Friday, July 20, 2012

2nd Annual Camping trip

July 20 -22 of 2012
What do you know... it's that time again.  It's our second annual camping trip with Uncle Rudy, Aunt Andria, Dominic, Donovan and Devin.  This year Aunt Andria's brother and his family joined us again in the fun.  FYI - I'm blogging months after the fact.. Yes I'm a terrible blogger

So the plan was for all of us to drive up to camp near Sly Park. Dad and Bianca backed out to go play in a Soccer College Showcase Tournament. So Dad helped me pack up most of the car before he left. Sydney, Peyton, Kamren all in carseats - CHECK. Everything packed and ready to go.

tent camping, our home for 2 nights
We arrived around noon, the drive was quick, we scouted out our two campsites and decided to head to the beach for swimming, and playing in the water fun.

A couple hours later Tios arrived and we set up camp.  Everyone helped out and we were settled in fast.  Kamren enjoyed exploring all of the campsites, he ran around kicking up dirt and playing with baseballs.  The cousins kept each other company and only a few times I had to put Kamren in the playpen so we could get things done. 

We ate BBQ'd ribs, potato salad and fruit salad.  Yum. 

When the fire was started Kamren was mad because he didn't have free reign anymore.  He hated being confined to the stroller, playpen or peoples arms.  Oh well, safety first...  No accidents allowed. 

Chris and his family arrived late and finally it was time for smores and bed.  First night sleeping was hard.  Hard ground and sleeping bags makes for a cranky mama...  The kids slept pretty good.  We fit perfectly in our new tent with plenty of room to play.

Day 2 the girls plus Kamren, Devin and Dominic took a trail hike to the waterfall.  It was a good mile + and pushing the BOB stroller wasn't a picnic.  Kamren fell asleep on the hike in, there were a few scary moments pushing along the edge of the cliffs, but we made it.  Beautiful waterfall and swimming hole.  We all goofed around in the cold water and watched crazy guys jump from the boulders. 
 
Dominic, Sydney andPeyton on top of the world

Peyton, Dominic, Devin, Sydney - the look outs
 
made it to the waterfall

our sleeping brother
 Once we got back from the hike and the rest of the campers got back from fishing we had lunch and went to the lake to swim.  The kids all had a blast swimming in the lake, wearing their life jackets of course.  Finally dinner, campfire and smores again.  

Nothing better than resting next to the fire
 
Glow sticks are the best - Sydney, Peyton and Donovan
 

gettin dirty at breakfast
  
Kamren doesn't like helping pack up, he wanted to stay another week
By the end of the trip I was exhausted, playing single mom in the wilderness is hard work.  Two eyes and three kids who love to run in different directions.  On the way home we stopped in for a starbucks breakfast.

I didn't get many photo opprotunites because I was way to busy watching and chasing kids.  I did get some with my iphone..Hopefully next year is better. Til then, here are the iphone photos

staying busy before we headed up to camping

We love camping
 
I wanna play in the water hole

Kamren and Cousin Dominic hanging out in camp


Hanging with the kiddos