Spring Camping

This weekend, we embarked on our maiden camping voyage for 2010, and the weather was beautiful! After camping in the rain a couple of times last year, we decided this spring to wait for just the right weather forecast. And we got it: the skies were clear and sunny all weekend, with highs in the 70's. The first night got pretty chilly, but we stayed warm enough in our 20-degree bags, and then huddled around the fire in the morning until the temperature improved.

As always, the kids and a GREAT time camping. We went with the Pollard's, and the five kids had a blast together. They played tickle monster, soccer ball, chase, frisbee, throw-the-turtle, follow-the-leader, and a lion-attack game where Caleb and Ethan crawled out of our tent and slithered on the ground, roaring like lions (and looking like injured seals) while the triplets squealed and ran. Of course, the four boys took turns rotating in and out of time-out for crossing "the line" throughout the weekend. Addison was helpful and obedient, as always, and we could count on her to spot any misdemeanors that the four adults missed :)

Marcus got to take Friday off work, making this the first camping trip that he got to be there for (part of) setting up camp! I left first thing Friday morning (8:00 am) to make sure that we could get a good pair of tent sites. Then I set up our tent and unloaded a few things and headed back to get Marcus and the boys. We finished packing and loading the car, stopped to get a pizza for lunch, and were back at the camp site around 11:00 am. After lunch, we walked to the on site playground for a little while and let the boys burn off some energy. The Pollard's arrived a little later and set up their camp.

Around 3:00, everybody but me, Caleb and Ethan laid down for a nap. I wanted my boys to skip their naps so they would go to bed at dusk, so I took them to the camp beach while Marcus and the Pollard's slept. After naps, we fixed hamburgers, hot dogs and fried potatoes for dinner. I think food tastes so much better camping than it does at home! Quenta did a great job grilling the burgers on a less-than-ideal grate over the campfire.

On this campout, we sort of skipped the traditional after-dinner trips to the bathhouse to shower everyone, and I think that was a great move. It was cool enough that no one was getting sweaty, and there was just no point in cleaning off the dirt that would be back in it's place on little bodies within about twenty minutes. Instead, after dinner, we all changed into warmer clothes and Marcus and I put our boys to bed. The triplets went down a little later, and then we broke out the marshmallows and roasting forks. I love smores around a campfire! We talked until 11:00ish, exchanging stories from elementary school, and then headed to bed, hoping for a good night's sleep for a full day on Saturday.

More about our weekend tomorrow :)