Gold Rush

Today the subject of Turets Syndrome came up and I explained to the kids what it was and that one of the ways that it manifests itself is that people cannot control what they are saying and that they blurt out expletives.

Background:  We used to watch this show "Gold Rush" as a family when it first came out which has been a couple of years ago.  A bunch of guys to go the Klondike and try to dig up gold.  They were a salty group of bearded guys in their 30s - 70s who in another time would have been pirates. We had many jokes about this while watching.  "This [bleep] infernal [bleep] [bleep] [bleep] [bleep] dagnab [bleep][bleep][bleep][bleep][bleep][bleep]."  More bleeps per hour than any show on television.

Anyway, Caitie didn't say anything for about 30 seconds after I explained Turets.  Clearly she was processing this information.  Then she looked at me and said, "Do the guys on Gold Rush have that?"

Caitie on Life Lessons

Caitie was complaining about her brother not cleaning up after himself and her always having to do everything for him and her. I (Dad) said, "Look at it this way you're developing valuable life skills." 

Caitie replied "I look at it this way -- I'm better than him."

First Day of 4th Grade!

2015 Mountain Jubilee - Father Daughter Campout

We had a great weekend in the Georgia Mountains near Calhoun at Camp Misty Mountain.  Caitie got checked out early and we drove up.  We were the first ones there from our troop so we scouted out a good camping area in the open field (found some shade) and put up our tent.  We then shared a root beer while waiting for everyone else to show up.  That night we had a subway sandwich and then sat around the campfire.

On Saturday, we started with a good breakfast of pancakes and sausage.  Caitie didn't have any sausage (she doesn't like it) and dad didn't have any pancakes (they didn't make enough).  After that we headed out to a variety of activities:  Screen printed a t-shirt, tested hammocks, played some lawn games, made 2 candles, had hot dogs for lunch, learned archery, went canoeing, tie dyed the t-shirt that we screen printed, then made some leather crafts.  That night, we ate tacos in a bag, went to the big campfire, then hung out at our camp.

On Sunday, we got up early and went to breakfast at the dining hall.  After eating, we volunteered and served the other campers.  We then finished our candles, went for a dad led pony ride.  We packed up our tent and headed home after a long, fun weekend.  Cannot wait to do it again next year!

 Sunrise on the lake

Heading out for a big day of activities.

 Testing hammocks.  Caitie especially liked doing 360s in the hammocks.

The wobbly floating dock.

Katniss Everdeen

More sweepers than customers.

Volunteering at breakfast.

Princess Lea serving breakfast to campers.

Riding Cocoa.

Cocoa following Mary's horse.

A selfie with Cocoa.

Leaving camp after an awesome weekend.

First Day of School 2015-2016

Snow Picture for Dad

We found a site with a drawing program, one she had never seen or used before, and she figured it out and produced this.  I just showed her how to "undo" and where the brush button was...  and off she went!  

Biloxi Shrimp Trip

This was her second time going on this trip. The last time was about three years ago, and the kids seemed to like it more when they were younger. But we had a good time.