Camping Trip

For spring break our friends wanted to go camping but since the husbands had to work we decided we would a Mom's and kids camping trip. We had 3 Moms, 1 helper, and 12 kids, 3 minivans, 3 tents and 2 campsites! We got going in the morning and after a stop for lunch we were on our way. The campground was on a lake so as soon as we unloaded the little ones headed to the beach to get wet. My tent was very easy to set-up so I played lifeguard for the kids while the bigger kids got the big tents set-up. Braelyn and Berkley loved exploring around the campground and were happy to be outside, they even helped gather sticks for the fire. We had yummy campfire hot dogs and smores that night and the kids were so tired they were actually asking to go to bed that night. I had my big air mattress but I hadn't filled it all the way and since I was way heavier than the girls they rolled into me all night. About every 30 mins I would wake up and pull a little foot or head out of my side and put them back in their spot, but the girls slept great, even when Berkley took a nosedive off the edge and ended up stuck between the wall and mattress, she just went right back to sleep when I pulled her up. It was a little chilly in the morning but we got the fire started and were ready for another day. The other ladies were wonderful campfire cooks and we enjoyed each meal we had, but it did seem like most of what we did was prep a meal, eat a meal, clean-up the meal and turn around and start right on the next meal!



We did fit in a hike that afternoon and I was proud of my girls, it was about a mile long and up some hills, we took it slow with the other little boy and Berkley walked almost the entire way and Braelyn did the whole hike! That afternoon we got to do what we love best and hang out by the water. The lake was cold but it didn't stop Braelyn from splashing around. We also built sandcastles and enjoyed the sun. Berkley still doesn't like cold water or sand on her feet but she was content to sit on the blanket and eat crackers from between her toes. They had a shower at the campground and I was grateful for the warm water to clean all the sand off of them that night. We had more great food and finished off the smores in about half the time, I think hiking makes everyone hungry! I had pumped up my air mattress for that night and it seemed to work out a little better to keep everyone in their spot, until Braelyn took a roll off the side and I had to yank her out. Before bed the boys were standing outside our tent door doing things to make the girls laugh. Berkley was giggling so hard at them. After we got settled down I was laying by Braelyn talking with her and Berkley had to sit-up to listen, and then I noticed her head bobbing up and down because she was falling asleep. I told her to lay down and she fell right back on her pillow and was out! The girls slept so great I would have no reservations about taking them camping again, it was a breeze. Berkley woke up first that morning and as soon as she wakes up she has to take off her pajamas, then told me she was "Cold!" Braelyn woke up and said she still had sleepy eyes, so she pulled her blanket up and put her pillow over her face and went right back to sleep. Because they had been so good about sleeping it was so fun to wake up next to them and see how excited they got when they remembered we were camping.




After breakfast we got started on the big clean-up. We decided that was when we really missed husbands, but things seemed to go pretty easy even as we organized and reorganized to make sure everything fit back in. The kids had fun playing on the playground while we got everything down. One of the little boys liked playing with Berks, and told me over and over, "Brookley is so cute!" Braelyn tried to keep up with the other big kids most of the time and they were good to make sure she could catch them during tag, or letting her tag along to the bathroom with them. We had such a good time, we were sad to say good-bye. I think my kids are at the perfect age this summer for some more adventurous outings. I am lucky to have such great friends who are brave enough to do these things and who invite us to tag along.