Camping

I love camping. I grew up going camping with my family and then with my friends. We camped during college and Mark and I went a few times when we first got married, but then the kids came.

My sisters were going camping over Memorial Day weekend and we (I against Mark's advice) decided we would join them. Mark was against the idea because he didn't think the kids would sleep in the tent.
The kids had so much fun--I mean what is better then cousins, being permanently dirty and the great outdoors.

Addy and Cooper

Their first campfire s'mores
cousin Carson

Marcus did give us a little trouble at night and decided to not sleep. He spent half the night awake and the other half curled up in my arms. I think I even told Mark 'he was right' at one point during the sleepless hours. Marcus and I got up bright and early and took a walk to the lake with Flossie, Cooper and Carson. (Addy didn't wake up until we came back around 8am)

waiting for breakfast

Katie and Carson
There were plenty of woods around our campsite so all of the kids had lots of fun exploring and playing hide-n-seek.

After breakfast Sat morning we went for a REALLY long hike. Marcus and Addy walked most of the way.

I was taking the picture of Mark and Katie above and turned just in time to capture this little pose. Is this not one of the cutest things you have ever seen?

After the hike and lunch we headed to the lake. There was an area roped off for swimming that was covered in sand and had a pretty good size beach. We only had to fish Addy out of the water once, and she had held her breath the whole time so she was fine. We had to rescue Marcus another time when he ran out above his head.

It started raining right after we left the lake so we had to cook dinner over our stove instead of the fire.

Mark and I were both so tired from the night before, we decided not to try another night so we stayed until bedtime and then drove home.

Katie and Talia

The group
All in all, I would say it was a successful camping trip, sleepless night and all. I might not try it again with Marcus in the next year, but Katie and Addy can sleep in a tent with me any time.