This last weekend Joel and I took on the world. Okay, we didn't quite take on the WORLD per se but it sure felt like it! I love camping. I've loved camping since I was really small. I don't mind the dirt, the smell, the lack of sleep and the wild critters (okay, maybe I mind them a little bit!) so I was stoked. The reason we've never tried it before is that I wasn't sure how the girls would do in such a foreign environment. We are definitely creatures of habit.
We took off after church and headed down to Joel's dad's property. We set up camp close to the river with Chris, Troy, Reana, and Ted. I had some anxiety about the sleeping situation but the girls were so exhausted and it was already passed bedtime by the time we arrived that I didn't worry too much. Around 8:30 I put Allison down with her little glowstick (my bro-in-law suggested these as a way to prevent the 'I'm scared of the dark syndrome' and it WORKED AMAZINGLY!) and she was passed out within 15 minutes. Sarah followed not far behind and was asleep within minutes. They slept soundly - way better than I thought they would.
We all sat around the campfire for a few hours enjoying the chit-chat. We laughed and told stories and reminisced. We realized that it had been many years since all four guys had gotten together. It was so nice to be able to just relax and enjoy eachother's company.
Around midnight Joel and the boys decided to go fishing. So off they went leaving a couple of shotguns for us womenfolk to defend ourselves. After a bit, Re and I decided to head to bed also. Wouldn't you know it, 15 minutes after I snuggle into my sleeping bag my sweet Allison wakes up. It's like she can sense my presence! So I held her and tried to coax her to sleep for an hour (whilst I'm hearing the SCARIEST sounds of coyotes fighting and howling) until Joel got back.
Once Joel returned Allison knew it was business and went right back to sleep...figures...she listens to her dad so well! We slept until about 5:00am when I hear Sarah whisper "Mom! It's morning! I can see the stars!" And I told her she had to stay quiet until she couldn't see the stars anymore. But Allison had already woken up...so we dozed on and off for another hour and a half until we couldn't ignore the requests for the river and breakfast. :) So we all got up to start our hiking/offroading adventure.
Breakfast was AWESOME. I brought eggs and toast and bacon while Chris contributed some sausage. DELICIOUS. Then we were off for some morning fishing (nothing bit), some tromping through the woods (beautiful) and some offroading to the top of hill (views of EVERYTHING...AMAZING). It was an amazing trip and one that I hope to repeat at least a few times a year. I want to be THAT family.
4 comments:
Try using grasshoppers as bait, fish LOVE those!
The girls told us all about camping when they were here the other day...I think they liked it!
I'm encouraged that camping works with kids. Derek and I have been talking about this topic quite a bit! I want to be THAT family too!
I'm so happy you had fun! Someone should have told you cy-dode-ees sound close when they are really MILES away. And one can sound like 5. We had what sounded like a pack of babies crying the other night. Was probably just one howling at the moon. We haven't heard coyotes round here for a while. Anyway, how fun that the camping went well. It takes a lot of preparation, but it otherwise is probably the cheapest fun you can have as a family. I love that there are no phones, tvs, gameboys....to interfere with being together! Very cool. love you all! mom
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