Spring Break

Spring Break

April 17, 2026

Spring break this year was so welcome, and that fact that we stayed home made it feel even longer. Since the weather was great (Mardi Gras break did not work out for us weather wise), we had a quick local camping trip. 

If you've ever thought that camping meant less skincare routine, I'm here to tell you it absolutely does not. It only means remember to put on sunscreen as soon as you wake up. 

Now that the boys are bigger, it is much easier to stay in the bathhouse longer to get such things done. 

Dill wasn't having it this particular night. He never sleeps on a bed and was insistent. This was when I was trying to coax him into his kennel and he was ignoring me and wanting to get on my side of the air mattress. 

He ended up having a good reason. Around 10:30pm I heard what could only be described as a bear walked past the tent. I've never, in a decade of camping with the kids, heard an animal like this. I know my racoons and deer. The palmettos add another layer of animal activity since they're so loud. But whatever came through them brushed the side of the tent, sending Honey into a tizzy of buffing. It stood above my head while I was laying on the air mattress and had a very slow graceful walking sound. But it sounded huge compared to the usual racoon that is nosing arond looking for snacks. 

Harrison didn't want to play football with Elliot, and the dogs were fussing that they couldn't be off leash, so I convinced Harrison to read the Boxcar Children to them. 

This is everyone playing in the sand around the tent pad before we realized we didn't pack a single towel for this trip. Baths ended up being the kids running in the splash pad. 

Another holiday task was installing a water drip irrigation to the front flower beds. I just cannot for the life of me bring myself to sit out there watering, plus the heat here just sucks the water right out of everything. After our super dry March... and what is continuing to be a fairly dry April, this had to happen. The only issue I ran into was on the very last plant I was moving rocks and found myself a baby snake. 

This is where I will say that living in Alabama for a short stint was just enough flooding therapy in and of itself that I still don't want to touch them... I still scream... but my freakout is way less. I haven't been told in years that I can't shoot a gun in the house, so clearly I'm toughing up. (Kidding, but Jeremy did tell me to not shoot at a snake if I ever saw one indoors.) 

Last but not least, we got our hands on some shrimp and had a little outside boil for the three of us that eat it. We really need to nail down getting the seasoning perfect, so if you have a proven method let me know. 

 

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Catching Up & Lake Fausse Point Camping

Catching Up & Lake Fausse Point Camping

April 25, 2025

I went on Spring Break, and so did the blog. Here's what's been up as of late. 

First off, I started working out early in the morning before work. I never wanted to before, simply because I'd wake up Jeremy. He's been up working out more the last year, so I've been sneaking in our bathroom (which has ample space) and working out in the very dim light. 

I'm really loving it becuase it allows me to work out fasted, which I've rarely been able to do. Plus I get it knocked off my list. Now, I haven't done this every morning. Only when I wake up early, and generally I get up 20-30 minutes before my alarm clock. For a bit I thought about setting an alarm, but ultimately decided not to. I'll work out in the afternoons on the days I just needed more sleep, and I'll work out in the morning on my early bird days.  

Laura got married at the beginning of the month. It was nice catching up with a few cousins and my great aunt. The boys surprised me by how much fun they had. 

Elliot danced the night away, requested songs, and shocked me when he even danced with Laura. I think he was just impressed with a bride lol! The next day he told me that if his Aunt Laura wanted to rent that venue and get a DJ again he would go. 

For Spring Break we went on our annual quick tent campig trip. The week before Easter is always cool enough that equipment is minimal. We only load the tent box and kitchen box and head out. Zero tarps, no AC. 

The inside of tent is always completely set up. Since the kids have grown, we've let them share the double air mattress and gotten outselves a king. I had to do some rearranging this year to accomodate two dog kennels. But we all fit perfect. 

The kids have gotten to such a good camping age. Especailly with Elliot being 6 this year, we've espcaed the fear of kids disappearing and getting lost. Everyone is able to stay in the set paramaters and follow the rules. Hey, we are on 8 years of tent camping with only Jeremy ever getting poison ivy. 

