Airstream Adventure 2020

SUCCESS!

If I could wrap it all up in one word, that's what it would be.

We planned this trip sort of last minute over Memorial Day weekend when it was obvious our PLAN A (Disney World) was going to fall through. Between Dave and I and several google searches and our plans playing off of each other's ideas, we were booked and ready for an adventure.

We do spend a few evenings camping in some capacity each summer, but have usually rented a sleeper cabin for our experiences, which has been great. Our entire family loves the outdoor/park fun. Because of the current status of the world, taking this interest to the next level seemed like the best direction for our summer adventure. As I said, a quick google search landed us an Airstream rental in Nebraska.

Our initial picked spot turned into a flop as the park had undergone a renovation and the RV space was like a wide open parking lot with only saplings for trees. We scrambled and decided to call the owner of the Airstream who graciously changed the drop off location to Mahoney State Park, about 10 miles down the road. This was the best decision.

We had so many great days, I'll let the photos do the talking, but they were jam packed with bike rides, swimming, hiking, fishing, campfires, movies and overall family fun. Although it wasn't our first family vacation idea, it was so memorable and definitely has peaked our camping interest, especially Dave, who has admitted to, for the first time, following a YouTuber.

Quickly settled.

Ready for bed.

Bike ride break. 

Afternoon game- my lucky partner. 

Campfire bouquet. 

Pony ride. 

The floating playground at Louisville State Park.  

Post swimming.

Movie night success, the calm before the raccoons! 

Camp side breakfast. 

Crawdad Creek at Platte River State Park. 

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The gold at the end of the rainbow. 

Happy hour at Owen's Marina with a photo bomber ;).

More bike riding. 

Campfire nachos- easy and delicious. 

Nightly campfire. Mahoney State Park. 

Rainy morning =  breakfast in the Airstream.

Bike ride to the showers. 

Keeping an eye on her bobber. 

We caught one! 

Action shot.

Happy hour (beverages and bags of chips) at Heron Bay overlooking the Platte River.

The final family photo. 

Fourth of July.

The week of the Fourth was low key and fun. We had a couple of celebrations, one with a friend's pool party and another at the Kimber's lake cabin at Lake Brandt. The weather was great for both which meant most of our time was spent outside.

The pool party was family friendly and the kids had so much fun swimming and in a bounce house and running around the family's property. We hardly saw them, and when it was time for fireworks, we were all so impressed with the show. It was a neighborhood affair and wow, they did a great job. 

The Kimber's cabin was fun from start to finish. We arrived and the kids got right into their suits and
sunscreen on and into the water. The weather was hot and the lake toys were in full use. From the jet ski, to the boat, to the trampoline and everything in-between. We typically see the Kimbers on a regular basis and between summer schedules and COVID, we have missed them. Especially Piper and Khloe, they were so happy to be together again. The Fritz's were also part of the mix and their two daughters are slightly older, which my kids loved. It was really fun to spend some time with their family, we all fit together so well and the kids did great. We hit the road after fireworks and made it home around 11pm. Wow, so much fun, we are tired this week.

Kimber/Munce crew. 

Red white and blue :).

The sweetest little friendship. 

Backyard fun.

The annual bandana picture.

Sparkler fun. 

Lightening bugs and rain dances.

While I recovered, we stayed pretty close to home. Maggie helped me one day and Josie the next. We ate our meals on the patio and had fires in the fire pit while the kids ran around the yard chasing and catching lightening bugs.

We did venture to the pool one night and got rained out, so found shelter at my parents' house. They happened to be hosting a dinner party with old friends, so we sat down and drank wine with them while the kids rain-danced in the driveway.

These memories feel like my memories of summer as a child. Carefree, living in the moment, not worrying about bug bites, wet clothes, or baths until the fun has passed.

Long live summer.

Lightenbug hunt. 

The excitement with the capture. 

Sis. 

Raindance

Rain bootcamp. 

My bike injury.

It happened so fast, one minute we are cruising down the sidewalk, the next, I'm in fighting tears while trying to maintain my composure.

We were on our way to piano lessons, and it was my idea to bike the 1/2 mile over to David's house. Of course we were running late and I was encouraging the kids to KEEP MOVING while I was pulling Piper in the Burley behind Dave's bike, which is just a little too tall for me. The kids came to an abrupt stop in front of me and I tried to break while hopping off and after the third hop on my tip toe, I knew something bad had happened. I fought tears and thought I was going to throw up all at while trying to make it to piano lessons on time. We made it and as soon as I stepped off my bike, I was in agony. I got the kids situated and tried to collect myself but Piper had to go potty, so I had to ride her home, I cried the whole way. I couldn't step without crying and made my way to the couch where I stayed with a concerned Piper until Dave and Maggie got home to get me into the car and to the ER.

After a short time, I was in a room and given IV pain meds and was feeling slightly better. The ER doctor did an ultrasound and diagnosed me with a partially ruptured Achilles' Tendon. I was devastated, non-weight bearing for weeks and possible surgery. All of our summer plans were over. I made my way home on crutches in a splint. Maggie was home with the kids and they were so sad when I walked in the door. So curious about the crutches and poor Sully was so worried.

I had a terrible night of sleep and our Orthopedic Surgeon friend saw me the next morning at 8:30am and quickly corrected the diagnosis as a torn Gastrocnemius muscle. I needed a boot and about 2 weeks to heal. This was the best news.

I used the crutches and laid very low for a few days and wore the boot for the first week, but then I started to back off and I'm about 95% today (two weeks after the accident). I still feel a little pain in the muscle from time to time, but I'm back to bootcamp (with some modifications), and walking normal.

What a whirlwind!

ER visit after some meds. 

 

Summer legs :)

Cards from the kids. 

My sweet Sully. 

Homemade flowers.