Camping Heather Arrives.

We went camping this weekend. Meaning, I also did. I, Heather Jolley, am a camper. I am one who camps.

When I was 12 years old, I went to Girls' Camp for the first time and slept in a tent and hated it so much and cried every day and night and whined and begged to go home. One time, my leaders thought I was asleep but I wasn't and they all talked about how terrible I was. I used to think badly of them for doing that, and now I am older and I get that I really was being pretty terrible, and they just needed to vent about it.

Anyway, somehow I, being a majorly indoorsy girl, married my husband Dan, who is one seriously outdoorsy guy. And slowly over time, I have become more outdoorsy, and I realize that I have been missing out. 

We had a great time camping. We went to World's End State Park, about two hours from our house. We set up camp, wandered around, cooked dinner and went to bed. The next morning, we completed a 2-mile hike. It was short enough for the kids but also challenged them a bit.

 At the end, we met this beautiful waterfall.

We came prepared to swim but the water was freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezing. Dan would not be deterred though. 

Dan also made some amazing grub in his dutch oven while we were there. We had chicken enchiladas, smores, french toast casserole, and hot dogs in the short day that we were there. Everything was delicious.

There were some rough moments. Namely, the nighttime. Beck was so excited not to be in his crib, and he would not go to sleep. He loved walking around and poking all of us tired, cranky old people who were trying to sleep. Dan took him to the van and tried to get him to sleep out there, but it didn't work. Dan got crazy angry at him. This also didn't work. Beck always wins. 

There was a great swimming creek by the campsite. It was much warmer than the waterfall we tried to swim in on our hike. At the swimming creek was a small waterfall/natural slide the kids love going down. The kids' bodies would fly down the waterfall, zipping past every single rock until they cascaded down the bottom. Dan begged me to try it, so I finally did. Except with my mother-of-four-hips, there was no zipping. No, no, zipping was quickly replaced with BONKing. I felt my bottom hit every single rock down the waterfall. 

They kids cried when we left the campsite, begging to know when we would return. "Soon," I promised, because I actually enjoyed myself. Heather the outdoor enthusiast! Just call me Bear Grylls.

Fun Heather Decides to Stay Awhile.

We all wore red, white, and blue to church today for the Fourth of July tomorrow. But, we did not sing the national anthem, and I was disappointed. Every Sunday following New Year's Day should include "Ring Out Wild Bells" and the Sunday before the Fourth of July should include "The Star Spangled Banner". 

Summer funnnnnnnnnnnn: Every year, my kids attend a Vacation Bible School. Or two. Or in this year's case: THREE. The first one was this week. June brought home this picture of her class, and I couldn't locate her for several minutes. Because she looked SO WEIRD for her photo. I cannot stop laughing. What is she doing? She said that the flashes from the camera really freaked her out. I was out of town last week for Linz's wedding (separate post forthcoming), so her hair was wild like a banshee. And there's a wet spot on her dress because . . . do I want to know? No, I do not.

More fun: Chocolate World. When Dan found out his company was only sponsoring a virtual "Take Your Kid to Work Day" this year, he asked for permission to plan an in-person day for his kids and for the kids of the people on his same team. Permission was granted, and voila! Dan planned the best day ever. All of the kids were able to go on a tour of Hershey headquarters, as well as go to Chocolate World to build their own candy bar.

When I would shadow my dad at his law firm, he would make me do loose-leaf filing.

We had a break in the middle of the fun and went to eat at our favorite local eatery, Lisa's Cafe. It's full of old people and comfort food, my kind of place.

Library Programs: If it's free, then it's for me! We have continued with all sorts of free library programs. including this special event where my kids took turns reading to a therapy dog. My kids really want a dog. I have qualms about this. I feel like my hands are really full taking care of the most wonderful and yet supremely nutty kids, so I don't know if adding a canine to the mix is something I need. But an hour where my kids can read to someone else's dog? Sign us up!

We have also had a couple of farm days. We live in rural Pennsylvania, and we have many friends who live on lots of land and have many animals. My kids love feeding chickens, collecting eggs, running around with dogs, chasing goats, and petting bunnies.

Back to those free library programs, here is a picnic we had after one of our many adventures with Go Lebanon!, the county-wide scavenger hunt.

And we have spent many, many days at Hershey Park!

I don't love amusement parks, but Dan and the kids really love Hershey Park. They love long lines to ride on swings that we have at our local park. But whatever--they are happy, and that makes me happy. Plus, everyone sleeps really well after a day at Hershey Park.

Fun Heather has had an extended stay. But! Yesterday, we cleaned all day. And I decluttered several rooms. I am starting some new projects this week. Makes me feel like myself again.

The End.