The Munns Go Camping - June 2-4, 2014
Whenever we do something out of the ordinary, we say "The Munns Go ..." Such as The Munns Go to Brick Oven (a comedy), The Munns Go to Lagoon (action), The Munns Go to Toys R Us (drama), or The Munns Go to Walmart (horror). Shayne and I will laugh as we talk about it later, almost as if it were a funny show or documentary. In this episode, The Munns Go Camping (adventure).
First of all I have to say this trip wasn't originally meant to be a camping trip. We started planning a trip to Texas, then Disneyland, and when money kept running out we gradually stepped laddered down to Lagoon, and finally camping. To make it a little more appealing though, we decided to make it extra fun by going to a place I loved and remembered - Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville, Utah. Oh the memories there! I used to love going there as a kid. Swimming in the hot mineral water pools, sliding down the slides, mixed with the fun combination of camping and family - it would be perfect.
I hadn't seen my kids so excited in a long time! We bought a new tent a few days before and as all our camping stuff was being gathered, anticipation was building along with the pile. They were so excited, the girls even sat in the car a full 30 minutes before we actually left the driveway. Liam was well rested and the trip up went smoothly for everyone. Once we reached Crystal Hot Springs, I wasn't at all surprised the first thing the girls would want to do was swim. My Mom and Dad who we were camping with had already been there a while and took the girls down for a swim while we hung back and set up camp. Liam played in his new play yard, Shayne set up the tent, and I emptied the car and set up camp.
I loved everything. It was so great getting away from our worries. I loved the fresh air and sunshine. Seeing the trees, beautiful sunset, my kids playing at the pool not far from us brought a smile to my face. Even the food tasted better at camp.
Well, I loved ALMOST everything anyway. Ear wigs seemed to be drawn to me by a magnetic pull. Everywhere I turned, I was finding them on me. Ew. I hate those little devil bugs.
I will admit, I was nervous about sleeping the first night in the tent. It was our first camping trip with kids and we had no idea what to expect. Everything went better than expected though. The sun and swimming wore the kids out so other than Liam waking briefly a couple of times, they slept all night long.
The kids woke bright and early to a chorus of birds singing and cows moo-ing in the distance. Everyone soon gathered around camp to help cook breakfast. Dad made greasy bacon, and Shayne whipped up eggs and hashbrowns. I couldn't resist setting the table with our brand new camping dishes. Bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns, complete with orange juice. After breakfast, we cleaned up the camp and by 10:00 am were ready to swim.
I purchased three swim and slide passes and one swim only pass for Kaitlyn. The little ones had their life jackets on, and we were ready to go. The water was so warm, Liam just melted. He looked like he was going to take a nap right there floating in the water. Kaitlyn preferred the "cold" pool. She had swimming lessons with one of the father's teaching his daughter to swim. Ellie started out staying with the group but after a while earned our trust and made friends so she swam wherever she wanted mostly. Whenever Shayne swam, the kids surrounded him taking turns being thrown into the pool. You couldn't help but smile.
After a couple hours, I wanted to try out the slide. Going into the stairwell up to the slides felt like entering a time machine. Everything was EXACTLY how I remembered it as a kid. The pale blue walls, rusty hand rail, and rusty colored pavement going all the way up. I was no longer a 31 year old woman, I felt like a 11 year old girl all over again. Going down the slides was just like I remembered. I told Ellie the stories of my youth and every time we went down laughing and yelling, we would say, "Just one more time!" I could have ridden it all day.
Later into the day, my brother and his family came to join us for the night. My mom had prepared tin foil dinners, and we were excited to sing around the campfire and make s'mores. Liam fell asleep that night to sounds of crackling fire, crickets, and Kumbaya being sung in the background. Even though I was missing out on s' mores for the second night in a row, I treasured the moment.
Our last day was more relaxing at the pool than the first when everything was so new and exciting. We were all full and happy to be there after eating Danny delicious Mountain Man Breakfast he made for everyone in his Dutch oven. Ellie looked beautiful in some makeup Aunt Uurtsaikh put on her. I spent a lot of time just sitting under my sport umbrella enjoying the sun and company of my little ones while snacking on trail mix and sipping soda. Poor Shayne didn't wear enough sunscreen the day before so he didn't enjoy the pool much this day. His poor aching back and face made it difficult to do much of anything, but he still worked hard to take down the tent and load the car back up. We knew we'd be sad to go back home later that day.
Finally the trip was over and like a good dream - it ended too fast and we were back to reality. We had a wonderful time and hope to make Crystal Hot Springs a cherished tradition. It wasn't Texas, Disneyland, or Lagoon, but it more than made up for any disappointment we were feeling before. I am so glad we went camping; it was a great adventure.
Where is my brain!? A question I am asking myself far too much lately. Recently, Shayne was laid off along with 18 other employees. I can't say this surprised us much though since they laid off 30 people only six months before. Truthfully, it was a dead end job that we are not sad to see gone, but it paid the bills (and nothing more). We were just grateful Shayne had work. It's been almost three weeks since this happened. Every day gets a little harder than the day before.
Since this happened I stepped up to help my family through this difficult time. Shayne usually does the heavy lifting when it comes to providing for the family but when I took on full time babysitting hours, I felt the weight shift square on my shoulders. I feel so blessed to have these friends to babysit for and for giving me the extra hours necessary to help fill some gaps. The boys I watch really are like family when we are together. I couldn't ask for a better arrangement.
However, I take care of the family finances as well so I am on overload - especially with so little to work with. Bills are quickly piling up and while we have managed to stay afloat this long, we're sinking fast. The stress is often times too much to bear. My head often pounds thinking about everything there is to remember and what's coming next. Nothing seems clear or easy right now and I find myself distracted and spacey lately. Even moody. The only thing getting me through the day sometimes is my Diet Dr. Pepper, and I won't lie - - - chocolate or ice cream.
Friday I was overwhelmed with worry. It wasn't a bad day, but my brain felt full and there were not enough hours in the day for what I needed to get done. Ellie had her Singers Company show that night too. Just the week before she missed her performance because my brain went missing and I wasn't going to ruin this for her again. Thinking I had her costume all together, it would have been easy but the bow went missing and we turned the house upside down looking for it. No bow. Realizing she was going to be late, we left without it.
Driving there I thought I had reached my breaking point. I was ready to toss in the towel, put in my 30 days notice to the landlord, and give up. I was on the verge of tears and feeling helpless and hopeless as I took my bowless kid to her show. Once at the mall, I ran around to spend money I didn't have on a bow. I found one AND glitter and raced down to give Ellie the makeshift bow. I had done it. I did something right. The show was going on, just like life goes on. Ellie did an amazing job. In no time at all, I forgot my worldly problems and nothing else mattered except my family and this moment.
Watching my daughter perform that night gave me the intense sense of pride and joy. Yes, for her and her amazing developing talent but also in myself for doing what it takes to get things done - my perseverance to get where I want to be someday. I am not a quitter. Money doesn't buy happiness and I have everything I need as long as I have my family. As mentioned in Ellie's show during a song called Life's a Happy Song; "You've got everything that you need - - right in front of you! Nothing's stopping you, nothin that you can't do that the world can throw at you!"
We'll get through this. One day at a time working together. It may be stormy now, but it doesn't rain forever, right?
