Magrilless

We tried “camping” for the first time this last weekend. On Saturday Mags and I pitched the tent and filled it with pads and sleeping bags and talked about what it means to go camping. And we did nighttime rituals the same as every night except we walked out to the backyard instead of to her room. And then we spent the next 45 minutes with her bouncing around the tent asking to have tags read to her and singing loudly and blowing raspberries while Bill and I pretended to try to fall asleep. Every once in a while we’d sigh a little “mmm” in response to questions, but we tried to make it as realistic as possible that we wanted to fall asleep at 8:30, and struggled not to laugh too hard with all the shenanigans going on. A little after 9 she kind of fell apart and demanded in no uncertain terms that she be escorted inside and allowed to go to sleep in her bed. And we acquiesced.

Next weekend, we’ll watch some movies in the afternoon so she can stay up later, until it’s dark. Or coffee ice cream for dessert. Maybe that will help.

Last week was terrible (Bill says “trying”). Maggie was sick: feverish, tired, throwing up, rashy, and Grumpy with a capital G (Bill says “cantankerous”). (Note: Bill was at work at least half days most of the week. Just sayin.)

So we’ll focus on this weekend, when she was finally getting back to 100%. Uncle and Aunt and cousin ended up being in town for all the bike extravaganza activities (the big event was this, but there was LOTS of other things going on too). So we got to have dinner out and breakfast out and Maggie and I went for a fun “trip” in the speed boat they parked in front of our house. Then we had a lovely afternoon and breakfast with the grandparents. Love quick surprise drop-in visits! Maggie was in hog heaven with all these relatives paying her attention; this kid doesn’t mind the lime-light. After the Baka Sue and Scotty went on their way, we hopped in the car and went rock climbing with friends. And when I say “we,” I mean the 2- and 3-year-olds. They had a blast scrambling up boulders! Then after naptime we filled up the paddling pool for the inaugural backyard swim of the season. Hours of fun and entertainment there. And then (whew!) on to the carnival that had set up in the fairgrounds for some hot dogs and caramel apples and a ferris wheel ride.

A good end (thank goodness) to a “trying” week.

Maggie has the flu. Poor little one. She’s actually sleeping on the couch right now, which is itself an indicator of how she’s feeling. I’m pretty sure the last time she fell asleep somewhere besides bed or carseat was when she was nursing. So, not feeling so hot. She said to me, “Mama I want dinner” and then closed her eyes and fell fast asleep. What a precious little sicky.

When she wasn’t sad and throwing up this week, she’s been having a lot of fun with language. She keeps making up words and stringing together these sentences and telling jokes (I think) in this language of hers.   She’ll say something to me along the lines of “Doky horker podo bobo” and then laugh like she’s on stage at a comedy club. All of her little animals are getting new names too, things like Sako, Body, and StinkStack. I wonder, if I understood this language would I be amused or offended?

Okay, while she’s still in slumberland, I’m going to try to sneak a bowl of cereal for myself. Bill has never been so glad for a workday I think. Wish us luck!

On the way up to Redcloud (14,034′) with Kenny and Brandon.