Camping Chronicles: Days 6 & Homeward Bound

I apologize, dear readers, for the delay in posting. It has been a busy couple days and so I beg your forgiveness.

Our final full day of camping was absolutely FABULOUS! We decided to take the kids to a nearby waterpark. It was delightful. The kids swam and swam and swam. Even Betsie took a dip. (I just love seeing those chunker thighs, don't you?!) The man in the hat is Papa (my dad) for those who might be wondering. (Stay tuned for the end of the post for a marvelous picture of Papa.) :) Aubrie started swimming under the water! And Nettie got even stronger at swimming.

After swimming for most of the early afternoon, we went on a little train ride. (We purchased a package deal with all day waterpark fun plus two train rides and a 1/2 hour paddle boat excursion.) I realize you can't see her but Nettie's head is the one right below Stephie's. The conductor was kicking us out and Nettie didn't quite get in the picture. Of course, there are lots more on the Dropshots account.On the paddle boats, poor Betsie was too young to go and so Nana opted to stay with her while the rest of us enjoyed 1/2 hour of pure leg torture. Papa paddled Natalie and Nettie around, Derek paddled Tate and Shelley around, and Stephie and I paddled Aubrie around. At one particular part of the lake was a small island. Both the Oosterhouse boat and Papa's boat decided to go around it and both got a little stuck. Thankfully, they were all able to get unstuck without too much difficulty. I was afraid that Papa might fall in at one point, but he didn't. (Forgive me, Dad, but the story would have been much funnier if you had!) :)

After our train rides and paddle boat ride, we went back into the waterpark for more swimming enjoyment. The park had two large waterslides. Sadly, you were supposed to be six and over 48" tall in order to be able to ride, so Nettie was unable to ride this time. However, Papa, Stephie, Natalie, Shelley and even Nana took a turn down the curvy one. And as promised, the picture you've all been waiting for . . .The next day was the beginning of our trek home. Thankfully, it was uneventful. We actually managed to make it home in two days instead of the three we had been planning on. Although the final two hours of driving were terribly long and traffic-filled. I've never been so happy to see my own bed, the girls too enjoyed sleeping in their beds. Even Betsie slept the whole night without getting me up. (The first time since before we left on the trip.) For anyone pondering the idea of taking a baby on a trip . . . just think about how much you value your sleep before you go. ;)

Nana, Papa and Oosterhouses, the Jahn gals had a wonderful time with you all and we'd do it again in a heartbeat (lack of sleep and all!) Just a reminder to that there are lots of pictures of our adventures on the Dropshots account. Enjoy!!!!

Until next time, dear readers . . .