy group doing their once-a-year freedom-from-children dance were the next site over. So, I do apologize....a little.)

Sunday morning brought with it the realization that camping fun was coming to an end. Again, not in any great hurry, we pulled together another beautiful breakfast, then began the arduous task of breaking camp. Despite my obvious joy, as represented in this post, at being away from the boys for a bit, James and I were both anxious to be reunited with them and to spend a few hours with family before heading back home.

This camping tradition is honestly such a blessing to me. To still be able to join together with 18 close friends, reminisce about days of old, share life's trials and tribulations, and also laugh a LOT is just amazing. I don't know how many times I said, both aloud and in my own mind, how warm and fuzzy I felt for having my friends around (which reminds me that I didn't mention this was the first year that EVERYbody was able to make it!). I am truly blessed by my friendships, both these and others, and I was reminded of it this weekend. Next year will bring a new venue and as we gather at it, who knows what changes we will have experienced. A year seems too long and so some other group traditions are in the works to bring us together more than once a year. In the meantime, I look back fondly on the weekend's revelments and feel all warm and fuzzy once again.

10 reasons I LOVE being a mom to boys

1) In a pinch, going to the bathroom is a cinch: step 1 - find a fairly secluded or at least waterproof/absorbable area. Step 2 - drop drawers, commence urination. Step 3 - pull up drawers. Liberally apply antibacterial gel. The end.

2) Fart jokes, bodily functions, and substituting the word "tootie" into any well-known tune is acceptable. Oh...wait...that's why JAMES loves being a parent to boys.

3) They have a (I can't even think of an adequate enough adjective!) wonderful, amazing, stupendous role model in their dad! I'm so blessed that they have him to look up to and learn from.

4) I have the opportunity to help turn a few good men out into the world: godly, respectful, hard-working, compassionate, and hopefully with the ability to cook and do their own laundry (you're welcome, future daughters-in-law!).

5) Someday, while my men go out into the world together to bring forth bounteous fish, or to test their strength and reflexes at the admirable sport of golf, I, the lone female in my home, will bask in luxurious hours spent reading without interruption or making my toes pretty.

6) There is no need for arduous exercise regimens. Keeping up with the energy of three boys everyday has me in possibly the best shape of my life.

7) The proud Louwerse name will live on....

8) I won't be breaking the bank on clothing and accessories since the boys' section in any store is about a third of the size of the girls'. And while there are extremely cute things out there for boys, let's face it - they can't compare to tiny capris or shiny patent-leather Mary Janes.

9) I don't have to worry about passing down my non-existent skills in makeup application and hair styling (where WAS I when every other female was learning this?!).

10) Should my attempts at teaching good manners fail, they will probably still be able to squeak by in society on that old adage, "boys will be boys".

My heart is full...

I am crazy blessed to love and be so loved. See below. (In no particular order and, sadly, not comprehensive since I couldn't find pictures of all of you who have enriched my life.)

Louwerse Family Fun - Days 5-7

Our week of Michigan fun ended nicely with an entire weekend of Louwerse family activities. James arrived in town on Thursday evening (I don't know that either of us is up for being separated for that amount of time again!), and on Friday we stopped by my grandparents' on our way to Keith and Jeni's where we had decided to crash for the weekend. It was very special to see the boys with their great-grandparents.

Once at KJ's, the kids had a blast playing together, and Keith and James fit in some brotherly time golfing, which Jen and I capitalized on by then informing them some girl time would be in order that evening. So we chatted over a drink and took in a chick flick (The Ugly Truth: cute, funny, raunchy, romantic - something for everyone (so long as you are "everyone" over the age of 18, at least). It was rather odd, yet enjoyable, to be out past 9:00. Speaks to my life these days, doesn't it?

Are these kids CUTE or what?!

Saturday dawned stormy and dark which was bad for the Louwerse Open that the Louwerse men held at a local golf course. Somehow they managed to fit in 9 holes, however, after which we all descended upon the Holland Aquatic Center and enjoyed some swim time as a family.

