wantingababymaas-Bleacher-Report: Camping, 2013

"Camping" in relative terms. In an old train caboose, converted to a cabin. With a hot water shower, air conditioning, electricity, microwave, mini fridge, cooktop, charcol grill & fire pit. Thats about as "camping" as I care to get. A break away from the hustle & bustle. To hear birds sing & see the stars. No make-up, no agenda. It was a great get away.

We headed out for the long 10 minute drive there on Tuesday afternoon. Spent Tuesday & Wednesday nights there & headed home Thursday before noon. So nice that this is such a short distance from home. Knowing we could run home in case of an emergency & that out Walmart is just 20 minutes away, makes me so much more calm. {Especially since I forgot flashlights, our air mattress pump, & a variety of other things that we did end up going without but could have easily gotten if needed.}

So here it is, Caboose Camping Trip 2013. I didn't post all 195 pictures that I took, but here are quite a few.

First thing we did Tuesday after unloading, was a little swimming. Only one picture... because my camera battery died! We were off to a rough start!

After a swim, we jumped in the shower, {I plugged in my camera to charge} and cracked open a Margarita- my support system to survive camping.

While Jeff lit up the grill for supper, the kids & I kept ourselves entertained with a pseudo game of Simon Says. They didn't quite get the concept of not doing something if Simon didn't say... so Simon just said every time.

"Simon says jump in a circle"

"Simon says stand on 1 foot & touch your toes"

"Simon says make a silly face!!"

Dinner! Livi, who recently is our most adventerous eater, enjoyed the "brown beans."

The closest thing that I got to a family picture :)

YUM!!!

After dinner, we did a little "fishing." Fishing, as in, we threw out their lines & they reeled them in. No hooks. Ok, 1 hook. Jeff had one. And while we SAW a good dozen fish, we failed to catch one.

They are pretty much naturals. Love them.

Logan was a pro.

Livi... well not so much.

But daddy-daughter fishing moments are priceless.

Since I forgot the pump for our air mattresses, our sleep set up looked like this. Hayden on the bottom left bunk (which he threw my pillows & sleeping bag off of & kicked me out of). The 2 mattresses from off of the top bunks on the floor in the middle of the 2 bunk beds is where Livi & I slept. Jeff had the bottom right bunk. And we pulled a mattress down from the loft (which had 2 twin mattresses & is the size of a double bed) & put that off to the side for Logan. Night 2 Logan & Olivia flip-flopped.

They slept GREAT!! I mean great! They were so tired at the end of full days they ASKED to get tucked in. What 3 year old kid ASKS to go to bed ever, let alone on a camping trip. They were out cold in 2 minutes & slept until 8:30 the first morning & 8:15 the second! Amazing. Logan & Olivia each fell off the "bed" once. Hayden fell off the bed {and onto me!} once. And a few peeps here or there, but I don't think I got any less sleep that I do any given night at home. Pretty awesome. Plus... number of hours asleep aside, I personally feel SOOO much more rested when I can sleep until 8. 5 hours of sleep, waking at 8 is better for me than 7 hours of sleep, waking at 7:15 (which is my norm on my days off).

Off to go fishing again in the morning.

Compared to our trip last year....

Livi said "A fishing pole looks kinda like a guitar!" She is such a girl after her grandma GG's heart.

No body even fell in!!

And when you are bored with fishing.... your belly makes a great drum :)

The weather was just so, so perfect. We booked this way back in April I think & we absolutely could not have picked 2 days of better weather if we had tried.

The perfect snack! Even Hayden, who doesn't like chocolate, at them.

And what's a fishing trip without a good, ole' fashion potty break.

Taking a break to write letters in the sand/gravel.

After our morning of fishing, we took a little hike to see the river.

Logan found a flower to keep in his pocket :)

The weather was so beautiful... I mean look at this sky! This is from a cheap point & shoot camera, unedited. The sky was really THAT blue.

We found a nice big sand bar they could go out on & explore.

Throwing sticks in the river to watch them float away.

They may have actually enjoyed this more than swimming.

Splash in the face :)

We even saw some little fishies! Next year we'll bring a net & try to catch them!

"We're off on a treasure hunt....."

Then it was time for a nap & a few hours of quiet time for me. Followed by some more swimming.

Olivia & Hayden were of course off & going instantly.

Logan started out prety timid, in typical Logan fashion. First it was "I don't like green water." Plus the fact that he "doesn't like deep water" & is terrified of water deeper than 2 feet. Him & I sat on the edge for quite a while watching the other 2 play, just waiting for him to get brave.

BUT he swam in "deep water." He actually let me let go of him in water deeper than 2 feet! It was a process. First one hand. Then for quite a while I had to hold on to the back buckle of his puddle jumper. And finally he let me let go. He kicked & paddled & went under & swam & had an absolute blast.

They also had quite a bit of fun in the sand making sand castles & "waterfalls."

And Olivia mastered the art of the back float with a puddle jumper on. She would lay there, legs out straight, with her eyes closed & I though she was going to fall asleep!!

Yes the lake water really was that green. And, yes I do somewhat have a hard time with it in my old age.

Hayden & Olivia actually spent more time digging in the sand.

And Logan spent more time SWIMMING!

Just look at him go!!!

After swimming & showers, it was time for dinner & campfire. The kids crashed out before we got a campfire going the 1st night, so we started the fire a bit earlier the 2nd night. While daddy grilled, we played some more Simon "always" Says & a little game of "Find something green." "Find something brown."

So much to do & see, no one ever cared about going 2 days without TV!

My best attempt at getting the 3 of them to hold still for a picture.

Fire pit & S'mores.

SO yummy!

Or technically the kids ate "pieces of S'mores." They say "I don't like my marshmellows black. I like them white." So some chocolate bar & marshmellows straight out of the bag for the kiddos. I think they are nuts!

A little Logan & mommy cuddle time by the fire. Last week H & O had colds. This week it was Logan's turn. He has lots of snot & mucous, a cough & ran a little fever while we camped (for which Jeff ran home one afternoon for Motrin). But he was a trooper & had so much fun.

Campfire games 3 year old style! Hungry Hungry Hippos. Bought just for this trip. It kept them entertained for a long time.

They actually said a lot of "Oh man, I only got one." Or "Look, I got a lot!" So I think the days of understanding the concept of winning or loosing a game is soon to come. I'm not teaching them that yet though, if I don't have to. I'd rather they just enjoy it & have fun.

I set the camera on the table & set the timer, to try to catch a family game of Hungry, Hungry Hippos. I apparently was taking this game VERY seriously!