Oh the Joys of Camping

Back in March Pixie turned 8 years old.  Instead of having a party she requested that we go on a family camping trip.  A camping trip that would involve fishing to be exact.  So, camping we did.  We packed up the family and headed out to a State park about 2 1/2 hours from our home for a weekend.  I remember someone once told me that family camping was good because it created mini crises that you had to solve together.  Hmmm... Well, we arrived late Friday night - after dark - which was not the original plan. :)  Crises #1 - after getting the tent set-up by the glow of the headlights while the younger kids ran around hollering while being dragged around by the dog sniffing out her new surroundings - we conquered crises #1!  Saturday morning hike to the river...Peanut freaks out - he's scared of the water and won't go within 15 feet of it!!  SO Peanut and I sit back and watch for a while.  Eventually he warms up and we inch closer.  Oh wait - we are all ready to fish - but who forgot the bait??  Start digging!  Night falls upon us again - the kids would like s'mores- oh that's right, we are under a fire ban - no campfires!  S'mores can be made  by roasting marshmallows over an open camp stove. :)  No really, we did enjoy a weekend of sleeping in a tent, hiking, fishing, relaxing and trips to the bathroom - mini-crises and all!!

On our last hike home we decided we had to try swinging on one of the many vines hanging from the trees!  We all gave it our best Tarzan hollar and jumped on.  It's a lot harder than it looks!!

However, when I went to jump on the first try - I caught my leg on the vine and this is what happened...the boys thought it was hilarious!!  That was one of my most comfy pair of jeans - oh well!

Oh how fun - family camping!!  It was a lot of work - as most things are with five children - but oh so worth the memories we have now made! :)