Camping 101

We've been gearing up this past summer to take the children on their first overnight camping adventure. After scouting camps relatively close to home, we finally decided on one and set off last Friday with our car packed to the brim. We weren't sure how the kids would like camping and I was really hoping all would go well so that it would become one of those fun and memorable traditions in the life of our family.

Keri and Rusty were also camping for the first time with their little family so we decided to camp together the first night and spend the day on Saturday with our own families. We had a great time together despite the too-humid weather. Dinner consisted of fire-roasted wienies, fruit and chips. David started a fire as soon as he had set up our tent so that he could make our dessert for the night, a delicious homemade cobbler, made in a cast iron dutch oven and cooked in the coals of our fire. It was delicious and I was so impressed with my man! We, of course, also had smores which the kids loved!

Bedtime came and went with no great difficulty. I tried to give the chickadees a wet-wipe bath but the dirt didn't budge. The adults stayed up and chatted for a little while longer and then we retired to our "wet" pillows and sleeping bags ( from the humidity). Thankfully, we at least had an air mattress to rest our old bones on but sleep did not come easily. I felt like I was up most of the night, tossing and turning and listening to the night sounds. David was up as well but I'll refrain from sharing his issues with you!

The morning finally came and all three little cuties sat up in their sleeping bags and started jabbering about how much they love camping. It was too cute! That day we headed out into the wilderness with backpacks and GPS in hand to scout out some caches. We drove down forest service roads forever(bit of an exaggeration), found a beautiful waterfall and an old cemetery ( I have a thing for old cemeteries!) and finally made it to the place we thought we should start hiking...after 30 minutes of not getting anywhere and having to carry Jonah over all of the underbrush, we decided to give up and pursue other pleasures of the day. The drive back to the campsite put the boys to sleep and we were all ready for lunch by the time we arrived. After lunch we packed up our things and headed home. We couldn't spend another night because of obligations on Sun. morning.

Sooooo....I think our camping trip was a great success! The weather was disappointing with the warmth and humidity, but the kids did well and David and I had a great time together as well. You never know how these things are going to work out, but I think we have a fun future ahead of us in the world of the great outdoors and camping! Oh, and btw, I have my eyes set on a pop-up camper, so if anyone has one and would like to let us borrow it , we would be greatly appreciative. (I'm still trying to sell my dearest on the idea!)