Annie went camping..what?!!

Let's start this blog post off with one of my projects that I had to do this semester...this was for the urinary unit in my physiology class. I had two other classmates who helped with the project and believe it or not, we got the best in class and received an extra 10 points!



This photo should have been in the previous post, but it was on my camera and I haven't put any photos on in well, almost a month... better late than never right?!
Let me begin this next part by saying that I haven't camped in over 10 years so cut me a little slack when you read this okay?! If my memory serves me right, as a teen I thought it was a blast... Now that I am a bit older, I have realized that the comfort of my bed is FAR better than sleeping on an air mattress in a tent (yes, I know that some of you are scoffing even at the idea of "camping with an air mattress" because real campers don't use them!).
Our original plan was to spend two nights up there, but after one, Lainey, the dog and I went home. I know, it is sad, but so SO true! I found out that in my old age I have to be eased back in to this whole "nature" thing! I will get there, I WILL, but next time I will be armed with allergy medication and ear plugs! Ear plugs you say, why would she need ear plugs?! Let me just tell you WHY:
Between Andy and one or both kids snoring, to Mio licking herself all night, to the racoons who got into our food at midnight, to the squirrels who woke me up at 3:00 a.m, and finally to Lainey waking us all up at 5:20 ready for the day, let's just say, I didn't get much sleep! I was one itchy, crabby mess! Andy was sweet and realized that I wasn't doing so well and told me that really, I could go home if I would like just as long as I take Lainey and the dog with me. DEAL!
As a side note: Our dog is a bit retarded. Lovable, but retarded. This was her first and probably last camping trip. She was nervous and drank a bunch of water when we first arrived. She then proceeded to puke all of it up (plus her breakfast that hadn't fully digested) right in our campsite. Needless to say, the puke that she didn't EAT AGAIN (dry heaving as I type) I stepped in...multiple times. If that wasn't bad enough, the entire time we were there she kept eating leaves and what not. Can you guess what happened next?! Yup, she saved her last puke for our ride home, in my nice new car! Luckily she puked all of the grass and leaves onto her beloved sleeping blanket that promptly got thrown away. There was no way I was washing that nasty thing.

Proof that I was there!


This is what I got when I said "smile":
We did have quite a bit of fun BEFORE the night from hell...I have proof! This is partly in here for your enjoyment as well as to convince me that I did have fun and that I CAN do it again and that camping can be enjoyable! I just have to be like the little engine that could...

Every time the boys go camping Ethan sets up their flag to mark their camp site. This was my first "project" on the sewing machine..don't look too close!


Lainey brought some friends along:

Ethan doing boy stuff:

Lainey tipped over right after this was taken:

The kids loved to go and find sticks for the fire:


SMORES:

After we left the boys went on a hike:


I am going to try try again...actually quite soon in fact! We are planning a multi-family trip with our friends the weekend the kids get out of school. WISH ME LUCK! I am sure I will have many stories and many pics!