Now THIS is How You Camp!

I took my oldest three kids to church on Sunday so they could join several other youth and adult chaperones on a mission trip to Michigan to work for the Grand Rapids Area Service Project. The junior high kids (Jackson) are coming back Tuesday. Austin and Savannah will be staying with the rest of the senior high kids until Saturday. The kids weren't allowed to take their cell phones on this trip. I understand why. I mean, my kids would do nothing but text friends all day if they had their phones. And they're there to work and bond with the other kids and spread God's love through service to others. It would be impossible to concentrate with their phones constantly buzzing. But as a parent, it's a little hard not being able to check in on them despite the fact I know they're in good hands. Actually, one of the chaperones left me a comment on Facebook saying all the kids were doing well and Jackson wants to get up at 6:00 tomorrow to help him make pancakes. I guess I can see that. If he'd said that Austin or Savannah wanted to get up at 6:00 and cook, I would've known that something was very, very wrong.

Anyway, I've had several people tell me, "Oh, how nice, you'll be getting a break with only half your kids at home." Are you people nuts??? There is no break! I've lost my three helpers! I don't have any extra eyes watching the little ones. I don't have anyone to mow the lawn or take out the garbage or help pick up after the mess-makers. I've been busier the past two days than I ever am with all six of them home!

I wanted to make these days fun for my little ones though, so yesterday, I told my them, "Let's have a camp-out!" They just stared at me, eyes wide and mouths agape.

"But you hate camping, Mom."

"That's true. But we're going to go camping mommy style!"

Their interest was piqued.

"First, we have to really clean up the family room," I informed them. Now, I have to preface this by telling you that I DO, in fact, clean my family room often. Honestly, I clean it daily. I vacuum it at least two or three times a week. I move the couches out and vacuum underneath regularly. However, despite that, this is what I found when I moved the couches out yesterday...

Shoes, dishes, a toy watch, a plane, a tag


a purse, a book


a puzzle, a toy plate, a movie,


more shoes (no wonder Clay can never find his shoes!), a sippy cup, a battery, some candy wrappers, Connect Four pieces, and K-Nex pieces


a plastic hotdog bun, more Connect Four pieces, Polly Pocket hair, a ball, a magnet, more K-Nex pieces, and a Hungry Hungry Hippos ball

lipstick, the handle to a broken hairbrush, an ice pop wrapper, a bracelet and more K-Nex

another toy watch, a battery, and a BandAid wrapper

a domino, a marshmallow, some feathers, a bent paper clip, and a straw

When we could see the floor once again, I showed them how mommy camps. That's right - no bugs, no heat, no cricket noises all night, and no disgusting bathrooms you have to walk to in the middle of the night. And the best part is - mom gets to sleep in her own comfy, cozy bed! Oh yeah!

Ni-night kids!