At the top of Greens Peak on the four-wheeler with Dad, waiting for Mama to finish her walk up the road to the top. Whew!
If that isn't a dirty happy face, I don't know what is.
Four-wheelin' with Mama
Oh!
Reading Time with Mama in the Trailer
The breathtaking view from atop Greens Peak
Hanging out in camp and eating, of course
The Heaps get together in all kinds of weather ... Thus the song begins that the old-timers used to sing at each Heap reunion. Apparently, the Heaps/Hancocks get together in all kinds of sickness and other tribulation, as well.
We were embarking on Cael's first camping trip on Monday. All was packed and ready to go. Dad went ahead in the trailer to Gramma's to pick up a table and chairs. On the way there, he noticed smoke coming from the trailer's tires rubbing together. Uncles Ray and Lon came to the rescue, getting us on the road eventually, although later than planned. In the meantime, Mama and Cael headed up separately. After being in the mountains about an hour, Cael began throwing up, showing that he had caught the stomach bug that had been going around. He threw up several times, poor little guy.
Well, his Mama decided to put him in the Yukon while she cleaned up the stroller, upon which he had puked all over. Cael was in his diaper, as Mama had stripped his throw-up clothes off. Mama was cleaning the stroller, Cael was trying to climb out of the Yukon, so Mama shut the door.
Click.
Cael locked the doors. Mama saw her keys inside the Yukon. Panic ensued. Trying to keep her cool, Mama said to Cael, "Push the button, sweet boy, push the button." He had locked the doors, after all; he should be able to unlock them, right? Nope. More panic. Aunt Jennifer went to get help and called Uncle Lon, who was on his way with Dad. Dad didn't have his keys with him, but Uncle Lon knew how to break in. No spare key underneath the vehicle. Uncle Larry and Cousin Darrin decided to try to break in. Cael decided to pick up Mama's keys. The button to unlock the doors was in his hand. "Push the button, Cael, push the button." Three hours earlier, at home in SJ, Cael had pushed that button, unlocking the doors. Surely he would do it again. Nope. He held the keys in his hands, just needing to push that button. He began to get fussy. It was a warm day. Mama was at the end of her rope. Click. Uncle Darrin had used a marshmallow roaster to push the button on the driver's side door. Door opened, Cael swiped up into Mama's arms, keys grabbed and put outside of vehicle. Whew! Now came the tears. My baby was safe. All was well. Nothing else mattered.
We went home that night.
We returned on Tuesday, when Cael's tummy was feeling better. That night, Mama got the stomach bug. Its effects lasted until Thursday. Friday was a great day. Saturday we came home.
We may sell the trailer and go to a motel next year.
Yeah, right.
The Heaps get together in all kinds of weather ...
Print of a hand that reaches up to me,
