October 17, 2010

Camping 101

This weekend we joined one of my best friends, her boyfriend, and her parents on a camping trip. Joe and I both grew up going camping but had never been as a family, so we were excited to go and introduce the girls to it.IMG_2116editJillia’s family has a really nice camper that they stay in. We didn’t want to impose on them and take over the camper so we decided we were going to camp in a tent that we borrowed from my parents.

We didn’t get there till Friday around 8:30pm. We put our tent up in the dark and went to bed after a few toasted marshmallows. We dressed in layers and warm socks, and each had a sleeping bag plus a few extra blankets. It was still freezing, and the ground was as hard as a rock. I don’t think any of us slept well.

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Saturday morning, we woke up bright and early. Everyone in the camper was still asleep, so Joe took Harley for a walk, and Summer, Camryn, and I went to the bath house to brush teeth and use the restroom. After that we met up with Joe and walked down to the lake that the campsites are built next to. We spent some time breathing in the fresh air and letting the girls toss some rocks in, and then walked back. Everyone else slowly started to emerge, and we got the fire going and started the coffee. Diane and Terry – Jillia’s parents – cooked a great breakfast. The mornings are my favorite part of camping :)

After we were nice and full, Joe, Summer, Camryn, Jillia, Bud and I headed to the pumpkin patch. It’s the same one we go to every year. (You can read about last year’s trip here).

IMG_2129edit IMG_2138edit IMG_2139edit IMG_2146edit IMG_2159edit IMG_2166edit IMG_2172edit IMG_2180edit IMG_2188editI told Bud to look off into the distance. He did good, right?IMG_2242editWe told them they could each choose a small pumpkins to take home and paint. They were searching for the perfect ones.IMG_2191edit IMG_2202edit IMG_2207edit IMG_2224editWe found this one that we’re going to carve.IMG_2234edit I look like a bum. Keep in mind, I had slept in a tent the night before.IMG_2256editFeeding the fish in the big Koi pond.IMG_2273EDITIMG_2278editAfter pumpkin picking, we grabbed some home-cooked take-out from the restaurant and drove over to the winery to have a picnic and get some wine. We ended up getting Peach and Blackberry. Delicious.  IMG_2298After the pumpkin patch and winery trip, we headed back to the campsite.

Diane, Bud, Summer, and Jillia. And Bear, the dog. They had 4 dogs, Jillia had one, and we had one. Camping with 6 dogs = Never a dull momentIMG_2313We ate chili-mac for dinner that Diane had made, and then sat around the camp fire talking and roasting marshmallows. We also decided that the girls and I were going to sleep in the camper. Joe wanted to stay in the tent with Harley. I was NOT doing that again.

It turned out to be a good decision. Joe slept great outside and the girls and I slept like rocks on the kitchen-table-turned-bed inside.

This morning, we had pancakes with cinnamon apples and syrup for breakfast, and sat around the fire drinking coffee. If I could sit around a campfire every morning drinking coffee, I’d be a happy camper. (I am SO NOT a pun person, but I’m pretty proud of what I just did there)IMG_2323edit IMG_2325edit IMG_2326edit IMG_2328editAfter breakfast it was time to pack up. The weekend really flew by and we’re looking forward to going again next Spring.IMG_2340edit IMG_2342edit IMG_2355edit IMG_2356edit IMG_2361edit IMG_2373edit On our way out, we stopped at the petting zoo that is located at the campground. It was closed and the cow and goats wouldn’t come to the fence, but the girls still had fun riding these little animals.IMG_2405edit IMG_2406edit Since we couldn’t pet the animals, we walked over to the lake to walk around on the dock. The girls saw lots of little minnows swimming around.IMG_2414edit IMG_2419edit IMG_2423editWe each had so much fun. I’d say Mullins Family Camping Trip #1 was a success!

10 comments:

Stephanie said...

You know it's so funny because the entire time I was reading this I was thinking wow she looks great for having slept in a tent the night before :) and you're too hard on yourself!!!!!

Looks like fun and I'm glad you got a good nights sleep while you were there!!!

Susie said...

Glad everyone enjoyed themselves.

Kaileigh said...

Beautiful pictures!! Glad you guys had fun, I'm so disappointed that we didn't make a camping trip this year. :\

Lindsay said...

I'm so jealous! I love to camp and I can't wait to take my two kiddos. I was also thinking that you looked perfectly pretty in those pictures even after sleeping all night in a tent!!!

Ali said...

This just looks like so much fun! Wish my family liked camping, but it'll NEVER happen, haha.

Mama Hen said...

This is a great post! I love the pictures! Welcome to the Nestwork! Make sure to come and visit the featured bloggers each week! Have a great night!

Mama Hen

Colleen (Shibley Smiles) said...

Looks like fun. I can't convince my husband that he wants to go camping.

Colleen
Shibley Smiles

Kelly Dawn said...

I love to go camping...my family? hates it - I could do it every weekend - of course i would RATHER camp in an RV - but i will do a tent if necessary :) Last year we camped in a tent for an entire week BUT I made wayne go get me an air mattress...and a fan...lol..at the local walmart which was almsot 30 miles away at midnight :) BUT I slept in the tent :)

Unknown said...

Looks like a great time and your pics are beautiful! Now following you from KneeDeep

Tiffany Lockette said...

So much fun!! What a great trip. We are looking forward to taking Zoe camping maybe next year!

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