FReeper Family Table - It's SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!

Free Republic | June 10, 2005 | me

[Gabz]

I know, I know - it not technically summer until the 21st - but the weather here has finally broken, I'm knee deep in updating the Hurricane Alert ping list, and today is the last day of school for my daughter - so in a way it is already summer :)

Lots of folks mentioned camping and/or RV'ing for summer plans - I don't do either, but my husband loves camping and my daughter is dying to try it - so I'm all ears folks.........the whens, wheres, how-to's, and WHYs of it all from those of you are experienced veterans!!!

[Gabz]

sorry I'm a bit late folks!!!

good morning!

[Gabz]

Morning everyone!!!!

sorry - I forgot the donuts this morning.

[Gabz]

Morning everyone!!!!

sorry - I forgot the donuts this morning.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Howdy, we have a pop up camper. It is really fun for us. We went to an RV park in Myrtle Beach a couple of springs ago and it was great. We look for a place that has stuff for the kids. This had a great playground, pool and one of those things that you lay in a lazy river to float around in. Myrtle Beach had loads of stuff to do as well.

Next spring, we will be going to Orlando for a supercross race. We will stay at a nice park and have lots of stuff planned to do away from the camper. We will eventually be trading in the camper for a toy hauler so we can go dirt bike riding on our trips as well.

http://www.funroads.com/travel/toy-hauler.jhtml


We can't wait to go here:

http://www.trailsheaven.com/

[LadyShallott]

I love to camp. It easier when you plan (especially with kids) long before you get out there to pitch the tent. We go to a campsite that has fishing tournaments for the kids, youth hikes, and outdoor movies on the weekends. Its all covered with the rate we pay to get in. Plus we got a tent thats easy to pitch. LOL. We learned our lesson with the color coded poles that take 3 hours to match. We always bring the simple stuff (bug spray, easy cook food and lots of play clothes for the Toddler) and it usually works out great. We also only go for short trips with our four year old in tow, three days tops. We are going camping soon and I am so excited. We just got some new fishing poles and are ready to roll. Yee-haw! :)

[Gabz]

Holey guacamoley - that "toy hauler" is unreal.

I am definitely NOT showing my husband those links you provided. He's got this idea in his head about going camping - in a tent - probably starting next year. I've told him to have fun with our daughter, I'll be more than happy to stay home and take care of the dogs.

[condi2008]

Off topic, since I can't contribute re: camping (our idea of camping is a Holiday Inn), but here's a great summer recipe:

TECHNICOLOR PASTA SALAD

2 (12-oz) packages of rainbow rotini, cooked al-dente
1 bunch broccoli flowerets
6 green onions, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 can black olives, pitted
1/4 cup stuffed green olives
1 can artichokes
1 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1-1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
1-1/2 tablespoons parsley
1-1/2 tablespoons seasoned salt
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup olive oil
6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate for 24 hours.

Serves 14 to 16.

[Gabz]

Fishing is an entirely different story than camping for me - I love to go fishing - from a boat, a dock, or the beach, it doesn't matter to me.

There are tons and tons of campgrounds in this area and 95% on are some waterway and the others are in close proximity.

I still have the scars from my first foray in tent sleeping last Labor Day weekend. I needed to relieve myself about 3am, tripped over one of the tent ropes and landed in pine cones........thanks, but no thanks. When we do the same weekend this year I will either sleep in the car, or drive the 30 miles back home and sleep in my own bed.

[StarCMC]

LOVE YOUR THEME SONG TAGLINE!!!

Sorry I haven't been here much these past weeks - Friday has become a very busy day for me for some reason. We have no summer plans except to lay around in the pool as much as possible!! This summer will be great - the oldest 3 and I can swim while the youngest naps. Next year he'll be older and I won't be so confident leaving him inside while we're swimming. :o)

[LadyShallott]

Yummy! Sounds tasty and nice for a hot summer day. :)

[BizzeeMom]

Good Morning!

I had my camping days in girl scouts and didn't particularly enjoy it then....my husband doesn't like it either. We do pitch a tent out in the yard now and then. The kids are in boy and girl scouting, so won't miss out on the camping experience entirely. We do all enjoy a good hike but I need to lounge in my air-conditioned home to be truly happy. :)

[Gabz]

(our idea of camping is a Holiday Inn),

My kind of camping!!!!!!!

