Isaac's Excellent Adventure - Day 5

Despite rain forecasts, the night was very quiet but the day began muggy and overcast. Hoping to avoid breaking camp in the rain, Nana and Padre began breaking camp around 7:30 a.m. with Isaac still asleep. Doors slammed, people talked and moved around the camper, and still no sound or movement from Isaac's tent. Around 9 a.m., Nana gently pulled the curtain aside and woke a sleepy Isaac.

He ventured out to greet Padre and found a mother duck and her eight ducklings searching for food. With a loaf of bread, Isaac and Padre tossed food to the hungry and swarming brood.

 Once dressed, Isaac helped Nana and Padre load up, stow away, and hitch the truck and camper and in-between times rode his bike (as you can see by the bike helmet). He said goodbye to his bike-racing friends. And we all said goodbye to Lake Livingston State Park and headed home.

The skies grew darker and more ominous the closer we got to League City. Heavy rains hit and stopped the alphabet game so Padre could concentrate on driving.  Between sudden downpours and light rain, we were able to park the camper in the driveway and Padre did most of the unloading. Nana began putting stuff away and Isaac opted for Nick Jr. on the TV.

Around 5:30, Aunt Beth arrived home from work and a few minutes later, Aunt Vicki and Auntie Benja arrived from Pensacola. Unfortunately, they couldn't find Isaac who chose to play hide-and seek, as he often does when out-of-town company arrives. We later ventured out between the rain to a dinner at Outback.

Another full day and a late bedtime but more fun tomorrow as we all get ready for the 4th and the arrival of Isaac's mom and dad and sister Vivi. Let the fun continue!!!

Isaac's Excellent Adventure - Day 4

Wednesday was a series of ups and downs. We had to resort to several Plan Bs along the way but still managed to put in a very long and eventful day. We began the morning biking around the park to feed ducks but, alas, they were not to be found. Then Padre tried to take Isaac swimming and discovered the pool wasn't opened every day - bummer. So they checked out horseback riding. The next ride was Friday - again, bummer. Then on one of Isaac's bicycle trips, he stumped and re-injured his sore toe. (Nana should have remembered about wearing close-toed shoes, and not flip flops, when bike riding). Later we thought about renting a canoe but the store was closed - another bummer. But we were not to be deterred.

Isaac's gift for the day was a bean bag toss which he and Padre played several time. Rules changed throughout and no one winner was declared. Weather permitting, we will try this again when the whole family gets together this weekend.

Then Isaac and Padre squared off in a checkers' game. Nana offered to play but Isaac quickly said he wanted to play Padre first and then he would play a game with Nana (which, by the way, never happened!). She knows where she stands now. Again rules were stretched and Padre was heard to say more than once, "move one checker at a time." The game ended with Padre double jumping Isaac's last two men. A good sport, Isaac shared high fives and "good game" with Padre.

The toe was injured in an afternoon bike ride so Nana and Padre got out the first-aid kit and played doctor. The patient then rested with a few DVDs and some watermelon.

We decided to investigate the Livingston area and Isaac took over the front seat of the truck and giggled when his plan worked to put Nana in the back. If Nana didn't know where she stood before with the checkers game, she was reminded again. The drive was enough to give Isaac a nap to rest and recuperate. We stopped at the local Wal-Mart for a promised Toy Story-toy, the bug Twitch, and some Toy Story gummi worms.

Late afternoon fishing was again unsuccessful. Isaac tried a gummi worm (plastic, not ToyStory) instead of the live worms, and Padre showed him how to bait a hook.

Nevertheless Isaac determined "There are no fish in this lake" and chose to feed the ducks instead.

Rain drove us back to the camper but underneath the trees it was dry enough for bike riding. Ever the social butterfly, Isaac quickly made friends and challenged everyone to races up and down the road in front of the campers. The numbers swelled to about five kids of all ages racing back and forth.

These races went on for an hour until darkness and rain drove a hot and sweaty Isaac inside. Nana could not eat dinner until the smelly boy was showered and pajammed. We put away tacos and oatmeal/raisin cookies, finished watching classic Donald Duck cartoons, and headed to bed.

Despite the setbacks, we packed in quite a lot.

Isaac's Excellent Adventure - Day 3

Day 3 was just as busy as the previous days. Isaac got an early start with his gift for the day: a fishing pole. He's been talking about going fishing with Padre for several years and we are excited that the day has finally arrived.

Padre and Isaac began loading the camper while Nana took care of some school business. With lunch from McDonald's (Mom, you'll be pleased; he didn't eat his fries. Nana will try to remember to get the fruit cup next time!), we did some last minute list checking and headed out around 1 p.m. with a clear blue sky and a few dark clouds. Isaac sharpened his Nintendo skills along the way, took a nap, and was impatient to arrive. The camp site is by the water and he was very helpful in setting up camp - although he divided his time between bike riding and playing Nintendo (which, by the way, has been stored until the return trip on Thursday).

