It has been several years since I have been camping with the kids. In fact I think the last time I went I was pregnant with Lucy. Neither of the girls have ever gone camping but Eric and the boys have gone several times by themselves.
Andrew and Zane have been clamoring to go camping all summer. Unfortunately the weather has been less than cooperative. We had some errands to do and then the weekend was mostly free. Since it was nice weather I asked Eric if he thought impromptu camping would work and he was quick to get on board with the plan.
We scramble packed the van up in about an hour and headed off toward Mountain Loop Highway to look for a good free camping spot. We ended up at a spot that Eric and the boys have camped at before. We were very fortunate that it was still available.
The kids were all very excited. And the girls were over the moon that they didn't get left behind this time. The camping spot was right next to this tiny feeder stream that I could tell would be bustling during the spring thaw but was very shallow and not hardly moving right now. It was a perfect place for the girls to play with a little bit of water and mud but not worry about them drowning themselves if I wasn't standing right there.
Gwen spent almost an hour playing in the water and painting a rock with mud. She and Lucy were almost deliriously happy and very, very muddy. They have no problem getting dirty. Eric and I kept commenting how much more girly the boys are when it comes to playing with messy stuff.
After we finally pulled the girls out of the water and got them slightly cleaned off it was time for hot dog roasting and marshmallow eating.
Andrew and Zane were master twig and log finders. They tromped through the woods to look for as much left over dead stuff as they could.
Once the fire was really going we got the food roasting away. Eric only made 3 roasting sticks so we had to take turns eating. Fortunately everyone was in a great mood and didn't fuss.
Reid did really well with the camping experience too. He was very content to sit and be held and two sleepers was enough to keep him toasty.
Eric and I zipped some sleeping bags together and Reid crashed out in between us to sleep. It was kinda nice to have a little heating machine in between us all night.
One of the biggest challenges of camping with Lucy right now is taking her to the potty. We didn't camp in a place where there was a Honey Bucket, and she is not exactly up to squatting in the woods yet.
To solve the problem we brought our potty seat insert and made a potty with it propped up on some rocks. (See the photo of Andrew poking the fire, in the background is her seat) I have to admit that it worked like a charm and I have never had such an easy time getting Lucy to go potty for me. Apparently the great outdoors is a wonderfully fun place to pee.
After dinner and our family devotions I tried to get the girls in bed. It wasn't happening. They were too excited. So Reid and I went to bed which was kinda nice. Eric called it a night right before 10 and everyone else came to bed then. It was a very quick lights out and all 7 of us snoozed the night away.
We woke up in the morning to a light sprinkle and quickly broke camp. I have to admit that camping was a bit crazy with all of us but it also was kinda fun. I think that I may even be willing to go again.
Andrew and Zane have been clamoring to go camping all summer. Unfortunately the weather has been less than cooperative. We had some errands to do and then the weekend was mostly free. Since it was nice weather I asked Eric if he thought impromptu camping would work and he was quick to get on board with the plan.
We scramble packed the van up in about an hour and headed off toward Mountain Loop Highway to look for a good free camping spot. We ended up at a spot that Eric and the boys have camped at before. We were very fortunate that it was still available.
The kids were all very excited. And the girls were over the moon that they didn't get left behind this time. The camping spot was right next to this tiny feeder stream that I could tell would be bustling during the spring thaw but was very shallow and not hardly moving right now. It was a perfect place for the girls to play with a little bit of water and mud but not worry about them drowning themselves if I wasn't standing right there.
Gwen spent almost an hour playing in the water and painting a rock with mud. She and Lucy were almost deliriously happy and very, very muddy. They have no problem getting dirty. Eric and I kept commenting how much more girly the boys are when it comes to playing with messy stuff.
After we finally pulled the girls out of the water and got them slightly cleaned off it was time for hot dog roasting and marshmallow eating.
Andrew and Zane were master twig and log finders. They tromped through the woods to look for as much left over dead stuff as they could.
Once the fire was really going we got the food roasting away. Eric only made 3 roasting sticks so we had to take turns eating. Fortunately everyone was in a great mood and didn't fuss.
Reid did really well with the camping experience too. He was very content to sit and be held and two sleepers was enough to keep him toasty.
Eric and I zipped some sleeping bags together and Reid crashed out in between us to sleep. It was kinda nice to have a little heating machine in between us all night.
One of the biggest challenges of camping with Lucy right now is taking her to the potty. We didn't camp in a place where there was a Honey Bucket, and she is not exactly up to squatting in the woods yet.
To solve the problem we brought our potty seat insert and made a potty with it propped up on some rocks. (See the photo of Andrew poking the fire, in the background is her seat) I have to admit that it worked like a charm and I have never had such an easy time getting Lucy to go potty for me. Apparently the great outdoors is a wonderfully fun place to pee.
After dinner and our family devotions I tried to get the girls in bed. It wasn't happening. They were too excited. So Reid and I went to bed which was kinda nice. Eric called it a night right before 10 and everyone else came to bed then. It was a very quick lights out and all 7 of us snoozed the night away.
We woke up in the morning to a light sprinkle and quickly broke camp. I have to admit that camping was a bit crazy with all of us but it also was kinda fun. I think that I may even be willing to go again.
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