Some showers/baths/naps later, we met up at another brother and sister-in-law's where the guys took over kid duty, and the ladies stepped out for a night on the town in Saugatuck. SOOO much fun and many, many laughs.

Love these ladies!

On Sunday we once again reunited the whole fam and enjoyed lunch and some birthday celebrating together, then commenced on our merry (mostly) way home sweet home. It was a blessed time all together and while it's nice to be home once again, I'm a little sad at not seeing everyone for another couple of weeks.

Ponderings of a Parent: Day 4 in MI

Day four of vacation draws to a close, and I find myself worn out and thinking deeply, once again, about the state of my relationship with my kids. The effectiveness of my parenting influence, if you will. It was the kind of day at the end of which I had to high-tail it out of the house at the first possible second to cling to any shred of my sanity. As I strolled through Hope College's beautiful campus, sipping my iced mocha and pumping some tunes through the Ipod (and narrowly avoiding decapitation by way of frisbee golfers) I considered, also once again, what it is I have left in my bag of tricks when it comes to guiding and disciplining my children. Not only Jeran and his strong will, but it seems Ben too is going to have to come under a more stern hand. I hate to admit that my sweet little boy seems to be entering into the terrible twos. I just don't know what I can do anymore to steer my kids in the right direction and see some results to that end. What's the most frustrating about this is I tell myself I don't know what else to do and yet the answer is so very simple. Not easy, mind you, but simple: time spent daily in communication with my Lord, total reliance on HIS wisdom and not my own. What is it I am striving for in my parenting and, even more broadly, this life I am living? To bring glory to God and have my character (and that of my kids) reflect my Savior. And so I draw a deep breath, accept this not-new knowledge, and spend time in prayer, grateful that His mercies are new every morning and His grace is ever available.

The highlights of the day were catching up with some friends I haven't seen in a looooong time and a picnic lunch in the backyard with the boys (the whole 5 minutes that it lasted anyway). We'll finally be reunited with James tonight and then tomorrow will kick off a weekend of Louwerse family fun!!!

Days 2 and 3

Happy to report that I am very much on the mend and have been able to enjoy the last couple of days as planned. I'm still a little hoarse but can at least communicate...and reprimand my children when needed. Very important. It's difficult to sound like you mean business when the loudest sound you can utter reaches about minus 3 decibels. And so, our fun...for your reading pleasure.

Yesterday I spent lunching like a movie star. A movie star that likes $6 Chinese lunches. My best bud from the womb, Robyn, and I met up at China Inn. SOOOO tasty. She's so great about letting me always pick our spot. Especially since they are SUCH eclectic and exciting places like Russ' and China Inn (if you live/have lived in Western Michigan you'll catch my drift here). Thanks, Robs. :-) It was great to catch up, and we were very happy my voice had returned enough that we weren't forced to communicate by texting across the table. My aunt Joy and cousin Jami had INSISTED on babysitting all 3 of my boys. Twist my arm, why don't you? So I was able to lunch and run errands, and I didn't have to cart around three extra people plus a backpack full of their stuff that weighs as much as those three extra people. It was a beautiful thing. In the evening we spent time at my in-laws' where some extended family was also visiting. A great time.

Today found us headed Grand Rapids way to hang out with my cousin, Melissa, and her adorable nine-month-old, Neal (so named for our grandfather. I love that). The boys were less than jovial I'm sad to say. But their antics (and fits) entertained Neal, so I guess somebody won in that deal. It was great to see my cous, and the visit was all too short.

Following this, we met up with my sister-in-law Jeni, Bella, Keagan, and Camille, as well as my mom-in-law, her sister, Lorraine, and HER daughter Melissa and two kids: Riley and Howie. We turned the kids loose at a playground/splash park and let the good times roll. This did mean that the boys ended up missing their nap which is not always a smart idea. But it seemed to work out ok in this rare instance.

So a great couple of days! I'm beat. In a good way.