He went on several bike rides with and without us (but within view of the camper). After he and Padre visited the camp store, they came back with bait: "Live worms," Isaac said in consternation, with the emphasis on "live." I'm not sure he liked that idea. They spent some time setting up the rods and then we headed for the water.

After some training by Padre on how to cast the reel, Isaac began looking like a pro.

 

But while he mastered the art of the cast, he has a way to go with patience and perseverance. Fishing can be boring when the fish don't cooperate. We tried several locations around the lake but "We were not successful" as he shows below with the big ZERO he is flashing.

We will try again on Wednesday. Dinner at 8 was grilled hot dogs; he scarfed down two plus his salad. When it grew dark, Padre built a fire and we roasted marshmallows, for which he may need to acquire a taste. He was more willing to eat plain marshmallows. Then he played with a box of sparklers and settled down in a chair determined to tell ghost stories. He took over my story about three boys walking in the woods and hearing a sound. According to Isaac, one boy was eaten, one boy was chased and thrown off a cliff, and I can't remember what other ghoulish end the other once met, but I tried to take the plot back to a moral which was unimportant to him. He continued on with other gruesome stories involving superheroes.

With a quick wipe down from Nana, a squirming and still energetic five-year-old was coerced into pajamas and brushing his teeth. He snuggled into bed and was soon fast asleep. Nana and Padre quickly followed. Onward to Wednesday.

Vivi's camp experience

Vivi has been enjoying camping back home with Mommy and Daddy. Nana left her with a gift to open every day. Here she is with gifts from day one, a little pony and a model boat she painted and glued together with Dad.

Isaac's Excellent Adventure - Day 2

Isaac started the day early, thanks to Gracie's barking at 6:30 a.m. But he had a full day ahead so he started the day with a good breakfast (Mom, he had a scrambled egg, cantaloupe, and watered-down orange juice---plus his vitamins.) After getting dressed, he talked Padre into an early-morning bike ride around the neighborhood. Then the adventurers got ready for their trek on the ferry to the wilds of the Bolivar Peninsula. They first loaded up their canteens with ice and then donned hats, grabbed their walking canes, loaded Isaac's bike into the truck and headed out.

While Nana headed to the office, Padre and Isaac headed to Galveston and took the ferry over to Bolivar Peninsula. Unfortunately, Padre's camera is not working so we'll have to rely on our imaginations here. Isaac headed to the back of the ferry to look for dolphins and feed the gulls, and according to Isaac, "We were successful."  They visited Fort Travis where Isaac rode his bike and Padre hiked alongside. The temperature was in the low 90s so the canteens were very useful. They walked on the beach and dipped their toes in the water.

Back in League City, they met up with Nana at a local restaurant and chowed down on chicken strips and fries. Once back home, Padre headed to the garage for the lawn mower and Isaac went with Nana to the grocery store to stock up on vittles for the camping trip. Nana must admit that she has forgotten how challenging grocery shopping with a five-year-old can be. No, he didn't get everything he asked for and, no, he wasn't happy when I said no, but our grocery bill was at least $30 more than it would have been. Of course, he helped a bunch.

The day was not yet over. After the groceries were put away and Padre got his shower, we headed to the Sporting Good store for a few more supplies (Deet, canteen, Isaac's own walking stick).

We got home and spent some time prepping the camper and Isaac once again was successful in getting Padre to ride bikes. Not content for one lap around the block, Isaac led Padre for a repeat.

He enjoyed his bath, trying out his new submarine pool toy. Then he snuggled with Nana and Padre and watched part of a movie, "The Great Race" before heading to bed around 8:30. He may not have been tired but his two grandparents were bushed.

Tomorrow we head to Lake Livingston with one eye on the weather and the other eye on all the fun stuff we hope to do.

Isaac's Excellent Adventure - Day 1

This week Isaac is visiting Nana and Padre. Lots of fun activities are planned but we are especially looking forward to some one-on-one time with our five-year-old grandson.

On Day One of Camp Cuchens 2010, Isaac helped Padre load the car and he waved good bye to his Mom, Dad, and sister Vivi.

His first question--before we even started down the street--was "Can I play Nintendo now?" You see, we had bought him some games a few weeks ago to give him something to look forward to. The four-hour car drive was very quiet as he set about to master Cars and other games. Of course he did other things as well. He talked, he played, and he ate lunch at McDonald's where he ate his hamburger and part of Nana's hamburger. We all played an alphabet during the last miles in response to yet another "Are we there yet?"

He unloaded his suitcases and settled right in, teasing the dogs and getting out his Legos. Dinner was not to his liking (no tuna fish casserole for him, although he had two helpings of Aunt Beth's salad), so later that evening he snacked on a peanut butter sandwich.

The big hit of the day was his new bike, which will stay at Nana and Padre's for his enjoyment. He quickly mastered the bike and explored Oak Ridge Drive from one end to the other.

Aunt Beth helped with bedtime and Padre nursed a sore toe. He was almost asleep when his Dad called but he was able to share his news about the bike and restrained himself from spilling the beans on the secret in store for Vivi.