The Family Revival pt.3

The last few days of The Triple B camping trip at Sunlakes were filled with maximum leisure time. And Charlie running away to get ice every few hours. And then go and find service because he had to "fire off a few emails". And then go get gas. I'm really beginning to think that he just doesn't like hanging out with us. I like hanging out with me though, so that's really all that matters.
Anywho, on one of Charlie's many "ice outings" he jumped inside the huge suburban we like to borrow from my dad several times a year, the one that has a billion blindspots, the one that makes me feel like I'm driving an actual school bus, and shouted to us, "Oh man, we really need some ice. I'm gonna head out and grab some. I'll be back in a bit."
I rolled my eyes and made sure all the kids were out of the way and turned my back.
I heard a massive crunching sound and jumped up out of my seat, running towards the sound.
I saw what had happened and immediately leapt in front of Summer so she couldn't see.
I was too late, she had already heard and seen the demise of her beloved Frozen bicycle.
She quickly dissolved into a puddle of tears when Charlie jumped out and casually called out, "What was that?"
"Her fucking bike. You totally destroyed Summer's fucking bike."
I was livid. The kids had been having so much together biking around and being adorable. The girls were even putting their babies on the bikes and driving them around, and now Summer would not only be the youngest, but she would be without a bike too.
Charlie clearly felt bad and I wasn't exactly making him feel any better about it, but come on, look behind you!
He took away the evidence, tossed it into the dumpster and brought her back a huge chocolate ice cream cone with promises of "We will buy you a new one as soon as we get back home" on his lips.
She still reminds us about the time Daddy ran over her bike, even 3 months later.
After this devastation we took the kids over to the playground on site and discovered all the local wild life; geese and marmots. Which I desperately wanted to feed and snuggle with but they wouldn't allow it. Even after I shouted about the nice home they would have with me. I cried a little when they ran away while the kids played and ran all over the place.

The next day was looking a little cloudy and our last official day of camping. I woke up, had my crappy cup of instant Trader Joes Singles and enjoyed a little alone time before all our other campers woke up.
Today is a day for the beach, I decided.
We strolled down to the water front and were there, literally all day.
It was awesome.
The kids played and Matt built them a huge sand castle. I read about how Roald Dahl was a spy, like the writer of all my favorite childhood books, was a legit spy and ladies man. Crazy!
Anyway, it rained off and on but we persevered and were rewarded with a sweet tan and sand in our butts. The best way to spend the last day of vacay, in my opinion.
That evening we all showered and were lounging around after dinner when out of nowhere, this old lady deer is chomping down on some trees. We just stared at her.
She was casually walking up and down the campsite, chomping here and there and not one person noticed her.

Everyone was too absorbed in their own world to look up and see what was right in front of them, really the reason we were out camping, to notice this old lady beast nibbling branches 3 feet away from their faces.
After countless No, stop trying to call it over here's we let the kids roast some smores while Charlie and I watched from the tent.
A little starling came in pretty hot and crashed off our picnic table and bounced to the ground and hopped behind the truck.
I could just see his little feet and yelled for Steve to throw it a graham cracker.
After a few minutes, I ducked my head to look underneath so I could see it better and just as I was leaning forward I watched it spaz out a little bit and then fall over.
I jumped up and walked over to this little tiny bird and it let me pick it up.
I yelled for Charlie to get some water. We let it drink out of a little lid and I thought it was doing better after a drink because it got a little more lively and tried to bite me, but it ended up dying in my hands.

I burst into tears and so did Steve.
"You always make us feed the wild life! Why did you tell me to feed it graham crackers?"
Steve sobbed to me, making me feel 100 percent worse.
"It wasn't doing well to begin with, we fed it and gave it some water and it just died. I think something may have attacked it."
I sobbed back to him.
Charlie looked at us and asked incredulously, "Are you crying?"
"YES! Its so sad!"
He shook his head at both of us as Steve berated me about not feeding wild animals.
After standing there for a few seconds, Charlie directed us up to the hill and told us to follow him.
We laid the little bird to rest next to some flowers and I made Charlie say something nice about our poor little bird buddy.
Steve looked at me through tear filled eyes and quietly asked if he killed it with graham crackers, I said of course not and we silently filed back down the hill.
We had made plans to go check out the bats at dusk and after that somber occasion, happily made our way over to parks ampitheater.

There were birds everywhere and a huge tree that Steve got himself stuck in.
We waited and waited and waited for the bats to show themselves, but not one bat came out to say hi.
They must have heard that were flying creature killers.
The last night may have been marred with sadness and a sudden torrential downpour but all in all our 5 day campapalooza was a huge adventure full of fun.
Cant wait till next year.

Cheers.