Camping: September 2017

We moved up into three tents this trip. The two older boys happily claimed the little pup tent. Stellan spent much of the weekend on his bike. He rode up and down that “bump” in the pavement dozens of times. New word for him: bump. It’s his favorite. Nap time. Yoga-mat-on-the-campsite-parking-pad style. The wagon proved its worth time and again this trip. Stellan slept in it for every nap and even the last few nights, inside the tent. The canoe was the highlight for all. Blaine took one or two at a time out for hours. I… watched the beach. Beckett decided laying in the rocks was far too lumpy. She looked at that empty wagon and climbed in for a nap. Ruby turned nine on Sunday. Camping is the very best way to spend a birthday. (Elliot is asking to camp for her birthday. It’s March 1. Brr.) Ruby picked out a couple frozen pies at the local grocer, we roasted brats on sticks over the fire, and spent the day at the lake. (Note to self: kabob sticks are not long enough.)Only Charlotte caught a fish. After three days of fishing, finally she caught one. She didn’t even want to touch it. I’m pretty sure she was NOT fishing with the intention of actually catching one! Poor Sterling so wanted to be the one to catch one, but it never happened. It was fun. It was exhausting. Anything but restful. But memories were made and the kids had a blast. I’ve finally caught up with laundry. I think I’m twelve loads later, after sleeping bags and beach towels and all the clothes. I think I might be caught up on sleep finally too. Sleeping on an air mattress – that decided on night 2 but held on night 3 so clearly something was not right – but at any rate, aches and pains were plentiful. Throw in a raccoon looking for dinner and a German Shepherd who was hoarse from trying to take me for a walk but still tried to alert me to said raccoon… yeah. Next time, hotel. Pool. Genuine mattress. If only in my dreams…Maybe it’s time to consider a camper.