The season begins - Traveling trio

Time to dust off the Brumbloggy for the spring/summer. We had our inaugural sleep over for 2013 this past weekend as we celebrated our friend's birthday. It was to be quite the party, even from the conception, and it did not disappoint.

David retrieved the Abi Shack while I worked at Drexel on Saturday morning. We headed out of town after Abi's afternoon nap and a neighborly conversation and demonstration of how it goes up and down. There was little traffic and we made good time. Abi was pretty content in the back now that she can face forward. The highlight was going through the Lehigh Valley tunnel. David built it up pretty good and after we went through she said "again!" Sadly, we had to tell her she'd have to wait until the next day.

We arrived at Renee's parent's house and David set to finding the best spot for the RV. I, meanwhile, followed Abi up deck steps and down deck steps, around the yard, up the little hills and down, and all around. She was exploring her new surroundings and I wanted to get something to eat and make sure she ate. But, there was so much to see, and she was especially attracted to the muddiest, dangerous, least child friendly parts of the yard. I had to yank her away plenty of times from heading right into a nice mud puddle - sorry girlfriend but being wet in 40 degree weather does not a happy baby make. There was banjo music playing and she quickly started grooving and drumming.

David finally figured out how to get the heat on in the Shack and could join the party. Abi watched the girls hooping and wanted to join. She had the body motion down but just doesn't have the dexterity or coordination to get it going. She did get to stay up later than usual and did not give a struggle when it was time for bed. This was the first time she would be sleeping in the camper without the pack'n play. We got a bumper which helps her to not fall off but otherwise she had the whole bed to herself which is slightly smaller than a double.

So, as the moon and stars rose in the sky, Abi fell asleep and the parents began to relax a little bit. There was a raging fire that continued through the night. It was still burning at 2 am as I ventured to the bathroom, one lonely soul sitting near staring into it. As the night went on, more people showed up. Some guests lit lanterns and set them off into the frigid air. The circus folk arrived. The hoopers and fire spitters and dreadlocked, hemped, pierced, tatted, dyed and feathered. They stepped it up with fire hoops, stilts, and the electric guitar. The music played for about three hours and our darling child slept through the whole thing, thank the gods. The parents did not so much but it was fine. If it wasn't 30 degrees out I would have been out until 2 am with them but instead I curled up with eyes closed.

Abi woke a little after 6, which is amazing, and after breakfast we hit the road. We left the Abi Shack at Renee's as we'll be back this weekend for Nescopeck training weekend. We made a quick pitstop in Allentown to visit Roby and then back home in time for nap. By 2 pm all three Brumbelows were sound asleep.

Here's hoping for a great spring/summer season.