Carson Family Chronicles: Summer...and the day I smelled like the primate house

Summer is over. What in the world?

When school first got out we went through our usual near death experience of learning to be around each other all day, every day, again. I was ready for school to start again the week Micah and Avery got out. None of our children received the personality type that just likes to follow what the others are doing. They all have their own idea of how they want things to go and don't bend easily. It's so great. Maybe they will be world leaders someday, raising the banner for issues that matter, unwavering in the face of opposition. Even better, maybe they are going to be best friends and start some initiative together that will end world hunger. Jeff and I will cry tears of joy as we see the labor and toil of 20+ years of parenting blooming before us. We'll say, "Just look at them. It worked! They DO love each other." We tell them all of the time that they are each others best friends, so they need to act like it." I know you can't force friendship, but I'm going to give brainwashing a try. There are bright spots that give me hope that it will come to pass, but time will tell. Anyway, we survived the transition and then I got used to having 4 kids everyday. While it is easier when someone is gone, it's not the same. Now I find myself feeling a little sad that summer is over. Go figure.

We had boring days, constant conflict days, and we also had some really fun days this summer. The best part, by far, was having Baby L around. Our kids LOVE her. That is for another post though.

We did our usual family trips to Super Summer (youth camp) and The Project (mission trip) in St. Louis. Our kids will not remember many family vacations in the summer but I think they will have great memories from time spent at both of those places every year. They get to play with friends, eat ice cream in the cafeteria every day, get loved on by their college friends, and (for my own survival) we always get away and go places when Jeff is busy during the day. The pool has become one of my favorite places on earth. It is our happy place. It is the one location where my kids never fight and everyone can have a good time. Micah was even brave enough to go down the big slide this year! I was so proud of him! I am most sad that summer is over because we can no longer spend our days here. Sigh.

We also made our annual trip to the zoo while we were in St. Louis. This particular tradition seems like a good idea every year...and every year I end up asking myself, "WHY?????" 3 years ago when we went I was getting over a stomach bug, still dealing with morning sickness, and we were toting a 3 year old and an 11 month around. It was also the same day that area schools were taking their field trip to the zoo. I was miserable and wanted to be done before we even got to the entrance. This year was about the same. While we searched for parking baby L was not happy because she had dirtied her diaper. And because I didn't know how long it would take to find a parking spot I decided that I could just change her on my lap. I am used to doing that with wet diapers so I thought I could handle it and save us time once we got parked. I checked up her back for a blow out and thought we were good to go. I pulled off her pants and brushed them across the front of my shirt as I was going to put them aside. I look down to see poo was down her pant leg and NOW ALL OVER MY SHIRT. Perfect. I cannot convey how horrible formula diapers smell, except to say that we both smelled like the primate house. Can you remember that smell and how it hits you like a brick wall the moment you set foot inside? When we walked in to see the monkeys later I thought, "Yep. This is it. This is where we belong L." I didn't bring an extra shirt so I was reduced to wiping off what I could with wipes. The only redeeming part of this was that I had on a charcoal colored t-shirt so you couldn't really see it. Anyway, after we finally got parked everyone piled out of the van. We brought another little friend with us so we had 5 kids total. Honestly, her presence kept all of us from losing our ever loving minds. The kids got along better with her in the mix and I didn't want to scar her by acting how I felt at certain moments. :) Thank you, Haven. My next genius idea was that I thought I could just carry L in the moby wrap and we could use the stroller for Avery and Ella. Once we walked about 10 miles (or maybe it was a 1/2mile, I don't know) and got through the front gates I immediately decided that there was no way I could carry L around for the next 2 hours. Jeff turned around (with a happy heart ;)) and went back to get her car seat. We were meeting up with some good friends, the Barbs, for this day-o-fun. I met them just past the entrance with all of the kids, trying to wrangle on the sunshade that goes on the stroller. Micah immediately runs off to the nearest gift stand to tempt his unsatisfied heart. From the start of the day he was obsessed with his desire to get something...anything. My confession is that we created this monster by getting him something the last 2 years. He would have been happy to buy something and leave without seeing one animal. I was sweaty, frustrated, and ready to make a "trip to the bathroom" with my son less than 5 minutes in. I felt bad for Haven and the Barbs who had inadvertently got sucked into this. I couldn't even fake it when Kelly asked how we were doing. Did I mention that I mistakenly thought it was going to be cool that day so I was wearing jeans? So as we set off on this fun day in the sun I had on jeans, a stinky shirt, had a heat radiating baby attached to me, while pushing ~~an eighteen wheeler~~ a double stroller with a grumpy six year old at my side. This, my friends, is why I do not even envy those of you who go to Disney World. Happiest place on Earth? I feel about 95% sure we would not come home alive.

We recovered and managed to have somewhat of a good time. My feet were screaming by the time it was over but we conquered. The funny thing is, the kids look back on it and think it was one of the best days ever. I am thankful for laid back friends who endured with us.

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If you read that whole story you deserve a medal. Now I leave you with pictures that document some of the highlights of our summer. This is my "closure." It's time to get excited about football, changing leaves, hoodies, and all things pumpkin.