Sunday, May 17, 2009

The Morning After...


Can you guess which tent was for the family of five and which was for the family of two? WRONG! The little one was ours. John and Emily had the huge one. In their defense, they did offer to trade. We haven't camped since we've had kids and had no need for a big tent up 'til now.

This is the same scene later that night:


I don't know if their tent wanted to prove it could devour ours or what, but with a little help from the wind, it was on top of our tent. Our little tent held it's own and didn't blow away at all.

Gray commandeered the bag of potato chips early on.


Then he decided it was much easier like this:

Not to worry, when the chips were gone he found a lovely puddle of murky water to entertain him the rest of the night.

Not that he needed entertainment...John and Emily entertained the masses.


And when they were finished, Parker pretty much took over the limelight for the rest of the night.


Reid got the shaft...the pictures I took of him really didn't turn out. He had a great old time but couldn't understand why no one wanted to sleep when bed time rolled around. He spent the late night hours lap hopping until he finally fell asleep on Emily.


Spencer was the perfect boy scout (though I was the prepared one). He did all the cooking. And there was some delicious dutch oven cobbler involved.


Though it wasn't supposed to rain until later on Saturday, the storm came earlier than expected. After a few hours of sleep, we awoke to thunder and lightening by about 2:30am. So by 3:30am we packed up some groggy, hysterical children and slept the rest of the night in the comfort of our own home. I wish I had pictures of us taking down tents in the pouring rain. We were soaked. But to be honest, it was fun.

So this is how we spent the morning after (no point in wasting that tasty breakfast we had planned):


Not a single kid came out with a burn from the campfire or hot coals (as I predicted). So despite the rain, I consider the camping trip a success.

18 comments:

Kris said...

What fun. One of our fun trips turned out very much like that, at Jenks Lake, a picnic turned thunder and hail shower, with two families in our Volkswagon Van to eat lunch. It was a blast!!

Lauri said...

I didn't know you were going camping. You're such a trooper. Sounds like you had a fun time. I'm sure the boys loved it.

Kelly said...

So much braver than I !!

Sheryl said...

I love those pictures! Camping as a family and with friends...memories. Then there is girls camp with you and your mom...good times!!

jeanine said...

you are so much braver than I am! I think I'd go crazy... William has been DYING to go on a campout since our Father/Son outing was rained out.

Autumn said...

I hate the preparation involved in camping, but I do enjoy it. I love the picture of you! You sport a hat so well. What a blast.

Eric said...

So fun! There isn't a dull moment in your life!

Unknown said...

WOW, you guys are brave:) I am glad to see you are livin' it up here in Texas before you head back to Ohio!! I look forward to camping with my kids..once we have an RV:) There are some things I am not sure I can handle with 5 kids, and a tent might be one of them!! Let me know what you need this week..the boys are ALWAYS!!! welcome to come hang out with my crew while you get ready. SERIOUSLY, let me know!

Heidi said...

How great! i LOVE camping. we wont be doing any of that this year though. Looks like fun, even though you had to come home early. I cannot imagine packing up at 3:30, let alone in the pouring rain.

Amanda B. said...

What a blast! I like to camp- and we did so a couple times before the girls were born, but haven't braved it since, yet. I can't believe how big gray is!!!! :)

Traci Elizabeth said...

YAY for camping! We have been doing it a lot lately, It surprises me how much I enjoy it...even when little things like rain get involved. I am glad you had fun!

Cynthia said...

What brave fun parents you are. How could 3 little boys not LOVE camping?

J, E, S & L said...

I'm glad you took pictures because although we had our camera no pictures were taken! I wish there were a few of us packing things up or at least of the girls face when I showed up dripping wet to turn in the key! Breakfast was a party too! What are we going to do without you guys?!?

amelia said...

The recommended number of people tents mark on their boxes are always over by about two bodies, I think. What a fun camping trip!

Violet said...

Hooray!! I love camping. What great memories you are building with your boys. I wish we lived closer to you guys. We are always up for camping.

Judds said...

What a great story!!! Classic!!!

Megan said...

What a crazy fun trip! We are taking our girls camping for the first time this weekend. Hope we fair at least as well as you guys did.

Natalie said...

Katie,
Thanks for your last post on my blog. Good luck with the move! Every new place brings with it many blessings and new exciting experiences. I wish i could see the future but then... what is the adventure in that?