The recipe sounds wonderful!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing.

I'm going to have to post next Friday's thread on Thursday night because I'm going to be going up to my SIL's in Dover for the day/night. She and 2 friends are having the grand openning of their new gift shop and I want to give her my support.........

But anyway - your recipe has given me the inspiration for next week's thread - Summer Cooking Part I!!!!!!!!!

[Gabz]

AH a pool!!!!!!!!!! The daughter has been hollering for one a lot lately.

Your summer plans sound lovely - worry about the youngest next year and enjoy this summer while you can :)

[Gabz]

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!

I've lived in the "country" for most of my adult life - but when it comes to the idea of camping the "city" girl in me comes out everytime. I can live with no electricity but not without indoor plumbing - did it once, will never do it again.

[WV Mountain Mama]

My hubby's family are the campers. My family is a beach house kinda camper too. In fact tomorrow, I am taking the kids (hubby won't go and sit on his ass on a hot beach) with my mom (my dad has too much "work" to do), and one of my sister's family (the other sister and her hubby also refuse to go sit on their asses for a week) to Virginia beach. They rented a house on the beach and are taking their nanny, naturally, although that will be a huge help to me. Actually the nanny going was on my insistance. Hehehe... Take me away again to margaritaville.....


Now that I have gone camping, it is quite fun! Try it sometime!

[Gabz]

A beach house I can handle :)

But we live so close to the beach, it's not worth the expense for us. I'm right up the road (well about 90 miles) from Virginia Beach.......so I've got both the Atlantic and the Chesapeake Bay to chose from and neither is more than about 20 minutes away.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Hey Gabz!

I know this is off topic here BUT- something happened here today that I wanted to share with all of the parents out there. It is a reminder that as parents, we need to make sure our instincts for our children are well developed and that we feel confident in using those instincts.

My sister gave birth to a heatly baby boy this week! His name is AJ for Alex John! He is a very cute 10 lb boy!

Well my sister had to have a C-section because little AJ was breech and sis has some serious back problems- so for safety they all decided a C section was the way to go. Well,my sister wanted to try nursing her baby- but when Alex was born his glucose levels were low and she was unable to nurse him.. so they gave AJ a bottle to raise his glucose to a safe level. And as we know -babies do not want to work for food when they know they can get it from a fast flowing bottle!

What has resulted is Aj is not interested in nursing and he wants that bottle! My sister wants to feed her child and is trying the nursing bit as much as she can- but she wants to give him the bottle to keep him fed it he refuses the breast. The "lactation specialist" (notice the quotes!) has given my sister a very hard time. She has been rough, nasty and I say abusive! She has been judgemental- and manipulative to get her own way.

This woman has taken my sister's binkies aways and demanded that AJ be feed only from the breast- no supplementation except for a small bit.

My sister was so upset and anxious and I told her to tell that woman to get the HECK out of her room and give her the binkies back for AJ.

Here is the real problem.. AJ is now dehydrated and anxious and he may not be releases with my sister today.

Now -I nursed both of my children, and I agree there are some great benefits to it... and I encourage all new Mom's to at least try it. Just as I did for my baby sis. But if it can't happen, it can't happen, and it is no one else's business if it does or not!

Like I told my sister- this is not a perfect world, nothing happens in a vacuum and as parents we must advocate for our own child and play out the cards we were given.

I say-AJ was given a bottle and now he wants a quick fix and he needs a quick fix..... so deal with it and move on!

My sisters instincts told her to feed the baby and calm him down with the binkies.. the "expert" demanded she not listen to her instincts.

As I told my sister, and what I wanted to share here is that this is a good lesson:

There is no one more of an expert on a child than their parent.

Please everyone- use this summer to cultivate your instincts for your own children. Whether it be breast feeding, medications or school choices, ADD or discipline- we as parents know much more what our children need than any so called expert.

Thanks for listening and I hope everyone has a great summer!

[condi2008]

The margarita sounds good.....

[knittnmom]

Hope you get lots of good responses. I'm not a camper - my idea of "roughing it" is staying at a hotel with no pool or hot tub!

[Gabz]

I totally agree with you.......your poor sister, to be treated that way after the ordeal she went through. how horrifying.

And you weren't off topic at all - that's what we're all here for. To share and learn from each others' experiences.