Shoe and Camping Trip

Last week, some of our Spartans got together for a field trip to Memphis to buy running shoes. In Tupelo, there are a few sporting goods stores, but not any that really specialize in running. We made our first stop at Fleet Feet Sports. Most of the kids and several moms got new kicks... I think we kind of overwhelmed the staff when we all rolled in. It was pretty obvious that they were not used to being swamped with 20 homeschoolers and all of our surrounding chaos... I can't imagine! :) They made a quick recovery, though, and were very helpful and courteous.
Next stop: lunch. When you are used to New Albany, MS (we have about 7 stoplights in our whole town), lunch hour at Chick Fil-A on Poplar can be a little intimidating.... Especially when every parking spot is full and you are driving a 15 passenger van! Way to go, Yonnea... You're awesome!

Sarah's comments on the experience were something to the effect of, "Mom, I never want to live in Memphis... there are too many people here! When can we go home?"

It really wasn't too bad, and then we headed off for my old stompin' grounds. We went to Shelby Farms for a run... the plan was to try out our new shoes, but it was so muddy that most people ran in their old ones! We ran the cross country course that our team practiced on several days a week while I was in high school... the course is still the same, but they finally knocked down the nasty bathrooms and added a really nice facility... It just wasn't the same... I kind of missed holding my nose and flushing with my foot at the same time!

Some Spartan girls close to the start of the course

This was a cheesy, sentimental afternoon for me... I told the girls a few stories beginning with, "20 years ago... " (WOW, I am getting OLD!) and "When I was about your age..." I am sure they were all inwardly rolling their eyes and thinking how ancient their coach must be, but they were good natured and let me ramble!

Hannah, Me, Sarah at Shelby Farms... I got to run my course with my girls! What a special afternoon!

Right after our Shelby Farms run, the girls and I left for our annual camping trip with my family. My parents, the Pitts, and the Duleys were there for the weekend. (Scott, Kevin, and the boys met us at the river.)

Before I begin telling about our trip, I have to include one of those stories that will probably be told for many years to come... The first time we went on our camping trip, Hannah was trying to explain to someone what we were doing and where we were going. Her story came out something like this... "You see, we are going to go sleep in tents, but my Mimi has this trailer, and it is really nice... It is in this little neighborhood with all these other trailers right together, like a park." It was so cute, and for those of you who know my mom well... I don't need to say more! :)

The first day was cloudy and COOL! Too cool for swimming, in my opinion! We spent most of the first day huddled around a campfire, wrapped in quilts and drinking coffee. I do think that some of my children with no nerve endings braved the water a few times, though. (I acted as lifeguard, sitting in a lawn chair with a down blanket on my lap!)

Visiting around the campfire

The kids with my parents, checking out the water

The weather kept promising sunshine, and finally it delivered! The next day (about 2:00, just like the satellite told us) the sun came out and warmed us all up. We even ventured into the water and let the kids try their hand at skiing. Unfortunately, we ran over the rope on the wave runner, and Sarah was the only one to try that day! (She popped out of the water like a daisy, though!)Sarah discovered that she really enjoys fishing! Scott, Kevin, and Will spent a good bit of time fishing each day also.

We worked to get the rope off the shaft, but it still wouldn't start. Scott, Kevin, and I swam/pushed the thing about a half mile around to the boat dock. Strangely enough, that's the kind of thing Scott and I enjoy... give us a mindless goal involving physical labor, and we will dig the best ditch you ever saw!Hannah and Evelyn

Will and Josh

My parents' friends, the Tessreaus, came by on their pontoon boat Saturday and took us for a spin. Kevin Tessreau also let the kids ski behind his boat (since the wave runner was out of commission!)

Once the sun came out, I guess I just started having too much fun, because I don't have many pictures from the second part of the trip! I was in the water while the kids were skiing, and I hate it that I don't have any pictures of that, either!

Most of all, I wish I had a picture of us drinking coffee and eating our big breakfasts in the gazebo on the river. That is my favorite part of our trip each year. I love waking up and getting off to a slow start, sitting around in PJ's and visiting with each other for an hour or so with coffee, and then having some of Papa's bacon, Scott's eggs, and Mimi's toast! (We joke, because according to my children, my mother's signature dish is toast!)
What a fun weekend!