I was especially impressed with the dogs this year. We take Dill when we have a cabin, but this was the first trip having a dog with us. I've mainly avoided it since the longer trips include up going somewhere without the dog. He will howl and carry on for no reason, and I had a feeling that the tent would be a absolute scene if that dog started howling while we were kayaking. With only hiking this time, the dogs came... and they did amazing. I only got up at 5am to take them to the bathroom and they slept again until 7. 

You can see a bit of our bare bones "not in the summer" camping set up. Our kitchen tub lives on one side of the picnic table, and the ice chest on the other. I use a griddle to cook and take out our coffee pot in the morning. We have a big outdoor run that stays in front of the tent to cut down on anything coming in. And you can't see it, but the tent box is behind the tent. We always book an RV site so the water and electrical hookups. 

I could have taken out our hammock and didn't, the trees were close enough. Actually now, I regret not doing it... but we were on constant puppy duty. 

After lots of smores and forgetting the good bug spray, we came home and needed a nap. The dogs were so tired that Dill even let Honey cuddle this close to him. 

I ended the break with never getting to any of the holiday chores I needed to accomplish, but I planted our summer vegetables. Honey is having to learn that none of this is her business and she should pretend they aren't outside. She doesn't, and dug up a pot of basil. Thankfully they all survived. 

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Drive-In Movies & Easy Peasy Hiking

Drive-In Movies & Easy Peasy Hiking

June 13, 2024

On our last day to wander around to decided to take it easy. Everyone piled in the car, including Dill, and we went in search of a coffee mug. 

I really think this is Jeremy getting me to get a commemorative mug to make us find a new vacation spot next year. It's fine, we don't need to vacation there again, just buy me a tiny cabin. I don't have a photo of what I bought, but I went into the Mountain View Craft School (after a few stores and someone suggesting Walmart 😑) and grabbed something made by a local potter. 

Afterwards we headed back out to Blanchard Springs to hike, it has been raining all day, so we were limited to the paved hike to the waterfall. The neat thing about this pool of water is this is what trickles and filters through the massive cavern underneath (that we toured last year the Elliot got so scared he peed himself). 

One day I am seriously going to have a sit down meeting with this family of mine and teach them the 5 photog skills I know so at last I can have better pictures of myself. 

The photo below is from under tha rock ledge looking back at the walking path. Let's not even fool our selves and call this a hike. That hike path was too muddy for the dog and kids. 

I was probably telling Elliot here that he could not go out onto the rocks like his father. He has a lot of authority in his little body and very little sense. All day I hear either "but" or "why" on repeat. 

The tiny mushrooms might be my favorite photo. 

There is a similar hike to this one in Helen, GA at the Chattahoochee National Forest. This one is much more tame if you are taking little kids. The other was even wheel chair friendly, but had a bit of a rushing creek situation and steep sides, two ingredients that little wild boys do not need to test out. 

After our mini hike the kids came home and played in the rain until they were forced to bathe before the movie. 

These photos are at the start of their playing and in no way depict what I washed off the two of them. They had a good time. 

Way later that evening we went to the Stone Drive In to see the new Garfield movie, which was really good by the way. The kids had a blast, until everyone had to pile in the car due to the hard rain that suddenly hit. We've got a lot of trunk, but not two kids and two adults "lot of trunk." 

Right at the end of the movie Elliot realized he never got to go to the concession stand. I didn't take him, no one needs popcorn at 10pm. He sure wanted that pointed out though. The child lives for pointing out what he believes is an injustice. As if dinner at Pizza Inn before wasn't food. 

I think what I love most about leaving Louisiana and heading to the mountains in early June is the lightening bugs. Watching them dance around in the yard, and then on the wood line before the movie started is so nice. 

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Kayaking the Buffalo River

Kayaking the Buffalo River

June 7, 2024

 Last year we planned to kayak the Buffalo. My great aunt has told me for years how much they loved camping and being in this area, she wasn't kidding. It's absolutely beautiful. 

