Camping

After field day I totally had the itch to do something fun with the rest of the nice day.  I started naming off all these activities when we got home and then said "let's go camping."  Benjamin and Emma totally latched onto this and were all about convincing Dad that we needed to go.  One hour later we were off on a spur of the moment family camp out.  We had camped at this state park two years ago.  It is so close to home and yet you feel like you are out in the wilderness.  A quick stop at the store for dinner essentials, hot dogs and s'mores, and we made it to the campground.  We got a spot and started to set up camp.  We soon realized we had forgotten our very important bug spray.  Jacob was getting swarmed so we put him in the car with Emma and a movie so Stephen could get the fire going for dinner, and I could set up the tent.  We were using our bigger tent which we hadn't ever set up before and so it took a bit of a learning curve (read frustration and prayers) to get it all set up by me.  I finally gave up with getting the fly on correct, and we just slept with it on wrong.  But the tent configuration is perfect because there is a separate room that Jacob could sleep in with his pack and play and not see anyone else.

We roasted hot dog, happily consumed dinner and s'mores, and talked around the campfire.  It was still light out but after 8:00p.m.  or so I decided to try to put Jacob down.  I watched him through a little unzipped part of his space and after about 15 minutes of crying he settled right down and went to sleep.  The big kids went to bed around 9:30, but Emma was too excited to sleep.  I laid next to her so that she wouldn't wake up Jacob and finally at 10:15 when she had to use the bathroom again I called for reinforcements, and we all just went to bed.  It was an interesting night sleep for me especially because Emma snuggled right up to me and at some points was even under my own sleeping bag.

The most dramatic point was still to come.  Our kids wake up with the sun.  Little did we know that it was going to be light out at 4:30 in the morning.  Yes, Benjamin was up at 4:40; Jacob was awake at 4:50; and Emma woke up at 5:15.  I laid in the tent until Emma woke up and she woke up saying so happily "oh Mommy look it is morning time."  Jacob was raring to go and unfortunately being very, very, very loud.  We tried everything to keep him quiet, but when it started to rain we decided it was time to call defeat and just pack up.  We had the car packed and left before either of the neighbors emerged from their tents although I am sure they were awakened by our Jacob.  The clock on the dash read 6:11.  By the time we reached home at 6:40a.m. Emma was falling asleep and ask for a glass of milk and to go back to bed.  She slept again until 9:00.  I bathed everyone including myself unpacked, started laundry, and promptly fell asleep on the couch for an hour or so.  It was a totally crazy trip and although the morning did not go as we planned it at all, I don't regret a bit of it.  The kids loved it, and I know that when they are older we can tell the story about the time that we camped away from home for only 12 hours exactly.

 

 

Unfortunately these are the only pictures that were taken and with the iphone even though the big camera was in the car ready to be used.  At least there is some record of our crazy campout!