We went camping this weekend with the kids to celebrate the end of elections and to finally have time to spend as a family. We were going to go up the Ortega to the mountains to camp, but none of the campgrounds that direction allowed fires so we decided to stay close and go to O'niell. It is literally 10 minutes from our house. We had no clue there was camping so close. The night started out with yummy foil dinners. I don't know why I never make them at home because they are sooo good and so easy to make. . .
. . .and the kids love them. We couldn't get the food fast enough to Tanner's mouth so he decided to take matters into his own hands, literally.
The kids had so much fun helping up build up the fire. Natalie was more the observer, but Bailey and Spencer were constantly finding leaves and twigs to "make the fire really big" (in Spencer's words).
And then we had the best part of the night, s'mores! Dad, Spencer and Natalie all enjoyed the s'mores, while Bailey, Tanner, and I ate all the ingredients separately. I don't know how I can enjoy graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows separately, but not so much together. I am glad that I have someone else on my side, even if it is a two year old.
As soon as Natalie finished her s'mores she asked if she could go to bed. Wait, did I say that right? Yes, Natalie asked to go to bed and it was only 7:30! She said that her ear was bugging her and she wanted to go to sleep. And Bailey followed in her footsteps. So we put the girls and Tanner down for the night and enjoyed some two on one time with Spencer (he rarely ever gets that luxury). Around 8:30, as we were rounding up the night with Spencer, Natalie started to cry, this time saying her ear was really bugging her. Bonus #1 of staying so close to home: there was a grocery store right around the corner. So Brett went and picked up some medicine for Natalie while I held her and tried to keep her quiet. So we gave Natalie some medicine, and then went out to let the fire die and enjoy some one on one time and then headed to bed ourselves around 9:30. At 11:30 Natalie woke up again, but instead of just crying she was screaming, so Brett gave her and blessing and we decided that keeping the entire camp awake was probably not a good idea. So bonus #2 of a close to home campground: Brett took Natalie and Tanner home, while Spencer, Bailey and I stayed to finish out the night in the tent. Poor Brett and Natalie were up almost the entire night. When the first morning light hit the tent, Spencer and Bailey were up and rearing to go, but unlucky for us, Brett had taken the truck which had the firewood in the back. So we stayed in the tent and talked, while I packed up sleeping bags and what not (I had no clue when/if Brett would be back). Bonus #3: Around 7:00 we heard the truck pull up, so we made a fire and cooked up some pancakes for breakfast, and then hurried to clean up camp and get out of there so we could take Natalie to the doctor. It ends up she has a double ear infection the poor girl. Saturday afternoon one of them ruptured, which actually brought a lot of relief. So, to make a long story short, we had so much fun before bed and even in the morning, just not so much fun in the middle there. Hopefully our next camping trip will go smoother, but to say the least, we may use that campground again, just in case.
As soon as Natalie finished her s'mores she asked if she could go to bed. Wait, did I say that right? Yes, Natalie asked to go to bed and it was only 7:30! She said that her ear was bugging her and she wanted to go to sleep. And Bailey followed in her footsteps. So we put the girls and Tanner down for the night and enjoyed some two on one time with Spencer (he rarely ever gets that luxury). Around 8:30, as we were rounding up the night with Spencer, Natalie started to cry, this time saying her ear was really bugging her. Bonus #1 of staying so close to home: there was a grocery store right around the corner. So Brett went and picked up some medicine for Natalie while I held her and tried to keep her quiet. So we gave Natalie some medicine, and then went out to let the fire die and enjoy some one on one time and then headed to bed ourselves around 9:30. At 11:30 Natalie woke up again, but instead of just crying she was screaming, so Brett gave her and blessing and we decided that keeping the entire camp awake was probably not a good idea. So bonus #2 of a close to home campground: Brett took Natalie and Tanner home, while Spencer, Bailey and I stayed to finish out the night in the tent. Poor Brett and Natalie were up almost the entire night. When the first morning light hit the tent, Spencer and Bailey were up and rearing to go, but unlucky for us, Brett had taken the truck which had the firewood in the back. So we stayed in the tent and talked, while I packed up sleeping bags and what not (I had no clue when/if Brett would be back). Bonus #3: Around 7:00 we heard the truck pull up, so we made a fire and cooked up some pancakes for breakfast, and then hurried to clean up camp and get out of there so we could take Natalie to the doctor. It ends up she has a double ear infection the poor girl. Saturday afternoon one of them ruptured, which actually brought a lot of relief. So, to make a long story short, we had so much fun before bed and even in the morning, just not so much fun in the middle there. Hopefully our next camping trip will go smoother, but to say the least, we may use that campground again, just in case.
6 comments:
Oh, what a bummer about Natalie's ear infections. Good thing you did camp so close- the dinner and smores looks like lots of fun!
What an eventful evening! And how fun to have the campground so close. We tried to go camping, but there isn't really much around here unless it's on the beach. Fun times!
Aw, sorry about the ear infection...it still sounded like fun though. Unbenounced to you both, Jeff and I have been making plans to go camping with your family- we though it'd be fun to camp down at Trails sometime and Jeff could teach Brett to surf there. We actually just bought a new foam top surf board that Brett could use to learn on...and I could help with the kids?! (what do you say?!) Maybe we'll have to wait a while now though...you are probably camped out!
Loved hearing about that trip - such is life with 4 little ones. We enjoyed seeing you guys this past weekend - our kids really love spending time with their Bruschke cousins.
That sounds like it was both fun and painful. Hope you guys are able to keep up having the outdoor fun, and just blocks away from home too! Rachel, try some smores next time!
How cute! I bet the kids love outings like that. Poor little girl! I hope she is feeling better now. It was smart of you guys to stay local. The whole experience without the travel time!
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