Littles

It's been long awaited, but I was finally able to dust off the ol' long johns for a good old fashioned, classically rainy camping trip on the Boulder with two of my favorite little guys last weekend.

Camping with boys is nothing new to me, but camping with five year old boys was certainly an experience!  Although the trip was cut short  because of nasty weather, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time.  Upon returning, I promptly concluded what I already knew:

I am so stinking in love with my nephews.

Those.  Giggles. 

('Nuff said, if you've heard them yourself.)

Their proud little smiles while they cautiously handled their first cutthroat of the day,

the need for fire, s'mores, pancakes and nothing more to complete a camping trip,

and their constant, i mean constant energy.

I love them fellas.

During my time in Billings, I've been nannying part time for yet another great family I've had the good fortune in finding.  Olivia is going to be a fourth grader, and her brother, Conor, will enter the second grade next year.

I know it's just a silly, part time and temporary job, but I've really learned a few lessons in patience and humility while watching these guys.

Children are crazy.

And because of that, sometimes they drive me nuts.  Actually, I like orderly and quiet, and so I'm pretty much always on edge with this particular duo.  But they're sweet, too.  Olivia has taken to calling me 'KK' and aways loops her hand in mine whenever we go out in public.  Conor and I have a special bond over laffy taffy jokes and puzzles.

These two thrive off of constant noise, movement, chatter, songs, activities, games, ideas, messes...you name it.  It never stops.  And of all things, I think I've really learned that even though I'm the adult, I still cant control everything that happens pertaining to them.

 

But, I like control.  I am a control freak.  I want to control you.

Instead, I'm learning to sit back and smile as Conor makes a mess spooning sugar into measuring cups for cookies, and to allow Olivia to paint my nails a messy hue of neon colors.

I don't know quite what I'm getting at, but despite my frustrations during these months at home, I'm learning, or at least trying, to let go, take a breath and smile, because life is funny.

Sometimes cookies burn, dogs get loose, kids get punched (hopefully not by me), and the car doesn't start.  It's not the end of the world.

My legs still walk at the end of the day, and God is good.

God is always good!

Anyway, the kids and I went to the zoo earlier this week, and I had a blast!  Who knew the Billings zoo could be so much fun?  Grizzlies?  Yes, please!  I took some photos to print out for the kiddos and thought I'd share.

If you haven't gone to the zoo yet this year, give it a shot!  If anything, you'll probably see a river otter take a crap and get a nice farmer's tan out of the deal.

Who doesn't what that!?

Feeding Goats

We had to set up the camera on a bench, set the timer, and run back into place in time for the photo.  It took about six tries, and each attempt produced a hilarious picture.
This was the one that finally worked in our favor, and displays perfectly how I'd like to think our time together looks like, however...

...this picture defines the three of us a bit better :)

2,180.5

I'll admit that for a while during deployment, I sort of rolled off of the Lets-Walk-For-Six Months-After-We-Get-Out-Of-The-Navy-Bandwagon.

I'll admit that for the first few weeks following my move and drive cross-country, the thought of not buying a house of our own, not staying in one place for over a year, and not choosing to grow up like the rest of our friends only sort of made me want to vomit on a place mat.

However, I'll further admit that I'm now the dude upfront the bandwagon whipping the horse.

(Do horses pull bandwagons?  They do in my mind.  Maybe I'm the horse, not the dude.)

Weird.  Whatever.


Anyway, I'm ready to roll.

I'm excited.  I'm planning.  I'm reading.  I'm dreaming.

And Jody is way ahead of me, as he's been planning, reading, dreaming, scheming and budgeting since Christmas.

Like I said, we've already begun our budgeting, and have a few weekend trips planned for the Fall to attend some AT conventions, and do some weekend hiking ourselves.  Jody and I have both read several memoirs of hikers who completed or at least nearly completed the entire thru hike.  I am completely intrigued by their stories, experiences and the obstacles along the way.  There are so many blogs, websites and guides on hiking the Appalachian Trail, and I'm sure I've learned something new every day since I've started up my research again.

I like this list of excellent points in regards to surviving a 5-7 month trek in the mountains.
This page shares some phone calls and pictures from a friend who hiked the AT.  What I liked about this post in particular was how cheerful the woman was, even when describing being eaten alive by mosquitos.  I also felt encouraged when I read that she thru hiked while still remaining gluten free.  I myself have been (mostly) off of gluten for two months now, as I've removed it from my diet and added it back in twice now, and have noticed a significant difference in how I feel with and without.  I'm no GF-straight-edge, as I still cheat with beer or brownies on occasion, but I do think that by simply avoiding foods with gluten and replacing them with more fresh foods, I can mostly control the way my super-sensitive-tummy is going to feel.  Celiac Disease? No way. A sensitivity? Maybe. Hypochondriac? It's possible. Whatever it takes, man.  I've been sick far too much in my 21 years and even if it's in my head, I like feeling healthy.

This post has no point, other than to express my excitement for our adventure to come, should it be in our future.  I surely hope so, but I also trust in God's plan for Jody and I in regards to the next few years ahead of us.  I drive back to Virginia in just six weeks, in hopes of picking up my guy in 7-9.  After which we'll find a new temporary home, and try to relax and take a breather as we finish off our final year of being 'stationed' in Norfolk, VA.