On Thursday we packed up and left for Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge. We have been itching to try out our new-to-us pop-up camper, but we've had some reservations about camping with Iraq and The Skink. Dealing with Down syndrome and autism at home is one thing, but managing them at a campground... is another.
We had a BLAST!
Yup - all of us. We knew Broadway would love it, but Iraq was the one who ended up being the hardest to get into the car for the ride home. Sure, we had our hands full keeping up with The Skink, but then... we always have our hands full keeping up with her energy and fun-loving spirit.
We ended up having rather brisk weather this weekend. The air smelled like fresh, damp cedar mixed with undertones of smoke from the campfires. Iraq, The Skink, Brandy Ann and I went down to the playground while the guys set up our camper. It didn't take them long at all, and then we set about finding kindling.
You know? Food just tastes better when cooked over a campfire and eaten at a graying, wood picnic table under trees covered in new spring leaves!
After dinner we had some drinks and played some cards (and made stuff out of Play-Doh).
On Saturday we headed over to see the Natural Bridge. It's pretty amazing in person and quite beautiful. Walking up the path, one's ears are filled with the sound of rushing water. Small waterfalls trickle down the rock walls on either side. The roots of old trees wrap around the rocks. Midway up the path, a replica of a Native American settlement greets visitors with the sights and smells of yesteryear.
We took Brandy Ann along to help out with the kids. She earned her place, both helping me with The Skink while in the large gift shop, and soothing Iraq's rattled nerves when she became overstimulated from all the new sensory input along the path. (Yes - Iraq's medication is making a huge difference with her meltdowns, but she does still have major sensory issues. Her reaction to becoming overstimulated is just different now, and far easier for us to handle.) We even took Brandy into the cafe and she sat just as politely as you please as we ate our lunch. No begging, no wandering, nothing but exemplary behavior and only minimal drooling (hey - she could smell the food, and it smelled good!).
One of the best things about Jellystone Park was the number of other children there. Iraq found herself a large pack of children when ever she went to play or collect caterpillars (ewww).
We spent even more time around the campfire on Saturday evening, knowing the dawn of Sunday morning meant packing up to leave.
If you want to see more pictures from our adventure, please enjoy the slide show below!
We are already planning our next camping trip, and there is a high likelihood we will be returning to Jellystone park quite soon!
We had a BLAST!
Yup - all of us. We knew Broadway would love it, but Iraq was the one who ended up being the hardest to get into the car for the ride home. Sure, we had our hands full keeping up with The Skink, but then... we always have our hands full keeping up with her energy and fun-loving spirit.
We ended up having rather brisk weather this weekend. The air smelled like fresh, damp cedar mixed with undertones of smoke from the campfires. Iraq, The Skink, Brandy Ann and I went down to the playground while the guys set up our camper. It didn't take them long at all, and then we set about finding kindling.
You know? Food just tastes better when cooked over a campfire and eaten at a graying, wood picnic table under trees covered in new spring leaves!
After dinner we had some drinks and played some cards (and made stuff out of Play-Doh).
On Saturday we headed over to see the Natural Bridge. It's pretty amazing in person and quite beautiful. Walking up the path, one's ears are filled with the sound of rushing water. Small waterfalls trickle down the rock walls on either side. The roots of old trees wrap around the rocks. Midway up the path, a replica of a Native American settlement greets visitors with the sights and smells of yesteryear.
We took Brandy Ann along to help out with the kids. She earned her place, both helping me with The Skink while in the large gift shop, and soothing Iraq's rattled nerves when she became overstimulated from all the new sensory input along the path. (Yes - Iraq's medication is making a huge difference with her meltdowns, but she does still have major sensory issues. Her reaction to becoming overstimulated is just different now, and far easier for us to handle.) We even took Brandy into the cafe and she sat just as politely as you please as we ate our lunch. No begging, no wandering, nothing but exemplary behavior and only minimal drooling (hey - she could smell the food, and it smelled good!).
No - that's not drool. Brandy got to enjoy her own taste of nature along the path!
One of the best things about Jellystone Park was the number of other children there. Iraq found herself a large pack of children when ever she went to play or collect caterpillars (ewww).
We spent even more time around the campfire on Saturday evening, knowing the dawn of Sunday morning meant packing up to leave.
We are already planning our next camping trip, and there is a high likelihood we will be returning to Jellystone park quite soon!
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