However, our cabin last year was about 20 minutes south of town and when I looked at everything on the map I couldn't get it straight in my mind. I figured everyone would complain. So we went to the White River, which was much closer, and a big mistake. Fishing is great on the White River, but just being on the water isn't. The entire stretch we paddled was private property and we couldn't even stop on the side for a break. Plus they said it wasn't currently deep enough for a canoe, we ended up with a 6 person raft with only two adults paddling. It was a 10 mile trip that felt like it would end on Gilligan's Island. 

So this year I had to fix the issue. Our cabin was north of town and much closer to any outdoor rec areas. We were an hour from the Buffalo, which is doable and the more reasonable distance considering that the towns between us and kayaking were all populated with less and 300 and barely had grocery shopping. Gas stations were scarce folks. 

All that to say, do take a kayaking shortcut when you are this close to a national river. 

The starting point!

Buffalo River Outfitters was great. We drove our car to the drop point, got in the kayaks, and they took our car to the pickup point. 

The mesh bags attached to the kayaks were great for holding the kids shoes, we both have Chacos so there was no need to take them off. I told Jeremy I really want two of these Jackson sit on kayaks, it had a space in back to tie down our fishing cooler and felt super stable. The kids were able to move around and it never felt like we would tip over. The only down side was needing a tandem for a 9.9 mile float and having to single man paddle that sucker through the river. 

The Buffalo has some movement, but not tubing level movement. We was-a-paddling-away friends. 

The rocky areas were fun to paddle through, granted I tried taking a photo or two on the way and got Elliot and I stuck. There was a rushing water area that I got us sandwiched into where we weren't budging and the water was just flowing! I had to get out and shove us out of the area and then hop back in before the kayak got away from me. 

In one of the deeper areas Harry saw some kids hop out and kick behind their parent's kayaks. He was all on board and jumped right out. Elliot on the other hand talked himself into getting out, freaked out, and made me drag him back into the boat with him screaming the entire time. 

Snack stop!

How cool is this rock formation! 

Whenever you get the chance, kayak with your kids! 

We've loved it over the years, when the boys were little we would canoe so we had a bit more stability. Now that they're older (Elliot is 5) everyone does so well. Although I can't wait for them to be big enough to help paddle, or when they're teens and we all have our own kayak.  

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Antique Malls & Blanchard Springs

Antique Malls & Blanchard Springs

June 5, 2024

The only thing better than a swimming hole is a huge antique mall. 

On Wednesday we headed downtown to wander all the shops and then spent the afternoon at Blanchard Springs in the North Sylamore Creek. 

It took everything in me not to purchase this box of records. It was a set of square dance songs and calls for each one. 

Not only do I wish we knew how to square dance, when I was a child my grandparents did. I went to a few of their practices and very much recall them all decked out in their outfits to dance at a festival. Nanny in her red gingham twirly square dance outfit is a favorite memory of mine. Sorry Pop, I wish I knew what you were wearing, I remember you dancing, but Nanny's outfit won with all the ruffles and twirls! 

Once the kids had "had it" with me we went into the Amish store that was bought by someone else, but still carries Amish goods and candy. They loaded up a candy bag and forgot how much they hated antique shopping. 

This was the lesson to be learned last year. Mountain View closes down at 5pm. Get all your shopping done in the morning and swim in the afternoon. Last year we did the opposite and didn't get to shop one bit. 

Off to Blanchard Springs to their swimming hole. Keep a few loose dollar on you for this trip. All of the swimming/park areas cost 3 dollar for day use. There isn't an attendant, but you'll be filling out a form and dropping it into the drop box by the bathrooms. 

Much of this the kids could do without life jackets, but some parts are just deep enough and we haven't created the best swimmers. We also don't swim enough to get any real practice in. 

It's hard to tell from the photos but this entire area of the creek is a huge rock bottom that has been carved out by the water. The deepest bits are waist deep on the kids and the water flows through it so quickly that it is a fun little water slide to glide through. 

If you love ice cold water, this is the creek for you. 

My only complaint about this part of the creek is that this time of the year it is pretty shallow and you've got a ton of rock bank to walk over to get to the water. Gunner Pool is better in my opinion for this reason. 

Pictures never do this area justice. It's beautiful, the weather is mild, and the sun seems to always shine. Who wants to buy a cabin with me and never come back to a city again? 

 

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