Camp Crazy 2014

As I broke out in a sweat packing up toothpaste, coolers, tubs, wipes, hot dogs, bags, water bottles and the kitchen sink for our first family of six camping trip, a stinking suspicion crept into my mind.  Could it be that I was teetering on crazy for planning to sleep in a tent for two nights with four littles six and under? 

Call me crazy, but it was big, fat, sweaty, sticky, exhausting fun. 

Be assured that there were meltdowns, that many band-aids were applied, and that the kids were grumpy sometimes too. 

 

  

 

But it is hard not give yourself over to toasty marshmallows, mugs of hot chocolate, Mason jars filled with caught frogs, glow sticks and sunshine filtered through a hundred trees.

 As soon as our mini pulls into the gravel driveway, we all change into campers for the weekend.  Even our two new littles embraced the tent and state park bathroom life. 

 Crocks, tanks, friends, water colors, snacks and suits are all that is needed to load this memory with perfection.   

 Camp Crazy 2014 was all that we hoped it would be, and then a bonus was given. 

Julie, Nathan and kids arrived for a campfire picnic and some canoeing. 

Dusk canoe dates were the dessert of the weekend!

 Of course the littles had fun too, scoring their first canoe ride!
(Sorry Mark-o the canoe master for posting an eyes closed pic.   Love that goofy grin though!)

 The beauty in all this canoe fun is that Nathan hand carved both of these works of craftsman art. 

Our cars might have been parked by our tents, and we had to go home 2x for kid care, but it felt as though we'd stepped away from our world for the weekend. We slowed down, made art, had some adventures, noticed the stars, treated ourselves to some incredible camp meals, and disconnected in order to connect. 

 

 

Our hope is that 2014 has a few more tent nights in store.  

Tenting

There's just nothing like it.  Give us a free fall weekend, and we prefer to be camping. 

With food thrown into coolers, camping stove packed and sleeping bags rolled and ready, we love to head to the mountains. 



There's always rock climbing, bug collecting and lake wading,  

along with some tent-side creativity. 

 The distraction-less family time can not be matched. 

 
When dusk hits, the bags of marshmallows are broken up, ready to get toasty over the fire.

And in the AM, we warm up some cocoa and do some lounging while a breakfast feast is prepared. 

With bellies full, we go in search of just the right spot.  Each time with find some hidden magical place to do some lingering.

We've got it down.  Learned how best to make memories. 

And each time is special. 

 

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.  ~John Muir

Tent Living

We are campers. Campgrounds bring happy memories.  Dirty fingernails, blow-up mattresses and Coleman breakfasts make us giddy.  On our last trip, we increased the number of chairs around our campfire, and it was all kinds of fun!

 Out in the woods with axes and knives, boys can be boys and girls can be girls.

Little sweeties can fill dump trucks with rocks for hours. 

Getting muddy is an expectation. 

Calories don't count and bacon just tastes better.

Littles roam freely amongst the trees and on top of the rocks.

Hours can be spent discussing marshmallow roasting technique.

Or, you can just squish them onto your stick and shove them down whole.

Whatever your method, it is the highlight of nightfall. 

Early mornings bring messy hair, hot chocolate and days wide open with possibility. 

Of course, a little bravado adventure is expected as well. 

Jars are filled with fireflies and frogs named "Greg". 

You watch your kids swim in the lake and pretend the water is clean. 

We so loved our time camping with friends.

Two nights of tent living required hours of packing.
Sleeping was ify at best,
and we came home tired and longing for a bath.

Requesting a do-over. 

Birthday Camping

Months before turning five,
her simple wish for her birthday was to camp. 

So, off to the woods we went. 
(Thanks to Mamaw and Papaw for the lantern!)

To add to the celebration,
we invited the cousins and a couple friends.
The littles made trail mix,  

hung out around our campfire,
and experienced the simple, repetitive joy of throwing rocks in the lake. 

We are campers at heart,
and autumn makes us long for these
sweet family times in the quiet of the woods.

Mark is the birthday cake boss,
and when the request was made for a "camping cake",
he took the challenge!
Sophia was thrilled with her daddy's creation,
and blowing out her "5" birthday candle was a picture perfect memory. 

All the littles had a blast going on a nature hunt
and munching on worm-laden "dirt cups"!

Later, when it was just our team,
the temp dropped and we snuggled up around
our warm fire with lanterns and hot chocolate. 

After a night of tent giggles and snoozes in our sleeping bags,
we slept late, warmed more hot chocolate and
cooked up a breakfast fit for campers. 



Can't believe you are 5, girl. 
Celebrating in the woods with you was
close to perfection. 
We love your nature lovin' heart. 

Tent Living

Our team loves us some camping.

 We recently jammed our car full of gear and headed out for good times. 

There was biking, hiking, giggling, booty shaking, swimming, and
all kinds of crazy.
When the sun started to set, we pulled out the matches and
burned every log and stick within reach. 
Finally accepting the fact that we don't love the obligatory s'mores,
we mixed up the campfire dessert a bit. 
We each designed our own creation by filling waffle cones with strawberries, chocolate, pecans and marshmallows. 
Melted up over the fire, and munched down quickly,
they earned a spot in the ole' camping repetoire. 


All kinds of family fun left us wanting to pencil in a
few more camping trips onto the calendar. 
We are hoping to wrestle up some camping buddies,
so let us know if you are in.