This past weekend we took the kids on their first camping adventure. With our good friends the Sanchez and Kennedy families. It was a one-night trip, only an hour from home, in a commercialized setting: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park! We figured that way, if all hell broke loose, we could always retreat. But you know what? They did GREAT! They really did. (They were totally pumped about the trip and "practiced" camping at home before we left, toting the lanterns into their tunnel and sitting around saying things like "We're camping" and "We're sleeping OUTside".) We were super proud of them for (mostly) listening to us about what they could (jump on the air mattress as long as their shoes were off) and couldn't do (go near the fire or fire ants or mud pits). They even slept. Well! And we suspect that they may even have slept through the night had campground noises not awoken them. Wait 'til you see the picture of them snuggling in the tent...
We found that zipping the kids into a tent was a highly effective way to keep them reigned in while we set up camp. What? They loved it!
The Yogi stickers they received at check-in were a big hit. And a big stick. (Stupid things left residue on their clothes, but oh well.)
The tent platforms were conveniently covered in sand. I mean, "the beach". All the kids highly enjoyed their little beach.
Leo was such a happy little man. Nature must suit him. And soothe him. Tell me that smile isn't a winner? CUTE!
Cora schooled us in Washers. Of course, she cheated. When mine bounced this way and that, she just gave me a look, walked up to the tray, and dropped hers right in the middle. Kinda like she was telling me "Duh, just get closer if you want it to land right Mama."
We even had a visit from Yogi himself. The boys were intrigued. Cora kept her distance. Safely up in her Daddy's arms.
There was a real beach. At the end of a little bridge. (The campground is on a lake.) There is a cool looking splash park/waterslide park too, but it wasn't open yet. Probably the reason the place was so conveniently deserted this weekend.
Wet sand was even more fun than the dry variety back at camp.
We brought the kids' swimsuits. But not to the beach. Oops. The boys loved having "naked belly" time on the way back to camp though, so no worries. And apparently going commando while biking doesn't bother preschoolers.
(Holding onto Daddy's ears for support)
Bumping naked bellies...
Little rednecks...
So yeah, I decided that we definitely have the cutest, sweetest kids around. Here's proof (they did this of their own volition):
The boys especially liked "the beach", while Cora preferred to sit in camp chairs around the fire and eat. Yup, she knows EXACTLY what camping is all about!
Dinner was fun. A potluck of hotdogs and brats and cheesy bacon potatoes and pasta salad and veggies and fruit. Have I mentioned that camping is all about food? OK, maybe not ALL about food, but it certainly plays an important role. For me, anyway.
It didn't take the kids long at all to fall asleep. We wore them out, for sure. Or maybe they wore themselves out. Either way, it worked. James and Cora shared the little TuckAire Toddler mattress and James' baby blanket from his Aunt Margie (so thick and warm and soft), snuggling together all night long, often laying nose-to-nose or holding each other's arms, while Jay and I had the big mattress to ourselves. Oh yes, the sleeping arrangements worked out SO much better than we ever dared hope. How completely sweet are these two?
The next morning brought more adventure.
Bike races down the deserted gravel road.
And up the road...
A Color Hunt around the campground.
(They were trying to blow a beetle off the big plant. And no, they didn't pick any of the decorative flowers or leaves. They were just looking.)
And when we sat down for a break (since a pregnant mama - Christina, and a mama with one bum hand - me, needed a rest after ushering 4 munchkins around the campground on a scavenger hunt), James saw this little tree stump and declared "It's the Lorax!" When I asked him if the Lorax speaks for the trees, he said yes. And when we asked him and Manu to hug a tree, James picked the stump instead. A-dorable!
(And about that bum hand... I grabbed a recently used skewer in a bad place Sunday morning. No worries though, the pain from the burn went away almost completely after 24 hours. Not my brightest moment. And I wasn't the only Lindsay to arrive home worse for wear. Poor James got a few chiggers and mosquito bites - one right on his eyebrow, which caused significant swelling this morning - and skinned his knees pretty badly. Add in the huge bruise on his elbow from his fall at his photo shoot a week and a half ago that is still healing, and multiple other bruises and scrapes on his arms and shins, and the kid looks a wreck. Bummer that he reacts to chigger bites just like me - major swelling and lengthy recovery. I have a feeling this summer is going to be filled with Neosporin and ChiggerX...)
We will definitely be camping again. SOON! And next time we're going for TWO nights! So much fun, and so much easier than we expected. Thanks for a great weekend everyone :-)
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